Finding Faith

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FRIDAY

June 3

Further Study:

Read Ellen G. White, “Lost and Is Found,” pp. 198–211; “A Great Gulf Fixed,” p. 260, in Christ’s Object Lessons; “The Last Journey From Galilee,” pp. 495, 496, in The Desire of Ages; “Parables of the Lost,” pp. 100–104, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3. “Mark how tender and pitiful the Lord is in His dealings with His creatures. He loves His erring child, and entreats him to return. The Father’s arm is placed about His repentant son; the Father’s garments cover his rags; the ring is placed upon his finger as a token of his royalty. And yet how many there are who look upon the prodigal not only with indifference, but with contempt. Like the Pharisee, they say, ‘God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men’ (Luke 18:11). But how, think you, does God look upon those who, while claiming to be coworkers with Christ, while the soul is making its struggle against the flood of temptation, stand by like the elder brother in the parable, stubborn, self-willed, selfish?”—Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 140. “Strength and grace have been provided through Christ to be brought by ministering angels to every believing soul. None are so sinful that they can not find strength, purity, and righteousness in Jesus, who died for them. He is waiting to strip them of their garments stained and polluted with sin, and to put upon them the white robes of righteousness; he bids them live, and not die.”—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, pp. 55, 56.

Discussion Questions:

Discuss more the question of how siblings from the same parents, the same home, and the same environment can go in such different spiritual directions. How are we to understand that?      How do you help those who—having turned away from the Lord, gone into the world, and damaged themselves and others in the process—want to put their past behind them but can’t, because no matter which way they turn, the results of their past choices stare them right in the face? What hope, what promises, what help can you give them?      It’s one thing to know that you are messed up, as did the prodigal. What about those who have “left their father’s home,” so to speak, and things are going quite well for them? Let’s be honest: not everyone who leaves the Lord winds up feeding pigs. Some end up owning the pig farm! What can be done to help them realize that, despite their circumstances, they have made a fatal choice?

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		I N S I D E Story
		Finding Faith by SONIA SOMUAH ASANTE I grew up in Ghana. When I was 17, I went to live with my aunt, for my mother left Ghana to work in another country. We were Christians but not Seventh-day Adventists. A friend was studying at Valley View University, the Adventist university in Ghana. She suggested that I complete my high school studies at the university so I could qualify for admission to the university. I knew the school was a Christian institution, but I knew nothing about Adventists. I decided to apply to study there. I was surprised to learn that we had worship every evening in the dor¬mitory and attended church on Saturday. I wondered what strange people these Adventists were. I didn't mind the dormitory worships, but it was hard to start going to church on Saturdays. For me religion was a Sunday activity. At first I worried that I was disobeying God's will by going to church on Saturday. But my friends helped me understand that Saturday was God's chosen day of rest, not Sunday. They helped me understand the principles behind other practices of Adventists too. During a Week of Spiritual Emphasis, the pastor invited students to surrender their lives entirely to God. I responded to his call. I studied the Bible with some friends, and in time I was baptized, along with more than 50 other students. My mother accepted my decision, but my aunt worried that I had joined a cult. During my next school break, I returned home to talk to her about my new faith. She was convinced that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is a cult, not a church. I graduated from high school and enrolled as a university student at Valley View University. I pray that my family will want to know more about my new faith and will understand what I believe. I want to see them in the Adventist church one day. Your mission offerings help support Valley View University and many other schools around the world. Last year part of a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering went to help the university build a new church on campus. Thank you for all you've done to make it possible for me to study at an Adventist university, where students like me can find Christ or develop a deeper faith while we're still young. SONIA SOMUAH ASANTE is in her final year of studies at Valley View University near Accra, Ghana.
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