Monday, March 27, 2017

Daily readings for 2017-03-27: To Be Like Jesus

Hi Raul,

To Be Like Jesus — Day 55 of 335

Speak Winsomely of the Savior, March 27

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29, NKJV.

As followers of Christ we should make our words such as to be a help and an encouragement to one another in the Christian life. Far more than we do, we need to speak of the precious chapters in our experience. We should speak of the mercy and loving-kindness of God, of the matchless depths of the Savior's love. Our words should be words of praise and thanksgiving. If the mind and heart are full of the love of God, this will be revealed in the conversation.

It will not be a difficult matter to impart that which enters into our spiritual life. Great thoughts, noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth, unselfish purposes, yearnings for piety and holiness, will bear fruit in words that reveal the character of the heart treasure. When Christ is thus revealed in our speech, it will have power in winning souls to Him.

We should speak of Christ to those who know Him not. We should do as Christ did. Wherever He was, in the synagogue, by the wayside, in the boat thrust out a little from the land, at the Pharisee's feast or the table of the publican, He spoke to men and women of the things pertaining to the higher life. The things of nature, the events of daily life, were bound up by Him with the words of truth. The hearts of His hearers were drawn to Him; for He had healed their sick, had comforted their sorrowing ones, and had taken their children in His arms and blessed them. When He opened His lips to speak, their attention was riveted upon Him, and every word was to some soul a savor of life unto life.

So it should be with us. Wherever we are, we should watch for opportunities of speaking to others of the Savior. If we follow Christ's example in doing good, hearts will open to us as they did to Him. Not abruptly, but with tact born of divine love, we can tell them of Him who is the “chiefest among ten thousand” and the One “altogether lovely” (Song of Solomon 5:10, 16). This is the very highest work in which we can employ the talent of speech. It was given to us that we might present Christ as the sin-pardoning Savior.—Christ's Object Lessons, 338, 339.


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Sunday, March 26, 2017

Daily readings for 2017-03-27: To Be Like Jesus

Hi Raul Diaz,

To Be Like Jesus — Day 55 of 335

Speak Winsomely of the Savior, March 27

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29, NKJV.


		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

Devoción Matutina en español

March 26, 2017

Quejándose nuevamente

Éxodo 16:1-21.

Y toda la congregación de los hijos de Israel murmuró contra Moisés y Aarón en el desierto. Éxodo 16:2.

Muchos recuerdan a los israelitas de antaño, y se maravillan de su incredulidad y murmuración, creyendo que ellos no habrían sido tan ingratos; pero cuando se prueba su fe, aun en las menores dificultades, no manifiestan más fe o paciencia que los antiguos israelitas.— Historia de los Patriarcas y Profetas, 299.

El Señor les había prometido ser su Dios, hacerlos su pueblo, y guiarlos a una tierra grande y buena; pero siempre estaban dispuestos a desmayar ante cada obstáculo que encontraban en su marcha hacia aquel lugar... Olvidaron su amarga servidumbre en Egipto. Olvidaron las bondades y el poder que Dios había manifestado en su favor al liberarlos de la esclavitud. Olvidaron cómo sus hijos se habían salvado cuando el ángel exterminador dio muerte a todos los primogénitos de Egipto. Olvidaron la gran demostración del poder divino en el mar Rojo. Olvidaron que mientras ellos habían cruzado con felicidad el sendero abierto especialmente para ellos, los ejércitos enemigos, al intentar perseguirlos, se habían hundido en las aguas del mar. Veían y sentían tan sólo las incomodidades y pruebas que estaban soportando, y en lugar de decir: “Dios ha hecho grandes cosas con nosotros, ya que habiendo sido esclavos, nos hace una nación grande”, hablaban de las durezas del camino, y se preguntaban cuándo terminaría su tedioso peregrinaje.

La historia de la vida de Israel en el desierto fue escrita para beneficio del Israel de Dios hasta el fin del tiempo. El relato de cómo trató Dios a los peregrinos en todas sus idas y venidas por el desierto, en su exposición al hambre, a la sed y al cansancio, y en las destacadas manifestaciones de su poder para aliviarlos, está lleno de advertencias e instrucciones para su pueblo de todas las edades. Las variadas experiencias de los hebreos eran una escuela destinada a prepararlos para su prometido hogar en Canaán. Dios quiere que su pueblo de estos días repase con corazón humilde y espíritu dócil las pruebas a través de las cuales el Israel antiguo tuvo que pasar, para que le ayuden en su preparación para la Canaán celestial.— Ibid. 298, 299.^{* 1 Samuel 20-23}

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Daily Devotional

March 26, 2017

Work Faithfully, Using Time Wisely

I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. John 9:4, NKJV.

Christ has given to all human beings their work, and we are to acknowledge the wisdom of the plan He has made for us by a hearty cooperation with Him. It is in a life of service only that true happiness is found. Those who live useless, selfish lives are miserable. They are dissatisfied with themselves and with everyone else.

True, unselfish, consecrated workers gladly use their highest gifts in the lowliest service. They realize that true service means to see and to perform the duties that God points out.

There are many who are not satisfied with the work that God has given them. They are not satisfied to serve Him pleasantly in the place that He has marked out for them, or to do uncomplainingly the work that He has placed in their hands.

It is right for us to be dissatisfied with the way in which we perform duty, but we are not to be dissatisfied with the duty itself [simply] because we would rather do something else. In His providence God places before human beings service that will be as medicine to their diseased minds. Thus He seeks to lead them to put aside the selfish preferences which, if cherished, would disqualify them for the work He has for them. If they accept and perform this service, their minds will be cured. But if they refuse it, they will be left at strife with themselves and with others.

The Lord disciplines His workers, so that they will be prepared to fill the places appointed them. He desires to mold their minds in accordance with His will. For this purpose He brings to them test and trial. Some He places where relaxed discipline and overindulgence will not become their snare, where they are taught to appreciate the value of time, and to make the best and wisest use of it. - Manuscript Releases 8:422, 423.

From Devotional: To Be Like Jesus, p. 72.

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Thought of the Day

March 26, 2017

Children cannot be brought to the Lord by force. They can be led, but not driven. In the government of children love must be shown. - AH 307

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Daily Devotional

March 26, 2017

How to Learn From Nature Its Deepest Lessons

Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind? Job 12:9, 10, NKJV.

While the children and youth gain a knowledge of facts from teachers and textbooks, let them learn to draw lessons and discern truth for themselves. In their gardening, question them as to what they learn from the care of their plants. As they look on a beautiful landscape, ask them why God clothed the fields and woods with such lovely and varied hues. Why was not all colored a somber brown? When they gather the flowers, lead them to think why He spared us the beauty of these wanderers from Eden. Teach them to notice the evidences everywhere manifest in nature of God's thought for us, the wonderful adaptation of all things to our need and happiness.

Those alone who recognize in nature their Father's handiwork, who in the richness and beauty of the earth read the Father's handwriting - those alone learn from the things of nature their deepest lessons, and receive their highest ministry. Only those can fully appreciate the significance of hill and vale, river and sea, who look upon them as an expression of the thought of God, a revelation of the Creator.

Many illustrations from nature are used by the Bible writers, and as we observe the things of the natural world, we shall be enabled, under the guiding of the Holy Spirit, more fully to understand the lessons of God's Word. It is thus that nature becomes a key to the treasure-house of the Word.

Children should be encouraged to search out in nature the objects that illustrate Bible teachings, and to trace in the Bible the similitudes drawn from nature. They should search out, both in nature and in Holy Writ, every object representing Christ, and those also that He employed in illustrating truth. Thus may they learn to see Him in tree and vine, in lily and rose, in sun and star. They may learn to hear His voice in the song of birds, in the sighing of the trees, in the rolling thunder, and in the music of the sea. And every object in nature will repeat to them His precious lessons.

To those who thus acquaint themselves with Christ, the earth will nevermore be a lonely and desolate place. It will be their Father's house, filled with the presence of Him who once dwelt among us. - Education, 119, 120.

From Devotional: To Be Like Jesus, p. 244.

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Thought of the Day

March 26, 2017

The Lord never blesses him who criticizes and accuses his brethren, for this is Satan's work. - Manuscript 21, 1894.

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