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| FRIDAY | October 8 |
| “Caleb’s faith now was just what it was when his testimony had contradicted the evil report of the spies. He had believed God’s promise that He would put His people in possession of Canaan, and in this he had followed the Lord fully. He had endured with his people the long wandering in the wilderness, thus sharing the disappointments and burdens of the guilty; yet he made no complaint of this, but exalted the mercy of God that had preserved him in the wilderness when his brethren were cut off. Amid all the hardships, perils, and plagues of the desert wanderings, and during the years of warfare since entering Canaan, the Lord had preserved him; and now at upwards of fourscore his vigor was unabated. He did not ask for himself a land already conquered, but the place which above all others the spies had thought it impossible to subdue. By the help of God he would wrest his stronghold from the very giants whose power had staggered the faith of Israel. It was no desire for honor or aggrandizement that prompted Caleb’s request. The brave old warrior was desirous of giving to the people an example that would honor God, and encourage the tribes fully to subdue the land which their fathers had deemed unconquerable.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 512, 513. |
As Christians we are constantly bombarded with “facts” that are interpreted in ways that contradict our faith. Notice, the key word is “interpreted.” What are ways that we can confront these challenges without making fools of ourselves and yet at the same time maintain our integrity? 
Dwell more on the idea that how we interpret “facts” isn’t always correct. For instance, we look at matter and see it as solid; yet, in reality, matter is almost all empty space. We look at the ground and judge it to be unmoving, even though it is moving very quickly through space. We can be in a closed, empty room and hear nothing, even though the air in the room is filled with radio waves carrying all sorts of sounds that we, left to ourselves, can’t hear. What lessons can we draw from this about what it means to live by faith and not by sight? 
Drawing on the life of Caleb, how can we nurture new believers, young people, and children to fill positions of leadership and responsibility in our church? 
Caleb stuck with his people, even amid their gross sins and mistakes. What lessons does this have for us, today, as Seventh-day Adventists? | I N S I D E Story | ||
| A Little Kindness Jyoti lived in a small village in western India. She was known for her kindness and generosity. Even though her own resources were meager, Jyoti helped her neighbors whenever she could. Jyoti's husband was addicted to gambling and often lost all his earnings. The family was forced to live on what Jyoti earned doing odd jobs and working in neighboring farmers' rice fields. Faithfully she prayed to her idols, asking them to help her husband quit gambling. She went on pilgrimages and made great promises if the gods would help her husband stop gambling. But nothing seemed to happen. And sometimes when she was weighed down by her troubles, she would become frustrated and scold her husband when he returned home late at night drunk and broke. Jyoti sometimes let her children attend Christian meetings in the village. She thought they might improve their lives. The children enjoyed the meetings and often chattered happily about what they had learned. As Jyoti listened, she wondered whether the Christians' God could change her husband. One day in desperation over her family's situation, Jyoti visited the Adventist pastor and asked him to pray for her husband. The pastor listened to her request and agreed to pray for her and the family's needs. Then he gently suggested that Jyoti start treating her husband with kindness. "If he comes in hungry, feed him without complaining," the pastor said. "Smile at him and welcome him home." Jyoti agreed to try. The pastor then invited her to attend the evangelistic meetings he was holding, and again she agreed. Jyoti and her children faithfully attended the evangelistic meetings. She told the pastor that she was trying to show extra love to her husband and was praying to God that her own attitude would sweeten. Slowly Jyoti's husband began staying at home more. He told his wife that he had less desire to go out and gamble, and in a short time he gave up the habit completely. As the evangelistic meetings drew to a close, Jyoti reported that her husband was no longer gambling. Jyoti's husband asked for Bible studies and praises God for changing his gambling habit and saving his family. Our mission offerings help send lay evangelists into villages such as Jyoti's and build churches for new believers. Thank you for sharing so others may know the true God. Jyoti shares her faith among her neighbors in western India. | ||
| Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org |
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