Are you curious about how one couple's faith can transform an entire village? Join us as we delve into Isaac and Rachel's story and the incredible impact of their baptism on their community. Subscribe for more insights into the power of faith in action. #RadioMinistry #VillageTransformation #NewLifeInChrist #awr #adventistworldradio #short Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN_Brmhsk-k
The God of Love and Justice – Lesson 4.God Is Passionate and Compassionate | Sabbath School with Pastor Mark Finley
Series THE GOD OF LOVE AND JUSTICE with Pastor Mark Finley |
Lesson 4.God Is Passionate and Compassionate |
The Source of True Love and Grace b |
God’s nature is characterized by deep compassion and boundless mercy. The Bible describes His love as stronger and more intimate than the deepest human affection, comparable to the care of a parent for their child (Psalm 103:13; Isaiah 49:15). Despite the unfaithfulness of His people, God remains faithful, patient, and full of mercy. In Jesus Christ, this divine mercy becomes visible through perfect compassion and selfless dedication. This lesson invites us to better understand God’s loving actions and to reflect His mercy in our own lives.
Memory Text: Isaiah 49,15 – “ ‘Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.’ ”
Content:
4.1 More Than a Mother’s Love
God’s Infinite Compassion
God’s compassion surpasses every form of human love, even the intimate affection of a mother for her child. Psalm 103:13 and Isaiah 49:15 show that God treats us like beloved children and never forgets us, even when human parents might fail. The Hebrew term racham, derived from the word for womb, highlights God’s deep, “womb-like” motherly love. Jeremiah 31:20 describes God’s unwavering desire for His people despite their unfaithfulness. This deep, inner longing of God demonstrates that His mercy is boundless and steadfast. For people with painful family experiences, God’s compassion can be made understandable through Jesus’ life and actions—through His healing proximity to the outcast and His unconditional love.
4.2 Gut-Wrenching Love
God’s Deep Yearning for His People
Hosea 11:1–9 portrays God’s intimate, fatherly love for His people, whom He tenderly cares for like a parent accompanies their child’s growth. Despite Israel’s repeated unfaithfulness, God’s love endures, wrestling with pain and compassion, revealing His deep emotional bond. God’s heart “turns away” in compassion, reflecting His passionate longing for reconciliation. This heart-wrenching love combines compassion and justice, for God’s love is not blind but profound and just. For us, this means that God does not abandon us in our missteps but calls us to repentance with patience and mercy. This knowledge brings us comfort and hope that God’s love remains unchanged even in our weakness.
4.3 The Compassion of Jesus
The Lived Mercy of God
Jesus embodied God’s boundless compassion by not only feeling pity but actively addressing people’s needs (Matthew 9:36; Mark 1:41). He healed the sick, comforted the grieving, and took in the outcasts, always moved by genuine mercy. Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37) shows His deep longing to gather and protect the people—like a bird caring for its chicks. These images illustrate that Jesus’ love is as strong and caring as the Father’s in the Old Testament. Jesus’ life was the perfect revelation of God’s love in human form. As His followers, we are called to emulate this example by approaching others with compassion and making God’s love visible through concrete actions.
4.4 A Jealous God?
God’s Passionate Love and Faithfulness
God’s jealousy (el qanna) is not a destructive or envious emotion but an expression of His deep, passionate love and desire for an exclusive relationship with His people. This divine jealousy is comparable to the devotion of a faithful husband who wants to protect his beloved wife from infidelity (2 Corinthians 11:2). It arises from God’s care and desire to prevent His people from the harm caused by false idols and ways (Psalm 78:58). Unlike human jealousy, which is often selfish, God’s jealousy is just and directed toward the well-being of His people. It shows how seriously God takes His relationship with us and that He meets us with an incomparable, protective love. This divine passion can teach us to act faithfully, lovingly, and protectively in our relationships—with a love that seeks the best for others.
4.5 Compassion and Passionate
God’s Love as a Model for Our Lives
God reveals in Jesus Christ a compassionate and passionate love that is shown through care, comfort, and deep empathy (Isaiah 63:9; Luke 19:41). This divine love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4–8, is patient, kind, and free from selfishness. It requires us to act with compassion and love not by our own strength but through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). The death of the self—the laying down of selfishness and pride—is necessary to make room for God’s love. Only when we ask God to renew our hearts can we live this pure, selfless love. This love leads us to actively comfort others, approach them with compassion, and make God’s love visible through our actions.
4.6 Summary
The Depth of Divine Love
Lesson 4 demonstrates that God’s compassion and mercy go far beyond human understanding. Like a parent’s love for their child, God’s affection is deep, steadfast, and infinite (Psalm 103:13; Isaiah 49:15). His passionate love is especially described in the caring jealousy with which He seeks to preserve His people from unfaithfulness (Deuteronomy 5:24). In Jesus Christ, God’s compassion becomes visible as He meets the needy with full mercy and gives Himself up for humanity (Matthew 9:36; Luke 19:41). This divine love is meant to inspire us to encounter others with compassion, patience, and selfless love through the power of the Holy Spirit. God invites us to embrace His mercy and actively share it in our lives.
How One Home Became a Beacon of Faith
Explore the inspiring story of a congregation that meets in a new member's home, showcasing the power of community support in faith. How has radio ministry impacted the Lyra district and led to the establishment of four churches? Join us for this uplifting narrative and subscribe for more inspiring content. #CommunityFaith #RadioMinistry #ChurchGrowth #awr #adventistworldradio #short Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8Nzb2lONaA
Sunday: More Than a Mother’s Love
Daily Lesson for Sunday 19th of January 2025
Perhaps the greatest love common to human experience is the love of a parent for a child. The Bible often uses the imagery of the parent-child relationship to depict God’s amazing compassion for people, emphasizing that God’s compassion is exponentially greater than even the deepest and most beautiful human expression of the same emotion.
Read Psalms 103:13, Isaiah 49:15, and Jeremiah 31:20. What do these depictions convey about the nature and depth of God’s compassion?
Image © Jeff Preston at Goodsalt.com
According to these texts, God relates to us as His beloved children, loving us as a good father and mother love their children. Yet, as Isaiah 49:15 explains, even a human mother might “forget her nursing child” or “not have compassion on the son of her womb” (NKJV), but God never forgets His children, and His compassion never fails (Lamentations 3:22).
Notably, the Hebrew term raḥam, used for compassion here and in many other texts describing God’s abundant compassionate love, is believed to be derived from the Hebrew term for womb (raḥam). And thus, as scholars have noted, God’s compassion is a “womb-like mother-love.” Indeed, it is exponentially greater than any human compassion, even that of a mother for her newborn.
According to Jeremiah 31:20 (NKJV), God views His covenant people as His “dear son” and “pleasant child,” despite the fact that they often rebelled against Him and grieved Him. Even so, God declares, “My heart yearns for him” and “I will surely have mercy on him.” The term translated “mercy” here is the term used above for divine compassion (raḥam). Further, the phrase “My heart yearns” can be translated literally as “My innards roar.” This description is the deeply visceral language of divine emotion, signifying the profound depth of God’s compassionate love for His people. Even despite their infidelity, God continues to bestow His abundant compassion and mercy on His people and does so beyond all reasonable expectations.
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For some of us, recognizing that God’s compassion for us is akin to that of a loving father or mother is deeply comforting. However, some people might struggle because their parent or parents were not loving. What other ways could God’s compassion be revealed to them? |
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25a-04-more-than-a-mothers-love/
Psalm 95:6
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
The post Psalm 95:6 appeared first on Daily Bible Promise.
Source: https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/jL28dc7E3KDJQKo8C53lrFkQDN3hXgxq
God First: Your Daily Prayer Meeting #889
Matthew 21:22 – "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Tag someone in need of prayer, and kindly share your prayer requests here. https://wkf.ms/3DBuapQ Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmryM5Yljs4
SdS – L’amore e la giustizia di Dio – Lezione 4
DIO È APPASSIONATO E COMPASSIONEVOLE.
Approfondimento della quarta lezione del 1° trimestre 2025 con Mariarosa Cavalieri, Tamara Pispisa e Luca Faedda. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=045h2VoFglE
10 giorni di preghiera 2025: Concludiamo insieme il percorso
Il pastore Giuseppe Cupertino conclude questa serie con una riflessione sul significato della preghiera. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1USt0zXLfxE
The Sabbath Matters More Than You Think
Did you know the Sabbath is a reminder that God is both the Creator and Sustainer of everything? Exodus 20:11 reveals that God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. The Sabbath is a sign of His love and His personal involvement in your life. Take a moment to reflect on the beauty of creation and the Creator who made it all. Happy Sabbath! #SabbathRest #CreatorGod #FaithAndCreation #awr #adventistworldradio #short Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUXrQbX_BXI
Lesson 3.To Be Pleasing to God | 3.7 Questions | THE GOD OF LOVE AND JUSTICE | LIVING FAITH
1.What Could It Mean to “Receive Selflessly”? How Will the Relationship of Giving and Receiving Look in Heaven and on the New Earth?
What Could It Mean to “Receive Selflessly”?
“Receiving selflessly” means accepting gifts, love, or support without ulterior motives or expectations of something in return. It involves accepting what is given with a humble and grateful heart, purely out of love or kindness.
In our world today, receiving is often associated with pride, shame, or the feeling of needing to give something back. However, receiving selflessly means appreciating and accepting the gift of giving without feeling obligated. It requires humility and trust—especially in faith—to accept God’s grace, forgiveness, and love, even when we cannot earn them.
In Daily Life, This Means:
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Accepting help from others without feeling inferior.
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Accepting God’s grace without trying to “repay” it through good deeds.
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Being grateful and humble when others offer their love and time.
How Will the Relationship of Giving and Receiving Look in Heaven and on the New Earth?
In heaven and on the new earth, the relationship of giving and receiving will be perfectly harmonious. There, love, joy, and community will exist in complete harmony. Everyone will give out of pure, selfless love, and receiving will be free from pride, guilt, or expectation.
Perfect Love and Harmony:
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Everyone will give with joy and dedication, without fear of being exploited.
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Everyone will receive with joy and gratitude, without pride or shame.
God’s Presence as the Source:
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God’s love will be the origin of all giving, so every gift will be an expression of His perfect love.
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Every person will be perfectly fulfilled through God’s presence, so giving and receiving will happen not out of lack but out of abundance.
No Boundaries Between Giving and Receiving:
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There will be no calculation of who gives or receives more—everything happens in the flow of divine love.
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Giving will bring joy, and receiving will fill the heart without guilt.
Conclusion:
Receiving selflessly means accepting gifts with gratitude and humility, without expecting anything in return. In heaven and on the new earth, giving and receiving will exist in perfect harmony, supported by God’s perfect love. Everyone will give joyfully and receive joyfully—free from pride, guilt, or expectations.
2.From a Distant Part of the Cosmos, Heavenly Messengers Referred to the Prophet Daniel Three Times as Chamudot, “Beloved,” “Desirable,” “Precious.” In Daniel 9:23, Gabriel Says Ki Chamudot Attah, “For You Are Greatly Beloved” (EB). In Daniel 10:11, a Heavenly Being (Perhaps Gabriel Again) Calls Him Isch Chamudot, “Beloved Man,” an Expression Later Repeated Towards Daniel (Dan 10:19). Reflect on What This Says About God and How Close He Is to Us. What Hope Can You Draw from This Amazing Thought for Yourself?
The thrice-mentioned designation of Daniel as “chamudot” – “beloved,” “desirable,” “precious” – by heavenly messengers in Daniel 9:23, Daniel 10:11, and Daniel 10:19 is a deeply moving expression of God’s personal and intimate affection for Daniel. This special address reveals much about God’s nature and His relationship with us humans.
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God’s Personal Love and Nearness
That Daniel is addressed as the “beloved man” shows that God views each individual not just as part of humanity but as a unique, valuable person. God’s love is personal, concrete, and individual. Daniel was not just a prophet to God but a beloved child to whom He was close.
What This Says About God:
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God sees each of His children as valuable and precious.
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He meets us not distantly but with deep affection.
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God’s love is not based on performance but on His grace.
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God’s Nearness in Difficult Times
Daniel lived in a difficult time of exile, full of challenges and trials. In this situation, God speaks to him through His messengers with encouragement, comfort, and recognition.
What This Shows Us:
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God is especially near when we go through tough times.
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He sees our struggles, our faithfulness, and our worries.
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He encourages us to remain faithful because we are loved.
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Hope and Encouragement for Our Own Lives
If God loves Daniel so personally, then we too can claim this love for ourselves. God’s love applies to every person who seeks Him and trusts Him.
What Hope This Gives:
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You are valuable in God’s eyes, regardless of your weaknesses.
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God knows you by name and calls you beloved and precious.
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In times of uncertainty, we can know that God does not leave us alone.
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God’s love is steadfast—regardless of external circumstances.
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Our Identity as Loved by God
This assurance changes our view of ourselves. Our identity is not shaped by external successes or others’ opinions but by the fact that we are unconditionally loved by God.
Practical Hope:
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Even in doubts and weakness, we can know: “I am loved by God.”
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God’s love gives us courage to face challenges.
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This love encourages us to meet others with love and appreciation.
Conclusion:
God’s thrice-mentioned designation of Daniel as the “beloved man” shows how personal, near, and loving God is towards His children. This truth gives us hope: We too are valuable, loved, and precious in God’s eyes. This love carries us through difficult times, gives us new strength, and fills our lives with meaning.
3.How Are the Examples of the Heroes of Faith from Hebrews 11 Connected with the Content of This Week’s Study Reflection? What Do These Examples Reveal About How One Can “Please God Through Faith”? What Can You Learn from Such Examples of Faith and Their Fidelity and Apply to Your Daily Life?
The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 are impressive examples of what it means to live pleasingly to God through faith. Their stories reflect central themes of the lesson: trust, fidelity, dedication, and striving to live according to God’s will despite difficulties. Their experiences show that a life of faith is not marked by perfection but by trust and obedience to God.
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Connection to the Themes of the Lesson:
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God’s Joy in Faith (Hebrews 11:6):
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
This principle runs throughout the entire lesson. Whether it’s about the Prodigal Son, God’s joy over repentance, or living as living stones, faith is always the foundation for pleasing God.
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Honest, Imperfect Faith:
The father in Mark 9:24 asks, “I believe; help my unbelief!” This shows that even weak faith can be pleasing to God when it is honest. Similarly, the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 did not always have perfect life stories, but their faith was genuine.
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Active and Lived Faith:
The heroes of faith acted because of their faith—Noah built the ark, Abraham left his land, Moses led Israel out of Egypt. Faith is demonstrated in actions, just as the lesson emphasizes that we, as living stones, should actively build God’s kingdom.
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What the Heroes of Faith Teach About Pleasing God Through Faith:
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Faith Means Trusting Even Without Visible Proof:
Abraham followed God’s call without knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). Similarly, we are to trust God even when the path is unclear.
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Faith Means Perseverance in Trials:
Many heroes of faith experienced severe trials but remained faithful to God. Job lost everything but remained steadfast. Moses held onto God’s promises despite setbacks.
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Faith Means Obedience Even When It’s Difficult:
Noah built the ark despite ridicule. Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac. Their obedience shows that true faith requires trust and dedication.
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Faith Means Focusing on the Unseen:
They lived with hope in God’s promises, even when they did not see them fully realized (Hebrews 11:13). This reminds us to orient our lives towards the eternal and not get stuck in earthly worries.
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What We Can Learn for Our Daily Lives:
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Trusting God’s Guidance:
Like Abraham, we can take bold steps, even if we don’t fully understand the way. Trust means letting God take the first step.
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Patience in Difficult Times:
Like Moses or Joseph, we can remain patient when God’s plan takes longer. God often works behind the scenes.
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Faith is Shown in Actions:
Like Noah actively built the ark, we should demonstrate our faith through concrete actions: through love, justice, and service to others.
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Stay Steadfast in Trials:
The heroes of faith remained faithful even when they faced misunderstanding, rejection, or suffering. Their example encourages us to remain faithful to God, even when it’s difficult.
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Focus on God’s Promises:
They lived not for the here and now but for God’s kingdom. This challenges us to orient our lives towards the eternal and not get stuck in earthly worries.
Conclusion:
The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 show that a pleasing life to God is marked by trust, obedience, and perseverance. They were not perfect, but they held onto God’s promises. Their example encourages us to take courageous steps in faith in our daily lives, even when the path is unclear. God does not require perfect faith but a heart that trusts Him and is ready to follow Him.
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