Tag / Pastor Homosassa Seventh-day Adventist Church

by In Light Of The Cross

I Need Thee Every Hour

Monday’s Sabbath School lesson asks, “With so many wonderful promises before us, why do we still find it so easy to sin?” 

Personally, I am increasingly aware of the reality of that old hymn: “I Need Thee Every Hour.” When I was younger, I would sing this song without appreciating the gravity of my need for Christ moment by moment. I would read my Bible and pray in the morning, and later I would be surprised at what I would find myself saying or doing. I felt like a hypocrite. How could I read my Bible and pray and then, just a couple of hours later, find myself in such a mess? I have now concluded that I am not a hypocrite. I need  Jesus every hour of my life, moment by moment, and not just one hour in the morning. I realized I was trying to be a golf cart when in reality I am a trolley car. A golf cart can charge its batteries in the morning and then run all over the golf course on its own power the rest of the day. Not me. I am a trolley car. A trolley car must remain connected to the cable throughout the day; otherwise, it cannot move a single inch. Likewise, I need to be connected to Jesus moment by moment, or I will fall into trouble. 

Of course this does not mean studying the Bible in my office all day long. What it does mean is this.

  1. I keep my Bible with me, and as I have opportunity I can read a passage and mediate on it. This is easier than ever now with Bible apps on our cell phones and tablets. I have learned it is not enough for me to be in the Word often. I must be in the Word always. 
  2. Prayer. Becky, my girlfriend and I have a running text all day long where we are sharing our day and thoughts about what is going on around us. The text never ends. It just continues. Likewise I can be in prayer with Jesus throughout the day. This does not mean that I retire from the world. I take Jesus with me into the world. I talk to Him during my Bible studies and my golf game. And if I start to engage in an activity that makes me uncomfortable talking to Jesus, then I have to make a conscious choice. Abandon Jesus or abandon the activity. 1 John 3:9 tells me that if I am in the Spirit, I cannot sin. I have found that in order to sin, I must consciously hang up my “prayer phone” with Jesus. I have been in church board meetings where we all found it was not enough to pray before and after the meeting. There have been times my board has stopped in the middle of the meeting to pray. Often when I sin, and the Holy Spirit brings me back to repentance, I see my mistake was not realizing that “I Need Thee Every Hour” is not just a cute phrase to sing. They are the desperate and anguished cry of my soul. 
  3. Cultivating thoughts on spiritual or lofty themes. Again, I can’t be in my office studying the Bible all day, but as I go about my business, the songs on my car radio can lead me to lofty themes for contemplation. My conversations and the meditations of my heart can be pleasing to God. I can do away with bitter thoughts by contemplating the good in people and remembering what Jesus has accomplished for all of us on the cross. I can remind myself to change the channel in my mind when needed. 
  4. I need to avoid idle moments by being intentional with my time. Many years ago, one night, I googled “The 1888 Righteousness by Faith Message.” Well, guess what else happened in 1888 that turned up in my search? Apparently, Jack the Ripper was doing his thing back in 1888. Intrigued by mysteries, I found myself reading some pretty dark articles, and it all started with an innocent search. I am seeking to become more disciplined and intentional with my time, including my leisure hours. If I do not find an agenda for every moment of the day, Satan will find an agenda for me. 
  5. I need to be intentional when spending time with those who do not know Jesus. Jesus ate with sinners, but not just for the sake of eating. He had an agenda. If I am not leading people to Jesus, they will lead me somewhere else. 
  6. I need to close the door to the tempter whenever possible. On a mission trip years ago, a chaperone took some youth to the mall to do some shopping. The chaparone followed a group of young people into a certain store. When they realized this was a very immodest clothing store, before the chaperone could say anything, a young person in the group said, “I don’t think I belong here,” and started walking out. Years later, I have found myself following the example of this young person. Again, if I feel awkward talking to Jesus here, then what am I doing here? 

There is another song I am thinking about now, that we sang way back in Cradle Roll. “Oh, be careful, little feet, where you go. Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear. Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see. For the Father up above is looking down in love, oh be careful little eyes what you see.” Do you remember that song? We sang it as little children in Cradle Roll. I don’t know why we don’t still sing it as adults. “We need Thee Every Hour,” so we can be careful what we see, what we hear and where we go. 

“I Need Thee Every Hour” is not a cute song. It’s the desperate, anguished cry of my soul. 

by In Light Of The Cross

Asking Questions Instead of Making Accusations

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I really enjoyed studying this week’s Sabbath School lesson, as it shows us how to handle situations where we suspect sin and apostasy appropriately. At the beginning of Joshua 22, Israel was concerned about their brothers’ actions, and they had every right to be. But after a proper investigation, there was understanding and reconciliation amongst the tribes. War was averted when they asked questions rather than issuing threats. Many of them were afraid the rebellion in Numbers 25 was about to repeat itself. Instead, wisdom and discernment helped them see the difference between what happened in Moab and what was actually happening on the other side of Jordan. 

When suspecting sin and apostasy, it is so much better to ask questions instead of making accusations. Consider how God handled sin and rebellion in Genesis 3. Instead of telling Adam, “I know where you are!” God asked, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:9. Instead of telling Adam, “I know what you did!” He asked him, “Have you eaten from the tree I told you not to?” Instead of telling Adam, “The reason you are naked is that you disobeyed!” He asked Adam, “Who told you that you were naked?” Genesis 3:11. If an all-knowing God asked questions instead of making accusations, how much more should we be asking questions (If it is even any of our business) instead of making accusations. 

Even when King Nebuchadnezzar got angry at the three Hebrews for not bowing to his image, even in his pagan fury, he was wise enough to ask questions rather than make an accusation when he asked the young Hebrew men if it was true that they had refused to bow. Daniel 3:14, 

In Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus gives us three steps to follow when seeking reconciliation with a brother. 1. Go to the brother we have the issue with and try to settle it just between the two of you. 2. If that does not work, find a mediator to hear the matter and help reconcile. It is important to note that Jesus did not say to give your side of the story to the mediator before meeting with the other brother. The mediator should hear both sides of the story at the meeting; otherwise, he will naturally be biased. Then, if that does not work, take the issue to the entire church. However, before even beginning this process, consider this proverb.

Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. Proverbs 19:11 NLT 

If it is worth pursuing, remember that the counsel of Matthew 18 works best as an inquiry, where questions are first asked, instead of beginning with accusations. 

by In Light Of The Cross

What God Remembers About Abraham

Because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” Genesis 26:5 NKJV

As we study this week’s lesson about Giants of Faith, what do you remember most about people? The good or the bad? We are told,

Cultivate the habit of speaking well of others. Dwell upon the good qualities of those with whom you associate, and see as little as possible of their errors and failings. When tempted to complain of what someone has said or done, praise something in that person’s life or character. Cultivate thankfulness. Praise God for His wonderful love in giving Christ to die for us. It never pays to think of our grievances. God calls upon us to think of His mercy and His matchless love, that we may be inspired with praise.-Ellen White, Help in Daily Living, Page 34. 

I love how God speaks of Abraham after he died. Yes, Abraham made some terrible and costly blunders, like taking Hagar as his wife instead of just trusting God’s promise. Abraham also lied in Egypt instead of just trusting God’s promise of protection. Yet after Abraham ‘s story is over, all God remembers are the good things. Yes, Paul mentions Hagar in Galatians, but he does not go on about how terrible Abraham was. He does not even mention Abraham’s name in that context. He merely refers to the situation. But when speaking directly about Abraham, here is what Scripture has to say: 

Because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”Genesis 26:5 NKJV

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 NKJV

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”  concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. Hebrews 11:17-19 NKJV

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?  Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was [j]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. James 2:21-23 NKJV

Truly when God forgives He remembers our sins no more. Hebrews 8:12. Even with Sarah, in Hebrews 8:11, God mentions her faith and never mentions that the whole Hagar incident was her idea. The way God talks about Abraham and Sarah, you would get the idea that they never did anything wrong. How beautiful is God’s forgiveness, and the way He only remembers the good and never recalls the bad. 

I have a good friend since childhood, but even though we have been good friends for life, I was not always nice when we were kids. Years ago at a church youth social I had to correct a child for being mean to another child. This reminded me of a time I was mean to my friend when we were kids. I called her that evening and told her how bad I felt about that now. She assured me she had no memory of that incidident and all she could recall about me were good things, like what a wonderful friend I have been for years. When I hung up the phone I marvelled at her graciousness. 

May we be as gracious with others as my friend was with me. May we be as gracious with others as God was with Abraham in Scripture, and as He is now with all of us. 

by In Light Of The Cross

It’s Nice to be Alone Sometimes

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Immediately, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now, when evening came, He was alone there. Matthew 14:22-23 NKJV

When I was in my early teens, I found being seen alone in public awkward. I was afraid it made me look unpopular. However, when I was 14, my family took a vacation to Washington, DC. One of the places we visited was the Arlington National Cemetery. While looking around, I somehow got separated from my family. For some reason, I felt no need to panic. I continued to look around, reading the monuments and contemplating the meaning of life, country, and other sobering issues one might ponder in a national cemetery. Soon enough, I met up with my family again.

I am not sure how long I was on my own. It seemed like a while. By the time I had reunited with my family, I had made a self-discovery. I realized I had gotten more out of the visit to the cemetery while I was alone. It allowed me to spend time in thoughtful contemplation and self-reflection. I changed my attitude about alone time. Instead of feeling awkward, I began to embrace alone time.

At the time, I had never heard the word “introvert, much less considered myself one. My friends are surprised today when I tell them I am an introvert, since they know I love people so much. I have to say to them that introverts love people. Much of my time in solitude allows me to reflect on relationships and how to be a better friend. I love to spend my alone time reading and gathering ideas to share with my friends when we’re together again. Solitude allows me to prepare to be a better friend to those I serve. Often, it is while I am enjoying my alone time that I write my weekly articles for Sabbath School Net, so even though I am alone, I am still being sociable. 

Jesus made time alone with His Father. It prepared Him to serve His disciples and the multitudes. I strive to emulate Jesus’ example of striking the right balance between solitude and the crowd. Sometimes I will wake up in the morning with a hundred things to do. I will start reading my Bible and praying, when suddenly I get this urge to put my Bible down and get busy. After all, I have a friend in the hospital whom I must see. They need me, so how dare I sit here praying and reading my Bible? Thankfully, I have learned not to feel guilty for studying my Bible and praying when there are so many people to see and work to be done. I have learned that I am no good around people until I have been alone with Jesus. 

Being alone is not antisocial; when you spend time alone with Jesus, you find ways to share His love with others more effectively. It’s nice to be alone sometimes, so I can learn how to be more effective socially. 

You may study this week’s Sabbath School Lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

The Fatal Danger of Cherishing Sin

The story of Achan in this week’s Sabbath School lesson teaches us about the dangers of cherishing sin in our hearts. Fortunately, we have a Savior who is always quick to forgive, time and again, and even cleanse us, time and again. Whenever I see someone mopping a floor and a child tracks dirt on the clean floor, I hear them say, “I just cleaned this floor!” And when I hear that, I am so glad my Savior quickly forgives and cleanses my heart time and time again, without sighing and saying, “But I just cleaned this heart!” Still, while we have a forgiving Savior who can clean our repentant hearts time and time again, we must be careful that we do not become comfortable in our sins. There is a fatal danger in cherishing our sins.

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:47-50 NLT 

Notice that in this parable, the bad fish are not cleaned at the end of the world. They are either already good or already bad. There is no changing our characters at the second coming. Thus, it is never safe in any period of our lives to cherish sin.

He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11 NKJV

in 1 Corinthians 15, we read a beautiful promise. 

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52 NKJV 

I will let you examine the entire chapter for yourself and decide for yourself, but as I read this chapter, I find that Paul is talking about our physical bodies, not our moral characters, which are being changed at the second coming. Paul gives us much encouragement that our moral characters can be changed by grace here in this life, well before the second coming. 

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. Titus 2:11-12 NKJV

How comforting to know that God’s grace enables us to live a righteous and godly life in the here and now, instead of having to bring all the destruction upon ourselves and others, as Achan did while he clung to sin. 

I love how the NLT puts it as we continue reading Titus 2,

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.Titus 2:14 NLT 

Jesus did not pay the price for our sins so that we could continue in sin. 

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?  Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?  For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.  We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:1-7 NLT 

We do not want this proverb to be about us.

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.Proverbs 26:11 NLT 

Instead, we know that while Jesus did not die for us to continue in sin, He did die so that we can do what is right. 

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. 1 Peter 2:24 NLT 

In the Adventist church I have noticed we seem to go from one extreme to the other. Let’s not go to extremes but remember that God’s power to keep us from sinning never removes His power to forgive a truly repentant heart, and His power to forgive never cancels His power to help us overcome in the here and now.

The story of Achan teaches us while forgiveness is freely offered, clinging to sin will always prove fatal. Achan was found clinging to his trophies when He should have been clinging to God and His grace. As the old hymn says, “When at last my trophies I lay down, I will cling to the old rugged cross.” When Christ returns let us not be found clinging to our sins and trophies, but instead to the old rugged cross. 

by In Light Of The Cross

The Reformation Continues Until the Whole Earth Sees the Goodness of God.

On 31 October 1517, Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg church. Hence, 31 October has become known as Reformation Day. Regarding the Reformation, this is one of my favorite passages in Revelation,

After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. Revelation 18:1 NKJV 

The reason I love this passage is that it brings us to complete recovery from the Dark Ages. After 1260 years of spiritual darkness, the Protestant Reformation began to shed light on various points of God’s Word. Still, in Revelation 18:1, it continues until the entire earth is illuminated with the light which Satan tried to snuff out entirely during the Dark Ages. The world being enlightened with heaven’s glory may mean more than even some Adventists suppose. Yes, we come out of the Dark Ages as we recover certain Bible doctrines, like the Sabbath and the state of the dead, which were misrepresented during that time. But these doctrines are not the goal. These doctrines lead us toward a better understanding of God’s love. During the Dark Ages, something even more crucial than the Sabbath was shrouded in darkness. The very character of God and His love was shrouded in darkness. As various Bible doctrines came to light, a better understanding of God’s love emerged. This is why Ellen White wrote, 

The sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin is the great truth around which all other truths cluster. To be rightly understood and appreciated, every truth in the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, must be studied in the light that streams from the cross of Calvary. I present before you the great, grand monument of mercy and regeneration, salvation and redemption–the Son of God uplifted on the cross. This is to be the foundation of every discourse given by our ministers.–Ellen White, Gospel Workers, p. 315.

For the sake of time, let’s use the false teaching about the immortality of the soul and sinners being tortured throughout the endless ages of eternity as an example. This false teaching greatly misrepresented God’s love. In the light of the cross, we see that the wages of sin are death, not eternal torment, and Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. Thus, as we study every doctrine in the light of the cross, we see the light of God’s love that Satan tried to shroud in darkness.

As Seventh-day Adventists we have a special message to give to the world, to prepare people for the second coming. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us God wants everyone to come to repentance. Romans 2:4 tells us the goodness of God leads us to repentance. Thus our last day message to the world is way more than just about a day of worship or the non-immortality of the soul. Our most crucial message to the world is the love and goodness of God. 

It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth. –Ellen White, Christ Object Lessons, Page 415. 

The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children  of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them. The light of the Sun of Righteousness is to shine forth in good works—in words of truth and deeds of holiness.-Ellen White, Christ Object Lessons, Pages 415-416. 

As we celebrate Reformation Day let’s remember that the reformation is continuing to this day, and will continue until the whole earth not only sees the truth about the Sabbath and the immortality of the soul, but even more importantly sees the truth about God’s character and love. The reformation continues until the whole world sees the goodness of God that leads them to repentance and salvation. 

by In Light Of The Cross

Michael is My Savior

Recently I was studying with a man who believed Jesus was a really good person, even a savior who died for us, but he did not believe Jesus was God. I shared with him the importance of knowing Jesus was actually God. I asked him, “If your wife was trapped inside a burning building, which would convince her more that you love her? Sending a fireman in to rescue her or going in yourself to rescue her?” He replied, “Going in myself.”

God the Son shows His love for us by dying Himself to rescue us. 

In Daniel 10, Daniel is in a fierce spiritual battle when, finally, 

Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. Daniel 10:13 NKJV

In Daniel’s time of need did God send someone else to rescue Daniel, or did He demonstrate His love by rescuing Daniel Himself?

It’s easy for some to conclude, on surface reading, that Michael is just another angel. But as we look deeper, we see that Michael is actually the Son of God, who became incarnate as “Jesus,” coming to our rescue.

Archangel is a compound of two Greek words: “arche” which means beginning or commencement, and “aggelos” which means angel or messenger. The word arche is also closely related to the word “archo,” which means “to be first” or to “reign (rule) over.” Thus the “Archangel” is the One who began (created) the angels and reigns over them. That would be none other than Christ. 

Bible scholars are in general agreement that an “archangel” is over the created angels. But not all agree that the Archangel is the Creator Himself. 

Let’s look at a similar passage in which Christ is called the “beginning” of the creation of God:

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” (Rev 3:14)

In this text “arche” is translated as “beginning.” Is it not reasonable to conclude that since to all the other churches, the One speaking is Christ Himself, this is clearly another description of Christ. Thus, it appears that in biblical usage, the “arch-creation” or “beginning of creation” means the Creator Himself. 

Thus from the word usage, we could conclude that the “archangel” is also the Creator of the angels and not one of the created angels.

The name Michael means “One like God” or “There is no one else like God.” If Michael were only a created angel, then Lucifer’s aspiration to be “like God” could not be blasphemous and a reason for his expulsion from heaven. (See Isaiah 14:14.)

In Revelation 19:10 John starts to worship an angel and the angel tells him not to. Obviously this was a created angel who realized there was no way he, a created being could be equal with God. However, in Joshua 5, Joshua meets an Angel who accepts his worship, demonstrating that this was not a created angel, but the Angel who led Israel in the wilderness, referred to in Exodus 23:20-21:

 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.

Notice that the implication that this Angel can forgive transgression. Who but God Himself can forgive transgression? The Jews knew this and accused Christ of blasphemy when He forgave sin. (See Matthew 9:2-6) 

So how do we know in the Bible that Michael is the Son of God, now known as Jesus?

Daniel called Michael a chief prince. Who is our chief prince?

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given….. And His name will be called…. Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

Who did Jude 1:9 say raises the dead?

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. Jude 1:9

When Jesus comes, who raises the dead?

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 1

It is the Lord Himself who has the voice of the archangel. The same voice that Jesus said would raise the dead.

Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. John 5:25 

There are not two different persons who raise the dead. No created angel can raise the dead. Only Christ can do that. 

While Michael rescued Daniel during his time of need, who will rescue us during our time of trouble?

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake…..” Daniel 12:1-2

Michael, the Son of God Himself will come to our rescue! How assuring to know that God loves us too much to let someone else save and rescue us! He rescues us Himself! Yes God also send angels both terrestrial and celestial to help us in our time of needs, but He also loves us so much that He will finally come rescue all His people Himself! 

Daniel 10 gives me comfort that, in my time of need, when I feel I am being overcome by Satan, I can cry out God, “Please send Michael!” And Michael, the Only one “like Unto God,” Yes God Himself will rescue me!

Are you in the middle of a spiritual warfare now, and feel like you are losing the battle? Don’t wait. Call for Michael, the Son of God Himself, now! 

You may study this week’s Sabbath School Lesson here.

  1. In this text “a shout” and “the voice of an archangel” are an example of synonymous parallelism where both phrases mean the same thing, with one reinforcing the other. 

by In Light Of The Cross

Journalling

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“We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.”—Ellen G. White, Life Sketches, p. 196.

Long before Sabbath School Net, my blogsite, and Facebook, I loved to write. When I was a teenager, Earl Hamner inspired me to write and keep a journal. You may or may not know that Earl Hamner created the 1970s TV series The Waltons, based loosely on his own family’s experiences growing up during the Great Depression and World War II. In the TV series, John Boy, the character is based on Earl Hamner, who kept a journal. This inspired me to keep a journal, hoping to write some exciting stories to share later in life. While I did not write anything noteworthy enough to create my own TV series, I did write what has become a gold mine for my own reflection and self-discovery. 

For instance, when I was 15, I had a crush on a girl who didn’t return my feelings, so I wrote in my journal that I had called her a snob to her face. A couple of weeks later, I recorded in my journal that I preached my first sermon, but also noted the girl I had a crush on did not come to hear me preach, and I wondered why. Reading my journal years later, it was blatantly obvious why. Just a few days earlier, I called her a snob. Who wants to hear someone preach who just called you a snob? I didn’t see the obvious at the time, but years later, reading my journal, I could connect the dots that I couldn’t connect at the time. Around the same age, I wrote in my journal how I hoped to become a pastor someday. It is rewarding to go back to my journal and read about dreams that were fulfilled years later. Except now I don’t call people I want to share the Gospel with “snobs.” 

Sadly, after a couple of years of journaling, I stopped because I didn’t feel that what I wrote was exciting enough to record. Was I ever wrong! As I said earlier, I look back and see it as a gold mine of self-reflection and self-discovery, as well as documenting events and dates to refer back on whenever I need a timeline. By reading my old journals, I can see now what I have required to grow and how I have grown. Around 2005, Someone gave me a journal as a birthday gift, and I started journaling again, though I do not write in it nearly as often as I did as a teen. Of course, I now write on my blog and Facebook, so I can still share stories of my life. 

As we study this week’s Sabbath School Lesson, “Memorials of Grace,” I am reminded how journaling can be a memorial of grace.  In recent years, I have journaled about how God closed the door on my Bible Worker ministry only to open an even bigger door for ministry. I have journaled about how God got me out of debt after I lost my job, which is a very unique route out of debt. I have journaled about how God revealed His presence to me when my mother passed away. These miracles in my past are recorded in my journal to remind me that I never have to fear bad news. 

They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. Psalm 112:7 NLT 

So today, I thank God for the gift of writing, whether it is in my personal journal or blogging on Sabbath School Net or social media. I hope you also take advantage of the wonderful gift of writing, and record your own tragedies and triumphs, so you can look back and read and re-read the wonderful things the Lord has brought you through and done for you. I feel that, like me, you will also learn some things about yourself as you read your old stories. 

By the way, at camp meetings and while traveling, I will meet people who tell me they have been following my blog for a long time. Some of them have never commented, so I had no idea they were even following me. So, whether you have commented or not, I want to thank you for reading my blogs. Thank you for being someone I can share my stories with. By sharing my stories with you, I have been able to share my life with you. That makes you very special to me. Thank you. 

by In Light Of The Cross

When Love and Grace Made the Universe Stand Still

There is a saying, “kids who are loved at home come to school to learn. Kids who are not loved at home come to school to be loved.” Is it any different in Sabbath School? Is it also true that God’s children (ages 0-125) who know they are loved come to Sabbath school to learn, and those who don’t yet know they are loved come to Sabbath School to be loved?

I can still remember sitting at my desk in my 4th-grade classroom at Tulsa Adventist Academy, listening to my teachers, Miss Fisher and Mrs. Krueger, lecturing us about something. I don’t really remember exactly what it was about, but we must have been struggling with our grades, because all I remember is that both teachers told us, “If you only learn one thing this year, learn this. We love you!”  Now we were loved at home. We were loved at church and school, but as educated as my teachers were, they knew the most important thing was not money or a degree. It’s love. Without that, nothing else matters, and when you know you are loved, nothing can stop you!

For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died (2 Corinthians 5:14 Amplified Bible)

So while humanity tries harder, and reads self-help books and tries 12-step recovery programs, Paul says it is by looking at the cross and knowing we are loved that we get all our power to succeed. I remember John the Baptist telling everyone to “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. John 1:29. He didn’t tell them to try harder next time. He told them to look at the Lamb. Let His love soak into you.

As legalistic humans we are always wanting to promise to try harder next time. But the answer is not promising to try harder. The answer is letting yourself be loved.

In Jeremiah God mentions how Israel had not kept the promises they had made, so He was going to make a better promise. His promise would be better because He is the the One making the promise instead of them. He is the perfect Promise-maker while we are lousy promise-makers!

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Jeremiah 31:33 NLT)

So God promises to do for us what we could never even promise to do for ourselves, much less even try harder to make happen. God is the One promising, and He is the One who is accountable to make it so. Please notice something very important though. Its in Jeremiah 31:3 NLT, several verses before He promises to write His law on our hearts.

I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.

Just like my teachers realized all the book knowledge in the world doesn’t mean a thing without love, God feels the same way. Knowing all the laws and having them memorized in your mind and knowing them all by heart doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t know how much God loves you!

Friends, there is no reason for you to promise God you are going to try harder and do better next time. He has already promised you! We don’t need to promise God what He has already promised us! What? I don’t have any work to do myself? Well yes, and I will let Jesus tell you Himself, exactly what your work is.

 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:29 NLT

Our work is to believe God’s promise that He loves us with an everlasting love, and He will place the principles of His love (also known as His law) in our hearts!

This is why John never told us to try harder! Just look at the Lamb and let His love soak into your heart till your heart is saturated with His love, which is also His law. You don’t need to promise God anything. Your work is to believe the promises God has made to you!

I don’t need too many self-help books. I don’t need to try harder. I just need to look at the Lamb and fall in love with Jesus! His love will change me in ways I could never change myself. After all, all the self help books and promises of better performance don’t mean a thing without love!

So just how good is God at keeping His promises to love and save us? For brevity, let me share one example. You can read about it in Joshua 9-10.

The Gibeonites used deceit to trick Israel into letting them in on the covenant God had made with them. Even though Israel was not supposed to make a covenant with anyone living as close as the Gibeonites, they did. Later when the Gibeonites were under attack, they called upon Israel to save them, and even though the Gibeonites had used deceit to secure this covenant, God was so relentless in keeping His promise of love, that He caused the sun to stand still until the Gibeonites were all rescued! God fought for Israel as Israel fought for the mischievous Gibeonites. Let that soak in. The Gibeonites were in no way worthy of any of God’s blessings, but God was still so loving and faithful to His promise that He made the sun stand still until they were all rescued! Talk about a love that moves heaven and earth! And this powerful love was given to the most undeserving people! So, scientifically speaking, the greatest power in the universe is not gravity or the suctioning power of the black hole. God’s love overruled all those powers and made the solar system stand still. Imagine what this love can do in your heart! 

God’s powerful promises and love are also for you and me. In Hebrews 13:5 God promises to never leave us or forsake us, but the Amplified Bible is the only English version that even begins to grasp what God is actually promising.

for He has said, “I will never under any circumstances desert you nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless, nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you- assuredly not!” Hebrews 13:5 Amp version.

If we know we are loved we can come to Sabbath School to learn, and we can learn while we are loved, but we can’t learn without love.

If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2 NLT

—and the greatest of these is love.1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT 

You may study this week’s Sabbath School Lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

Perception and Reality

God never affirms a proud and arrogant attitude, but, as in the case of Joshua, He does tell meek and humble people to be strong and courageous. See Joshua 1:7-9. 

In His message to the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus tells the church of Smyrna that, although they may appear poor, they were actually rich. See Revelation 2:9. Later, He tells the church of Laodicea that, although they appear rich, they are actually destitute. See Revelation 3:17. It was because of Laodicea’s pride that Jesus could not call them rich, while He could call the humble people of Smyrna rich. The question is, who do we believe when Jesus contradicts our perception of reality? Do we believe in Jesus or do we believe what we see, hear, and feel? Let’s be cautious, as pride and arrogance can blur our perception of reality. On the other hand, so can our lack of faith in God ‘s love. 

Satan well knows how perception affects our picture of reality. So he likes to play little mind games. A while back, during a Bible study, I mentioned that I sometimes feel tempted to think that I care more about people than they care about me. My Bible student quickly responded, “Me too!” Then he paused, scratched his head, and added, “I bet Satan tries to make everyone feel that way.” I agreed with my Bible student.

Let’s look at how Satan played mind games with the Israelites. Look at how they perceived themselves after spying out the Promised Land, which had already been … well, promised to them!

“All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” Numbers 13:32-33 NLT.

Wait a minute? First of all, historians suggest that the Canaanites may have been a few inches taller than the Israelites, but not significantly taller so as to be considered giants. The grasshopper comparison was a drastic exaggeration. Furthermore, how did they know the Canaanites thought they were like grasshoppers? How would they know what they were thinking at all? They didn’t! They projected their perception on the Canaanites and thought their perception was reality. But it was all in their minds. Satan was playing mind games with them.

Later, in Joshua 2:9, Rahab, an actual Canaanite who could speak for the residents of Canaan, told the Hebrew spies exactly how they felt towards them, and they definitely did not see them as grasshoppers.

“I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.” Hebrews 2:9 NKJV

So the grasshopper comparison was just a little mind game of Satan that the first spies bought into. It was not reality. Sure, God wants us to be humble, but that does not mean he wants us to think we are grasshoppers while everyone else is a giant. Those who walk humbly with God are a terror to those who stand in their own pride and arrogance. If you walk humbly with God, you do not need to be intimidated by anyone, regardless of their title or the letters behind their name.

Humble men, armed with the word of truth alone, withstood the attacks of men of learning, who, with surprise and anger, found their eloquent sophistry powerless against the simple, straightforward reasoning of men who were versed in the Scriptures rather than in the subtleties of the schools. –Ellen White, Great Controversy, Page 455.

So it is today, as in every age. The same can be said for you today, which was said of John the Baptist.

He could stand erect and fearless in the presence of earthly monarchs, because he had bowed low before the King of kings. –Ellen White, Desire of Ages, page 103.

Wisdom and humility go beautifully together, while the typical combination of arrogance and ignorance seems to lack comeliness. While we do not want to be arrogant and ignorant, it is possible to be humble and confident. Our confidence should be in God and not in ourselves.

Are you facing a giant today? First, humble yourself before God. Put your confidence in His love and power. Walk forward in humble faith and obedience, and your giants will turn into grasshoppers. The humble of the land can also be the confident of the land, not cowards. 

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.