Daily Devotions

[Berean]

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Here is the Daily Devotional

 

SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE INVOLVED IN HALLOWEEN

It is believed that Halloween began as a pagan Celtic holiday. Many practices involved in this celebration were fed by superstition. The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the villages at night. Since not all the spirits were friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and to insure the next year’s crop. They also dressed in costumes to confuse vengeful spirits. This practice eventually evolved into today’s trick-or-treating.

Halloween is obviously not a holiday that Christians should celebrate. So what should Christians do at Halloween? Here are some guidelines:

Follow the Bible. Teach your children clearly that the Bible does not support worshiping or honoring dead people. The Bible is clear that the dead are truly dead.

Share your faith. Instead of candy, share something appropriate to guide children toward Jesus and the Bible. “It is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:14).

Draw clear boundaries. Some activities at Halloween are obviously things a Christian will not participate in: watching horror movies, eating lots of junk food, playing pranks that hurt people, telling scary stories, or visiting so-called haunted attractions.

Refrain from a judgmental spirit. Perhaps your fellow Christians are not as clear or convicted as you are about how to deal with Halloween. Hurtful criticism will not help them. Instead of condemning parents, why not invite a few families into your home for a short Bible study, refreshments, and family-building games? Make it a time of worship and fellowship with the emphasis that, as Christians, the only thing we “hallow” is the name of our heavenly Father—to whom Jesus taught us when we pray to say, “Hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9).

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?”
 
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
Isaiah 8:19-20 

God bless

[Berean]

Hi to all

 

Here is the Daily Devotional

 

THE APOCALYPSE, AN OPEN BOOK WE MUST PROBE

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of prophecy, and keep the things written therein! Because the time is near. (Revelation 1.3)

Many have entertained the idea that Revelation was a sealed book and that they would not devote time or research to it to fathom its mysteries. They claim that they must direct their gaze to the glories of salvation, because the mysteries revealed by John, on the Isle of Patmos, are less worthy of consideration than they.

God does not share this opinion. It reveals: “I declare it to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to it, God will strike him with the plagues described in this book; and if anyone takes away anything from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, described in this book. »

The book of Revelation presents to the world what has been, what is, and what must happen. He is there for our personal instruction and this, until the end of this world. It should be studied with reverent awe.

The Eternal revealed the mysteries of the book of Revelation to his servant John, because they must be revealed by the study of each one. In this book are described scenes belonging to the past and others, of eternal interest, which are currently taking place around us. Certain prophecies will only see their total realization at the end of time, when the last great conflict will take place between the powers of darkness and those of the Prince of Heaven.

Many prophecies are about to come true in an accelerated sequence, with every piece being put into place. Past history will repeat itself, old controversies will reawaken, and danger will assail God’s people on all sides. Violence grips the human family. It insinuates itself everywhere on earth. Why? Games, leisure, pleasures predominate; people jostle, gather and compete, vying for supremacy. Anything ordinary and perishable captivates their attention, so items of eternal interest are neglected.

Driven by energy, zeal and perseverance, human beings will combine their talents with Satan’s despotism to nullify the law of God. Imposters of all ranks and classes will assert that they are genuine and trustworthy. A rise of vulgarity and impurity will oppose purity and holiness. Thus, what is unworthy will become acceptable and the true standard of holiness will be discarded, just like the word of God, abandoned by Adam and Eve in favor of the lie of Satan.

(Ellen G. White – Manuscript 143, 1901.)

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

WHICH LAW IS BEING ADDRESSED IN GALATIANS 3:19? 

The answer appears as we discover the single subject of this chapter. The apostle Paul is contrasting condemnation and justification, and the chief point of his argument is that “no one is justified by the law in the sight of God” (verse 11). The argument is not whether the law operates or not, but whether it operates as a justifier of guilty sinners.

Paul spells out in many other texts that the law is necessary as a revealer of sin. “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20). “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law” (Romans 7:7). The law can condemn, but it cannot justify.

In the verse that precedes Galatians 3:19, Paul shows how our inheritance is not by the law but, rather, by a promise from God. Verse 21 then shows once more how the law does not bring life. “Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law” (Galatians 3:21).

These verses make it clear that Paul was not talking so much about any particular law—whether the ceremonial laws of Moses or the moral law—but rather, he was addressing the belief among some that a law could justify a person. That was not the purpose of any of God’s laws. All they could do was condemn fallen people and point them to their need of a Savior, the Seed who came. Christ delivered us from the condemnation of the law. Even so, the law does not cease to exist. As soon as we step off God’s pathway, the law is there to point us back to Jesus.

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Galatians 3:19 

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[Berean]

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CHRIST’S WORK OF REDEMPTION

Here is the lion of the tribe of Judah… and in the midst of the elders, a lamb which was there as though slain. (Revelation 5.5-6)

The Savior was presented to John by the symbol of the “lion of the tribe of Judah” and that of the “lamb… as slain”. The whole work of redemption is presented here. These symbols represent the union of omnipotent power and sacrificial love. As the Lion of Judah, Christ will defend his children and bring them to victory, for they have accepted him as “the Lamb of God having taken on the sins of the world.” Christ, the slain Lamb – despised, rejected, victim of Satan’s wrath, man’s mistreatment and cruelty showed tender compassion for his people on earth. The infinite depth of his humiliation and sacrifice, as the Lamb of God, will be proportionate to the power of his glory, as the Lion of Judah setting his people free.

The great events of the future which would shake the thrones of kings and make all the powers of the world tremble were presented to John. He witnessed the final scene of all these earthly performances and the beginning of God’s reign as King of kings, whose kingdom will last forever. “Behold,” he said, “he comes with the clouds. And every eye will see it. He saw Christ receiving the worship of all the heavenly host and heard the promise that, however painful the tribulation endured by the people of God, if they endure it valiantly, they will be more than conqueror through him who love it.

John was now ready to witness the gripping scenes of the great controversy between those keeping the commandments of God and those considering them null and void. He saw an amazing power arise to seduce all the godless inhabitants of the earth, telling them “to make an image unto the beast which had the wound of the sword and which lived.” »

To all those who do not bow before earthly decrees, because contrary to the authority of the King of heaven, John says: “Here is the perseverance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. »

These teachings have been given to us for our personal benefit. Let us place our faith in God, for we are on the eve of considerable trials. On the Mount of Olives, Christ recalled the terrible judgments which will precede his second coming… These prophecies were partly fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem, but they will see an even clearer application in the time of the end.

(Ellen G. White – Manuscript 100, 1893.)

Collection of meditations

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[Berean]

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Here is the Daily Devotional

 

BY OBSERVING THE FUTURE

There will be signs…men fainting in terror for what will come to the earth. (Luke 21:25-26)

John also witnessed the terrible scenes at the end, harbingers of the coming of Christ. He saw armies preparing for battle, people fainting in fear. He still saw, a shaken earth, mountains carried away by raging waves and stormy waves. He saw vials of wrath, pestilence, famine and death pouring down upon the inhabitants of the earth.

The Spirit of God, already restrained, is gradually fading from the face of the Earth. Cyclones, storms, fires, floods and disasters on land and in the sea follow one another in quick succession. Science tries to explain these phenomena. The signs multiplying around us and revealing to us the soon return of the Son of God are attributed to quite another cause. Men do not distinguish the angels holding back the four winds which will not be released until the servants of God are sealed. When God permits the angels to release the winds, there will be such scenes of conflict that a mere pen is too clumsy to describe.

We stand on the threshold of great and solemn events. The prophecy is coming true quickly. The Lord is at the door. We will soon experience an exciting time. New controversies will develop. The scenes that will occur were never dreamed or imagined. Satan works through human agencies.

But, the servants of God cannot count on themselves in this time of extreme emergency. The schedule of future events is in the hands of the Lord. The world is not delivered to anarchy, the Majesty of heaven has our destiny and the affairs of the Church in hand.

He who reigns in heaven is our Saviour. He watches the furnace testing every precious soul. When the fortifications of kings crumble, when destruction annihilates the wicked, his people will be assured of safety in his hands. Patiently, they will preserve their souls.

A decisive future awaits us. These trials, these temptations and the fulfillment of our tasks will require exceptional faith and perseverance. But we can triumph, because the attentive souls, believers and invoking God will not be seduced by the tricks of the enemy. All of heaven is focused on our struggle and waiting for us to call upon it for wisdom and vigor. With the time of trial upon us, God undertakes to provide refuge to all who have kept the word of his patience.

(Ellen G. White – Manuscript 100, 1893.)

collection of meditations

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[Berean]

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Here is the Daily Devotional

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LIGHT RECEIVED

But narrow is the gate, narrow is the way that leads to life, and few find them. (Matthew 7.14)

The beloved disciple [John] said, “He who says, I have known him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. The Word of God is clear and precise. It is foolhardy to claim that we are a follower of Jesus and to deny him by the casualness of our acts vis-à-vis one of his commandments.

The history of the Reformation teaches us that the church of Christ cannot stand still and stop reforming. God stands at the head of all, telling them, as he said to Moses: “Let them go! “Speak to the children of Israel and let them walk. The work of God progresses; step by step, his people progress through conflicts and trials, tending towards final victory. The history of the church teaches us that the people of God cannot allow themselves to be rigidified by their theories, but accept new knowledge by deciphering the revelations of the Word.

Past history of the progression of truth through error and darkness reveals to us that sacred truth is not revered and sought after by the majority. Those who have progressed in reformation, obeying God’s injunction: “March! have suffered opposition, torture and death. In gaping prisons, threatened with torture and death, they considered the truth more valuable than anything else, preferring to renounce life than to sacrifice their faith. They did not cherish their lives so much as to sacrifice God’s truth. Truth is as important now as it was in the days of the martyrs.

What if people in Luther’s day decided to cover up their disobedience to God’s commandments by saying:

“God is too merciful to punish me for failing to keep such an unpopular principle. Our intellectuals and our religious leaders do not accept it. I prefer to risk transgressing God’s law since the world rejects it. I am satisfied with my religion. I prefer to follow the masses! »

If I go with the crowd, the Bible tells me that I walk a path leading to death. The Majesty of Heaven says, “But narrow is the gate, narrow is the way that leads to life, and few find them. We are responsible for the light spread around us. Christ wept over Jerusalem, for men were unaware of the punishment from heaven that awaited them. It was a day of truth, opportunity and privilege. Senseless ingratitude, vain formalism and centuries of hypocrisy drowned her eyes in tears of irrepressible anguish.

(Ellen G. White – Letter 35a, 1877.)

collection of meditations

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[Berean]

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Here is the Daily Devotional

WHY DID ANIMALS NEED TO BE SACRIFICED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT SANCTUARY SERVICES? 

The sacrificing of animals was necessary to help people understand that without the shedding of Jesus’ blood, their sins could never be forgiven. The ugly, shocking truth is that the punishment for sin is eternal death. Since all of us have sinned, all of us should die. When Adam and Eve sinned, they would have died at once except for Jesus, who stepped forward and offered to give His perfect life as a sacrifice to pay the death penalty for all people.

After sin, God required the sinner to bring an animal sacrifice (Genesis 4:3–7). When a sinner brought a sacrificial animal to the door of the courtyard, a priest handed him a knife and a basin. The sinner laid his hands on the animal’s head and confessed his sins. This symbolized the transfer of sin from the sinner to the animal. At that point, the sinner was considered innocent and the animal guilty. Since the animal was now symbolically guilty, it had to pay sin’s wage—death.

The sinner was to kill the animal with his own hand (Leviticus 1:4, 5). It was bloody and shocking. By slaying the animal, the sinner was graphically taught that sin caused the innocent animal’s death and that his sin would cause the death of the innocent Jesus. It indelibly impressed the sinner with the solemn reality of sin’s awful consequences (eternal death) and the desperate need of a Savior.

The sacrificial system taught, through the symbol of the slain animal, that God would give His Son to die for their sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). Jesus would become not only their Savior, but also their substitute (Hebrews 9:28). When John the Baptist met Jesus, he said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). In the Old Testament, people looked forward to the cross for salvation. We look backward to Calvary for salvation. There is no other source of salvation.

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
Hebrews 9:22 

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[Berean]

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Here is the Daily Devotional

 

WILL THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT PLAY A ROLE IN THE END-TIME CONFLICT BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL? 

 

The New Age movement is really an old age movement that’s been around since the devil first told Eve that she wouldn’t die if she disobeyed God’s command. The New Age movement has elements of older spiritual traditions that come from a wide range of “isms,” including pantheism, polytheism, environmentalism, astrology, and many Eastern religions. It’s really a hodgepodge of ideas that gained momentum in the 1960s and 70s when several “gurus” visited the United States.

There is a strong involvement in the New Age movement with the occult, psychic phenomena, and spiritism. Without a doubt, spiritism will be a major factor in the closing drama of Earth’s history. Combined with the supernatural power of the counterfeit gift of tongues and allied with the end-time worldwide coalition of churches, spiritism will sweep the globe. The New Age belief in spirit communication and reincarnation is simply old-time paganism in new garb. Its belief in an immortal, undying soul that can communicate with the living is the same old falsehood Satan told Eve in Eden.

And books aren’t the sole purveyors of this false religion. Television, film, and radio have been feeding society a steady diet of religious programming, most notably New Age spiritism. Shows like Ghost Whisperer and Crossing Over have a tremendous following, especially among young adults. Of course, the Harry Potter movies, aimed squarely at children, remain the standard for occult-oriented entertainment.

I know from personal experience that our only safety from being led astray is by personal Bible study. Without it, I might still be lost, perhaps steeped in the teachings of some New Age cult. It was the Bible that turned me into a Christian, which is kind of a miracle considering that I was a high school dropout from a Jewish family full of cynicism about Christianity. I’d been taught evolution and believed that the Bible was full of fiction and fantasy. Yet in a cave, all alone, I picked up the Bible and this dynamic, powerful book changed my life.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Genesis 3:4 

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[Berean]

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DID SATAN’S KINGDOM CALLED “BABYLON” ORIGINATE AT THE TOWER OF BABEL? 

The tower of Babel spoken of in Genesis 11 was erected by the people of Shinar in opposition to God’s instructions to “fill the earth” after the Flood. The Lord promised there would never be another flood to destroy the world, but these rebellious people built a tower reaching to the heavens in disbelief. The name Babel means “confusion” (v. 9) and refers to God’s intervention by confusing the languages of the people.

The prophet Isaiah uses the king of Babylon as a symbol of Satan, who was once a covering cherub in heaven named Lucifer. In describing the downfall of Lucifer, he writes: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!” (Isaiah 14:12). The book of Revelation most clearly uses the nation of Babylon as a symbol for Satan’s reign.

The origins of Satan’s kingdom began with his rebellion in heaven, which ended in a war when he was cast out. “War broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought. … So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7, 9). This happened before the tower of Babel story.

Certainly the rebellious spirit of the people of Shinar and the same proud spirit in the king of Babylon capture the essence of Satan’s kingdom. From the beginning of Satan’s sin, he has sought to exalt himself above God. His reign has brought false worship, and his purpose has been to take captive the Lord’s people. Every soul on Earth will finally line up on the side of either Jesus or Babylon. It is a matter of life and death!

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. Genesis 11:4 

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[Berean]

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HOW COULD ONE MAN’S DEATH PAY THE PENALTY FOR THE SINS OF ALL MANKIND?

A group of prisoners during World War II were put to work on an assignment under grueling conditions. The soldiers guarding them were brutal in their treatment; many of the captured were not even part of the enemy army.

One day the commander lined up the prisoners and stated that a shovel had been stolen and that the guilty party must step forward to be punished—which meant he would lose his life. After it was quiet for a moment, the commander shouted, “If someone doesn’t step forward, I will kill all of you!”

At that moment a missionary quietly moved forward. The other prisoners gasped, because they knew this man had not stolen the shovel. They understood he was willing to give his life in order to save the rest of them. The missionary was indeed killed, and the men never forgot the sacrificial love of this innocent man.

In a small way, this story describes what happened when Christ stepped forward to give His life for a lost world. The pure, innocent Son of God willingly took the death sentence for all of us so that we, who rightfully deserve death, might be free. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned.” Because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and all have sinned, something special was required for every person who has ever lived.

If Jesus was only a man, He could not have paid for the sins of the entire world; however, Jesus was all the fullness of God in a man’s body (Colossians 2:9). Only one whose life is equal to all mankind could die for the sins of the human race. Because Jesus is the Creator and Author of all life, the life He laid down was more than equivalent to the lives of all people who would ever live. And since Christ rose from the dead, He is now able to administer the benefits of His gift of love to all who ask in faith.

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 

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[Berean]

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HEARING WITH THE HEART 

There are at least 37 different parables that Jesus told. Some of these stories are repeated in three of the Gospels, but the book of John does not contain any of them. People can listen without hearing, but it’s impossible to hear without listening. When people truly hear someone, they take the words into their hearts. The words stay with them as they consider the meaning and absorb what was said. Really hearing someone involves a commitment.

The Pharisees listened to Jesus speak, but they didn’t really hear Him. Though they might have understood the literal meaning of His stories, they never grasped the deeper concepts about God and His kingdom. His words entered their ears but never made it to their hearts, perhaps because they had decided in advance that they would not believe what He had to say. Their hearts were hardened against Him.

After telling the story of the sower, Jesus explained to His disciples why He spoke in parables. He quoted a prophecy from Isaiah that was fulfilled by the attitudes of the Pharisees who were, by their own choice, spiritually blind and deaf.

God always desires people to turn from their sins and be forgiven. If the Pharisees had been willing to hear Jesus and take His words to heart, God would have been glad to accept them.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.”
 
“And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:”
 
“That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”
Mark 4:10-12 

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[Berean]

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Here is the Daily Devotional

MR. UNFORGETTABLE

When Kim Peek was born in 1951, his parents knew he was different. He had an enlarged head, and tests revealed that his left and right brain hemispheres were not separated like most people, forming a great single “data storage” area. Kim’s motor skills and physical development proved slow, and he did not walk until age four. But early on his parents noticed other remarkable abilities. By 20 months Kim was able to memorize every book that was read to him. By age three Kim was reading the dictionary.

Since that time until his death in 2009, Kim had read and could clearly recall over 12,000 books! Peek was called a “mega-savant” because his photographic memory made him a virtual genius in about 15 different subjects. Known as “Kimputer” to many, his vast knowledge included: world and American history, British monarchs, Bible history, geography (he was acquainted with all main roads and highways in the U.S. and Canada), professional sports statistics (for baseball, basketball, football, Kentucky Derby winners, etc.), the history of the space program, movies and music themes, the complete works of Shakespeare, telephone area codes, major zip codes, and all TV stations and their markets.

He could identify most classical music compositions and tell the date the music was written and the composer’s birth date and place of birth and death. He especially enjoyed calendar calculations. If you told him your birth date, he would tell you the day of the week you were born and what the day of the week will be when you turn 65 so you can retire.

Kim struggled with simple tasks like dressing and shaving himself or finding the silverware drawer at home. Still, it was his encyclopedic memory that became the inspiration for the 1988 Oscar-winning movie Rain Man, portrayed by Dustin Hoffman. In his later life, when home in Utah, Kim spent afternoons at the Salt Lake City Public Library poring over books, even memorizing phone books. It only took him about eight seconds to read an average page and he read two pages at a time—one with his left eye the other with his right.

If you had a photographic memory, what would you want to remember? King David provides the perfect answer in today’s Bible text. What could be more important than to keep in mind all of God’s law. David also wrote: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.”
Psalms 119:93 

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[Berean]

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Here is the Daily Devotional

 

GOD ASK US TO BE CHILDREN OF LIGHT

You are all children of light and children of the day. We are neither of the night nor of the darkness. (1 Thessalonians 5.5)

The Bible is God’s great steward. It is a lamp at our feet and a light on our way. It lights our way so that we can distinguish it. Its rays animate past history and reveal perfect harmony, while through the darkness the spirit discerned only error and discord. What turns out to be an unfathomable mystery in the eyes of the world turns out to be the luminous testimony of great beauty in the eyes of the children of God.

God has marked his path with prophetic landmarks. We are not left to human wisdom. The beacons of God, placed to mark out the path of obedience, are the only elements on which we can trust…

The Israelites painted their doors with a bloody signature, indicating that they belonged to God. So today every child of God will bear the signature of God. He said, “I have also given them my Sabbaths as a sign between me and them, that they may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.” When individuals affirm that the law of God has been abrogated by the testimony of the “fathers”, they are teaching a human doctrine….

We are only living a short parenthesis in the history of the world. The great controversy awaits us. The “ungodly man” labored with magnificent perseverance to exalt a false Sabbath, and the unfaithful Protestant world went into ecstasies before the beast, demanding obedience to a Sabbath, instituted by those who keep the laws of the nations. The kingdoms have come together to support a false institution of the Sabbath, possessing not the slightest authority over the oracles of God…

The great conflict engaged is not a simple combat opposing human beings between them. The Prince of Life stands on one side, acting as our Substitute and Surety, and on the other, the Prince of Darkness, with the fallen angels at his command… “Put on all the armor of God, that that they may stand firm against the wiles of the devil.”

A terrible conflict will break out between the children of God and those who despise his law. The church holds the hand of the world. Respect for God’s law has been destroyed. Religious leaders taught human doctrines. What happened in Noah’s time is happening on our earth today… The faithful and authentic being will not be swept away by the current of evil. The infidels will fail to belittle and vilify what God has set aside as holy. The test comes for everyone. There are only two camps. Which one is yours?

(Ellen G. White – Manuscript 39, 1899 (Review and Herald, February 6, 1900.))

collection of meditations

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[Berean]

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Here is the Daily Devotional

EXCEEDINGLY WISE” ANTS 

Some ants live in super colonies that contain more than 300 million individuals.

Perhaps you have heard of the famous “parasol” or “leaf-cutter” ants that make gardens and raise their own crops! These amazing creatures are often seen walking in processions, each one holding a piece of green leaf above its head! These bits of green leaf are not for food, but are taken to their nests and made into a compost soil—for these ants are actually farmers. They deliberately sow, prune, fertilize, weed, harvest, and store a fungus crop as carefully as any gardener tends his vegetables.

Some ants living in Texas clear a “field” of one or two square yards and then plant rice. They lay out the rice in beds with pathways running among the plants, and they keep their rice fields carefully weeded. When the rice seeds ripen, the ants harvest them, remove the husks, and store the kernels for food. Later, the ants with very large jaws crack the seeds and crush the kernels into meal for the rest of the ants. If the rice gets damp and is in danger of spoiling, other ants have the sole responsibility of carrying the damp grain out into the sunshine for drying.

There are thousands of amazing scenarios to be found among the roughly 10,000 species of ants on earth, and probably many thousands of lessons to be learned from this tiny creature. In fact, the Bible calls the lowly ant, which typically prepares in advance for the colder months, “exceedingly wise.”

It’s important for us to store the bread of life in our minds and be prepared in advance when it comes to our relationship with God. As a Christian, you always need to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV). And we should be “sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21).

Most important, we need to be prepared to meet the Lord when He returns. In Jesus’ story of the wise and foolish virgins, only five of them carried extra oil along with them and were ready to meet the bridegroom when He arrived at an unexpected hour. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2, 3). The Lord has prepared to receive us into His awesome presence. Are we prepared to go home with Him?

Father in heaven, give me the oil of your Holy Spirit and make me wise. Help me be prepared to meet my Savior at His soon return.

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces. Proverbs 30:24-28 

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[Berean]

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Here is the Daily Devotional

 

THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT

“The Torch” claims to be the world’s brightest flashlight. It is currently being tested by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s most powerful flashlight, with 4,100 lumens of “raw light power.” It is supposedly 100 lumens brighter than the previous record holder. It burns so hot that it can ignite paper, melt plastic, and even cook an egg. All yours for only $149!

Ever since the invention of the light bulb, mankind has continued to make more powerful and brighter lights. One of the brightest lights in the world (claimed by its owners) is the tip of Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, which contains a fixed-position spotlight that points directly upward. Its beam is supposedly 42.3 billion candlepower.

But you don’t need to go to Las Vegas to find the brightest light in the world. David writes in 2 Samuel 22:29, “For You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord shall enlighten my darkness.” From the first day of Creation when God proclaimed, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3), to the final book of Revelation, which tells us, “There shall be no more night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light” (Revelation 22:5), there is a clear association between our Lord and light.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). Then in John 12:36, Christ admonishes us, “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of the light.”

The Word of God, the Bible, is also referred to as light. In fact, David says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). You do not need the world’s most powerful flashlight to find your way to heaven. God provides the light you need through the Bible. Turn on your light every day.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 

God bless

[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

STUDY THE BOOKS OF DANIEL AND THE APOCALYPSE TOGETHER

I come now to let you know what is to happen to your people in the future; because the vision still concerns those times. (Daniel 10.14)

Daniel identified himself with the sins of Israel and confessed the sins of his people as if they were his own. He prayed, “Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, be careful! Act and do not delay, out of love for you, O my God! For your name is called upon your city and your people. Gabriel, the heavenly messenger, appeared twice and assured him that he was a very beloved man.

How closely related the celestial universe is to the fallen world can we grasp! These instructions given to Daniel should fill our souls with reverence, humility and gentleness and cause us to throw our pride into the dust.

A marvelous relationship has been established here between the celestial universe and this world. What was revealed to Daniel was then completed by the revelation made to John on the Isle of Patmos. Both of these books should be read very carefully. Twice Daniel inquired, “How long will it be before the end of time? “I heard, but I did not understand; and I say: My lord, what will be the issue of these things? He answered: Go, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, whitened and tried; the wicked will do evil and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have intelligence will understand… And you, walk towards your end; you will rest, and you will stand for your inheritance at the end of days. »

It was the lion of the tribe of Judah who unsealed the book and offered John the revelation of what the last days would be like. Daniel remained on his ground to bear his testimony, sealed until the time of the end, when the first angel’s message would be proclaimed to our world. These elements are of paramount importance for our present time. The book of Daniel is unsealed through the revelation of John and tells us of the final scenes in earth’s history.

The case of Daniel reveals to us that the Lord is always willing to hear prayers with a contrite heart and, seeking the Lord with all our hearts, he answers our requests. It is revealed to us here, how Daniel obtained his gifts and his intelligence. If we simply claim God’s wisdom, we will be blessed with increased skills and power from above. If we come to God, as we are, and pray to him in faith, like Daniel, we will know God’s salvation. We must pray as we have never prayed before.

(Ellen G. White – Letter 59, 1896 (Ellen G. White Manuscript Releases 18, pages 14-16.))

collection of meditations

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

DOES THE BIBLE SUPPORT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT?

The Scriptures don’t deal directly with the notion of a secular government’s use of capital punishment. While it’s clear that God places a high value on human life—“You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13)—in the theocracy of Old Testament Israel, capital punishment was considered a valid punishment for serious violations of the law. Since we don’t live in a society directly ruled by God today, we must also consider other factors.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned that when we seek to “pay back” another person by violence, such an action, which begins in the heart, isn’t acceptable. Retribution, revenge, hatred, and malice are not to be motivating factors to correct wrongs.

Courts of justice should attempt to rise above the anger of individuals and deal objectively with serious criminal acts. The goal of many countries that practice capital punishment is to protect law-abiding citizens from extremely dangerous individuals. In this way, Romans 13:4 is often quoted by those who favor capital punishment. Here, the apostle Paul addresses the role of secular governments in maintaining order in society, and he goes so far as to say they have a right to “bear the sword.” Many take this to mean that capital punishment is acceptable to God under some circumstances.

Many who are against the death penalty often cite Jesus’ rescue of the prostitute in the temple courts, but this doesn’t speak directly to the role of secular governments exercising certain forms of justice. Still, executing a person is a serious matter—a government killing someone without justice is murder. We should be praying for those prosecutors, judges, and jurors considering such sentences. And we should pray for every person given the death sentence to find Jesus.

Finally, Christians need to be given room to decide for themselves what they believe about the death penalty, and to kindly allow others to view the matter differently. It’s okay to disagree, and one’s belief in this area isn’t a matter of salvation.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenge to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Romans 13:4 

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

RESCUERS

 

In January 2010, as Wesley Autrey waited for a subway train in New York, a fellow traveler fell to the floor in convulsions. With help he was able to get up, but he stumbled and fell between the tracks. Then the train’s headlights appeared. Mr. Autrey made an instant decision, leaping onto the helpless man and pressing him down as the train thundered inches above them.

Both men survived. Mr. Autrey insisted he wasn’t a hero; he simply saw someone that needed help and did what he felt was right. “Choose which land you would like,” Abraham offered. You can imagine the dollar signs popping up on Lot’s eyes as he gazed over the green, fertile valley. “I’ll take this area,” he told his uncle. Soon Lot had moved his livestock, servants, and family onto the preferred land.

Abraham and Lot had their differences. But when Abraham heard that Lot had been captured by heathen kings, he didn’t hesitate. Never mind that he had only 318 servants to fight with him against potentially huge armies. He bravely armed his men, tracked down his nephew’s abductors, and freed Lot and his family.

Although Lot had been selfish, had distanced himself from his uncle, and had probably moved close enough to heathen cities to be influenced by them, Abraham still loved him. He was family; nothing would keep him from rescuing Lot. Isn’t that what God does for us? Even when we’re selfish, distant, or straying in the wrong direction, He still loves us. He comes to our rescue when we least deserve it. What grace! What a Rescuer!
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. Genesis 14:14And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. Genesis 14:16 

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

BROUGHT BACK 

Believe it or not, in January 1942, Russian Lieutenant Chisov survived a 22,000-foot fall without a parachute from his badly damaged plane. He providentially fell on the edge of a ravine covered with snow and, because he struck it glancingly, slid as he landed. He was badly injured but survived and eventually returned to his duties. An even more incredible escape happened to U.S. Flight Sergeant Alkemade in 1944, when he jumped from his blazing bomber over Germany without a parachute. He fell 18,000 feet, but a fir tree broke the fall as he continued downwards into a knee-high bank of snow. The damage? None!

On July 9, 1960, Roger Woodard became the first person known to survive a plunge over Niagara Falls without a barrel. He and a friend were boating above the falls when the motor failed. A huge wave overturned the boat, throwing both into the swift current. Roger’s companion vanished, while he, wearing a life jacket, was swept over the 162-foot precipice. The tourist boat Maid of the Mist happened to be at the bottom of the falls, and the captain heard Roger crying, “Help!” A year later Woodard accepted Christ as his Savior, and said, “I guess the Lord saved me the first time so that I could be saved the second time.”

David writes about the joyful return of God’s people to Zion. “When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them’” (Psalm 126:1, 2).

Don’t wait for a near-death experience to return to God. The Lord welcomes you with joy. Perhaps it seems like a dream now, but when we walk into the New Jerusalem, we will surely sing, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad!” (v. 3).
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. Nehemiah 1:9  

God bless

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

JERICHO

Archaeological findings in the Middle East sometimes reveal surprising evidence linked to biblical accounts. The ruins of the ancient city of Jericho contain collapsed brick walls, including a small section of wall still standing, which might reflect the story of Rahab!

In the 1950s, archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon conducted extensive exploration and research in the ruins of the ancient city of Jericho. She concluded that the city contained no evidence of the destruction recalled in the book of Joshua. But later researchers reexamined her work and found that her dating was incorrect. When the correct dates were applied to the findings, collapsed brick walls were found surrounding the city exactly as we would expect.

And what about the story of Rahab? The book of Joshua records that Rahab’s home and family were saved from destruction when she followed the instructions of the Israelite spies and hung a scarlet cord from her window. Interestingly, a short stretch of the city’s mud brick wall was left standing with houses positioned against it. This portion of the wall was even on the north side of the city, a short distance from the hills to which the spies escaped.

In today’s skeptical world, it can be easy to doubt the words of Scripture in the face of cynicism and doubt. But God’s Word stands true. Increasingly, the stories of the Bible have been linked with archaeological evidence, revealing that these passages are far more than stories and legends. We can trust that God Himself has spoken to us through His Word. His message for us, from stories of instruction to words of comfort and hope, has been preserved for thousands of years.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS

And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. Joshua 6:5

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