Closer To Heaven
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View an in-depth discussion of “A portrait of Love” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.
Click on the image below to view the video:
With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/7-a-portrait-of-love-hope-sabbath-school-video-discussion/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=7-a-portrait-of-love-hope-sabbath-school-video-discussion
La Seconda Lettera di Pietro parla di «promesse preziose» attraverso le quali possiamo diventare persone nuove: non qualcosa da conquistare con le nostre sole forze, ma un dono da accogliere. Forse la libertà inizia proprio quando smettiamo di pensare di dovercela fare da soli. 🫂 Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/61napcGXIIM
HOUSTON, TX — A Houston-area Seventh-day Adventist pastor was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while traveling with his wife to New York for a few days of vacation, according to reporting by Aidari Riera for Telemundo Houston. Pastor Luis Morales, a father of two daughters and pastor of four Adventist congregations […] Source: https://atoday.org/adventist-pastor-detained-by-ice-at-houston-airport/
The Biblical Person of the Day
Manoah – the Father Who Sought God’s Guidance
Profile
Short StoryManoah lived during the time of the Judges, when Israel repeatedly turned away from the Lord and fell under the rule of foreign peoples. In his time, the Israelites suffered under Philistine oppression.
He was married to a woman who had been childless for a long time. One day, the Angel of the Lord appeared to his wife and announced that she would have a son.
This son was not to be an ordinary child. He was to be consecrated to God from the womb and would begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.
When Manoah heard this message, he prayed to the Lord. He asked that the man of God might come again to show them how they should raise the child.
God answered this prayer. The angel appeared again, and Manoah asked about the child’s way of life and the mission connected with his birth.
Manoah wanted to understand how he should act as a father. His question reveals a heart that took responsibility seriously and sought God’s instruction.
His story reminds us that parenthood is not only a joy but also a spiritual responsibility. Anyone entrusted with a child by God needs His wisdom, guidance, and humility.
The Decisive MomentManoah prays for guidance concerning the upbringing of the promised child and thereby shows his sense of responsibility before God.
7 Special Things About Manoah
Strengths & Weaknesses
prayerful
responsible
sought God’s guidance
took his child’s calling seriously
did not initially fully understand who was speaking to him
reacted with great fear after the encounter
The Mistake That Shaped HimAt first, Manoah did not fully recognize that the Angel of the Lord Himself had spoken to him, and after the encounter he feared that they would die.
His story shows that even a seeking heart must learn to meet God’s presence not only with fear but also with trust.
Key Verse“O Lord, please let the man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.” (Judges 13:8)
The Life LessonAnyone who carries responsibility for a child or a task needs more than good intentions. He needs God’s wisdom and guidance.
Application for TodayAsk God for guidance regarding the people and responsibilities entrusted to you. True responsibility begins with the humble prayer for God’s direction.
Question for YouFor which responsibility should you consciously pray today: “Lord, teach me what I should do”?
ContextManoah lived during the period of the Judges, when Israel suffered under Philistine rule and God announced Samson as a future deliverer.
ConnectionManoah is connected with his wife, the Angel of the Lord, and his son Samson, who later became known as a judge of Israel.
Manoah shows that spiritual responsibility begins with prayer. He did not simply want to receive a child; he wanted to understand how that child should be guided according to God’s will.
See you tomorrow with the next biblical person!
The Life Story The Life Story of Manoah – A Father in Search of God’s Guidance 
A Man from ZorahManoah lived in Zorah, in the territory of the tribe of Dan. His time was marked by spiritual weakness and political oppression.
Israel was once again under Philistine rule. The people had turned away from the Lord, and the consequences of this unfaithfulness were felt in everyday life.
In this dark time, Manoah lived with his wife. Their home was quiet, because they had no children.
Childlessness and WaitingThe Bible tells us that Manoah’s wife was barren. For a married couple in those days, childlessness often meant pain, uncertainty, and social burden.
Manoah and his wife lived with this lack, without knowing that God was already preparing a special plan.
Sometimes a home may seem empty while God is secretly preparing a story greater than all expectations.
The Message to His WifeOne day, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife. He announced that she would have a son.
This child was to be consecrated to God from the very beginning. The mother was to live in a special way because the son would be a Nazirite of God from the womb.
The angel also said that this son would begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines. This made it clear that it was not only about the happiness of one family but about God’s work for an entire people.
Manoah’s PrayerWhen Manoah’s wife told him what had happened, Manoah did not respond with indifference. He prayed to the Lord.
His prayer was simple and profound: May the man of God come again and show them what they should do with the child who was to be born.
This request reveals Manoah’s heart. He did not merely want to enjoy the promise but also to understand the responsibility.
God AnswersGod answered Manoah’s prayer. The angel appeared again to his wife while she was in the field. She ran and called Manoah.
Manoah came and asked whether the man was the same one who had spoken with his wife before. Then he asked the decisive question: How should the child live, and what should be done with him?
In this way, Manoah demonstrates an important principle: Whoever receives a gift from God should also ask for God’s instructions concerning that gift.
The Instructions for the ChildThe angel repeated the instructions. Manoah’s wife was to avoid everything she had been told to avoid. The son was to be consecrated to God.
Manoah did not receive every detail about Samson’s future life. But he received enough to know that this child stood under a special calling.
God’s guidance does not always reveal the whole path at once. Often, He shows the next step and calls us to faithful obedience.
The Offering and the MiracleManoah wanted to honor the visitor and prepare a meal for him. But the Angel of the Lord instructed him to offer a sacrifice to the Lord.
When Manoah presented the offering, something astonishing happened. The angel ascended in the flame of the altar.
Then Manoah and his wife realized that they had encountered the Angel of the Lord. They fell with their faces to the ground.
Fear and TrustManoah became deeply afraid and told his wife that they would surely die because they had seen God.
But his wife answered with spiritual clarity. If the Lord had intended to kill them, He would not have accepted their offering or announced such things to them.
At that moment, we see that Manoah was reverent, but he still had to learn to understand God’s revelation in the light of His grace.
The Birth of SamsonLater, Manoah’s wife gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the Lord blessed him.
Manoah became the father of a child with a special calling. Samson’s life would later be filled with strength, danger, victories, and tragedy.
Yet at the beginning of his story stands a father who prayed: “Teach us what we should do.”
The Enduring Message of His LifeManoah shows that responsibility before God begins with prayer. He took the announcement of the child seriously and wanted to know how to guide him according to God’s will.
His story reminds us that parents and spiritual role models need God’s wisdom. No one can properly guide a soul entrusted to them unless they themselves seek God’s guidance.
Closing ThoughtManoah was not a judge and not a great deliverer, but he was the father of a child whom God had chosen for a special mission.
His prayer remains meaningful today because it reveals the attitude of a person who does not want to carry responsibility without God.
His life story shows: Whoever seeks God’s guidance before acting lays the right foundation for every responsibility entrusted to them.
FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS
Lesson 7. A Portrait of Love
7.5 Faith, Hope, and Love
The Enduring Greatness of Love in the Light of Eternity
1. IntroductionPaul concludes his description of love by looking toward eternity. Spiritual gifts are important, but they have a temporary purpose. Prophecy, speaking in tongues, and limited knowledge will one day no longer be necessary when God’s kingdom is fully established. Then we will no longer know only in part, but we will see God face to face. Yet love will never cease because it reflects the very nature of God. Therefore faith, hope, and love remain—but the greatest of these is love.
2. The Biblical FoundationPaul writes:
“Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:8
He continues:
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part.”
1 Corinthians 13:9
And then:
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.”
1 Corinthians 13:12
Finally, Paul summarizes:
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
John writes:
“God is love.”
1 John 4:8
These texts show: Everything temporary will pass away, but God’s love remains forever.
3. Connection to Our TimeEven today, we live in a world where many things are temporary. Knowledge changes, human abilities decline, achievements fade, and even spiritual ministries have their particular purpose for a particular time. Many people seek security in things that cannot last. Paul therefore directs our attention to what endures eternally. Faith holds on to God, hope looks toward His promises, and love makes God’s character visible. Whoever lives by faith, hope, and love builds life not on what is temporary but on what is eternal.
4. Central Message of the Lesson
Spiritual gifts are important for the church today, but faith, hope, and love remain—and love is the greatest because it reflects God’s character and will endure throughout eternity.
5. Theological EmphasisThe theological emphasis of this lesson lies in the difference between what is temporary and what endures. Paul does not say that spiritual gifts are unimportant. They are necessary as long as the church lives on this earth. They serve proclamation, edification, exhortation, comfort, and guidance.
But these gifts belong to the time of the “not yet.” We do not yet live in the visible fulfillment of God’s kingdom. We still know only in part, still believe by faith, still hope for what we do not see, and still need spiritual gifts to strengthen us along the way.
Paul says: Our knowledge is partial. This means that our understanding is limited. Even spiritually enlightened knowledge remains incomplete on this earth. We do not see everything clearly. We do not always understand God’s ways. We need humility because our perspective is limited.
Prophetic speech is also partial. Prophecy is a precious gift from God, but it too belongs to the time of pilgrimage. It guides, warns, comforts, and strengthens. But when Christ returns and we see Him face to face, this form of communication will no longer be necessary.
Paul uses the image of a mirror. In ancient times, mirrors were not as clear as they are today. A person could see an image, but not with perfect sharpness. That is what our present knowledge is like. We have genuine light from God, but not yet the full clarity of eternity.
Then we will see face to face. This hope points to the return of Christ and the completion of salvation. Faith will become sight. Hope will become fulfillment. Limited knowledge will be surpassed by direct fellowship with God.
But love never fails. Why? Because love is not merely a tool for this present age; it reflects the very nature of God. God is love. Therefore, love belongs not only to the present church but also to eternity. In God’s kingdom, love will reign perfectly, purely, and without interruption.
Faith, hope, and love form the great threefold harmony of the Christian life. Faith trusts God despite visible limitations. Hope holds firmly to God’s future. Love already lives according to God’s character. These three virtues carry the Christian through trials, service, and waiting.
Yet love is the greatest. Not because faith and hope are unimportant, but because love is most deeply connected with God’s nature. God is not described as “faith” or “hope,” but Scripture says: “God is love.” Therefore, love is the enduring mark of life with God.
The theological core is this: Everything spiritual on this earth is directed toward God’s final fulfillment. Gifts serve for a time, but love belongs to eternity. Whoever lives in love is already living in the spirit of God’s coming kingdom.
6. Spiritual DeepeningThis lesson helps us see our lives in the light of eternity. Much of what appears great today will one day seem small. Much of what people admire will pass away. But what is born from the love of God remains.
This is an important correction to our thinking. We often ask: What is visible? What appears powerful? What brings recognition? What is successful? Paul asks differently: What remains before God? What has eternal value? What is carried by love?
Spiritual gifts can impress, but love reveals Christ. A gift may be given for a particular task, but love is the atmosphere of heaven. Therefore, a small act of service done in genuine love is more precious before God than a great achievement without love.
Faith is necessary because we do not yet see God. We live by trusting His promises. We believe that Christ has redeemed us, that He intercedes for us, and that He will return. This faith carries us when feelings fluctuate and circumstances become difficult.
Hope is necessary because we are still on the journey. We see suffering, death, injustice, sickness, disappointment, and spiritual battles. Hope says: This is not the final word. Christ is coming again. God will make all things new. His promises will be fulfilled.
Love is necessary because it already makes God’s character visible now. While we wait, we are not to become cold, harsh, or indifferent. We do not wait passively but love actively. We serve, forgive, comfort, encourage, and bear with one another because God’s love is at work within us.
The statement “God is love” is one of the deepest truths of the Bible. It does not mean that God approves of everything or that His holiness is abolished. God’s love is holy, truthful, and saving. It does not minimize sin but overcomes it through the cross.
Precisely for this reason, this truth is such good news. If God is love, then His deepest actions are not arbitrary, cold, or cruel. He seeks the salvation of humanity. He gives His Son. He forgives, heals, carries, and calls us back. His love is stronger than our guilt.
The cross shows what “God is love” means. There we do not see cheap love, but love that pays the highest price. Christ gave Himself so that we might live. Therefore, love is not sentimental but sacrificial and redemptive.
This love remains throughout eternity. On the new earth there will be no broken love, no jealousy, no fear, no bitterness, no separation, no guilt, and no wounded relationships. Everything will be permeated by God’s love.
Therefore, we should learn to live in this love already today. Heaven does not begin only as a place, but also as the reign of God in the heart. When Christ shapes our love, something of the coming world becomes visible even now.
This lesson also calls us to humility. Our knowledge is still partial. Therefore, we should be cautious about pride, harshness, and arrogance. Whoever knows that he sees only in part will become more patient with others and more dependent on God’s guidance.
At the same time, this lesson gives us great hope. What we understand only imperfectly now will one day become clear. Questions that remain unanswered today will appear differently in the light of God. Tears that flow today will be wiped away. Love that is lived today amid struggle will be perfected in God’s kingdom.
That is why love is the greatest. It is not only a commandment but the future of the redeemed. It is not only a responsibility but the essence of life with God. Whoever loves is already living in the direction of eternity.
7. Application in Everyday LifePractical Steps:
8. Reflection QuestionWhat in my life will pass away—and what is truly shaped by faith, hope, and love?
9. Closing ThoughtPaul directs our attention to what remains. Spiritual gifts are important, but they belong to the time of preparation, service, and pilgrimage. One day we will see Christ as He is, and our limited knowledge will be surpassed by full fellowship with God. But love will never cease because God Himself is love. Therefore, faith, hope, and love should shape our lives already today. Whoever lives in the love of Christ already carries the fragrance of eternity into this world.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
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