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Christ Washed Us in His Own Blood

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Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Revelation 1:5.

Satan may whisper, “You are too great a sinner for Christ to save.” While you acknowledge that you are indeed sinful and unworthy, you may meet the tempter with the cry, “By virtue of the atonement, I claim Christ as my Saviour. I trust not to my own merits, but to the precious blood of Jesus, which cleanses me. This moment I hang my helpless soul on Christ.”—Messages to Young People, 112.

Man was under the condemnation of the broken law. He could not save himself, and for this reason Christ came to this world, clothed His divinity with humanity, and gave His life, the just for the unjust. He gave Himself for our sins, and to every soul He freely offers the blood-bought pardon.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 244.

The angels look with awe and amazement upon the mission of Christ to the world. They marvel at the love that moved Him to give Himself a sacrifice for the sins of men. But how lightly human beings regard the purchase of His blood!—Gospel Workers, 497.

As this wonderful, priceless Gift was bestowed, the whole heavenly universe was mightily stirred, in an effort to understand God’s unfathomable love…. Shall we … halt between two opinions? Shall we return to God only a mite of the capabilities and powers lent us by Him? How can we do this while we know that He who was Commander of all heaven laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and, realizing the helplessness of the fallen race, came to this earth in human nature to make it possible for us to unite our humanity to His divinity?—Testimonies for the Church 7:29.

With God at Dawn p. 237
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Prayer Requests
—-Thee pastor who was near the fire needs prayer. His house burned to the ground. M
—-Prayer request for my dearest friend who has had bowl problems for over a week she is almost skin and bones she had all kinds of test done but waiting for the results. also pray for my other friend she has been in bed for over a week with a temperature. M
—-Please pray for my son Eli, who has intestinal bleeding and a really bad liver. Judy
—-Please pray for my brother-in-law Jim who had a heart attack and is in the hospital for further tests. He is stable right now! Mary
—-Please pray for Doreen who is having medical issues. Mike
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Dear Friends,

A few years before I retired, our office received an email from the administration office which they sent out to all employees. In the email, it was warning us to keep everything that we have in our car locked up and out of sight as someone has been breaking into cars and stealing anything valuable.

That Monday after work, I was walking to my car when I saw one of the security guards putting handcuffs on a man and help him sit on the curb. Soon, a city policewoman came over and began questioning the man. As I walked by, she eyed me warily as if she thought that I was there to rescue the man. I moved closer to the building I was passing and away from their side of the sidewalk. Satisfied that I was harmless, the woman went back to her questioning the suspect.

As I rounded the corner and continued to my car, I saw another security guard questioning two women. I didn’t recognize them, but they were either victims or witnesses. I guessed that the man on the ground was the one who had been breaking into cars. A finger of concern went up my back. I hadn’t heeded the warning to keep everything out of sight as I felt that there was nothing in my old car that a thief would consider valuable. Had my car been broken into? I walked hurriedly the rest of the way. To my relief, all was well.

How often we take for granted our Heavenly Father’s watchcare over us as well as over our belongings. Only when we get to Heaven will we see all the many times our Great Creator sent His angels to keep us from suffering harm. Jesus assures us, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Matt 10:29-31 We can safely trust in Him Who watches over each of His children as if there were no other person in the entire world. This does not mean that we can presumptuously place ourselves in harm’s way nor does it mean that we should not heed a warning as I had done. Yet, we know that even the many times when we do, our Gracious Father in Heaven still keeps us safe and secure.

Solomon tells us, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Prov 18:10 David sang, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Ps 4:8 “Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.” Ps 119:116,117

This does not mean we will never have troubles and trials. We have a very real enemy, who desires our destruction just as surely as he desired to destroy Job and his belongings. Indeed, Satan is constantly on our track to do us harm. God, in His great mercy, weighs each trial that He allows to come into our life. We can be assured that He allows these troubles to come to us in order to draw us closer to Himself.

Although we must go through these trials and heartaches, our Loving Redeemer has promised to be with us. He assures us, “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. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:2,3 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor 10:13 “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Heb 12:11

May we glorify our Loving Saviour by keeping fresh in our mind the many blessings He has bestowed upon us, the many times when He has protected us, the many ways in which He has assured us of His Great Love is my prayer.

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/lg7pSObhGe8/christ-washed-us-in-his-own-blood.html

Monday: The Command to Rest

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Creation may be “very good,” but it is not yet complete. Creation ends with God’s rest and a special blessing of the seventh day, the Sabbath. “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2:3).

The Sabbath is part and parcel of God’s creation. In fact, it is the culmination of Creation. God makes rest and creates a space for community where humanity (in those days the core family of Adam and Eve) could stop their day-to-day activities and rest side by side with their Creator.

Memorial - Sabbath

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

Unfortunately, sin entered this world and changed everything. No more direct communion with God. Instead, painful births, hard work, fragile and dysfunctional relationships, and on and on — the litany of woe that we all know so well as life on this fallen world. And still, even amid all this, God’s Sabbath remains, an enduring symbol of our creation and also the hope and promise of our re-creation. If they needed the Sabbath rest before sin, how much more so after?

Many years later, when God frees His children from slavery in Egypt, He reminds them again of this special day.

Read Exodus 20:8-11. What does this teach us about the importance of the Sabbath as it relates to Creation?

With this command, God calls us to remember our origins. Contrary to what so many believe, we are not the chance products of cold, uncaring, and blind forces. On the contrary, we are beings who are created in the image of God. We were created to share fellowship with God. No matter that the Israelites had been treated like slaves with little worth. With each Sabbath, in a special way they were called to remember who they really were, beings made in the image of God Himself.

“And since the Sabbath is a memorial of the work of creation, it is a token of the love and power of Christ.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 281.

Think about how important the doctrine of a six-day creation is. After all, what other teaching is so important that God commands that we devote one-seventh of our lives, every week, and without exception, to remembering it? What should this fact alone teach us about how crucial it is that we remember our true origins, as depicted in the book of Genesis?

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Amen!(0)

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9 The Rhythms of Rest – Singing with Inspiration

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Rest. The word used most frequently in our Sabbath School Lesson pamphlet this quarter. “Thou shalt rest, Thou shalt rest!” These are words repeated each verse of
Hymn 387 – Come, O Sabbath Day, our theme hymn for this quarter.

We could add to the theme
Hymn 529 – Under His Wings. Each week of study this quarter, gives more and more of showing God’s deepest care for us, His children. As God’s children we find out about the Biblical family growing pains, and this still happens today. Yet, we are still “under His wings”.

The Memory Text tells us of the beautiful Sabbath God blessed for us:
Hymn 40 – The Dawn of God’s Dear Sabbath,
Hymn 381 – Holy Sabbath Day of Rest,
Hymn 385 – Crowning Jewel of Creation,
Hymn 387 – Come O Sabbath Day,
Hymn 388 – Don’t Forget the Sabbath,
Hymn 390 – We Love Thy Sabbath, Lord and
Hymn 393 – Lord of the Sabbath.  And, then the theme of creation in
Hymn 320 – Lord of Creation and again
Hymn 385 – Crowning Jewel of Creation.

Sunday’s study leads us to
Hymn 2 – All Creatures of Our God and King.

The Sabbath hymns for the Memory Text are again in force for the Monday’s study time and on into rest of the week.

Tuesday shows that
God Will Take Care of You – Hymn 99. We find manna is the substance that God provides for all. This is in
Hymn 405 – O God, Unseen, Yet Ever Near.

“We find in the Sabbath a symbol of both Creation and Redemption” (Wednesday) and this is sung in
Hymn 394 – Far From All Care, especially in the last verse.

Blessings for a wonderful week ahead.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing, but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Amen!(0)

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9: The Rhythms of Rest – Teaching Plan

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Key Thought: The Sabbath bids us to behold the glory of the Creator in His created works. As we come close to nature, Christ makes His presence real to us and speaks to us of His peace and love.
August 28, 2021

1. Have a volunteer read Genesis 1:10,12,18,25,31.

  1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
  2. What did God’s evaluation indicate about Creation?
  3. Personal Application: How close and personal was God’s creation of man and woman? How close did He want their relationship with each other to be? Share your thoughts.
  4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “I don’t believe woman was made from a man’s rib. That would make her secondary. God is more likely a woman, and man came from her. The Bible was written during a patriarchal society. We have overcome those sexist and superstitious teachings that shouldn’t be propagated or believed.” How would you respond to your friend?

2. Have a volunteer read Exodus 20:8-11.

  1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
  2. How important is the Sabbath as it relates to Creation?
  3. Personal Application: What is the purpose of remembering the Sabbath day to keep it holy? What does remembering it do for you? Share your thoughts.
  4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why do you worship every week on the seventh day? Aren’t we supposed to worship God every day? Do we need to go to a church building to worship? Can’t we worship God in our own homes?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Exodus 16:14-31..

  1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
  2. What are some reasons God gave manna in the desert in the manner He did?
  3. Personal Application: Is keeping the Sabbath a reminder of what God has done for us in the past, or a reminder of what He will do for us in the future? Share your thoughts.
  4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “It doesn’t matter what day we keep. Jesus is our Sabbath rest. We rest in Him. So trying to keep a particular day each week is not resting in Jesus every day. We are not under the legalistic old covenant anymore.“ How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 58:13; Psalm 92…

  1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
  2. What atmosphere should we create and promote on the Sabbath day?
  3. Personal Application: What are some positive things you get by keeping the Sabbath day? How has it been a blessing to you?” Share your thoughts.
  4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(0)

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Sunday: The Prelude to Rest

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God was there at the beginning. The Lord God spoke, and it was. Light divides day from night; firmament, sky, and seas are spoken into existence on the second day; dry land and vegetation follow on the third. God forms the basic framework of time and geography, and then He fills it during the next three days. Lights govern the sky by day and by night.

Creation

Image © Bible Adventure Collection at Goodsalt.com

Different from the stories of most ancient cultures, the biblical Creation account makes it abundantly clear that the sun, the moon, or the stars are not deities. They enter into the picture only on the fourth day and are subject to the Creator’s word.

Moses’ description of days 5 and 6 (Genesis 1:20-31) is full of life and beauty. Birds, fish, land animals — they all fill the space prepared by God.

What does God’s evaluation indicate about Creation? Read Genesis 1:1-31.

This is not just any space that God has created; it’s a perfect place. Teeming creatures fill the earth. Like the refrain of a catchy tune, God keeps saying that it was “good” after each day.

What is different about the creation of humanity from the rest of the created world? Read  Genesis 1.26-27 , Genesis 2:7,and Genesis 2:21-24.

God stoops and begins to shape mud. Humanity’s creation in God’s image and likeness is an object lesson in intimacy and closeness. God bends down and breathes life into Adam’s nostrils, and there was a living being. Eve’s special creation from Adam’s rib adds another important element to Creation week. Marriage is part of God’s design for humanity — a sacred trust of partnership between ’ish and ’ishshah, “man” and “woman.”

This time, when God looks at everything He has made on day six, the refrain sounds different: “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good” (Genesis 1:31, italics supplied).

Think about how radically different the biblical Creation story is from what humanity, without the guidance of God’s Word, teaches. What should this tell us about how much we need to depend on God’s Word for understanding truth?

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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