Sabbath: The Rhythms of Life
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
Read for This Week’s Study: Genesis 1, Gen. 8:22, Ps. 90:10, Job 1:13-19, Acts 9:1-22, Phil. 1:6, Rom. 8:1.
Memory Text: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NKJV).
Some of the most beautiful poetry ever penned came from King Solomon: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace” (Eccles. 3:1-8, NKJV).
Those words capture so much of human existence—the seasons, the rhythms of our lives. Yes, our lives go through stages, through changes, and they do so from the moment we are born. Sometimes the changes are good, sometimes not; sometimes we have control over them; sometimes not. This week let’s look at the seasons and rhythms of our lives, especially as they impact us and our families, too.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, April 6.
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I usually spend at least 2 hours every day out in the Australian Bush (forest, woods for those who don't understand Australian terminology) Most of my time in the bush I am looking for birds to photograph, so I see nature in the raw. I often find birds feeding, courting, bring up their young and having fun. It is true, birds do have fun, I have seen Australian Magpies, slide down a corrugated iron roof, only to fly back up to the top and slide back down again, often to be joined by others to share in the fun. I also see the raw side of avian life. Birds of prey eat other birds, cuckoos put their eggs in other birds nests and get them to bring up their chicks, and birds have accidents and break their wings and legs.
I have learned to accept nature for what it is; beautiful but raw. I see the work of a creator, and I see the effect of evil, and further, I see God using that evil for the good of all concerned. It is a complex and challenging picture.
Of course, our lives too have that same complexity. There are the bits we love, and the bits that we hate. We enjoy the warm fuzzies we get when we see a newborn baby, and at the same time face the challenge of dealing with friends and relatives who are nearing the end of their lives and are suffering the indignities of aging.
It looks like this quarter's lessons are going to a change of pace from last quarters. I hope we can share our experiences and encourage one another.
Human existance and experience in the context of family. Looking forward to this topical study.
I'm looking forward to learn and re-learn from this quarter's lessons with God's leading in our lives.
Family is the LORD's way to help us understand His Everlasting Covenant - I will be your God and you will be My people. So Satan attacks and perverts it.
I am still puzzling the question from last week- bride and/or guest and I think the answer will be found in these studies and the question - what is our relationship with the LORD?
My phone dropped a vital part of the Everlasting Covenant - Jesus says "I will be your God, you will be My people and I will dwell with you" the last part is as important as the first two - living with Jesus daily like a family does through highlights, troubles and the daily grind, sharing thoughts, concerns and joys.
So based on the rhythmic patterns of this life there's gonna be changes. Things will change. Let's be ready for this!
This is both an encouraging and difficult subject for me. Listening to the the Spirit of God as He brings comfort and instruction will give peace until finally in Heaven there will be a great reunion. There we’ll have our final home and family.
There, dysfunctional relationships bringing pain and separation will not exist and death will not separate ever again.
"It was only right that God, who creates and preserves all things, should make Jesus perfect through suffering, in order to bring many children to share his glory. For Jesus is the one who leads them to salvation." Hebrews 2:10, GNB. It occurs to me that the character of God is being perfected by the experience of the Great Controversy. So those who profess Christ's name (that is, his character) should expect their experiences to perfect their characters as they journey through this life. It is by the Father's grace that his son Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith, so we should not be become discouraged and give up on this journey. Hebrews 12:2-3.
Remember Jesus "has said, 'Not at all will I leave you, not at all will I forsake you, never!' so that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.' Remember those leading you, who have spoken to you the Word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conduct:
Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever."
Hebrews 13:5-8, GNB.
This is our hope in the face of life's uncertainty.