There was a young man whom we’ll call Alex. He had come out of a very troubled youth: drugs, violence, even some time in jail. But then, through the kindness of a local church member (whom Alex had stolen from), Alex learned about God and gave his heart to Jesus. Though he still had his … Continue reading –>
Read 1 Peter 1:6-7. What is Peter saying? Peter is writing to people who were battling through difficulties and often felt very alone. He was writing “to God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1, NIV). This is the area we know today as western Turkey. A few … Continue reading –>
“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil” (Luke 4:1-2, , NKJV). Read Luke 4:1-13. What lessons can you learn from this account about how to overcome temptation and not give in to sin? Temptations can be … Continue reading –>
“The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink” (Exodus 17:1, NIV). Perhaps we might not get from God everything we want, but couldn’t we expect to get all that we … Continue reading –>
“And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD” (Exodus 14:10, NKJV). Have you ever been set up, led into a trap or to a dead end? Sometimes it can be … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Exodus 14:1-31, Exodus 15:22-27, Exodus 17:1-7, Proverbs 3:1-35, Luke 4:1-13, 1 Peter 1:6-9. Memory Text: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6, NKJV). In the full light of day, and in hearing of the music of other voices, … Continue reading –>
Part 2: Bullied at School By Andrew McChesney Mother was worried about Junior. The usually cheerful 15-year-old boy had become uptight and hostile in their home in Manaus, Brazil. Against her wishes, he had signed up to learn Capoeira, an African-Brazilian martial art. “Eduardo, I don’t like Junior learning martial arts,” she told her husband. … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Effectual Prayer,” in Signs of the Times, Nov. 18, 1903; Ellen G. White Comments, p. 1182, in The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4 “God Permits Trial and Affliction to Purify Me,” p. 92, in My Life Today. “He who reads the hearts of men knows their characters better than they themselves know them. He sees that some … Continue reading –>
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure” (2 Corinthians 12:7, NKJV). There is a big difference between cutting down and pruning. We cut down plants that we … Continue reading –>
“Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, I will refine them and try them; for how shall I deal with the daughter of My people?’” (Jeremiah 9:7, NKJV). “If the Spirit of God brings to your mind a word of the Lord that hurts you, you can be sure that there is something in you … Continue reading –>
