Closer To Heaven
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LONGVIEW, WA – A devastating industrial explosion at a Washington packaging facility has killed at least eight workers and left several others missing, including a long-time employee remembered by his family as a steady, practical, and quietly devoted man. Gilbert Bernal, 52, had worked for nearly 15 years as an instrument technician at Nippon Dynawave […] Source: https://atoday.org/faith-family-and-loss-adventist-worker-among-dead-in-washington-industrial-disaster/
Daily Lesson for Monday 1st of June 2026
As he thought about the distance between himself and his wife, he knew that he had been wrong. He’d been unkind and harsh and had said some things he’d regretted. Yet, his next thought was, Didn’t she deserve it, even a little bit?
Is this thought process familiar to you? It’s easy to flip from a sense of remorse to a justification of our thoughts and actions. It’s not always easy to say, “I’m sorry . . .” when we have done wrong, yet this is so essential to rebuilding or strengthening any relationship.
Image © Deb Minnard at Goodsalt.com
The same is true of us and God. The Holy Spirit often prompts our minds to think about the sins that we commit. Our hearts are moved because of these promptings, but it can be easy to push away that still, small voice as we justify why we acted a certain way. One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to “ ‘convict the world of sin’ ” (John 16:8, NKJV). What an incredible gift from God (Luke 11:13), for we need such convictions to repair the distance that can creep into our walk with Him!
Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in the process of grafting us back onto the Vine (John 15:4). “We often sorrow because our evil deeds bring unpleasant consequences to ourselves; but this is not repentance. Real sorrow for sin is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit reveals the ingratitude of the heart that has slighted and grieved the Saviour, and brings us in contrition to the foot of the cross. By every sin Jesus is wounded afresh; . . . we mourn for the sins that have brought anguish upon Him. Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 300.
The truth is, we can’t grow in our relationship with God when chosen and cherished sins stand between us and Him. We’ve all fallen short of the glory of God, but we can—and should—repent of our sins when the Holy Spirit brings them into our minds (Ephesians 4:30).
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When did you last hear a rebuke or a call to repentance? How did you respond? Spend some time right now in prayer, asking God to soften your heart and open your ears to His voice in His Word this week. |
Bible verse of the day: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Welcome to our Daily Prayer Meeting!
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Share this video with someone who needs hope or tag a loved one who needs encouragement today. Today’s Message: Pr Jerry Smith The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an established denomination since 1863. It is a global Christian family with over 21 million members who hold the Bible as the ultimate authority. We are believers committed to helping people understand the Bible to find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Want to learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church?
Visit our website at: https://www.adventist.org/ Find us on social media by following the links below:
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Watch our full playlist of daily prayer videos here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-k2Gb-DBYo–V8axD7iFUL6TFEckrhxv&si=vIljgfwrSZN6iJR2 God First, Daily Prayer, Prayer Meeting, Christian Prayer, Morning Devotional, Hope In Jesus, Bible Verse Of The Day, Prayer Request, Faith Community, Seventh Day Adventist Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9LbM39BBJ0
Prepared for Sabbath School Class, June 6, 2026.
Photograph by William Earnhardt
Key Text: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NKJV).
Read in Class: Hosea 6.
Study: What specifically do you notice here about how God describes Himself in His appeal for repentance?
Apply: When did you last hear a rebuke or a call to repentance? How did you respond? Ask the class to spend some time in prayer right now, asking God to soften our hearts and open our ears to His voice in His Word this week.
Share: Please share how Isaiah 64:6, Zechariah 3:4, and Isaiah 61:10 reveal the importance of Christ’s righteousness to us? Why are these promises so important?
Read in Class: Acts 2:37-38, and Acts 3:18-19.
Study: Why is repentance so important in the process of spiritual growth? What is a time of “refreshing”?
Apply: Repentance leads to life (Acts 11:18) and is a vital part of growing in a relationship with God. In the process of surrender, repentance, and allowing God to prune you, what step is most challenging for you?
Share: Your friend says we need more of those old-fashioned fire-and-brimstone sermons to bring people to repentance. What do you tell your friend? See Hosea 2:14 and Romans 2:4.
Read in Class: Exodus 34:1-10.
Study: What crucial truth is found here?
Apply: Does God’s mercy tend to turn you away from sin or encourage you to test God’s limits and patience with sin?
Share: Slowly read the following verses. Share what they tell you about God’s grace toward you: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23, NKJV). “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:20-21, NKJV). “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8, NKJV).
Read in Class: Matthew 22:1-14.
Study: What messages can you find in this parable?
Apply: Adam and Eve wore a white robe of soft light before they sinned; after they sinned, they realized they were naked (Gen. 3:7) and made clothing of fig leaves. Then God replaced their fig leaves with a clothing from animal skins. There was a sacrifice that produced their garment. In a similar way, we accept Jesus’ sacrifice by accepting His robe of righteousness. “Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for covering…. Nothing can man devise to supply the place of his lost robe of innocence. No fig-leaf garment, no worldly citizen dress, can be worn by those who sit down with Christ and angels at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God’s presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul.”–Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 311. Reflect: We should daily choose to be clothed with Jesus’ robe of righteousness. What does this really mean, and how do we do this?
Share: How would you explain the precious gift of Christ’s robe of righteousness to a non-Christian or a new believer?
Mission: Can you think of someone with whom you could share the plan of salvation this week?
And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood. Exodus 12:22.
The directions that Moses gave concerning the Passover feast are full of significance, and have an application to parents and children in this age of the world….
The father is to dedicate every inmate of his home to God and to do a work that is represented by the feast of the Passover. It is perilous to leave this solemn duty in the hands of others. This peril is well illustrated by an incident that is related concerning a Hebrew family on the night of the Passover.
The legend goes that the eldest daughter was sick, but that she was acquainted with the fact that a lamb was to be chosen for every family, and that its blood was to be sprinkled upon the lintel and side posts of the door so that the Lord might behold the mark of the blood and not suffer the destroyer to enter in to smite the firstborn. With what anxiety she saw the evening approach when the destroying angel was to pass by. She became very restless. She called her father to her side, and asked, “Have you marked the doorpost with blood?” He answered, “Yes, I have given directions in regard to the matter. Do not be troubled, for the destroying angel will not enter here.”
The night came on, and again and again the child called her father, still asking, “Are you sure that the doorpost is marked with blood?” Again and again the father assured her that she need have no fear, that a command which involved such consequences would not be neglected by his trustworthy servants. As midnight approached, her pleading voice was heard saying, “Father, I am not sure. Take me in your arms, and let me see the mark for myself, so that I can rest.”
The father conceded to the wishes of his child; he took her in his arms and carried her to the door; but there was no blood mark upon the lintel or the posts. He trembled with horror as he realized that his home might have become a house of mourning. With his own hands he seized the hyssop bough and sprinkled the doorpost with blood. He then showed the sick child that the mark was there.—The Review and Herald, May 21, 1895.
From the Heart p. 160
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Lexi and her family as she recovers.
—-Ron is having an ongoing problem with his blood pressure. Every late afternoon and evening it will spike to as high as 191/63. He is on all the medicine that they can give him. Please pray that his blood pressure will go down to what it used to be. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Because of sin, burdens and sorrows fill our life. We feel crushed under the heavy load. We cry as did David, “mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.” Ps 38:4 But praise God we do not have to carry our burden of sin alone! Our Great Burden Bearer offers us the relief that we need. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30
In this world we all have troubles and trials, but if we give ourselves to Jesus, He promises us a peace that others cannot know. He tells us, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 He assures us, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isa 41:10 “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” 43:1.2
The Psalmist advises, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Ps 55:22 No matter what the situation we can claim the promise, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” Ps 37:3-7
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” is Peter’s admonition. 1 Peter 5:7 We cannot burden Our Great Burden-bearer. Indeed, He yearns to bear our burdens and to give us “the peace of God that passes all understanding.” Phil 4:7 May we open the door of our heart to Him today, for He is standing there ready and willing to bear our sorrows and cares with us, offering us the great blessings that are in His Storehouse, pleading with us to let Him make all things right in our life. (Rev 3:20)
Rose
Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/the-blood-on-the-doorpost.html
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