Thought of the Day
December 2, 2016
Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. - Pr 280
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Friday, December 2, 2016
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Daily Devotional
Daily Devotional
December 2, 2016
To Understand God's Word Better, Be Obedient
The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. Proverbs 15:14, NRSV.
No one can search the Old and New Testaments in the Spirit of Christ without being rewarded. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden," the Savior says, "and I will give you rest. Take my yoke [of obedience] upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." The Great Teacher's invitation is before you. Will you willingly respond to it? You cannot draw near, placing yourself as a learner at the feet of Christ, without having your mind enlightened, and your heart quickened with a pure, holy admiration. You will then say, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
Disobedience has closed the door to a vast amount of knowledge that might have been gained from the Word of God. Understanding means obedience to God's commandments. Had men and women been obedient, they would have understood the plan of God's government. The heavenly world would have opened its chambers of grace and glory for exploration. Human beings would have been altogether different from what they are now, in form, in speech, in song; for by exploring the mines of truth, they would have been ennobled. The mystery of redemption, the incarnation of Christ, His atoning sacrifice, would not be, as they are now, vague in our minds. They would have been not only better understood, but altogether more highly appreciated.
In eternity we shall learn that which, if we had received the enlightenment that it was possible for us to obtain here, would have opened our understanding. The themes of redemption will employ the hearts and minds and tongues of the redeemed through the everlasting ages. They will understand the truths that Christ longed to open to His disciples, but which they did not have faith to grasp. Forever and forever, new views of the perfection and glory of Christ will appear. - The Review and Herald, July 3, 1900.
From Devotional: To Be Like Jesus, p. 127.
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Thursday, December 1, 2016
Daily Devotional
Daily Devotional
December 1, 2016
Set Your Affections on Things Above
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Col. 3:2.
When God's people take their eyes off the things of this world and place them on heaven and heavenly things they will be a peculiar people, because they will see the mercy and goodness and compassion that God has shown to the children of men. His love will call forth a response from them, and their lives will show to those around them that the Spirit of God is controlling them, that they are setting their affections on things above, not on the things of the earth.
In thinking of heaven, we may put our imagination to the utmost stretch and think the loftiest thoughts that we are capable of thinking, and our minds will grow weary in the effort to comprehend the breadth and depth and height of the subject. It is impossible for our minds to take in the great themes of eternity. It is impossible for us even to make an effort to understand these things without the effort affecting our whole character for good and having an uplifting influence on our minds. As we think of how Christ came to our world to die for fallen man, we understand something of the price that was paid for our redemption, and we realize that there is no true goodness or greatness apart from God.
Only by the light shining from the cross of Calvary can we know to what depths of sin and degradation the human race has fallen through sin. Only by the length of the chain let down from heaven to draw us up can we know the depths to which we had sunk. And it is only by keeping the unseen realities in view that we can understand anything of the wonderful theme of redemption.
We are almost home; we shall soon hear the voice of the Savior richer than any music, saying, Your warfare is accomplished. Enter into the joy of thy Lord. Blessed, blessed benediction; I want to hear it from His immortal lips. I want to praise Him; I want to honor Him that sitteth on the throne. I want my voice to echo and re-echo through the courts of heaven. Will you be there? . . . God help us, and fill us with all fullness and power, and then we can taste of the joys of the world to come.
From Devotional: Maranatha, p. 322.
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Devoción Matutina en español
Devoción Matutina en español
December 1, 2016
Ricas profundidades de conocimiento
El que quiera hacer la voluntad de Dios, conocerá si la doctrina es de Dios o si yo hablo por mi propia cuenta. Juan 7:17.
Cuanto más seriamente apliquemos nuestra mente a la investigación de la verdad, tanto más claras aparecerán las evidencias de la verdad; y cuanto más estrechamente nos relacionemos con el Dios de toda sabiduría, entrando en comunión con el que ha creado todas las cosas, tanto más abundante será nuestro conocimiento, tanto más plenamente comprenderemos la verdad divina. Dios ha dotado misericordiosamente a los hombres con facultades intelectuales, y esas facultades deben aprovecharse sabiamente para investigar con habilidad y comprender las ricas profundidades de conocimiento que hay en el carácter, la Palabra y las obras de Dios. Dios abrirá los tesoros de su amor a los bien dispuestos y obedientes; el que quiera hacer la voluntad de Dios, conocerá la doctrina.
Mediante la comunión con Dios obtenemos refinamiento, amplitud de miras y nos elevamos. Al que anhela el conocimiento de las cosas divinas, Dios le mostrará las maravillas ocultas que escapan a la comprensión de los que no son esclarecidos por el Espíritu de Dios...
Cristo, el camino, la verdad y la vida, se dio para salvar al mundo caído, y en él están ocultos todos los tesoros de sabiduría y conocimiento... El gran don de la salvación ha sido colocado a nuestro alcance a un costo infinito para el Padre y el Hijo. Descuidar la salvación, es descuidar el conocimiento del Padre y el Hijo a quien Dios ha enviado.— The Review and Herald, 10 de marzo de 1891.
Todos los que acuden a Cristo en busca de un conocimiento más claro de la verdad, lo recibirán. Él desplegará ante ellos los misterios del reino de los cielos, y estos misterios serán entendidos por el corazón que anhela conocer la verdad. Una luz celestial brillará en el templo del alma, la cual se revelará a los demás cual brillante fulgor de una lámpara en un camino oscuro.— Palabras de Vida del Gran Maestro, 22.
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Thought of the Day
Thought of the Day
December 1, 2016
In order to arrive at truth, we must have a sincere desire to know the truth and a willingness of heart to obey it. Steps to Christ, p. 111.
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Daily Devotional
Daily Devotional
December 1, 2016
True Higher Education Found in the Word of God
Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Proverbs 4:5, NKJV.
There is no time now to fill the mind with false ideas of what is called higher education. There can be no higher education than that which comes from the Author of truth. The Word of God is to be our study. We are to educate our children in the truths found therein. It is an inexhaustible treasure; but men and women fail to find this treasure because they do not search until it is within their possession. In this Word is found wisdom, unquestionable and inexhaustible wisdom, that did not originate in the finite mind, but in the infinite mind.
When men and women are willing to be instructed as little children, when they submit wholly to God, they will find in the Scriptures the science of education. When teachers and students enter Christ's school, to learn from Him, they will talk intelligently of higher education, because they will understand that it is that knowledge which enables people to understand the essence of science.
Those who would seek successfully for the hidden treasure must rise to higher pursuits than the things of this world. Their affections and all their capabilities must be consecrated to this search. Men and women of piety and talent catch views of eternal realities, but often they fail to understand, because the things that are seen eclipse the glory of the unseen. By many human wisdom is thought to be higher than the wisdom of the divine Teacher, and God's lesson book is looked upon as old-fashioned, so much so indeed as to be thought tame and stale. But by those who have been vivified by the Holy Spirit it is not so regarded. They see the priceless treasure, and would sell all to buy the field that contains it....
Those who make the Word of God their study, who dig for the treasures of truth, will appreciate the weighty principles taught, and will digest them. As a result, they will be imbued with the Spirit of Christ; and by beholding, they will become changed into His likeness. They will teach like disciples who have been sitting at the feet of Jesus, who have accustomed themselves to learn of Him, that they might know Him whom to know aright is life eternal. - The Review and Herald, July 3, 1900.
From Devotional: To Be Like Jesus, p. 126.
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Thought of the Day
Thought of the Day
December 1, 2016
Through sincere prayer we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite. - Pr 283
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