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| FRIDAY | April 1 |
| Read Ellen G. White, “The Testing Process,” pp. 88, 89, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4; “Righteousness by Faith,” p. 161, in Gospel Workers; “Faith and Acceptance,” pp. 49–55, in Steps to Christ. “The law requires righteousness,—a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God’s holy law. But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men. Thus they have remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. More than this, Christ imbues men with the attributes of God. He builds up the human character after the similitude of the divine character, a goodly fabric of spiritual strength and beauty. Thus the very righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in Christ. God can ‘be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.’ Rom. 3:26.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 762. |
 Read again the Ellen G. White quote given for Sabbath. Write out a paraphrase, in your own words, of what she is saying, and bring it to class on Sabbath. Listen to each other’s versions, and share your own. What main points come through?  In class, discuss your answer to Tuesday’s final question.  When we put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness, we “who . . . reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory” (see 2 Cor. 3:18, NIV). Describe what “reflecting the Lord’s glory” means.  Over the years, some church members have struggled with the question of assurance of salvation. How are we to understand what it means to have assurance? Where is that assurance to be found? How does the imagery of a robe of righteousness woven “in the loom of heaven” without a thread of human devising help us understand where our assurance can come from? How can we know we’re not being presumptuous if we have that assurance?  Why is it so important to maintain a theological distinction between what Christ has done for us, in that He justified and forgives us the moment we claim it by faith, and what He works out in us over our life? What dangers arise if we don’t keep that distinction sharp? |
| I N S I D E Story | ||
| No More Devil Sticks Simon lives in Burundi in eastern Africa. He met a witch doctor who convinced him that he could have great powers. Simon put away his Bible and followed the witch doctor. He pounded sticks into the ground around his house to protect his family from evil spirits. About this time Simon's friend Samuel attended some evangelistic meetings held by Seventh-dayAdventists. He became convinced that he was hearing the truth and surrendered his life to Christ. Samuel visited Simon and shared what he had learned at the meetings. He urged Simon to leave his witchcraft and follow Christ, but Simon refused. Samuel continued visiting his friend and sharing his faith. One day Samuel asked Simon, "What will be your future if you don't turn your life over to Christ?" Samuel's words pierced Simon's heart, but still he refused to leave his witchcraft. On one visit Simon told Samuel that he must never eat sweet potatoes or peanuts that have been baked in a fire or he would die. Samuel answered, "I will eat those foods, and God will protect me." Samuel went home and prayed that God would protect him as he showed his friend that God was stronger than the spirits. Then he returned to Simon carrying the forbidden foods. He put the food into Simon's cooking fire. The men talked as the sweet potatoes and peanuts roasted. Then Samuel pulled them from the fire and ate them. He didn't die; he didn't even look sick. Samuel told his friend, "You have seen for yourself that God is more powerful than the devils in which you trust." That night Simon couldn't sleep. He found the Bible he had discarded and opened it at random to Hosea 4:12. There he read, " 'They consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood. A spirit of prostitu¬tion leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God' " (NIV). Simon trembled as he read God's words. When Samuel returned, Simon told him, "I no longer trust in the sticks that surround my house. Please help me remove them." Samuel prayed, and the men removed the sticks. Then Simon accepted Samuel's invita¬tion to worship with him on Sabbath. Simon and his wife attended the Adventist church that Sabbath and gave their hearts to God. "We praise God for patiently calling us to follow Him," Simon says. "Now we invite others to come and learn this wonderful truth that Samuel shared with us." Our mission offerings help support the work of lay evangelists and Global Mission workers such as Samuel and Simon in dozens of countries around the world. SAMUEL BAZIKWANKANA and SIMON BICURO are lay workers in eastern Burundi. | ||
| Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org |
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