Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. Colossians 1:18 NLT
Several Years ago, a friend of mine and I went to the Bodies exhibit at the MOSI Museum in Tampa, where we saw real bodies on display. One of the exhibits featured a nerve that ran from the small toe up the spinal column to the brain. The moment the toe was injured, the message shot to the brain, which felt the pain instantly.
As I studied this exhibit, I thought of Colossians 1:18: Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and we are His body. I realized that just as the brain feels pain the moment the smallest body part is injured, so when the smallest member of the body of Christ is hurt, Jesus, Who is the Head of the body, is the first to feel the pain.
Many of us have experienced pain, trials and persecutions that others do not understand. This makes us feel lonely and isolated. But when we share in Jesus’ pain and persecution, we grow closer to Christ in understanding and gain an intimacy with Him that the world will never understand. This may be why Paul said,
I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Philippians 3:10 -11NLT
Just like the toe cannot feel pain without the brain feeling pain, likewise, the smallest member of the body of Christ cannot hurt without Christ, Who is the Head, hurting with us. The toe cannot feel pain alone, and you cannot feel pain alone either. As soon as you are hurt, Christ is right beside you, sharing your pain. Or, since Satan is really trying to get at Christ, instead of saying He shares our pain, could it be said that we share His pain? If so then Jesus, Who had to tread the winpress alone, with no one to help Him, (Isaiah 63:3) is now no longer alone. Millions of persecuted saints are right there with Him.
Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 1 Peter 4:13 NLT
Because of the connection between the little toe and the brain, neither the brain nor the toe is ever alone. Neither ever cries alone. Likewise, because of the connection the smallest member of the body of Christ has with Christ Himself, neither the smallest member nor Christ Himself ever cries alone in pain. We have a constant companion in our sufferings and in our glorious victories.
You may study this week’s Sabbath School Lesson here.
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:15-17 NLT
A few years ago I had baptismal studies with an elderly man named Oscar. He had just come to the United States from Guam but was actually already a U.S. citizen before ever stepping on American soil. Guam has its own government, but it is an unincorporated United States territory. This gave Oscar the opportunity to become a U.S. citizen before even setting foot on U.S. soil.
I had never heard of someone being a citizen of a country they had never been to before, but then it occurred to me that all Christians are citizens of a land they have never been to before. This world is not our home. The fact that the world is not our home could account for why we do not always fit in. It could explain why the world cheers at things that break our hearts and why we sometimes cheer and the world does not cheer with us.
When people move from other countries to the United States, I notice they like to keep a lot of their cultural traditions, especially foods. I watched a documentary a while back on the History Channel, talking about how food companies in America expected immigrants back in the day to start buying traditional American foods,. The documentary went on to say that never happened! So the American food companies had to start catering to the diet of the immigrants.
As citizens of heaven we find some cultural traditions in our communities pose no threat to our Bible standards, but many do. It is then that we need to remember to cling to our heavenly culture while living in another land. We need to remember we are the visiting team. Have you ever followed your favorite sports team to a road game? It is a totally different atmosphere than when you are watching them play at their home stadium. When you are on the road, you stand up and cheer when your team scores, but you cheer alone, because everyone else is for the home team. And when something happens to make the home crowd cheer, you just sit there. Everything seems backwards when your team is playing on the road. I have been to several Tampa Bay Rays baseball games over the years, and I notice how fans of the visiting team dress and behave. First of all you can tell they are not fans of the home team when you see them wearing shirts and ball caps with the visiting team’s logos. Funny that so many Christians try to blend in with the world by the way they dress, but sports fans visiting another team’s ballpark never try to blend in with the home crowd by the way they dress. They are proud of the team they represent; so they are proud to stand out from the rest of the crowd. As Christian, are we proud to stand out from the culture and crowd we are around? Fans of the visiting team don’t cheer when the home crowd cheers. They don’t try to blend in with the home crowd by the way they act either. As Christians we are the visiting team here on earth. Do we behave as we would back home in heaven, or do we try to behave like the world, hoping to blend in?
Now to stay balanced – the visiting team fans do follow general home field rules and cultural traditions. They all stand for the national anthem. They all stand for the 7th-inning stretch, and they all politely wait in line at the concession stands and wait their turn at the ticket counter. They don’t act differently just for the sake of being different. They only act differently when team loyalty is called into question. Likewise Christians should not be standing out just to look strange or weird. It does not help the cause of Christ when Christians act strange for no good reason. We should only act differently to make our loyalty to God clear.
As I am writing this, I am thinking of the many times a city or community has weathered a rough storm either literally or metaphorically, and they looked to their local sports team to lift their spirits and help put pride back in their community. Today with the COVID-19 affecting our communities, I could not help but think that we don’t even have sports now as a lighthearted way to lift our spirits. While some simple and even innocent pleasures of the world are now fading away as 1 John 2:17 describes, we now more than ever should be proud to belong to a God who always lifts our spirits. With ballparks and even church buildings that give us a sense of fellowship and lift our spirits are closed now, we still belong to a God who alone can lift our spirits and give us hope.
Do we dress and act here on this earth, the same way we would dress and act in God’s kingdom, where we belong?
As Christians, let’s let the world know that earth is not our home. While being as polite and pleasant to be around as possible, let it be known that our home is in heaven, not here. We do not blend in with the world because we are not a part of this world. Let’s not be afraid to look different and act different. Lets be as proud of the kingdom we belong to as visiting team fans are proud of the teams they belong to. Actually even more proud.
You may listen to and share the podcast version of this article here.
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; Philippians 3:8-9 NKJV.
As I read this passage while studying this week’s Sabbath School lesson, I could not help but think about Jesus’ counsel to the church of Laodicea. While Laodicea had good works that were hot, their motives were cold. Righteousness is hot. Self is cold. So their self-righteousness left them lukewarm.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Revelation 3:17.
How plainly is pictured the position of those who think they have all the truth, who take pride in their knowledge of the Word of God, while its sanctifying power has not been felt in their lives. The fervor of the love of God is wanting in their hearts.
Many are Laodiceans, living in a spiritual self-deception. They clothe themselves in the garments of their own righteousness, imagining themselves to be rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, when they need daily to learn of Jesus, His meekness and lowliness.
What is it that constitutes the wretchedness, the nakedness, of those who feel rich and increased with goods? It is the want of the righteousness of Christ. In their own righteousness they are represented as clothed with filthy rags, and yet in this condition they flatter themselves that they are clothed upon with Christ’s righteousness…. They may be crying, “The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we,” while their hearts are filled with unholy traffic and unrighteous barter. The courts of the soul temple may be the haunt of envy, pride, passion, evil surmising, bitterness, and hollow formalism. Christ looks mournfully upon His professed people who feel rich and increased in the knowledge of the truth, and who are yet destitute of the truth in life and character.
Jesus says, “I, your Redeemer, know your works. I am familiar with the motives that prompt you to declare boastingly in regard to your spiritual condition, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.’ Thou ‘knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.’” …
What a position to be in! They stand in their own light. But notwithstanding their willful ignorance, they are not left by the Lord without added warning and counsel. – Ellen White, Our High Calling, Page 349
Jesus continues his counsel to Laodicea,
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. Revelation 3:18 NKJV
Salvation is free, so why is Jesus telling us to buy gold refined in the fire and white garments? I believe Jesus wants us to use the bartering system. He wants us to trade in our self-righteousness. The refining fire removes self-confidence as we trade in our self-reliant righteousness and accept Jesus’ robe of righteousness. Like Paul in Philippians 3, we need to let go of our self-righteousness and take on Christ’s righteousness as our own. This has been an ongoing struggle with humanity throughout history. In Numbers 13, the children of Israel could have put their faith in God’s love and taken the promised land, but instead they looked at themselves and thought it could not be done. Because of their lack of faith, God tells them in Numbers 14 that they will not be able to enter the promised land, but their children will in 40 years. But at the end of Numbers 14, Israel decides to go ahead and take the land by themselves, and they ended up getting defeated. They failed to learn in Numbers 13 that with God’s grace, they can do all things, and in Numbers 14 they failed to learn that without that same grace they can do nothing.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV.
I believe that our work is to get ourselves out of the way so that God can do His work in us.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:19-21 NKJV.
Jesus is rebuking us of our self-righteous pride, because He loves us. When self is dead, Jesus sees us as overcomers just like Him! What is impossible to do in our own strength, we can do in God’s strength and grace. Self-righteousness is only a pretended righteousness, while the righteousness of Christ, which is by faith, makes righteousness a reality.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. Hebrews 11:8 NKJV.
Abraham disobeyed God when he put faith in himself. This is why Abraham had to be circumcised. Self-confidence in the flesh had to be removed. When Abraham wholly relied on God, and put His faith in God instead of relying on self he obeyed. This is why today our hearts need to be circumcised. The heart is deceitful and leads us to trust ourselves. Once the self is dead, God’s grace gives us genuine obedience.
Jesus rebukes us because he sees potential in us. Once while working at UPS, I did something that made my supervisor very upset. He chewed me out to the point where I thought I was about to be fired. But then he turned around and said, “You may think I am getting too upset about this, but when you become a supervisor, you will understand.” So he rebuked me and then talked about me becoming a supervisor one day, which I did!
Likewise, Jesus rebukes us because He sees us as overcomers, as He overcame, once we repent of our self-reliant righteousness and accept the righteousness of Christ as our righteousness.
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
I grew up in a relatively large Sabbath School class at the First Tulsa Seventh-day Adventist Church in the late 60s and 70s. It was a large church with attendance back in the 70s reaching well over 300. Some of my older friends tell me it was almost 400 some Sabbaths. The church also had a bustling school with around 100 students, give or take a few. So childhood peers were not scarce for me growing up in the church and Sabbath School.
I remember in Cradle Roll singing the song “I Have Two Dollies, and you Have None,” where a little girl would be given two dolls, and then share with another girl who did not have one, and then for the boys, it would be the same song but with a toy truck instead of a doll. I remember one time we were horrified when a little girl visiting our class was given the two dolls, but then refused to share!
I remember in Kindergarten Sabbath School class, the other kids singing Happy Birthday to their friend who was having a birthday that week, and the little plastic cake we would put our birthday thank offering into.
In Primary class, we had “Our Primary Treasure” magazine, with the Sabbath school lessons that my parents studied with my sister and me each night during family worship. My parents were my teachers when I reached the Junior room, and they were very active, not only in Sabbath school class, but also in socials and activities that brought us all together. To this day, I am still friends with several kids from my Sabbath School classes when I was growing up.
I have friends today who did not grow up in the large Sabbath School classes as I did. My girlfriend Becky grew up in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. She tells me that her church was so small that she and her brothers were the only kids, and so sometimes her own parents taught the class, or sometimes they just joined the adults. Later, the church grew with just a few more kids, where they would have a class with all ages, and then divide by age for the lesson study. Another friend told me that she was often the only child in her class, but it made her feel special that there was a whole class just for her.
Children’s Sabbath school classes have always been a challenge, especially in rural areas where there are not many children. Back in the day, families lived on farms and raised several children who would fill the church. Today, younger families are having fewer children and are more prone to live in the cities than in rural areas.
I remember being a Bible Worker and an elder in a small church on the outskirts of Tulsa, a good-sized city. We had an extremely small children’s Sabbath school class. While more young families with children lived in the area, most traveled to Tulsa for the larger Sabbath School class. These families told me they did not want to go to the smaller church in their area because there were not enough kids for their kids to be with. I assured these families that if they all came to the smaller church, it would not be so small. It was hard for me to watch, because the few children who did remain in the smaller church would have loved to have had more friends, and they could have had more friends if the other families in that rural area had supported their neighborhood church instead of insisting on driving 30 or more minutes into the city.
What was your Sabbath School childhood like? I hope you will comment below and share your experiences of what you loved about Sabbath School as a child and what you would have liked to be different. I hope we can all learn from each other’s experiences to build better Sabbath School classes in both rural and urban communities that will help disciple our children.
You may study this week’s Sabbath School Lesson here.
Jesus taught humility while upholding human dignity.
So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:7-11 NKJV
Here, Jesus teaches us how to be humble and how to protect ourselves from humiliation. By assuming the lowest place, we avoid being humiliated by being asked to step down. While the gospel destroys human pride, Jesus protects human dignity. After all, in John 2:1-10, Jesus turns water into wine and performs His first miracle to save a host from embarrassment. In John 8:1-11, Jesus protects the dignity of a woman tricked into adultery, while also protecting the dignity of the accomplices by writing in the sand instead of publicly calling them out. We don’t know exactly what Jesus wrote in the sand, and it makes me wonder whether Jesus told John not to tell anyone what he read that day, to protect the dignity of those He was striving to convert. If so, Revelation 10:4 would be the second time John was told not to write what he heard or read. But I digress.
Jesus taught us how to be humble without being humiliated. To me, the difference between humility and humiliation comes down to control. We humans love to be in control of ourselves, and that is not all bad. After all, according to Galatians 5:22-23, self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. So, self-control is a good thing, and Jesus teaches us how to be humble while still being in control of ourselves.
When I was 11, several family members were at my grandmother’s house for a funeral. Everyone was receiving their sleeping arrangements, and after my grandmother checked to make sure everyone was okay with their bedding, she turned to me and said, “The only place left for you is the sofa in the living room.” While I was happy to sleep on the sofa, or floor for that matter, I was insulted and humiliated that I was told instead of asked. Especially since everyone else, including other children, were asked. I wanted the dignity of being in control and volunteering to sleep on the sofa instead of being forced.
Looking back at the situation with adult eyes now, I understand the people, including children, who were asked where they wanted to sleep were more directly related to the dearly departed than I was. Also, my grandmother was grieving the loss of her sister, so I could have been more understanding. I could also have spoken up earlier and said I would just sleep on the sofa or anywhere. But hey, I was just a kid. The point is, I understand what Jesus was talking about when He taught us to exercise self-control and take the lowest place before it is assigned to us, and we lose control. I hope I have also learned how to protect the dignity of younger people while teaching them humility. Humility should not be humiliating. Desiring that type of control is not a sin. Remember, the Holy Spirit gives us self-control.
A friend told me that when she was new to a company, and on a business flight, she did not realize she had taken the vice president’s seat. It was later pointed out to her by a seasoned associate towards the end of the flight. However, when the vice president saw a new intern sitting in his seat, he said nothing and went to the back of the plane, taking the last seat left. He did not want to embarrass a new employee, and besides, he not only had self-control but also the self-confidence to realize that the vice president’s seat was whatever seat he was sitting in.
In the Book of Esther, Haman could have learned a lesson from this vice president and saved his neck instead of getting all bent out of shape when Mordecai did not bow to him. On the other hand, Daniel exercised self-control when he was insulted by the king in Daniel 5:13. Daniel had enough self-confidence that he could let that insult roll right off his back.
Remember, when weak people are disrespected, they seek revenge. When people who are strong in the Lord are disrespected, they forgive. When brilliant people are disrespected, they ignore the disrespect.
Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. Proverbs 12:16 NIV
The gospel destroys human pride while protecting human dignity. Using self-control to be humble is not humiliating. Failing to use self-control to be humble is humiliating.
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
Paul felt the destiny of his life was to share the Gospel, even if it meant facing constant persecution and even death.
And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:22-24 NLT
Thankfully Paul’s life was preserved until he accomplished everything Jesus wanted him to accomplish.
Likewise, even if our lives are cut short, we can be certain Jesus will not let that happen until He has accomplished His purpose for our lives. Here is a remarkable account of Ellen Harmon, a young girl, no more than eighteen years old. She is on a steamboat leaving Portland Maine that has just run into a very dangerous storm. While many were fearful for their lives, this young girl, when asked by an older woman why she was not afraid like everyone else, could answer with assurance:
“I told her I had made Christ my refuge, and if my work was done, I might as well lie in the bottom of the ocean as in any other place; but if my work was not done, all the waters of the ocean could not drown me. My trust was in God, that he would bring us safe to land if it was for his glory.” Ellen White, Life Sketches, p. 241
God did indeed have a work for Ellen to do. Ellen later married James White, an Adventist pioneer, and the rest is history. God also has a purpose for each of us. Our goal in this world should not necessarily be to live a long life, but to live a faithful life. As long as we have the assurance young Ellen had, that we are in God’s care and doing God’s work, the longevity of our life is not consequential, and we shall be prepared to walk away from this world either by death or the Second Coming at any time, satisfied we have accomplished our purpose and destiny as followers of Christ.
Each has his own experience, peculiar in its character and circumstances, to accomplish a certain work. God has a work, a purpose, in the life of each of us. Every act, however small, has its place in our life experience. – Ellen White, God’s Amazing Grace, Page 311
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, Philippians 1:12 NKJV
While no one wants to go to prison, especially if falsely accused of a crime they did not commit, would it be worth it to you to be falsely accused and sentenced to jail if you could lead just one person there to eternal salvation?
In Philippians, Paul says that his imprisonment actually helped spread the Gospel and encouraged others to be bold in spreading it. Acts 16 also mentions Paul and Silas being imprisoned in Philippi. They were singing songs of praise while the other prisoners were listening. If you were wrongfully imprisoned, would you be singing songs and praising God? I hope so, because something extraordinary happened. An earthquake opened up the prison. Instead of running for it, Paul and Silas ministered to the correctional officer and led him to salvation. You can read this fantastic story in Acts 16:25-34.
Much more recently, theChristian Post, among other Christian news agencies, has shared the testimony of a Chinese woman known as Sister Tong. Chinese officials arrested her for having an underground church in her home. After serving her 6-month sentence, instead of complaining, she was beaming with joy about the women’s ministry she had begun right there in prison. Like Paul, being in prison helped sister Tong spread the Gospel and has inspired others in countries where Christianity is illegal to be bolder in spreading it as well.
When you consider that Jesus left heaven to come to this cold, dark world to live and die to save others eternally, is there any place that is too cold or dark for you to go and save others? Jesus did not complain about coming to this cold, dark world to live and die, but came willingly. See John 10:17-18. Likewise, Paul and Silas were not protesting or pleading their innocence while in prison. They were praising the Lord. What a testimony to the warden and other prisoners! And more recently, instead of complaining about the terrible living conditions in a Chinese prison, Sister Tong beams with joy over being able to lead several women prisoners to Jesus and salvation.
Paul, Silas, and Sister Tong not only endured prison and persecution to save others eternally, but did so joyfully. Is there any place you are unwilling to go joyfully to lead others to eternal salvation?
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In Light of The Cross 