by Amalia Goulbourne | 27 September 2022 | In many Adventist spaces Ellen White’s books are referred to as “the Spirit of Prophecy,” as though her writings are a simple and all-encompassing rulebook and commentary; however, members can greatly benefit from studying the letters of advice she gave regarding real-life situations. One of the most […] Source: https://atoday.org/the-story-of-walter-harper-and-his-wives/
Reducing Authoritarianism in Our Communities – Association of Adventist Women Vespers – Oct 5
Come and celebrate with the Association of Adventist Women (AAW) on October 5, 2022, in the Loma Linda University Church Loveless Fellowship Hall. A vespers titled “Reducing Authoritarianism in Our Communities” will take place at 5 pm. No registration necessary. Speakers at the vespers include former Spectrum editor Bonnie Dwyer; Elissa Kido, EdD, the director […] Source: https://atoday.org/reducing-authoritarianism-in-our-communities-association-of-adventist-women-vespers-oct-5/
Would our pioneers approve of 28 Fundamental Beliefs?
26 September 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, Recently someone shared with me this quote from J.N. Loughborough from the October 8, 1861 Review and Herald. The first step of apostasy is to get up a creed, telling us what we shall believe. The second is, to make that creed a test of fellowship. The third […] Source: https://atoday.org/aunty-should-we-have-28-fundamental-beliefs/
Tuesday: Mysterious Ingratitude
Read Ezekiel 28:12-19. What can we learn from this passage about the mysterious origin of sin?
Much of the book of Ezekiel was written in end-time symbolic language. In many instances, specific entities (like persons, animals, and objects) and local events are used to represent and describe broader cosmic and/or historical realities. In Ezekiel 28:1-10, the Lord spoke of the king of Tyre (Tyre itself was a prosperous ancient Phoenician port city) as a rich and proud ruler who was only a “man” but who claimed to be a god and who even sat (he claimed) in the throne of the gods.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com
Then, in Ezekiel 28:12-19, this historical reality becomes an analogy to describe the original fall of Lucifer in the heavenly courts. So, the king of Tyre, who was a human being living “in the midst of the seas” (Ezekiel 28:2, Ezekiel 28:8, NKJV), now represents “the anointed cherub who covers,” (Ezekiel 28:14, NKJV) living “in Eden, the garden of God,” (Ezekiel 28:13, NKJV) and “on the holy mountain of God” (Ezekiel 28:14, NKJV).
A crucial statement in the whole account is found in Ezekiel 28:15, which says, “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you” (NKJV). Hence, and importantly, Lucifer’s perfection included the potential for evil, the potential to do wrong, and that was because, as a moral being, Lucifer possessed free will, part of what it means to be a perfect being.
In reality, Lucifer was created perfect — which included his ability to choose freely. However, abusing that perfection by the misuse of his free will, he became corrupted by considering himself more important than he actually was.
No longer satisfied with how God had created and honored him, Lucifer lost his thankfulness to God and wished to receive more recognition than he actually deserved. How this could happen with a perfect angelic being living in a perfect universe is, as already mentioned, a mystery.
“Sin is a mysterious, unexplainable thing. There was no reason for its existence; to seek to explain it is to seek to give a reason for it, and that would be to justify it. Sin appeared in a perfect universe, a thing that was shown to be inexcusable.” — Ellen G. White, The Truth About Angels, p. 30.
| In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul says that “in everything” (NKJV) we should give thanks. How can these words help us to overcome any feelings of ingratitude and self-pity, especially in trying times? |
Amen!
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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/tuesday-mysterious-ingratitude/
ADRA’s Mariupol Office Bombed During Recent Fighting
26 September 2022 | The Europe office of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) recently announced the bombing of ADRA’s office in Mariupol, Ukraine, during the ongoing conflict in the country. The August 27, 2022 Facebook update by ADRA Slovenia stated: Only ruins remained from the ADRA office in Mariupol in #Ukraine. However, our […] Source: https://atoday.org/adras-mariupol-office-bombed-during-recent-fighting/
