by Terry Brava Much has been written about why some parents choose not to send their children to Adventist schools. Is it because they can’t afford tuition? Aren’t dedicated to the church’s teachings? Are ignorant about what the schools offer? In reality, there’s a lot more nuance to that question. I attended Adventist schools from […] Source: https://atoday.org/why-our-children-arent-going-to-an-adventist-school-anymore/
Seven New Adventist Radio Channels on the Internet
Seven unique internet radio channels have been created by an independent production company operated by Adventists under the brand name Loud Cry Media. The programing is designed for the general public, especially the unchurched. All seven are available on Roku TV and from a single Loud Cry Media APP. They are marketed through various radio […] Source: https://atoday.org/seven-new-adventist-radio-channels-on-the-internet/
Tuesday: Firm Resolution
Read Daniel 1:7-20. We see two factors at work here: Daniel’s free will and the intervention of God. What important principle also exists here?
It appears that the four Hebrew captives do not object to their Babylonian names. Most likely there is nothing they can do about it, apart from using their Hebrew names among themselves.
But in regard to the food and wine from the king’s table, it is certainly in their power to consume it or not. Thus, the free choice of the four men is very important here.
However, if an officer can change their names, he can also change the menu. There are two likely reasons why the four do not want to eat from the king’s table.
First, the meals from the king’s table may contain unclean meats (Leviticus 11). Second, food is first offered as a meal to the god’s image and then sent to the king for his consumption. Thus, when Daniel makes clear, without resorting to subterfuge or deception, that his request has a religious motivation, i.e., the food at the palace will defile him and his friends (Dan. 1:8), he is being very courageous.
As we look into the interaction between Daniel and the Babylonian officer, a few important points stand out. First, Daniel seems to understand well the difficult position of the officer, so he proposed a test. Ten days of consuming the alternative meals should suffice to demonstrate the benefits of the diet and thus to put down the fears of the officer. Second, Daniel’s certainty that the outcome would be so positive within such a short time span stems from absolute confidence in God. Third, the choice of a diet of vegetables and water points back to the food God gave humanity at Creation (see Gen. 1:29), a fact that perhaps influences Daniel’s choice as well. After all, what could be a better diet than the one God originally gave us?
What is so important about Daniel’s free choice that opens the way for God to act as He does (see Dan. 1:9)? What lessons can we draw from this about the importance of our choices? How should our trust in God impact our choices? |
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/XXpde18U8Ks/
Turn to God While There Is Time
Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Hebrews 3:7, 8.
A man for whom the Lord has done so much should honor Him in every word and act. All his transactions should be pure, considerate, and just. He should not do or say anything that he will be loath to meet when he stands before the Judge of all the earth….
Throughout every department of His work God will vindicate His honor, His righteousness. Will you not stop right where you are, and consider diligently your ways? The Lord cannot endorse your spirit or your course of action. His hand is on the lever. Your plans are not His plans…. Now is your time to repent. Lose not the opportunity….
My brother, do not feel that it is below your dignity to make a decided change. You must place yourself at the feet of Christ as a learner, else you will surely fail of obtaining the overcomer’s reward. Lay off your commanding, kingly authority, and become one of God’s little children. Until you are willing to study and obey God’s will, you will be overcome by temptations and led to do strange things, which will disqualify you for filling a position of influence.
Will you not repent and be converted? Will you not act every moment with the realization that you are under the divine scrutiny? Will you not make God your companion in all your work? His holiness, His justice, His truth, should purify your words and actions. UL 119.5
You need to stop and consider that there is a God. He has spoken good in your behalf, and He will be much displeased if you deal unjustly with His heritage. He calls upon you to turn to Him with full purpose of heart. Pray, for your soul’s sake, pray; for you have been so many times self-deceived and led by deceptive influences that you are tempted to regard with favor those who will flatter and extol you, and with disfavor those who would point out your errors and dangers.
Many times you have almost gone over to the wrong side, but before the throne has stood your Saviour, the prints of the nails in His hands, interceding in your behalf. Pray for yourself, in the name of Christ. Pray earnestly, fervently, sincerely. I hope that your life may be spared, and that you may give yourself wholly to repentance. Come to the Lord, and surrender all to Him. You must, or you will be taken captive by the enemy.
I can … but write these words, for One [who is] of the highest authority has made this appeal to you.—Letter 55, April 15, 1903, to Dr. J. H. Kellogg, who was in danger of going off into pantheism.
The Upward Look p. 119
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Prayer Requests
—-Asking for prayers. My heart is hurting today. Possibly heart disease. I may have to go to hospital. Kristina
—-Please pray for my Uncle Levi in Chicago, he is a waiting list for lung transplant. Emerson
—-I have 3 Prayer requests: My step-brother is hospitalized with serious blood clot issues; an Adventist Church Pastor is recovering from a stroke and his wife suffered a life threatening fall and is hospitalized. Please pray! Wanda
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Dear Friends,
One morning some years ago, as we were on our way to work, there was quite a bit of traffic on Hoover Road. Suddenly, the person in the pickup truck ahead of me slammed on his brakes. Immediately, I did the same. Then I saw it. A semi was stopped right in our lane. Because of the darkness, there had been no warning. It was as if it just suddenly appeared in our lane. As we drove around it and saw the name on the cab, Ron remarked that it was too bad that the truck had broken down less than a mile from its destination.
How many are like that truck. We start out so well, but somewhere along the way, our good intentions break down. We take our eyes off from “the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:14 Somewhere along the path of life, we begin looking at ourselves, at others, at the things of this world and forget that we are moving toward the greatest of all destinations, even the Heavenly home our Dear Saviour is preparing for us. (John 14:1-3)
We must not be casual Christians quitting whenever the way gets rough. We must not allow other things to get in the way. The promise is, “he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt 24:13 How many examples do we have in God’s Holy Word of those who, like that Roadway truck yesterday morning, began so well, and got sidetracked before obtaining the Heavenly prize.
When the children of Israel left Egypt, they expected to enter the promised land. Yet, through their murmuring and complaining, their idolitry and self-seeking they perished in the wilderness. Only Caleb and Joshua endured unto the end. Paul writes, “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor 10:1-12
Solomon, also, started out so well. At the beginning of his reign, the Great King of the Universe came to him in a dream. ” In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.” 1 Kings 3:5-14
What a great king Solomon would have made had he continued with a pure and humble heart. Yet, it is written, “But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.” 1 Kings 11:1-8
Paul spoke of this enduring unto the end, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Cor 9:24-27 Praise God! Every one of us may receive that prize! All who endure onto the end will be saved!
May we claim the promise, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” John 8:31 May we keep our eyes upon the prize before us. May we endure unto the end is my prayer.
Rose
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/t4KfyMR5LUI/turn-to-god-while-there-is-time.html
Man Who Served as Adventist Pastor Charged with Multiple Counts of Sexual Assault
5 January 2020 | Multiple media outlets are reporting that Helio S. Ferreira, a man who served as an Adventist pastor in Georgia, has been arrested, charged with multiple counts of sexual assault. He is accused of sexually assaulting three women over a six-year period when he was living in or visiting Oregon’s Multnomah County. […] Source: https://atoday.org/man-who-served-as-adventist-pastor-charged-with-three-counts-of-sexual-assault/