It’s one thing to be in a battle; it’s another not even to see the forces arrayed in that battle. In a sense, this is what we as Christians deal with. We know that the forces are out there, we can feel them in our lives, and yet, we have to press ahead in faith, trusting Him “who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27, NKJV).

Read Job 23:1-10. What is the essence of Job’s struggle? What does he not see? At the same time, what does he take on faith, despite all his trials?

Image © The Classic Bible Art Collection – Formerly Standard Publishing at Goodsalt.com

Even amid his terrible trials, Job trusted in the Lord. Despite everything, Job was determined to endure. And one of the things that kept him persevering was gold. Not a gold medal; rather, he was looking into the future and realized that if he held on to God, he would come out the better for it — he would come out like gold. How much Job knew of what was happening behind the scenes, we aren’t told. Regardless of how much was hidden from him, he endured the refining fire anyway.

Do you fear the fire? Do you worry about the heat that circumstances generate? Perhaps, as with Job, the heat of God seems unexplainable. It may be the difficulty of adjusting to a new job or a new home. It could be having to survive ill treatment at work, or even within your own family. It could be illness or financial loss. Hard as it is to understand, God can use these trials to refine you and purify you and bring out His image in your character.

Being proven to be gold seems to be an incentive for Job here, something to fix his eyes upon, and that helps pull him through his troubles. It’s a powerful testimony to his character already that, amid all the pain and suffering, he was able to sense the reality of the purifying process. Also, however much he didn’t understand, he knew that these trials would refine him.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/monday-faith-amid-refining-fire/

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29, NKJV).

In the beginning, God made us in His image (Genesis 1:27), but that image has been corrupted by sin.

In what ways do we see this defacing of God’s image in humanity?

Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com

It’s obvious: we all have been corrupted by sin (Romans 3:10-19). Yet, God’s desire is to restore us to what we should have been originally. This is where our verse today fits in. It reveals God’s plan that those who submit their lives to the Holy Spirit may be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29, NIV).

But there’s another dimension. “The very image of God is to be reproduced in humanity. The honor of God, the honor of Christ, is involved in the perfection of the character of His people.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 671.

How do you understand what Ellen G. White says to us in the quote cited above? See also Job 1:1-22, Matthew 5:16, 1 Corinthians 4:9, Ephesians 3:10.

As Christians, we must never forget that we are in the midst of a cosmic drama. The great controversy between Christ and Satan is unfolding all around us. The battle takes many shapes and is manifested in many ways. And though much is hidden, we can understand that, as followers of Christ, we have a part to play in this drama and can bring honor to Christ through our lives.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/sunday-in-his-image/

Image © Pacific Press

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Matthew 5:16, 1 Corinthians 4:9, Ephesians 3:10, Job 23:1-10, Matthew 25:1-12, Daniel 12:1-10, Ephesians 4:11-16.

Memory Text: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV).

Amy Carmichael took a group of children to a traditional goldsmith in India. In the middle of a charcoal fire was a curved roof tile. On the tile was a mixture of salt, tamarind fruit, and brick dust. Embedded in this mixture was gold. As the fire devoured the mixture, the gold became purer. The goldsmith took the gold out with tongs and, if it were not pure enough, he replaced it in the fire with a new mixture. But each time the gold was replaced, the heat was increased. The group asked, “How do you know when the gold is purified?” He replied, “When I can see my face in it.” — Amy Carmichael, Learning of God (Fort Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1989), p. 50.

God is seeking to purify us, to refine us like gold, to transform us into His image. That’s an astonishing goal, and it seems even more astonishing that a Christlike character is developed in us only as we pass through life’s crucibles.

The Week at a Glance: What role does suffering have in the purifying process? How do we understand all this in the context of the great controversy?

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 23.

Sunday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/sabbath-seeing-goldsmiths-face/

Support for the mission activities of the Seventh-day Adventist church has always been part of the Sabbath School program. This video is Mission Spotlight for this week.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0zUlZCBZBU&w=560&h=315]

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The post Mission Spotlight for July 16 appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/mission-spotlight-for-july-16/

“Join host Eric Flickinger from It Is Written as he discusses this week’s Sabbath School lesson with the author, Gavin Anthony. Come away with unique insights and discover the main points the author wished to convey in this week’s lesson.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dhfTyZYFZs&w=560&h=315]

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The post 3: The Birdcage – It is Written – Discussions with the Author appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/3-the-birdcage-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/