LESSON 2 *July 2–8
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Pet. 4:12–19, 1 Pet. 5:8–11,
Rom. 1:21–32, Jer. 9:7–16, 2 Cor. 12:7–10.
Memory Text: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the
fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to
you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings,
that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding
joy” (1 Peter 4:12, 13, NKJV).
In chemistry labs one often places various materials into a small
container and heats them to extreme temperatures. As the container
becomes hotter, the materials either melt, fizzle, spit, or burn brightly,
depending upon what they are made of. The container is called a crucible.
A crucible is defined in the dictionary as (1) a vessel used for melting a
substance that requires a high degree of heat, (2) a severe test, or (3) a place
or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence
change or development.
These definitions also give us a helpful insight into what happens in our
spiritual lives. This week we’ll highlight some reasons we may suddenly
find ourselves under pressure and experiencing tests in places in which
circumstances cause us to change, develop, and grow in character. This will
help to give us an awareness of what God is doing in our lives so that when
we enter a crucible, we will have an idea of how to respond.
The Week at a Glance: What are the causes of the difficult
times that we experience through our lives?
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 9.
EGW Notes — SATURDAY ↓
Sabbath Afternoon, July 2
Lesson 2 - The Crucibles That Come
Our wrong traits of character are not always visible to ourselves,
although they may be very apparent to others. But time and circumstances
will surely prove us and bring to light the gold of character or discover the
baser metal. Not one of us is known or read of all men, till the crucible of
God tests us. Every base thought, every wrong action, reveals some defect
in the character. These rugged traits must be brought under the chisel and
hammer in God’s great workshop, and the grace of God must smooth and
polish before we can be fitted for a place in the glorious
temple.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, pp. 540, 541.
Many today think that when they begin their Christian life they will
find freedom from all want and difficulty. But everyone who takes up his
cross to follow Christ comes to a Rephidim in his experience. Life is not all
made up of green pastures and cooling streams. Disappointment overtakes
us, privations come, circumstances occur which bring us into difficult
places. As we follow in the narrow way, doing our best, as we think, we
find that grievous trials come to us. . . . Conscience stricken, we reason, if
we had walked with God, we would never have suffered so. . . .
But of old the Lord led His people to Rephidim, and He may choose to
bring us there also, in order to test our faithfulness and loyalty to Him. In
mercy to us, He does not always place us in the easiest places; for if He
did, in our self-sufficiency we would forget that the Lord is our helper in
time of necessity. But He longs to manifest Himself to us in our
emergencies, and reveal the abundant supplies that are at our disposal,
independent of our surroundings; and disappointment and trial are
permitted to come upon us that we may realize our own helplessness, and
learn to call upon the Lord for aid, as a child, when hungry and thirsty,
calls upon its earthly
father.—Signs of the Times, September 10, 1896.
There are thorns in every path. All who follow the Lord’s leading must
expect to meet with disappointments, crosses, and losses. But a spirit of
true heroism will help them to overcome these. Many greatly magnify
seeming difficulties, and then begin to pity themselves and give way to
despondency. Such need to make an entire change in themselves. They
need to discipline themselves to put forth exertion, and to overcome all
childish feelings. . . .
Every one should have an aim, an object, in life. The loins of the mind
should be girded up, and the thoughts be trained to keep to the point, as
the compass to the pole. . . . Worthy purposes should be kept constantly in
view, and every thought and act should tend to their accomplishment. Let
there ever be a fixedness of purpose to carry out that which is
undertaken.—The Faith I Live By, p. 316.
SUNDAY July 3
Surprises
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to
try you, as though some strange thing happened to you”
(1 Pet. 4:12, NKJV).
Surprises, painful surprises, can come in many ways. A car veering
across the road into your path. A sudden notification that you’re losing your
job. A medical test that gives you unexpected bad news. Betrayal by
someone you loved and who you thought loved you. As bad as the pain can
be, it’s always made worse by the element of surprise.
This week we will look at a few specific types of painful situations or
crucibles that should not take us by surprise.
To begin, let’s go back to the text for today in Peter. The Greek word for
“surprised” in 1 Peter 4:12 means to be “alien” or “foreign.” Peter is urging
his readers not to fall into the trap of believing that fiery ordeals and trials
are alien to Christian experience. Rather, they are to be considered normal—
they can and should be expected.
The word used for “fiery ordeal” (NIV, NRSV)or “fiery trial”
(NKJV)comes from another Greek word, and it means “a burning.” In other
places it is translated “furnace.” This experience of suffering for our faith
could therefore be considered a “smelting process,” the process of the
crucible.
Read 1 Peter 4:12–19. What is Peter’s message?
* Your notes will not be saved!
Many of us are surprised about suffering because we often have an
oversimplified view of the Christian life. We know there are two sides—
God, who is good; and Satan, who is bad. But often, we then automatically
put everything that feels good in the box with God and everything that feels
bad in the box with Satan. But life is not so simple. We cannot use our
feelings to decide what is in God’s box or Satan’s box. Sometimes walking
with God can be challenging and hard. And following Satan can appear to
bring great rewards. Job, who is righteous yet suffering, illustrates this when
he asked God, “ ‘Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in
power?’ ” (Job 21:7, NIV).
Peter was referring to trials that are the consequence of standing up
for Christ. But there also are other reasons that trials come. How
could 1 Peter 4:12–19 help you to explain tactfully to a friend why he
or she should not be surprised at the painful trials they might face?
EGW Notes — SUNDAY ↓
Sunday, July 3
Surprises
It was to Peter a bitter lesson, and one which he learned but slowly,
that the path of Christ on earth lay through agony and humiliation. The
disciple shrank from fellowship with his Lord in suffering. But in the heat
of the furnace fire he was to learn its blessing. Long afterward, when his
active form was bowed with the burden of years and labors, he wrote,
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try
you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice,
inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory
shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:12, 13.
. . . [Jesus] said, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” The cross was associated with
the power of Rome. It was the instrument of the most cruel and
humiliating form of death. The lowest criminals were required to bear the
cross to the place of execution; and often as it was about to be laid upon
their shoulders, they resisted with desperate violence, until they were
overpowered, and the instrument of torture was bound upon them. But
Jesus bade His followers take up the cross and bear it after Him. To the
disciples His words, though dimly comprehended, pointed to their
submission to the most bitter humiliation,—submission even unto death
for the sake of Christ. No more complete self-surrender could the
Saviour’s words have
pictured.—The Desire of Ages, pp. 416, 417.
The followers of Christ know little of the plots which Satan and his
hosts are forming against them. But He who sitteth in the heavens will
overrule all these devices for the accomplishment of His deep designs. The
Lord permits His people to be subjected to the fiery ordeal of temptation,
not because He takes pleasure in their distress and affliction, but because
this process is essential to their final victory.
By God’s mighty cleaver of truth we have been taken from the quarry
of the world and brought into the workshop of the Lord to be prepared for
a place in His temple. In this work the hammer and chisel must act their
part, and then comes the polishing. Rebel not under this process of grace.
You may be a rough stone, on which much work must be done before you
are prepared for the place God designs you to fill. You need not be
surprised if with the hammer and the chisel of trial God cuts away your
defects of character. He alone can accomplish this work. And be assured
that He will not strike one useless
blow.—The Faith I Live By, p. 317.
The bright and cheerful side of our religion will be represented by all
who are daily consecrated to God. We should not dishonor God by the
mournful relation of trials that appear grievous. All trials that are received
as educators will produce
joy.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 365.
MONDAY July 4
Crucibles of Satan
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about
like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”
(1 Pet. 5:8, NKJV).
Read the above text. What’s the message there for us? Ask yourself,
“How seriously do I take these words?” What things do you do in your
life that show whether you take them seriously?
Have you ever watched a hungry lion? It’s awesome because you know it
can catch and eat just about anything it wants. Peter says that Satan is
prowling around in the same way. When we look around, we can see the
consequences of his desire to kill. Death, suffering, and the twisting and
perverting of morals and values are everywhere. We cannot escape seeing
the work of Satan.
Read 1 Peter 5:8–11. How should Christians react to Satan’s
prowling?
What does God promise to do for those who are suffering? 1 Pet. 5:10.
Peter writes these words in the context of responding to Satan’s attacks
on Christian faith. But as we have mentioned, Satan is at work in many
different ways. And although we must be aware of the reality and the power
of our enemy, we must never be discouraged, for we must always remember
that Jesus has beaten Satan; that Satan is a defeated foe; and that as long as
we stay connected with Jesus, as long as we cling to Him in faith, we can
never be defeated either. Because of the cross, Christ’s victory is our victory.
Think about the other ways that Satan causes pain. How could
reading 1 Peter 5:8–11 help us to deal with the anguish that we
experience because of our fate in living in a sinful world in which
Satan wreaks havoc?
EGW Notes — MONDAY ↓
Monday, July 4
Crucibles of Satan
Satan . . . counseled with his angels, and with bitter hatred against
God’s government told them that while he retained his power and
authority upon earth their efforts must be tenfold stronger against the
followers of Jesus. They had prevailed nothing against Christ but must
overthrow His followers, if possible. In every generation they must seek to
ensnare those who would believe in Jesus. He related to his angels that
Jesus had given His disciples power to rebuke them and cast them out, and
to heal those whom they should afflict. Then Satan’s angels went forth like
roaring lions, seeking to destroy the followers of
Jesus.—Early Writings, pp. 191, 192.
Let every soul be on the alert. The adversary is on your track. Be
vigilant, watching diligently lest some carefully concealed and masterly
snare shall take you unawares. Let the careless and indifferent beware lest
the day of the Lord come upon them as a thief in the night. Many will
wander from the path of humility, and, casting aside the yoke of Christ,
will walk in strange paths. Blinded and bewildered, they will leave the
narrow path that leads to the city of God. . . .
He who overcomes must watch; for, with worldly entanglements, error,
and superstition, Satan strives to win Christ’s followers from Him. It is not
enough that we avoid glaring dangers and perilous, inconsistent moves.
We are to keep close to the side of Christ, walking in the path of selfdenial
and sacrifice. We are in an enemy’s country. He who was cast out
of heaven has come down with great power. With every conceivable
artifice and device he is seeking to take souls captive. Unless we are
constantly on guard we shall fall an easy prey to his unnumbered
deceptions.—Maranatha, p. 90.
Henceforward Christ’s followers [are] to look upon Satan as a
conquered foe. Upon the cross, Jesus was to gain the victory for them; that
victory He desired them to accept as their own. “Behold,” He said, “I give
unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power
of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
. . . The Saviour is by the side of His tempted and tried ones. With Him
there can be no such thing as failure, loss, impossibility, or defeat; we can
do all things through Him who strengthens us. When temptations and
trials come, do not wait to adjust all the difficulties, but look to Jesus, your
helper.
There are Christians who think and speak altogether too much about
the power of Satan. They think of their adversary, they pray about him,
they talk about him, and he looms up greater and greater in their
imagination. It is true that Satan is a powerful being; but, thank God, we
have a mighty Saviour, who cast out the evil one from heaven. Satan is
pleased when we magnify his power. Why not talk of Jesus? Why not
magnify His power and His
love?—The Desire of Ages, pp. 490–493.
TUESDAY July 5
Crucibles of Sin
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness”
(Rom. 1:18, NKJV).
Everything we do has a consequence. If you stand in the hot sun with ice
cream, it will certainly melt. Cause and effect always go together. And no
matter how desperately we may want things to be different, it is the same
with sin. It always reaps consequences. It is not that God sits in heaven
wondering what terrible things He can do to people who sin; no, sin itself
comes with its own built-in consequences.
The problem is that many times we think that we can somehow outwit
God and sin without experiencing the consequences. It never happens. Paul
makes it very clear that sinning has consequences, not only for eternity but
also painful and distressing consequences today.
In Romans 1:21–32, Paul describes the process when people fall into sin
and the consequences of those sins. Read these verses prayerfully and
carefully, and summarize the essence of what Paul is saying, focusing
specifically on the stages of sin and its consequences.
A couple of verses earlier Paul describes these consequences as the
“wrath of God” (Rom. 1:18). God’s wrath in this passage is simply God
calling human beings to reap what they sow. Even for Christians, God does
not always intervene immediately to remove the pain that results from our
own actions. Many times He allows us to experience the consequences of
our actions in order for us to understand how deeply damaging and offensive
our sin is.
We have been considering the consequences of breaking God’s moral
laws. But what about breaking God’s health laws? Our bodies are God’s
home. If we abuse our bodies by failing to eat healthfully or to exercise, or if
we regularly overwork, this also is sin against God. And this has
consequences that can create the conditions of a crucible.
In your own life, how have you reaped the immediate consequences of
your own sins? What lessons have you learned? What changes must
you make in order not to go through something similar again?
EGW Notes — TUESDAY ↓
Tuesday, July 5
Crucibles of Sin
It is no light matter to sin against God, to set the perverse will of man
in opposition to the will of his Maker. It is for the best interest of men,
even in this world, to obey God’s commandments. And it is surely for
their eternal interest to submit to God, and be at peace with Him. . . . Of
all the creatures that God has made upon the earth, man alone is
rebellious. Yet he possesses reasoning powers to understand the claims of
the divine law and a conscience to feel the guilt of transgression and the
peace and joy of obedience. God made him a free moral agent, to obey or
disobey. The reward of everlasting life—an eternal weight of glory—is
promised to those who do God’s will, while the threatenings of His wrath
hang over all who defy His
law.—The Sanctified Life, p. 76.
Heaven with its attractions is before you, an eternal weight of glory,
which you may lose or gain. Which shall it be? Your life and your
character will testify the choice you have made. I feel the more anxious
because I see so many indifferent upon the subjects of infinite importance.
They are always busy here and there about matters of minor importance,
and the one great subject is put out of their thoughts. They have no time
to pray, no time to watch, no time to search the Scriptures. They are
altogether too busy to make the necessary preparation for the future life.
They cannot devote time to perfect Christian characters and in diligence
to secure a title to heaven.
If you have life eternal, you must be earnest and work to the point.
Glorify God by choosing His way, His will. He will be your wise counselor
and your fast, unchanging
friend.—Our High Calling, p. 44.
Few believe that humanity has sunk so low as it has or that it is so
thoroughly bad, so desperately opposed to God, as it is. When the mind is
not under the direct influence of the Spirit of God, Satan can mold it as he
chooses. All the rational powers which he controls he will carnalize. He is
directly opposed to God in his tastes, views, preferences, likes and dislikes,
choice of things and pursuits; there is no relish for what God loves or
approves, but a delight in those things which He despises. . . .
If Christ is abiding in the heart, He will be in all our thoughts. Our
deepest thoughts will be of Him, His love, His purity. He will fill all the
chambers of the mind. Our affections will center about Jesus. All our
hopes and expectations will be associated with Him. To live the life we
now live by faith in the Son of God, looking forward to and loving His
appearing, will be the soul’s highest joy. He will be the crown of our
rejoicing.—In Heavenly Places, p. 163.
WEDNESDAY July 6
Crucibles of Purification
“Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, I will refine them
and try them; for how shall I deal with the daughter of My people?’ ”
(Jer. 9:7, NKJV).
“If the Spirit of God brings to your mind a word of the Lord that hurts
you, you can be sure that there is something in you that He wants to hurt to
the point of its death.”—Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
(Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour & Company, Inc., 1963), p. 271.
How do you understand the quote and text above? What has been
your own experience with the pains involved in the purification process?
Read Jeremiah 9:7–16. God says that He will “refine and test”
(NRSV), or “melt” (KJV), Judah and Jerusalem (Jer. 9:7, NIV). What two
reasons does God give for this? (Jer. 9:13, 14). How will the refining
happen? (Jer. 9:15, 16).
God’s refining and testing involved drastic action. There are perhaps
three reasons why refining and testing may feel like a crucible. First, we
experience pain as God allows circumstances to bring our sin to our
attention. A little earlier, Jeremiah unhappily writes, “ ‘The bellows blow
fiercely to burn away the lead with fire, but the refining goes on in vain; the
wicked are not purged out’ ” (Jer. 6:29, NIV). Thus, sometimes drastic action
is needed in order to get our attention. Second, we experience anguish as we
feel sorrow for the sin we now see clearly. Third, we experience frustration
as we try to live differently. It can be quite uncomfortable and difficult to
keep choosing to give up the things that have been so much a part of us.
Think about the sins that you struggle with. If God were going to
refine and test you today, how might He do it? What action could you
take now to deal with this before God would need to take drastic steps
with you, as He did with Israel?
EGW Notes — WEDNESDAY ↓
Wednesday, July 6
Crucibles of Purification
A refining, purifying process is going on among the people of God, and
the Lord of hosts has set His hand to this work. This process is most trying
to the soul, but it is necessary in order that defilement may be removed.
Trials are essential in order that we may be brought close to our heavenly
Father, in submission to His will, that we may offer unto the Lord an
offering in righteousness. The Lord brings His children over the same
ground again and again, increasing the pressure until perfect humility fills
the mind, and the character is transformed; then they are victorious over
self, and in harmony with Christ and the Spirit of heaven. The purification
of God’s people cannot be accomplished without suffering. . . . He passes
us from one fire to another, testing our true worth. True grace is willing to
be tried. If we are loath to be searched by the Lord, our condition is one of
peril. . . .
. . . In order to bring to them a true knowledge of their condition, He
permits the fire of affliction to assail them, so that they may be purified.
The trials of life are God’s workmen to remove the impurities, infirmities,
and roughness from our characters, and fit them for the society of pure,
heavenly angels in glory. The fire will not consume us, but only remove
the dross, and we shall come forth seven times purified, bearing the
impress of the Divine.—My Life Today, p. 92.
The Lord will work to purify His church. . . .
Just how soon this refining process will begin I cannot say, but it will
not be long deferred. He whose fan is in His hand will cleanse His temple
of its moral defilement. He will thoroughly purge His floor. God has a
controversy with all who practice the least injustice; for in so doing they
reject the authority of God and imperil their interest in the atonement, the
redemption which Christ has undertaken for every son and daughter of
Adam. Will it pay to take a course abhorrent to God? Will it pay to put
upon your censers strange fire to offer before God, and say it makes no
difference?—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 373.
Trials and obstacles are the Lord’s chosen methods of discipline and His
appointed conditions of success. . . .
The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the Lord
Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He
saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not
spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into His
furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines. The blacksmith puts the iron and
steel into the fire that he may know what manner of metal they
are.—The Ministry of Healing, p. 471.
THURSDAY July 7
Crucibles of Maturity
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the
revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to
buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure”
(2 Cor. 12:7, NKJV).
There is a big difference between cutting down and pruning. We cut
down plants that we don’t want anymore; we prune plants that we want to
develop into greater fruitfulness. Both processes, however, do involve a
sharp knife. Indeed, pruning requires cutting parts off the plant that might
seem to a novice gardener like destroying it. In a spiritual context, Bruce
Wilkinson writes, “Are you praying for God’s superabundant blessings and
pleading that He will make you more like His Son?
“If your answer is yes, then you are asking for the shears.”—Secrets of
the Vine (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2001), p. 60.
People have wondered what Paul actually meant by a “thorn in my flesh”
(2 Cor. 12:7, NIV). Ideas range from Paul being under constant attacks from
enemies to having a speech difficulty. It seems that this was actually a
problem with his eyesight (see Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible
Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1107). Amazingly, Paul believed that his “thorn” was
“given me.”
What do you think Paul meant by “given me”? Who gave it to him?
How was God able to use it for Paul’s benefit?
Notice that Paul’s “thorn” had a definite purpose: “to keep me from
becoming conceited” (2 Cor. 12:7, NIV). It was not because of any specific
sin he had committed but to prevent him from sinning in the future. Paul
recognized that by nature he had a weakness to sin and that this “thorn”
could guard against it.
Read 2 Corinthians 12:7–10. How does Paul deal with his “thorn”?
Do you think that Paul’s weakness had any other spiritual benefits for
him? How can the way that Paul responds help you to deal with
“thorns” that you may have to carry?
In what ways might God’s ideas for your spiritual development be
very different from your own? Think about areas in your life in which
you need to become more fruitful in righteousness. What spiritual
qualities would you like to ask God to develop in you through His
“pruning”?
EGW Notes — THURSDAY ↓
Thursday, July 7
Crucibles of Maturity
The apostle Paul was highly honored of God, being taken in holy vision
to the third heaven, where he looked upon scenes whose glories might not
be revealed to mortals. Yet all this did not lead him to boastfulness or selfconfidence.
He realized the importance of constant watchfulness and selfdenial,
and plainly declares, “I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I
myself should be a castaway.” . . .
Paul had a bodily affliction; his eyesight was bad. He thought that by
earnest prayer the difficulty might be removed. But the Lord had His own
purpose, and He said to Paul, Speak to Me no more of this matter. My
grace is sufficient. It will enable you to bear the infirmity.—Ellen G. White Comments,
in The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1107.
When we take into our hands the management of things with which
we have to do, and depend upon our own wisdom for success, we are
taking a burden which God has not given us, and are trying to bear it
without His aid. We are taking upon ourselves the responsibility that
belongs to God, and thus are really putting ourselves in His place. We may
well have anxiety and anticipate danger and loss, for it is certain to befall
us. But when we really believe that God loves us and means to do us good
we shall cease to worry about the future. We shall trust God as a child
trusts a loving parent. Then our troubles and torments will disappear, for
our will is swallowed up in the will of God.
Christ has given us no promise of help in bearing today the burdens of
tomorrow. He has said, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Corinthians
12:9); but, like the manna given in the wilderness, His grace is bestowed
daily, for the day’s need. Like the hosts of Israel in their pilgrim life, we
may find morning by morning the bread of heaven for the day’s
supply.—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 100, 101.
Untiring energy is required of the Christian; but he is not obliged to
work in his own strength; divine power awaits his demand. Everyone who
is sincerely striving for the victory over self will appropriate the promise,
“My grace is sufficient for thee.”
Through personal effort joined with the prayer of faith the soul is
trained. Day by day the character grows into the likeness of Christ. It may
cost a severe conflict to overcome habits which have been long indulged,
but we may triumph through the grace of Christ.
If we are true to the promptings of the Spirit of God, we shall go on
from grace to grace and from glory to glory until we shall receive the
finishing touch of immortality.—My Life Today, p. 99.
FRIDAY July 8
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Effectual Prayer,” in
Signs of the Times, November 18, 1903; Ellen G. White Comments, p. 1182,
in The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4; “God Permits Trial and Affliction to
Purify Me,” p. 92, in My Life Today.
“He who reads the hearts of men knows their characters better than they
themselves know them. He sees that some have powers and susceptibilities
which, rightly directed, might be used in the advancement of His work. In
His providence He brings these persons into different positions and varied
circumstances that they may discover in their character the defects which
have been concealed from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity
to correct these defects, and to fit themselves for His service. Often He
permits the fires of affliction to assail them that they may be purified.”—Ellen
G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 471.
Discussion Questions:
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1. It really can be hard while we are reaping the consequences of
our sin. “Will I ever be able to be made right with God again?” we
ask. What promises does God make that can encourage us to
persevere through such times and not give up? (See what Paul writes
later in Romans 5:1–11.) What can you say to someone who is asking
this very question?
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2. What does Ellen G. White mean by “His providence”? How does
this work? How do you know when something happens by God’s
providence? What acts of God’s “providence” have led to trials in
your own life? As a class, discuss what you’ve learned at this time.
How might you help someone else who is wondering whether some
event is indeed “His providence”?
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3. If you know someone who is going through a crucible experience
right now, does it matter, or should it matter, what brought it on? That
is, how should you react to this person and his or her suffering,
regardless of what caused it?
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4. A Christian young man living in South America went through a
bitter trial. After it was over, he moved to Europe and later
commented to someone, “I left my corpse in South America.” What
does that mean? Why must we all, in a sense, leave our corpse
somewhere? What role do trials have in that process?
-
5. As a class, plan an outing to a hospital or somewhere where you
could be of help, comfort, and cheer to those who, for whatever
reason, are in a crucible.
EGW Notes — FRIDAY ↓
Friday, July 8
For Further Reading
That I May Know Him, “How to Resist Satan,” p. 245;
Signs of the Times, “Effectual Prayer,” November 18, 1903.
INSIDE STORY
Part 2: Bullied at School
By ANDREW MCCHESNEY
Mother was worried about Junior. The usually cheerful 15-year-old boy
had become uptight and hostile in their home in Manaus, Brazil. Against her
wishes, he had signed up to learn Capoeira, an African-Brazilian martial art.
“Eduardo, I don’t like Junior learning martial arts,” she told her husband.
“It’s no problem for me to take him,” he replied. “The classes are just up
the street from the Candomblé temple where I work.”
“That also bothers me,” Mother said. “I didn’t know whether Capoeira
and Candomblé are somehow related, but I don’t want my son doing either.”
Father scowled. “Junior told me that some boys are bullying him at
school,” he said. “That’s why he decided to take martial arts.”
The next day, as Mother waited at school to take Junior home, she poured
out her heart to Dilma Araujos dos Santos, the mother of one of Junior’s
classmates, Clifferson. “My son doesn’t have any good friends,” she said.
A few days later, Clifferson invited Junior to a video gamers club at his
house. Mother, pleased that Junior had found a friend, allowed him to go.
At Clifferson’s house, Junior found several boys playing a sports video
game. After a few minutes, Clifferson turned off the game and invited the
boys to sing about Jesus. Then the boys opened Bibles and talked about what
Jesus meant to them. “Are you Christians?” Junior asked. “Yes,” Clifferson
said. “At our club, we play sports games and talk about Jesus.”
Junior liked his new friends; he didn’t miss any meetings after that.
One day, Clifferson’s mother invited Junior to go to church with the
family. Junior was happy to spend more time with Clifferson, and stopped
going to martial arts classes. He didn’t tell Mother he was visiting Alpha
Seventh-day Adventist Community Church. He only said he was going out.
Mother soon noticed that Junior was eager to leave the house on
Saturday, and she asked what he was doing. He showed her the YouTube
channel where the church live-streamed its Sabbath services. Mother began
to watch.
One Sabbath, Junior told Mother that a man had given his heart to Jesus
and been baptized at the church. “I want to be baptized,” he said.
A few Sabbaths later, Mother accompanied Junior to church. She listened
as the Sabbath School teacher taught from the adult Bible study guide.
Someone gave her a Bible, and she looked up the verses the teacher read
from Revelation. A chill ran down her spine when she read, “ ‘But the
cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers,
idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire
and brimstone, which is the second death’ ” (Rev. 21:8, NKJV).
That’s the destiny of my husband, Mother thought. He will perish in the
lake of fire. She began to pray for Father.
Your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help open eight churches in the South American Division,
including four in Brazil, where Father (EDUARDO FERREIRA DOS SANTOS) and his family live.
Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School
mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at
AdventistMission.org.
