View this lesson in a browser and print a "take-away" weekly copy. CLICK HERE (see link below)
| FRIDAY | February 19 |
| "But like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path, God's purposes know no haste and no delay. Through the symbols of the great darkness and the smoking furnace, God had revealed to Abraham the bondage of Israel in Egypt, and had declared that the time of their sojourning should be four hundred years. 'Afterward,' He said, 'shall they come out with great substance.' Gen. 15:14. Against that word, all the power of Pharaoh's proud empire battled in vain. On 'the self-same day' appointed in the divine promise, 'it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.' Ex. 12:41. So in heaven's council the hour for the coming of Christ had been determined. When the great clock of time pointed to that hour, Jesus was born in Bethlehem."—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 32, emphasis supplied. |
 What are some of the things in your own culture that present challenges to those who want to be faithful to Jesus? How can we meet those challenges? How can we help one another in this struggle?  Dwell on the things that you have read, watched, or listened to for the past twenty-four hours. Were they the kind of things that could encourage you in your faith, or were they things that worked against it? What are the implications of your answer?  Look at the question of loyalty. In what contexts is loyalty good? Is it always good? When might being loyal to someone mean being disloyal to God?  What kind of danger, if any, could arise from being overtly obsessed with faithfulness? That is, in what ways could it be taken too far?  What are practical ways that we can keep alive in our churches and in our homes the reality of the Second Coming? It is true: The longer it takes, the easier and easier it gets to forget about it and fall into wrong habits and patterns of thought. How can we instill, especially in those who have been in the church a long time, the importance of keeping the reality and promise of the Second Coming passionately before us? |
| I N S I D E Story | ||
| God Made a Way by BENSON CHILUMPHA I know firsthand that God is the answer when there is no answer. He has guided me through many obstacles so that I could study at Malawi Adventist College. I had been a primary school teacher for 14 years and wanted to return to college to earn my bachelor's degree in education. I had to retake my high school leaving exams, and I scored high. But I was not offered admission to attend the university. I took the tests again the following year and again scored high. Again I was disappointed when I was not invited to enroll in the university. Disappointed, I knelt and asked God, "Why me? Why am I overlooked when others with lower scores have been admitted to college?" I heard God whisper, "Wait. I have a plan." So I waited. Then I learned that Malawi Adventist College was broadening its degree program and would offer degrees in education and business management. I applied. While I awaited word on my application, I dreamed that I was sitting in a class. I could see the lecturer standing before the class asking questions. Soon after this I received a call from my pastor saying I had been accepted to study at the Adventist college. I was overjoyed. But I had no money for school fees. So I went back to God. "God, you are the source of all answers," I prayed. "You have given me a place in this school, so now I turn to you to provide the school fees I need." I applied for a scholarship from a national organization in Malawi and was accepted. The scholarship would pay half my fees. I knelt and thanked God for providing this scholarship and asked where I should look for the rest of my fees so that Satan would not triumph. After praying, I remembered an organization that had helped me when I was in college 14 years earlier. I was not sure they would even get my letter, but I wrote, and they responded in the affirmative. They would pay the remainder of my school fees. God provided for my school fees, and I trust Him to provide the money my family needs for food and clothes and the children's school fees. I can trust God, for, as you can see, He has not let me down. Part of a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering is helping to build a women's dormitory at Malawi Adventist College, making it possible for more students to receive a quality Christian education for service to the Master. Thank you! BENSON CHILUMPHA lives in southern Malawi. | ||
| Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Awareness. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org |
No comments:
Post a Comment