Saturday, February 4, 2017

Daily Devotional

February 4, 2017

Faithful Stewards Provide for God's Work

I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles. Isaiah 42:6, NKJV.

I had been shown that some people who are shrewd, prudent, and sharp in regard to the transaction of business generally, some who are distinguished for promptness and thoroughness, manifest a want of foresight and promptness in regard to a proper disposal of their property while they are living. They know not how soon their probation may close; yet they pass on from year to year with their business unsettled, and frequently their lives finally close without their having the use of their reason. Or they may die suddenly, without a moment's warning, and their property be disposed of in a manner that they would not have approved. These are guilty of negligence; they are unfaithful stewards.

Christians who believe the present truth should manifest wisdom and foresight. They should not neglect the disposition of their means, expecting a favorable opportunity to adjust their business during a long illness. They should have their business in such a shape that, were they called at any hour to leave it, and should they have no voice in its arrangement, it might be settled as they would have had it were they alive.

Many families have been dishonestly robbed of all their property and have been subjected to poverty because the work that might have been well done in an hour had been neglected. Those who make their wills should not spare pains or expense to obtain legal advice and to have them drawn up in a manner to stand the test.

I saw that those who profess to believe the truth should show their faith by their works. They should, with the unrighteous mammon, make friends, that they may finally be received into everlasting habitations. God has made men and women stewards of means. He has placed in their hands the money with which to carry forward the great work for the salvation of souls for whom Christ left His home, His riches, His glory, and became poor that He might, by His own humiliation and sacrifice, bring many sons and daughters of Adam to God.

In His providence the Lord has ordained that the work in His vineyard should be sustained by the means entrusted to the hands of His stewards. A neglect on their part to answer the calls of the cause of God in carrying forward His work shows them to be unfaithful and slothful servants. - Testimonies for the Church 3:116, 117.

From Devotional: To Be Like Jesus, p. 193.

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Thought of the Day

February 4, 2017

Through those who voluntarily submit themselves to Jesus in all matters, who seek Him in faith and hope, He works out His plans. - BE August 12, 1901

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Daily readings for 2017-02-04: To Be Like Jesus

Hi Raul Diaz,

To Be Like Jesus — Day 4 of 335

God's Word the Supreme Authority, February 4

Then Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22, NKJV.

The word of the Lord is to be obeyed without question; it is to be the supreme authority in our life. Saul departed from the express commandment of the Lord, and sought to quiet the compunctions of conscience by persuading himself that the Lord would accept his sacrifice and overlook his disobedience. When Samuel, the prophet, came to meet him, Saul acted as though he regarded himself as a righteous man, and exclaimed, “Blessed be thou of the Lord; I have performed the commandment of the Lord.”

But the unmistakable tokens of his disobedience were so manifest that his assertion of obedience was of little weight. “And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God.” “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” ...

The Word of God is to be of supreme authority. The Lord says, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” God could not change one tittle of His law without ceasing to be supreme. People cannot bend the law of God to suit their ideas, and, failing to bring it into harmony with themselves, they break its commands and violate its precepts. All too late the world will learn that they cannot judge the Word of God, but that the Word of God will judge them. Would that everyone would consider how foolish and how wicked it is to contend with God! Would that they would cease to oppose their will against the will of the Infinite! Those who oppose God will yet learn that in so doing they have forsaken the only path that leads to holiness, happiness, and heaven.—The Signs of the Times, January 9, 1896.


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Friday, February 3, 2017

Daily readings for 2017-02-04: To Be Like Jesus

Hi Raul Diaz,

To Be Like Jesus — Day 4 of 335

God's Word the Supreme Authority, February 4


		The Ellen G. White Estate 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904, USA Phone: +1 301 680 6540 Help: subscribe@ellenwhite.org

Manage subscriptions \| Unsubscribe \| ellenwhite.org

Daily Devotional

February 3, 2017

Gain Spiritual Strength Through Prayer

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. Mark 1:35, NKJV.

Because the life of Jesus was a life of constant trust, sustained by continual communion, His service for heaven was without failure or faltering. Daily beset by temptation, constantly opposed by the leaders of the people, Christ knew that He must strengthen His humanity by prayer. In order to be a blessing to people, He must commune with God, from Him obtaining energy, perseverance, steadfastness.

The Savior loved the solitude of the mountain in which to hold communion with His Father. Through the day He labored earnestly to save men, women, and children from destruction. He healed the sick, comforted the mourning, called the dead to life, and brought hope and cheer to the despairing. After His work for the day was finished, He went forth, evening after evening, away from the confusion of the city, and bowed in prayer to His Father. Frequently He continued His petitions through the entire night; but He came from these seasons of communion invigorated and refreshed, braced for duty and for trial.

Are the ministers of Christ tempted and fiercely buffeted by Satan? So also was He who knew no sin. In the hour of distress He turned to His Father. Himself a source of blessing and strength, He could heal the sick and raise the dead; He could command the tempest, and it would obey Him; yet He prayed, often with strong crying and tears. He prayed for His disciples and for Himself, thus identifying Himself with human beings. He was a mighty petitioner. As the Prince of life, He had power with God, and prevailed....

Those who teach and preach the most effectively are those who wait humbly upon God, and watch hungrily for His guidance and His grace. Watch, pray, work - this is the Christian's watchword. The life of a true Christian is a life of constant prayer. He knows that the light and strength of one day is not sufficient for the trials and conflicts of the next. Satan is continually changing his temptations. Every day we shall be placed in different circumstances; and in the untried scenes that await us we shall be surrounded by fresh dangers, and constantly assailed by new and unexpected temptations. It is only through the strength and grace gained from heaven that we can hope to meet the temptations and perform the duties before us. - Gospel Workers, 255-258.

From Devotional: To Be Like Jesus, p. 20.

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Devoción Matutina en español

February 3, 2017

Produce unidad en la diversidad

Yo... os ruego que andéis como es digno de la vocación con que fuisteis llamados, con toda humildad y mansedumbre, soportándoos con paciencia los unos a los otros en amor, solícitos en guardar la unidad del Espíritu en el vínculo de la paz. Efesios 4:1-3.

Pablo ruega a los efesios que conserven la unidad y el amor... Las divisiones que haya en la iglesia deshonran la religión de Cristo delante del mundo, y dan a los enemigos de la verdad ocasión de justificar su conducta.— Joyas de los Testimonios 2:80.

La unión de los creyentes con Cristo resultará naturalmente en la unión de los unos con los otros, el vínculo más resistente de la tierra. Somos uno con Cristo, así como Cristo es uno con el Padre. Los cristianos son los pámpanos, y sólo pámpanos, en la Vid viviente... Nuestra vida debe proceder de la cepa. Únicamente como resultado de una unión personal con Cristo, de una comunión con él día tras día y hora tras hora, podemos llevar los frutos del Espíritu Santo... Nuestro crecimiento en la gracia, nuestra alegría, nuestra utilidad, todo depende de nuestra unión con Cristo y del grado de fe que tengamos en él.— Testimonies for the Church 5:47, 48.

La palabra y el espíritu de la verdad morando en el corazón nos separarán del mundo. Los inmutables principios de la verdad y del amor vincularán los corazones y la fuerza de la unión estará de acuerdo con la medida de la gracia y de la verdad que se disfrute.— Joyas de los Testimonios 2:209.

La vid tiene muchos pámpanos, sin embargo, aunque todos son diferentes, no pelean entre sí. Hay unidad en la diversidad. Todos los pámpanos obtienen su alimento de la misma fuente. Esta es una ilustración de la unidad que debe existir entre los seguidores de Cristo. En los diferentes tipos de trabajo que realizan deben tener una sola Cabeza. El mismo Espíritu, de distintas maneras, obra por medio de ellos. Hay acción armoniosa, aunque los dones difieran... Dios llama a cada uno... a hacer el trabajo señalado de acuerdo con la capacidad que se le ha dado.— The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 6:1090.

Hay un carácter que debemos mantener, pero es el de Cristo. Si tenemos el carácter de Cristo, podemos trabajar juntos en su obra.— Joyas de los Testimonios 3:385, 386.

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Thought of the Day

February 3, 2017

There is no salvation without repentance. - FW 99

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