Closer To Heaven
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This story is an update to a previously published article. Andrews University alumnus Wandile Mthiyane has announced that he has secured the funding needed to begin his studies at Harvard University, bringing an end to weeks of uncertainty that threatened to derail his plans. Mthiyane, who walked 1,600 kilometers across South Africa in 2023 to […] Source: https://atoday.org/update-wandile-mthiyane-secures-harvard-funding-after-global-fundraising-effort/
e farci dubitare del nostro valore. Nel Vangelo di Giovanni leggiamo che Dio ha amato il mondo al punto da donare suo Figlio. Un amore che non esclude nessuno. Il tuo valore non dipende da come sei stato trattato: sei degno di essere amato. 🤍 Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bo6IV9WwI9w
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The Biblical Person of the Day
Eve – the First Woman and Mother of All Living
Profile
Short StoryEve was the first woman created by God. After Adam was alone, God said that it was not good for man to be alone. Therefore, He created Eve as a counterpart, companion, and helper suitable for Adam.
Eve was not created as a secondary figure, but as a complete human being, desired by God and endowed with dignity. Together with Adam, she was to live in the Garden of Eden, enjoy God’s creation, and bear responsibility.
At first, Eve lived in perfect harmony with God, with Adam, and with creation. There was no fear, shame, guilt, or death.
But one day, the serpent spoke to Eve and called God’s Word into question. It awakened doubt about God’s goodness and made the forbidden fruit appear desirable.
Eve took the fruit and ate. Then she also gave some to Adam, and he ate as well. In this way, sin entered human history.
After their disobedience, Adam and Eve became aware of their nakedness, felt ashamed, and hid from God. Their open fellowship with Him had been broken.
Yet even in judgment, hope remained. God gave the first promise of redemption and announced that the Descendant of the woman would crush the serpent’s head.
The Decisive MomentEve listens to the voice of the serpent, doubts God’s Word, and takes the forbidden fruit.
7 Special Facts About Eve
Strengths & Weaknesses
created and desired by God
endowed with dignity
called to fellowship
mother of humanity
allowed herself to be deceived by the serpent
questioned God’s Word and God’s goodness
The Failure That Shaped HerEve listened to the voice of the serpent and took the fruit that God had forbidden.
Her story shows how dangerous it is to allow doubt, mistrust, and personal desire to displace God’s Word.
Key Verse“And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” (Genesis 3:20)
The Life LessonGod’s Word protects life. When mistrust toward God is given room, human beings become vulnerable to deception and wrong decisions.
Application for TodayPay attention to the voices you trust. Not every voice that promises freedom truly leads to life.
Question for YouWhere do you need to trust God’s Word today more than a voice that sows doubt about His goodness?
ContextEve stands at the beginning of human history. Her story belongs to the foundational biblical themes of creation, fellowship, temptation, sin, and redemption.
ConnectionEve is connected with Adam, the Garden of Eden, the Fall, and the first promise of the coming Redeemer.
Eve shows that human beings were created by God for fellowship, but also how quickly doubts about God’s Word can lead the heart astray. Yet her story does not end only with guilt, but also with the hope of redemption.
Until tomorrow with the next biblical person!
The Life Story The Life Story of Eve – Dignity, Temptation, and Hope 
It Is Not Good for Man to Be AloneEve enters the biblical story because God Himself sees that man should not remain alone. Adam lived in the Garden of Eden, surrounded by beauty, life, and abundance, yet he lacked a true counterpart.
God said that it was not good for man to be alone. This made it clear that fellowship belonged to God’s good plan from the very beginning.
Eve was created so that Adam would not remain alone. She was not an afterthought, but part of God’s perfect order of creation.
Created as a CounterpartGod caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and created Eve. When Adam saw her, he recognized in her someone who belonged with him and corresponded to him.
Eve was not formed again from the dust like Adam, but was taken from his side. This image speaks of closeness, fellowship, and belonging together.
She was not created beneath him to be despised, nor above him to rule over him, but at his side as a companion with equal dignity before God.
Life in the Garden of EdenEve lived with Adam in the Garden of Eden. Everything was good. Their relationship with God was open, the relationship between man and woman was without shame, and creation was free from death and decay.
In this world there was work, responsibility, beauty, and joy. Adam and Eve were allowed to enjoy the garden, but also to care for it.
Their life did not begin with fear or struggle, but with God’s presence and with a home shaped by His blessing.
Freedom with a BoundaryGod gave Adam and Eve great freedom. They could eat from the trees of the garden, but they were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
This boundary was not a sign of harshness, but an invitation to trust. They were to learn that true life does not consist in determining everything for themselves, but in acknowledging God as good and true.
As long as they trusted God’s Word, their freedom remained protected.
The Voice of the SerpentOne day, the serpent approached Eve. It did not begin with open rebellion, but with a question. It called God’s Word into question and sowed doubt.
Then it attacked God’s goodness. Suddenly, the prohibition no longer appeared as protection, but as restriction. The fruit became desirable, and God’s warning was pushed aside in Eve’s thinking.
Her story therefore shows how temptation often begins: not with a loud break, but with quiet mistrust toward God.
Reaching for the FruitEve saw that the fruit was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. She took it and ate.
Then she gave some to Adam, and he ate as well. At that moment, the trust that had sustained their fellowship with God was broken.
Sin entered not only through an outward action, but through a heart that no longer placed God’s Word above its own judgment.
Shame, Fear, and HidingAfter their disobedience, Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened, but not to the freedom the serpent had promised. They recognized their nakedness and felt ashamed.
They sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. When they heard God’s voice in the garden, they hid.
Where there had once been closeness, there was now fear. Where there had been trust, there was now guilt. Sin had not merely broken a rule; it had damaged relationships.
Judgment and HopeGod called Adam and Eve to account. The consequences of disobedience were announced: pain, toil, conflict, and death would shape human history.
Yet in the midst of judgment, God also gave hope. He announced that the Descendant of the woman would crush the serpent’s head.
In this way, Eve was connected not only with the Fall, but also with the promise. From her line would come the One who would overcome sin, the serpent, and death.
Mother of All LivingAdam gave his wife the name Eve because she became the mother of all living. This name carries hope within it.
Although death had entered the world, life continued. Eve became a mother and experienced joy, pain, and loss in the deepest way.
With Cain and Abel, the story of humanity outside Eden began, and it soon became clear how deeply sin had wounded the family and the world.
The Lasting Message of Her LifeEve reveals the dignity of woman as a person created and desired by God. She reminds us that fellowship, marriage, and life were gifts from God from the very beginning.
Her story also warns us against questioning God’s Word and trusting a voice that sows mistrust toward Him. At the same time, it shows that God’s hope is stronger than human failure.
Closing ThoughtEve began her life in perfect fellowship with God and Adam. She was created for relationship, dignity, and life.
Yet through deception and disobedience, guilt entered her story. Nevertheless, God did not leave her without hope, but gave the first promise of redemption.
Her life story shows: Even when human beings fall through mistrust, God gives hope, life, and the promise of a Savior.
IntroductionLesson 6 focuses on the spiritual gifts that God gives to His church through the Holy Spirit. Paul shows that these gifts were not given for self-promotion or comparison, but for building up the body of Christ. Although the gifts are different, they all come from the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God. Love is especially important, because without love even impressive gifts lose their spiritual value. Gifts such as speaking in tongues and prophecy must also be used intelligibly, in an orderly manner, and in harmony with Holy Scripture. This lesson invites us to use our gifts humbly, faithfully, and for the glory of Christ.
FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS
Lesson 6: Spiritual Gifts
6.1 A Variety of Gifts
Different Gifts, One Spirit, and a Common Ministry
1. IntroductionIn 1 Corinthians 12, Paul begins an important new subject: spiritual gifts. The church in Corinth was rich in gifts, but it was not always mature in the way it used them. Some gifts were apparently given more attention than others, resulting in comparison, pride, and disorder. Paul wants to remind the church that spiritual gifts do not arise from human ownership or personal achievement, but are given by the Holy Spirit. Every gift has its place, purpose, and task. What matters is not who possesses the most noticeable gift, but whether Christ is honored through every gift and whether the church is built up.
2. The Biblical FoundationPaul writes:
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” 1 Corinthians 12:1
He then reveals the foundation of genuine faith:
“No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” 1 Corinthians 12:3
Paul continues:
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:4
“And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:5
“And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” 1 Corinthians 12:6
These verses show that the gifts are different, but their source is the same God.
3. Connection to Our TimeThe church today also contains many different abilities, ministries, and spiritual gifts. Some people are gifted in teaching, while others are able to encourage, organize, pray, serve, provide pastoral care, make music, preach, help, or reach people personally. Yet, as in Corinth, there is still a danger of valuing certain gifts more highly than others. Visible ministries often receive recognition more quickly than quiet, hidden tasks. Paul reminds us that God uses not only what is noticeable, but also what is small, faithful, and unseen. A healthy church recognizes that diversity is not a problem, but a gift from God.
4. Central Message of the Lesson
Spiritual gifts come from the Holy Spirit, are given to every believer according to God’s will, and are intended not for self-promotion, but for shared ministry and the building up of the church.
5. Theological FocusThe theological focus of this lesson is that spiritual gifts have their origin in God. Paul does not speak merely of natural talents, but of gifts given and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. God can, of course, also use natural abilities, but spiritual gifts are more than human talent. They are instruments of God for ministry within the body of Christ.
It is especially important that Paul describes the gifts in connection with the triune God. He speaks of the “same Spirit,” the “same Lord,” and the “same God.” In this way, he shows that spiritual gifts are not separate, independent powers, but expressions of God’s work within His church. The Holy Spirit gives the gifts, Christ is the Lord of the ministry, and God works through everything in everyone.
This means that no gift belongs to a person in a selfish sense. No one can say, “This gift belongs to me so that I may appear important.” Every gift remains God’s gift and God’s possession. Human beings are merely stewards of what God has entrusted to them.
Therefore, a spiritual gift must never become a reason for pride. Those who receive a gift have not earned it; they have received it. A gift is grace. The very expression “gift of grace” shows that it comes from God’s undeserved goodness. Every gift should therefore lead to humility, not arrogance.
Paul also begins this subject with the confession: “Jesus is Lord.” This is decisive. The first and most fundamental work of the Holy Spirit is not a spectacular gift, but the confession of Christ. Those who truly recognize Jesus as Lord place themselves under His authority, guidance, and truth.
In that time, this confession was very powerful. To say, “Jesus is Lord,” meant that no human power possessed the highest claim over one’s life—not the emperor, society, culture, or the self, but Christ alone. This confession was courageous and could be dangerous. It was itself a work of the Holy Spirit.
This shows that spiritual gifts must never be separated from the lordship of Jesus. A gift is used in a truly spiritual way only when it is submitted to Christ. When a gift draws attention to the person using it but does not lead others to Jesus, it fails to fulfill its purpose.
Paul speaks of different gifts, ministries, and activities. These three terms reveal different aspects of the same work of God. Gifts emphasize what is given. Ministries emphasize the task. Activities emphasize God’s power working through people. Together, they show that God gives, God sends, and God works.
The diversity of gifts is not accidental. God distributes them “as He wills.” This means that we do not need to envy another person’s gift. God knows what His church needs. He also knows which task He has entrusted to each person. Therefore, every believer may gratefully accept their gift and use it faithfully.
The theological core is this: The one God works through many gifts so that the church may grow in unity. Diversity does not oppose unity, but serves it. When all gifts are submitted to Christ, the result is not disorder, but harmonious ministry for the building up of the body of Christ.
6. Spiritual DeepeningThis lesson helps us understand spiritual gifts correctly. Many people ask, “What is my gift?” That is a good question. But an even more important question is: “Whom does my gift serve?” If the answer is not Christ and His church, even a genuine gift can be misused.
The Corinthians possessed many gifts, but they struggled with pride, comparison, and disorder. This shows us that gifts are not a substitute for spiritual maturity. A person can be gifted and still behave immaturely. Therefore, gifts must always be joined with humility, love, and obedience.
The Holy Spirit gives gifts not so that we may set ourselves apart from one another, but so that we may serve one another. There are no useless members in God’s church. Every Christian has a place. Every ministry can be important. Not everyone stands at the front, but everyone can contribute to the building up of the church.
Some gifts are visible, while others remain hidden. A sermon is heard, a song is noticed, and leadership is seen. Yet a prayer offered in private, a visit to someone who is ill, an encouraging message, faithful service in the background, or practical assistance can be just as much the work of God’s Spirit. God does not judge according to the stage, but according to faithfulness.
This truth frees us from envy. We do not need to possess another person’s gift in order to be valuable. God does not give everyone the same gift because the church is not made up of identical parts. Diversity is necessary. If everyone only taught, who would comfort? If everyone only organized, who would listen? If everyone only preached, who would serve?
At the same time, this truth also frees us from feelings of inferiority. Some Christians believe that they have nothing important to contribute. Yet Paul shows that everyone receives something from God. Your gift may be quiet, but it is not worthless. It may receive little attention, but God sees it. It may appear small, but in God’s hands it can bring great blessing.
Another important point is spiritual responsibility. Those who have received a gift should not bury it. Gifts are not given merely for personal enjoyment, but for ministry. God entrusts something to us so that we may strengthen others. Therefore, we should ask: Where can I serve? Whom can I build up? How can Christ become visible through me?
The declaration “Jesus is Lord” places all gifts under a clear order. The gift does not rule the person; Christ does. Feelings do not determine the ministry; God’s will does. Personal honor is not the goal; the glorification of Jesus is.
This is especially important because spiritual gifts can be misused. A person can use a gift to seek attention, impress others, feel superior, or gain influence and power. Paul leads the church back to the center: Everything comes from God and should serve God.
The Holy Spirit does not work chaotically, but Christ-centeredly. He does not lead into pride, but into humility. He does not lead into division, but into unity. He does not lead into self-glorification, but to the confession: Jesus is Lord.
This lesson invites us to surrender our abilities to God anew. Perhaps we have not used our gifts because of fear. Perhaps we have used them too much for ourselves. Perhaps we have envied others or regarded our own task as insignificant. God calls us to renewed and humble service.
True spiritual diversity is beautiful when it is carried by love. A church in which different people with different gifts work together reflects something of God’s wisdom. There it becomes visible that God does not build His church through one person alone, but through many members who serve Christ together.
7. Application in Daily LifePractical Steps:
8. Reflection QuestionWhich gift or ability has God entrusted to me, and how can I use it more intentionally to build up the church and glorify Christ?
9. Closing ThoughtPaul shows that spiritual gifts are diverse but come from the same source. The Holy Spirit gives them, Christ directs them toward ministry, and God works through them to build up the church. Therefore, no one should be proud of their gift, and no one should despise their gift. What matters is not how noticeable a gift is, but whether it is used with humility, love, and faithfulness. The first and most important expression of the Spirit remains the confession: Jesus is Lord. When every gift stands under His lordship, diversity becomes a blessing and the church becomes a living witness for God.
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:4 
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son. Galatians 4:4.
Christ came to this world to reveal the Father, to give to humanity a true knowledge of God. He came to manifest the love of God. Without a knowledge of God, humanity would be eternally lost…. Life and power must be imparted by Him who made the world.
The promise made in Eden—the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head—was the promise of the Son of God, through whose power alone could the counsel of God be fulfilled and the knowledge of God be imparted.
God made the promise to Abraham, “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” To Abraham was unfolded God’s purpose for the redemption of the race…. Christ declared, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”
Jacob declared, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”
To Moses God talked face to face, as one talks with a friend. On him shone the light regarding the Savior. He said to the people, “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.”
The sacrifices and offerings told their story of the coming Savior, who was to be offered up for the sins of the world. They pointed forward to a better service than theirs, when God would be worshipped in spirit and truth and in the beauty of holiness.
In the Jewish service was typified the atonement demanded by the broken law. The victim, a lamb without spot or blemish, represented the world’s Redeemer, who is so holy and so efficient that He can take away the sin of the world.
To David was given the promise that Christ should reign forever and ever, and that of His kingdom there should be no end.
The Hebrews lived in an attitude of expectancy, looking for the promised Messiah. Many died in faith, not having received the promises; but having seen them afar off, they believed and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.—Youth’s Instuctor, September 13, 1900.
From the Heart p. 225
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Pat who had temporal artery biopsies Thursday. Also please pray for Brenda who has some serious back problems. Rose
—-Requesting prayer for a loved one for safe travels. David
—-My husband is almost 72 and he is a truck driver. It is a physical job due to lots of hooking and unhooking of trailers. The other driver just quit. Please pray that they will hire another driver ASAP, my husband will desperately need the help. Lucyanne
—-Please pray for my friend Steve. He is struggling with severe anxiety. Torrie
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Dear Friends,
This past week, I was looking at some books in one of our bookcases. I found there an award I was given at an awards ceremony at work for my length of service. Each department head called their employees up to the front, said nice things about them, and gave them their award. Five in our department received an award. Our boss also said nice things about each of us. Soon we each had our award and it was back to work as usual.
I couldn’t help thinking of another “awards ceremony” where the reward will be far greater than a worthless keepsake. On that grand and glorious day, the Great King of the universe will say to each of us, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matt 25:21 Moreover He will place upon our head a crown, give us a harp, and allow us to sit with Him in His throne. (Rev 3:21) What a privilege!
Revelation chapters two and three speak of many rewards we will be given. It is well to review these awards from time to time. “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
After that great awards ceremony above, life will never go back to “work as usual.” Isaiah and the Loving Disciple John wrote about our life when sin and sinners are no more, and we will dwell with the One Who loves us so. Take a few minutes to read Revelation chapters 21 and 22, as well as Isaiah 65:17-25; 66:22, 23; 11:6-9; 35 May we each experience the great reward that our Dear Saviour has gone to prepare for us is my prayer. (John 14:1-3)
Rose
Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/god-fulfilled-his-promises.html
August 2–8, 2026
BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
Weekly Reading from the Spirit of Prophecy
Ellen White | Prophets and Kings
Chapter 16: The Fall of the House of Ahab
God’s Judgment upon Persistent Apostasy and Abused Power
Read online here
IntroductionFor many years, the house of Ahab had shaped Israel through idolatry, violence, selfishness, and open rebellion against God. The influence of Jezebel, in particular, led Ahab ever deeper into guilt. What at first appeared to be the personal decisions of individual rulers became a destructive power that affected entire generations. Chapter 16 tells how God’s patience finally gave way to solemn judgment and how the foretold end of the house of Ahab was fulfilled step by step.
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CommentaryAhab was naturally greedy and selfish. Under Jezebel’s continual influence, he became increasingly accustomed to placing his own desires above the rights of others and above God’s commandments. He could not bear it when anyone opposed him or refused him something he desired.
Near his palace lay Naboth’s vineyard. Ahab wanted this property because it was conveniently located and because he wished to turn it into a garden. He offered Naboth a better vineyard or an appropriate sum of money.
Naboth refused. The vineyard was the inheritance of his fathers, and according to God’s law, such a family inheritance was not to pass permanently to another tribe or owner. His refusal was therefore not a personal insult to the king, but an expression of faithfulness to God’s order.
Ahab, however, reacted like a spoiled child. He returned to his palace filled with anger and resentment, lay down on his bed, turned his face toward the wall, and refused to eat. Instead of respecting Naboth’s decision, he allowed disappointment to rule him.
When Jezebel learned what had happened, she despised her husband’s weakness. To her, royal power was a means of crushing every form of resistance. She promised Ahab that she would obtain Naboth’s vineyard for him.
Jezebel wrote letters in the king’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles of the city. In them, she commanded that a fast be proclaimed, that Naboth be publicly accused, and that two false witnesses testify against him.
The men were to claim that Naboth had blasphemed God and the king. He was then to be taken outside the city and stoned. In this way, the religious form of a fast was used to conceal a murder.
The elders obeyed. They neither questioned the lawfulness of the command nor defended an innocent man. Naboth was condemned on the basis of false testimony and killed.
When Jezebel received the news, she went to Ahab and urged him to take possession of the vineyard. Ahab did not ask about the details. He wanted the property and accepted it, although he knew that Naboth’s death was connected with it.
The king went down to the vineyard that he had obtained through deceit and bloodshed. But there Elijah met him. The prophet had been sent by God to call the crime openly by its true name.
Elijah confronted Ahab and declared: “Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?” Ahab immediately recognized the man standing before him and cried out in fear: “Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?”
Ahab regarded Elijah as an enemy because the prophet told him the truth. Yet Elijah was not pursuing any personal purpose. He pronounced God’s judgment upon a house that had deliberately surrendered itself to evil.
The prophet announced that the house of Ahab would be destroyed. Like the houses of Jeroboam and Baasha, this dynasty would also fall because of its sin and corrupting influence.
A particularly dreadful judgment was pronounced upon Jezebel. Dogs would eat her by the wall of Jezreel. Ahab’s descendants would likewise not die in peace.
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth upon his body, fasted, and walked about dejectedly. His humiliation was not the fruit of deep and lasting repentance, yet God noticed even this outward bowing of himself.
The Lord told Elijah that the announced calamity would not come fully during Ahab’s lifetime, but during the reign of his son. This revealed that even in the face of great guilt, God is not indifferent to signs of humility.
Three years later, Ahab died in battle against the Syrians. His son Ahaziah ascended the throne and continued in the path of his parents. He served Baal, worshiped him, and provoked the Lord to anger.
His reign was marked by unrest from the beginning. Moab rebelled against Israel, and Ahaziah suffered a serious accident. He fell through the lattice of his upper room and was so badly injured that he feared for his life.
Yet even in this condition, he did not seek the God of Israel. Instead, he sent messengers to Ekron to inquire of Baal-zebub whether he would recover.
On the way, the messengers met Elijah. The prophet asked: “Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub?” He then announced that Ahaziah would not rise from his bed, but would die.
The servants returned to the king. When they described the man, Ahaziah immediately recognized that it had been Elijah. He knew that the prophet’s word would be fulfilled.
Instead of humbling himself, however, he attempted to bring Elijah to him by force. A captain with fifty soldiers was sent and commanded the prophet in an arrogant tone to come down.
Fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. A second company approached with the same pride and suffered the same judgment.
The third captain approached differently. He knelt before Elijah and humbly pleaded for his own life and the lives of his men. Then the angel of the Lord instructed Elijah to go with him to the king.
Without fear, Elijah stood before Ahaziah and repeated God’s message. Because the king had inquired of Baal-zebub as though there were no God in Israel, he would not rise again from his bed.
Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord. He had witnessed powerful revelations of God, but he continued in the path of his parents. His rebellion remained unbroken until the end.
Because Ahaziah had no son, his brother Joram succeeded him. Although Joram removed one pillar of Baal, he did not abandon the sins of Jeroboam. His obedience remained half-hearted.
Meanwhile, the influence of the house of Ahab spread increasingly into Judah. Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, was married to Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Under her influence, he too turned to Baal worship.
Jehoram of Judah led the people astray and built high places. He also had his own brothers killed. This showed how deeply the spirit of the house of Ahab had already penetrated the royal house of Judah.
Elijah sent the king a written message. In it, he announced severe judgments upon his people, his family, and his possessions. Jehoram himself would also be struck by a painful and incurable disease.
The prophecy was fulfilled. Philistines and Arabians invaded Judah, plundered the palace, and carried away the king’s family. Finally, Jehoram died after prolonged suffering and severe pain.
His son Ahaziah became king of Judah. Yet he too was under the influence of Athaliah and the other members of the house of Ahab. They became his advisers and led him to destruction.
Ahaziah of Judah allied himself with his uncle Joram of Israel. Together they went to battle against the Syrians. Joram was wounded and returned to Jezreel to recover.
At that time, Elisha sent one of the sons of the prophets to Ramoth-gilead. He was to anoint Jehu secretly as king over Israel and give him a special commission.
Jehu was appointed to execute judgment upon the house of Ahab. The blood of the prophets and faithful servants of God was to be avenged. The long history of persecution, idolatry, and murder would not remain unpunished.
After Jehu had been anointed, the commanders of the army proclaimed him king. Without hesitation, he drove to Jezreel, where Joram of Israel and Ahaziah of Judah were staying.
Joram rode out to meet Jehu and asked whether there was peace. Jehu replied that there could be no peace as long as Jezebel’s idolatry and sorceries continued.
Joram recognized the seriousness of the situation and attempted to flee. But Jehu drew his bow and struck him fatally. His body was cast onto Naboth’s field.
Thus, the judgment upon the house of Ahab was visibly connected with the earlier crime against Naboth. The vineyard that Ahab had acquired through murder became the place where the consequences of his guilt were revealed.
Ahaziah of Judah was also pursued and fatally wounded. His close connection with the house of Ahab led him into the same judgment.
When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. She painted her eyes, arranged her hair, and looked out of the window. Even in this final hour, she showed no repentance.
Jehu commanded the servants to throw her down. Jezebel fell from the window, and later only a few remains of her body were found. Elijah’s word had been fulfilled.
Jehu continued the judgment. Ahab’s descendants, his leading men, his relatives, and his priests were killed. The prophets and priests of Baal were also lured into a trap and destroyed.
The temple of Baal was demolished, the idols were burned, and Baal worship was removed from Israel. Outwardly, the influence of Ahab appeared to have been broken.
Yet Athaliah still lived in Judah. When she heard of the death of her son Ahaziah, she had all the descendants of the royal house killed so that she could seize the throne for herself.
Nearly all the descendants of David were murdered. Only the young Joash was rescued by Jehosheba, the wife of the high priest Jehoiada, and hidden in the temple.
For six years, Joash remained hidden there while Athaliah ruled over Judah. She believed that she had destroyed the entire royal line.
In the seventh year, Jehoiada made a covenant with the captains, Levites, and leading men of Judah. They resolved to make Joash king publicly.
The young king was crowned and anointed in the temple. The people clapped their hands and cried: “God save the king!”
Athaliah heard the rejoicing and went to the temple. There she saw Joash standing by the royal pillar, surrounded by captains and trumpeters.
She tore her clothes and cried: “Treason, treason!” But her power had been broken. Jehoiada ordered that she be taken out of the temple, and she was killed.
Thus ended the last direct influence of the house of Ahab upon the throne of Judah. The evil alliance that had begun with Ahab’s marriage to Jezebel had brought devastation upon both Israel and Judah.
After Athaliah’s death, Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people. They pledged once again to be the people of God.
The people went to the temple of Baal, tore down the altars, smashed the idols, and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal.
A general reformation began. The people rejoiced, the city became peaceful, and the rightful descendant of David sat upon the throne.
The history of the house of Ahab showed that sin rarely remains limited to one person. Ahab’s selfishness, Jezebel’s violence, Ahaziah’s rebellion, and Athaliah’s cruelty affected generations.
Yet it was equally clear that God’s word does not fail. What Elijah had announced was fulfilled. No royal influence, political alliance, or human power could permanently prevent the judgment.
God had warned for a long time, repeatedly called people to repentance, and even responded patiently to small signs of humility. But where people consciously and persistently remained in evil, judgment finally came.
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SummaryThe house of Ahab led Israel ever farther away from God through idolatry, violence, and rebellion. Naboth’s murder revealed Ahab’s selfishness and Jezebel’s cruelty with particular clarity. Although Ahab humbled himself for a time, his family did not return to God permanently. Ahaziah sought help from Baal-zebub, Joram continued in false ways, and through Athaliah the corrupting influence spread into Judah as well. Finally, the announced judgment was fulfilled. Jehu destroyed the house of Ahab, Jezebel met her end, and Athaliah’s rule was also overthrown. Joash was rescued and crowned king, while the people removed Baal worship and renewed their covenant with God.
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Message for Us TodayThe history of the house of Ahab reminds us that wrong decisions can have far-reaching consequences. Selfishness, spiritual indifference, and unwise relationships affect not only our own lives, but often our families and future generations as well. God is patient and repeatedly calls people to repentance, but His warnings must not be continually ignored. It is equally important to recognize that we must not seek counsel, hope, and help from powers that lead us away from God. True security is found in trusting His Word, in sincere repentance, and in a life consciously placed under His guidance.
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Thought for ReflectionWhich decisions in my life could also influence other people? Do I truly seek counsel and security from God, or do I allow myself to be guided by voices that contradict His Word? Am I willing to take warnings seriously before wrong paths become firmly established? Which spiritual influences should I consciously remove from my life today?
“Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?” (2 Kings 1:3)
August 2, 2026
BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
Daily Bible Reading: 
Job 37
Before the Voice of God
Wonder Prepares the Heart to Hear God Speak
Read online here
IntroductionJob 37 brings Elihu’s speech to an end. He describes the mighty forces of nature—thunder, lightning, snow, rain, and storm—as testimonies to God’s power and wisdom. His words prepare the climax of the book: God Himself will speak to Job out of the whirlwind. This chapter invites us to develop reverence for the Creator and to acknowledge that His ways far surpass our understanding.
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CommentaryElihu begins with a personal reaction to the approaching storm. His heart trembles with reverence when he hears the thunder. To him, the events in nature are not merely physical processes, but expressions of God’s greatness and majesty.
He describes how God sends lightning across the sky and causes His voice to resound in the thunder. Rain, snow, and ice are under His command. Nature follows the instructions of its Creator and fulfills His will, whether for correction, for watering the land, or as a sign of His goodness.
Elihu calls Job to stand still and consider the wonders of God. Can a human being direct the clouds? Does he know how lightning comes into being or how God guides the wind? The answer is obvious: Human beings possess knowledge, but their understanding remains limited.
In this way, Elihu pursues an important purpose. He wants to lead Job away from his unanswered questions and direct his attention toward the Creator—not because the questions are unimportant, but because God’s greatness is greater than every human explanation.
Elihu emphasizes that God is perfect in power, justice, and righteousness. For this very reason, He will never pervert justice. Human beings cannot fully comprehend God’s ways, yet they may trust that God’s character is perfectly good.
The final verses form a transition to the next section. The storm Elihu describes is the same storm from which God Himself will speak in the following chapter. After the many human speeches, the Lord will now take the floor.
Job chapter 37 reminds us that true wisdom begins with reverence. Those who recognize God’s greatness become humble. Not every question is answered immediately, but wonder before the Creator prepares our hearts to hear His voice.
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SummaryJob 37 concludes Elihu’s speech. Through nature, he reveals God’s power, wisdom, and justice. Human beings cannot fully understand God’s works, but they may trust Him. The chapter prepares Job for his direct encounter with God.
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Message for Us TodayIn a world that can explain many things, God remains greater than our knowledge. His creation reminds us every day of His power and faithfulness. When we reach the limits of our understanding, we may still trust Him. Reverence for God is not a sign of ignorance, but the expression of a faith that honors the Creator above its own understanding.
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Thought for ReflectionAm I willing to marvel at God’s greatness and trust Him even where my understanding reaches its limits?
Los adventistas del séptimo día van a la iglesia el sábado y, a veces, también el viernes por la noche. Pero, ¿por qué lo hacemos? La respuesta que he oído toda mi vida es que el sábado, el séptimo día, incia con la puesta de sol del viernes y finlaliza hasta la puesta de sol […] Source: https://atoday.org/el-sabado-fue-creado-para-ir-a-la-iglesia-o-simplemente-para-descansar/
The King Is Coming Soon – Hope Beyond the End
August 2 – Becoming More Like Christ: Transformation from the Inside OutTheme of the Month: Sanctification and Character Development – Being Ready When Jesus Comes
Theme of the Year 2026: “Soon the King Will Come – Hope Beyond the End”
Central Bible Text for the Day“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory.”
— 2 Corinthians 3:18
Devotional for the DayBeing ready when Jesus comes does not mean merely waiting for a future event. It means being transformed by Christ today. The return of Jesus is the great hope of believers, but this hope is meant to shape our lives now. Those who expect the King desire to become increasingly like Him in character.
Paul describes this transformation with a beautiful image: We behold the glory of the Lord and are changed into the same image. This means that spiritual growth does not primarily take place through strained effort, but through beholding. We become like that upon which we fix our eyes. Those who constantly look at themselves become discouraged or proud. Those who constantly look at the world become restless. But those who look at Christ are transformed.
This transformation begins within. God does not work only upon outward behavior, but upon the heart. He desires to purify our thoughts, renew our motives, sanctify our words, and shape our decisions through His love. Character development is therefore more than moral improvement. It is the work of the Holy Spirit restoring the image of Christ within human beings.
Sometimes we desire rapid change. We want to become more patient, loving, pure, faithful, and strong. Yet God often shapes character step by step. He works through His Word, through prayer, through trials, through encounters with others, and through the daily decisions of life. Every day becomes an opportunity to become more like Christ.
Christlikeness does not mean that we lose our personality. It means that everything within us is purified and brought into order by His love. Our strength becomes more humble. Our words become gentler. Our faithfulness becomes clearer. Our love becomes purer. Our faith becomes deeper. In this way, God prepares a people who do not merely speak about Jesus, but reflect His character.
Transformation Through BeholdingLooking to Christ transforms the heart. When we consider His life, see His patience, admire His purity, recognize His compassion, and understand His faithfulness at the cross, the Holy Spirit begins to impress this image upon us.
Ellen G. White wrote:
“By beholding Christ, we are transformed; His image is restored in the heart.”
(Steps to Christ, p. 72)
This is why daily fellowship with Jesus is so important. Without this focus on Christ, sanctification remains outward. With Him, however, it becomes living, deep, and genuine.
Character Development in Daily LifeCharacter is not formed only during great spiritual moments. It is formed in everyday life—when we decide how to respond after being hurt, when we remain honest even though it would be easier to avoid the truth, and when we forgive, serve, remain silent, pray, or stay faithful even though no one is watching.
Ellen G. White wrote:
“Only those who are becoming like Christ will be able to stand when He appears.”
(Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 413)
This preparation is taking place today—not sometime in the future, not only during the final crisis, but through the small decisions that shape our hearts. God uses the present day as a school for eternity.
Renewed from the Inside OutGenuine sanctification does not begin with an outward appearance of piety. It begins where Christ rules the heart. When He works within, the results become visible outwardly—not as a religious facade, but as the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
This fruit does not grow through pressure, but through connection. A branch bears fruit when it remains in the vine. In the same way, our lives become fruitful when we abide in Christ. The closer we are to Him, the more He shapes our character.
The coming King is not seeking a people who glorify themselves. He is preparing a people who reflect His glory. Therefore, we may pray today: Lord, show me Jesus. Transform me through His love. Make me more like Him until I am ready to meet Him.
PrayerDear Father in Heaven,
I want to become more like Christ.
Help me not to fix my eyes on myself or on the world, but on Jesus.
Transform my heart from the inside out through Your Holy Spirit.
Shape my thoughts, words, motives, and decisions according to the character of Christ.
Help me to grow spiritually today and prepare me for the return of Jesus.
Amen.
Thought for the DayWe become more like Christ when we look to Him each day and allow His Spirit to transform us.
Personal Application
Closing Verse“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 2:5
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