Closer To Heaven
|
|
|
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.
(1)The post Mission Spotlight for July first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/Dxw5tV-BxtI/
Probably the most natural thing for us to do after working through an embarrassing failure and experiencing forgiveness is to try to forget that the event ever happened. Memories of failure can be painful.
When a bowl or a precious vase falls and breaks into pieces, we normally sigh and throw the useless broken pieces away. In Japan there is a traditional art called kintsugi, which specializes in recreating broken pottery. A precious metal, such as liquid gold or silver, is used to glue the broken pieces together and to turn the broken item into something of beauty and value.
Image © Larry Torno at Goodsalt.com
Every time God forgives our transgressions and re-creates us again, something changes. God’s precious forgiveness glues our brokenness together, and the visible breaks can draw attention to His grace. We can become God’s loudspeakers. “My tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness” (Psalm 51:14). We don’t attempt to self-repair or auto-improve (even incrementally). Our broken spirits, our contrite hearts, are enough praise for God — and they are beams of light that the world can see surrounding us. Our experience of being forgiven attracts others who are searching for forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 is a short summary of Psalm 51:1-19. As David knows that “A broken and a contrite heart — These, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17), John assures us 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). We can take God at His word.
Again, David could not repair the tremendous damage that he had done through his acts and example to his family. He suffered the consequences of his decisions and actions. And yet, David knew that he had been forgiven. He knew that he needed to trust by faith that one day the true Lamb of God would come and stand in his place.
| How can you learn right now to apply the promises of 1 John 1:9 to your own life? How should you feel after you do so and know that the promise is for you, too? |
(0)The post Thursday: Reflector’s of God’s Light first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/c59xV8qRrJI/
David’s reference to cleansing with hyssop utilizes terminology known to every Israelite who had ever visited the sanctuary. As he refers to the ritual acts of cleansing described in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 14:4), he recognized the power of a sacrifice — the Sacrifice — who would come in the future to take away the sins of the world.
Image © Steve Bridger at Goodsalt.com
David also goes on to ask for “joy” and “gladness.” In the face of the enormity of his sin, isn’t this a little audacious?
Perhaps it may be helpful to listen to this paraphrase: “Tell me I am forgiven so that I may enter the sanctuary again where I can hear the joy and gladness of those worshiping you.”
David does not want to lose the consciousness of living in God’s presence. He realizes that without the Holy Spirit, he is powerless. He knows that, as easily as he slipped into sin with Bathsheba, he could slip into sin again. His self-confidence is shattered.
David understands that future victories will not come from him; they will come only from God as he depends totally on God.
The victorious Christian life is not all about us. It is all about Jesus. We yearn for His presence; we crave His Spirit; we want His joy of salvation. We recognize our need for renewal and restoration. We need His rest — a divine act of re-creation. Creation rest is not far from forgiveness. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10) uses creation terminology. In the Old Testament only God can “create” (bara’) — and once we have been re-created, we can rest.
| If you haven’t experienced the joy and gladness of liberation from a guilty conscience, what is holding you back? If it is guilt, what could you learn from this story that should help you? |
(0)The post Wednesday: Something New first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/h91dmdgEPbs/
This video is produced by the South Pacific Division Discipleship team.
Week 4_ The Cost of Rest_study this lesson for July 24 from SPD Discipleship on Vimeo.
(0)The post 4: The Cost of Rest – SPD Discipleship Video first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/r9QognKOGmI/
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The Cost of Rest” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:
With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.
(0)The post 4: The Cost of Rest – HopeSS Discussion Video first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/hQjwCgGTIVc/
Intercer is a website with biblical materials in Romanian, English, Hungarian and other languages. We want to bring the light from God's Word to peoples homes. Intercer provides quality Christian resources...[Read More]
