Closer To Heaven
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Comments of the Week April 6-12 “It definitely doesn’t inspire trust in our church leaders when things are done behind closed doors and employees are threatened not to spill the beans.” –Steve Tatum on Is Independent Journalism in Jeopardy Comments on I Don’t Wanna Be a Goat-Nope; You Are Not a “Backslider.” You’re a Human […] Source: https://atoday.org/comments-of-the-week-apr6-12/
Hay conversaciones dentro de la iglesia que requieren un tono especial. No porque sean peligrosas, sino porque tocan algo muy profundo: la identidad. Muchos adventistas aman profundamente su iglesia. No solo la respetan; la sienten parte de su historia espiritual, de su familia y de su vocación. Crecieron aprendiendo a valorar la misión, a cuidar […] Source: https://atoday.org/cuando-la-fe-se-vuelve-rutina-una-invitacion-a-despertar-espiritualmente-redescubriendo-el-centro/
Daily Lesson for Monday 13th of April 2026
Two men go to church to pray. One is a respected elder who stands at the front before church begins, in front of the congregation so they can see him. He prays aloud, thanking God for his own perceived goodness. The other man, a fringe dweller of society, stands at the very back of the church. His eyes are blurry with tears because of the weight on his shoulders from his sins. In the back corner of the church, he falls to his knees, whispering in desperation, “Please, Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
It’s very easy for us to exalt ourselves. Sometimes it becomes second nature to let others know of our accomplishments and how good we are. But these things, in and of themselves, make no difference to our reputation in heaven’s eyes. In fact, it’s actually contrary to what we might think, because “ ‘everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted’ ” (Luke 18:14, NKJV). Jesus also counsels us to take the lowest seat and let the host elevate you if he or she so wishes (Luke 14:8-10). This upside-down kingdom that Jesus teaches is the opposite of what we expect. “It is only he who knows himself to be a sinner that Christ can save.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 158.
In first realizing our true state of sinfulness and our desperate need of Christ, we can come to Him knowing with confidence that 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).
The closer we draw to Christ, the more we realize our sinfulness and unworthiness. “In one way only can a true knowledge of self be obtained. We must behold Christ. It is ignorance of Him that makes men so uplifted in their own righteousness.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 159.
So, what does God think of the proud? 1 Peter 5:5 tells us that “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” It couldn’t be clearer.
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When did you last experience God’s grace in your life? (Indeed, we should experience this grace daily.) We should also show grace to others. Spend some time in prayer right now, asking God to humble you under His mighty hand, that He alone may exalt you in due time. |
Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class on April 18, 2026.
Central Theme: This week, we’ll explore the impact that pride can have on our relationships with God and with others, and we’ll look at what the Bible teaches us about humility before others and, of course, before God.
Photograph by William Earnhardt
Read in Class: 1 John 2:15-17, and Galatians 6:14. Ask the class to identify the main message of these passages.
Study: What three main points does this passage teach you about pride and loving the world?
Apply: Ask yourself: How prideful am I, really? How might personal pride be impacting my relationship with God and others?
Share: Your friend says that the pride of life prevents us from sensing our need for God. Your friend asks what specific things in our world today make us feel the pride of life, and how we overcome that pride. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Luke 18:9-14. Ask the class to identify the moral of this story.
Study: What do you think of these two men? What did Jesus think? What important lesson is here for us all?
Apply: When did you last experience God’s grace in your life? (Indeed, we should experience this grace daily.) We should also show grace to others. Spend some time in prayer right now, asking God to humble you under His mighty hand, that He alone may exalt you in due time.
Share: Your friend suggests that the Pharisee was boasting about his goodness in order to earn God’s love, while the tax collector already knew he was loved. What do you tell your friend? See: You Don’t Love me, You Love my Accomplishments.
Read in Class: Hebrews 11:24-26. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.
Study: Why did Moses choose to humble himself, and take a different path?
Apply: Reflect back over your life. If someone were to describe you, would they include “humble” or “meek” in the list of adjectives? Why or why not? The truth is that we can’t be humble in and of ourselves. Sin is part of our lives, which is why we need Jesus so much. Listen to or read the words in the hymn “I’d Rather Have Jesus” and consider these words in relation to Moses’ life and yours.
Share: Your friend asks if you can think of anyone in the world today who was great, like Moses, but humbled themselves and took a better, more humble path. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Luke 22:24-27 and Philippians 2:3-8. What is the common thread in these two passages?
Study: What one statement captures the heart of Jesus’ message here? What does this tell us about how we should live in light of the Cross?
Apply: Pride can be deceitful. I once talked to a lady in Texas who bragged about how humble she was. How can we make sure we are not taking pride in our humility? Which is still pride!
Share: Your friend tells you that, by arguing over who was the greatest, the disciples had obviously forgotten about Jesus, who was the greatest. See why pride is such an enemy to our relationships with God and others? Your friend asks you how we can make sure we are being humble and not just acting humble. What do you tell your friend?
Mission: Can you spend some extra time with God this week? Take your Bible, a pen, and a journal or some paper and find somewhere quiet– perhaps even outside. Invite God to soften and speak to your heart. Write out Psalm 138, word for word. As you write, what words especially stand out to you?
For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Matthew 20:1, 2. (Read Matthew 20:1-16.)
Christ taught by means of figures and symbols. On one occasion He spoke a parable in regard to the hiring of laborers to illustrate the way in which God deals with those who devote themselves to His service….
It was the custom in Judea for men to wait at the marketplaces for someone to come and employ them; and in Europe this custom is still in vogue. Those who need help go to the marketplace to find servants that they may employ. The man in the parable is represented as going out at different hours to engage workmen. Those he hired at the earliest hour agreed to work for him for a stated sum of money, while those who were hired later left the wages they were to receive wholly to the discretion of the householder.
“So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.” …
The lesson of the laborers had a bearing upon the question about which the disciples had disputed by the way—who should be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The world’s Redeemer saw the danger that would imperil His church, and sought to arouse His people to an understanding of their position; for this parable was but a continuation of the lesson taught when Peter asked, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” …
With implicit trust we are to stay upon God, and let the heart rest in Him without a question as to what is to be our measure of reward….
Jesus would have those who are engaged in His service not [be] eager for rewards nor feel that they must receive compensation for all that they do…. The Lord measures the spirit, and rewards accordingly, and the pure, humble, childlike spirit of love makes the offering precious in His sight.—The Review and Herald, July 3, 1894.
From the Heart p. 113
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Josephine whose husband died this week. Rose
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Dear Friends,
When we first moved to North Carolina, we rented a garage apartment right across the street from the church and church school. This made it so convenient for Eileen since she could just walk across the street to go to school. It had a nice playground where she and Ronnie Jay could play together. It was also convenient for us as we did not have to drive to the various church meetings. Although the apartment was small, these things made us very happy there.
One day, our land lady told us that her son was going to be staying with her for a while. She was very excited. That son and his family soon arrived with all of their belongings. It looked to us as if they were planning to stay indefinitely. One day, he told us that we would have to move. He was moving to Wilmington permanently and would be living in his mother’s house. He had decided that our apartment would be a perfect place for his mother to live. It was hard to believe that anyone could do such a thing to their mother, but there was nothing we could do but try to find another place to live. We had lost everything but the clothes we were wearing in a fire just before we had moved there and losing that apartment that was so convenient for us made me feel as if my world was crashing in upon me. I just could not understand why this was happening. I was very discouraged.
Finally, after searching diligently, I found a mobile home that was surrounded by trees and fields. Behind the trailer was a warehouse where the snack food trucks stored their food supplies. It did not take my children long to discover that if they were outside when the trucks came, the drivers would give them the day-old food that they could not sell. Every day they would come back with their arms loaded with food. It was like having our own bakery outlet store! This was such a blessing to us, as we were having a very hard time financially and this helped our grocery bill tremendously. It was true that most of the food was high in sugar, but at least our children didn’t have to go hungry anymore.
There was a magnolia tree behind our trailer that Eileen enjoyed climbing and a wisteria vine loaded with fragrant blooms. The front yard was a lovely place with tall pines that shielded us from the street. On warm evenings, we enjoyed having worship under those pines. One evening as the children and I were sitting under those trees, we had a thrilling experience. I was playing the guitar, and we were singing songs of praise to our Heavenly Father, when a little screech owl flew down and landed on a post about 10 feet from us. He watched us and we watched him. He seemed to be enjoying the music. He stayed there all the time we were having worship and would have stayed longer, but Ronnie Jay, age two, was getting sleepy and wanted to go to bed. We had to walk within inches of that little owl to get inside. That was a little too close for that little owl’s comfort and he flew away.
Suddenly, I realized that we were much happier there than we had ever been in the apartment. I then knew that what had seemed like a such a great difficulty and trial, was really a great blessing sent to us from our Great Provider. My heart filled with gratitude for His loving care.
Sometimes we cannot understand why things happen the way they do. Our trials make us feel like our world is crashing in on top of us. We feel as did Job, “When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.” Job 30:26 Yet, God has His hand over all of these things. He takes those very circumstances that seem so overwhelming and unfair and works them around for our good. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28
Moreover, He promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Ps 32:8 It may not happen as quickly as we would like, or in the way that we would like, but if we allow Him to, He will untangle all the tangled threads of our lives and make our path straight. Peter tells us, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:12,13; 1:7
Let us turn to our Loving Shepherd when things go wrong and when all forsake us. He is our comfort! He is our strength! He is our Fortress and our Mighty Deliverer! “Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” no matter what may be happening in our life, for we know and are assured that our Loving Father has our best interest at heart. Heb 13:15 Let us pray as did David, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Ps 31:1-3, 24
Rose
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