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Wholehearted, Voluntary Service

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July 13 – 19, 2025

Key Text

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.” Mark 12:30

Study Help: The Review and Herald, January 14, 1890; Early Writings, 266–269

Introduction

“The whole being—heart, soul, mind, and strength—is to be used in God’s service. What is there left that is not devoted to God?” The Review and Herald, November 6, 1900

Sunday

1 MOTIVE FOR SERVICE

1.a. What aspects of discipleship are often overlooked by many who profess to follow Christ? Mark 8:34; John 15:19, 20

Note: “Christ made a full and complete sacrifice, a sacrifice sufficient to save every son and daughter of Adam who should show repentance toward God for having transgressed His law, and manifest faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet notwithstanding the sacrifice was ample, but few consent to a life of obedience that they may have this great salvation. Few are willing to imitate His amazing privations, to endure His sufferings and persecutions, and to share His exhausting labor to bring others to the light. But few will follow His example in earnest, frequent prayer to God for strength to endure the trials of this life and perform its daily duties. Christ is the Captain of our salvation, and by His own sufferings and sacrifice He has given an example to all His followers that watchfulness and prayer, and persevering effort, were necessary on their part if they would rightly represent the love which dwelt in His bosom for the fallen race.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, 664

1.b.  What contrast exists between true and false service? Job 31:24–28; 29:11–16. Why must we reexamine our motives?

Note: “With many, the rubbish of the world has clogged the channels of the soul. Selfishness has controlled the mind and warped the character. Were the life hid with Christ in God, His service would be no drudgery. If the whole heart were consecrated to God, all would find something to do, and would covet a part in the work. They would sow beside all waters, praying and believing that the fruit would appear. The practical, God-fearing workers will be growing upward, praying in faith for grace and heavenly wisdom that they may do the work devolving upon them with cheerfulness and a willing mind.” The Review and Herald, December 19, 1878

Monday

2 THE KEYNOTE OF CHRIST’S TEACHINGS

2.a. What unfortunate contrast exists between Christ Himself and many of His professed followers today? Philippians 2:21

Note: “The plan of salvation was laid in a sacrifice so broad and deep and high that it is immeasurable. Christ did not send His angels to this fallen world, while He remained in heaven; but He Himself went without the camp, bearing the reproach. He became a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; Himself took our infirmities, and bore our weaknesses. And the absence of self-denial in His professed followers, God regards as a denial of the Christian name. Those who profess to be one with Christ, and indulge their selfish desires for rich and expensive clothing, furniture, and food, are Christians only in name. To be a Christian is to be Christlike.

“And yet how true are the words of the apostle: ‘For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.’ Many Christians do not have works corresponding to the name they bear. They act as if they had never heard of the plan of redemption wrought out at infinite cost. The majority aim to make a name for themselves in the world; they adopt its forms and ceremonies, and live for the indulgence of self. They follow out their own purposes as eagerly as do the world, and thus they cut off their power to help in establishing the kingdom of God.” Counsels on Stewardship, 54

2.b. What heavenly principle does Christ enjoin upon all of His followers today, and why? Matthew 16:24–26

Note: “Those who would gain the blessing of sanctification must first learn the meaning of self-sacrifice. The cross of Christ is the central pillar on which hangs the ‘far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory’ (2 Corinthians 4:17). [Matthew 16:24 quoted.] It is the fragrance of our love for our fellowmen that reveals our love for God. It is patience in service that brings rest to the soul.” The Acts of the Apostles, 560

“We are to practice the same self-sacrifice that led Him [Christ] to give Himself up to the death of the cross, to make it possible for human beings to have eternal life.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, 49

Tuesday

3 LEARNING FROM THE APOSTLES

3.a. What was the secret of the apostle Paul’s fervent love for the souls of men? 2 Corinthians 4:15–18; 5:14, 15

Note: “How can those for whom Christ has sacrificed so much, continue to enjoy His gifts selfishly? His love and self-denial are without a parallel; and when this love enters into the experience of His followers, they will identify their interests with those of their Redeemer. Their work will be to build up the kingdom of Christ. They will consecrate themselves and their possessions to Him, and use both as His cause may require.” Counsels on Stewardship, 55

“The love of Jesus in the soul will be revealed in word and deed. The kingdom of Christ will be paramount. Self will be laid a willing sacrifice on the altar of God. Everyone who is truly united with Christ will feel the same love for souls that caused the Son of God to leave His royal throne, His high command, and for our sake become poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich.” Ibid.

3.b. Of what tendency does the apostle John warn believers, and how may this apply to us?
1 John 2:15–17

Note: “While many are waiting to have every obstacle removed, souls are dying without hope and without God in the world. Many, very many, for the sake of worldly advantage, for the sake of acquiring knowledge of the sciences, will venture into pestilential regions, and will go into countries where they think they can obtain commercial advantage; but where are the men and women who will change their location, and move their families into regions that are in need of the light of the truth, in order that their example may tell upon those who shall see in them the representatives of Christ?” Counsels on Stewardship, 56

Wednesday

4 A PURE, CONTENTED HEART

4.a. As servants of Christ, what should characterize our faith and why? Ephesians 6:6–8

Note: “Is there not danger that the precious, immortal inheritance may be eclipsed by the valueless treasure of earth? There is danger that your usefulness may be destroyed, your faith weakened, your soul-temple defiled with buyers and sellers. There is need that we keep our souls in the love of God. There is need of a closer connection with the Master, of walking in the light as He is in the light. It is our duty to place ourselves in a position where we may give our whole heart’s loving service to God, by personal holiness and practical benevolence.” The Review and Herald, June 19, 1888

4.b. Why did Christ reiterate the tenth commandment during His ministry? Exodus 20:17; Luke 12:15. How are we to gain victory in this area?

Note: “Christ is our example. He gave His life as a sacrifice for us, and He asks us to give our lives as a sacrifice for others. Thus we may cast out the selfishness which Satan is constantly striving to implant in our hearts. This selfishness is death to all piety, and can be overcome only by manifesting love to God and to our fellowmen. Christ will not permit one selfish person to enter the courts of heaven. No covetous person can pass through the pearly gates; for all covetousness is idolatry.” Counsels on Stewardship, 26

Thursday

5 RENDERING GENUINE SERVICE

5.a. Why can we be encouraged by the example of the early Christians in Macedonia? 2 Corinthians 8:1–5

Note: “Nearly all the Macedonian believers were poor in this world’s goods, but their hearts were overflowing with love for God and His truth, and they gladly gave for the support of the gospel. When general collections were taken up in the Gentile churches for the relief of the Jewish believers, the liberality of the converts in Macedonia was held up as an example to other churches.” The Acts of the Apostles, 343

5.b. How does Christ summarize our duty as believers? Mark 12:29–31. What happens as we put this principle into daily practice?

Note: “The whole being is to be consecrated to the service of the Master.” General Conference Bulletin, April 16, 1901

“No one can be truly united with Christ, practicing His lessons, submitting to His yoke of restraint, without realizing that which he can never express in words. New, rich thoughts come to him. Light is given to the intellect, determination to the will, sensitiveness to the conscience, purity to the imagination. The heart becomes more tender, the thoughts more spiritual, the service more Christlike. In the life there is seen that which no words can express—true, faithful, loving devotion of heart, mind, soul, and strength to the work of the Master.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 476, 477

Friday

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1    How did the life of Job reflect the Spirit of Christ?

2    What common tendency must we overcome if we would be victorious?

3    What do Paul and John teach us about cultivating eternal values?

4    Why is covetousness so detrimental to our souls?

5    How is wholehearted service rewarded, even in this earthly life?

Copyright 1997, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

The Ultimate Giver

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July 6 – 12, 2025

Key Text

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17

Study Help: Counsels on Stewardship, 72; God’s Amazing Grace, 62

Introduction

“God is love. Like rays of light from the sun, love and light and joy flow out from Him to all His creatures. It is His nature to give. His very life is the outflow of unselfish love.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 77

Sunday

1 HALLMARKS OF GOD’S CHARACTER

1.a. What did God provide for man after bestowing upon him life itself? Genesis 2:7, 15. Why is this a blessing for us? Ecclesiastes 5:18

Note: “In the beginning He [the Lord] created man a gentleman; but though rich in all that the Owner of the universe could supply, Adam was not to be idle. No sooner was he created than his work was given him. He was to find employment and happiness in tending the things that God had created, and in response to his labor his wants were to be abundantly supplied from the fruits of the garden of Eden.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 273, 274

1.b.      What daily evidences reveal God’s abundant love for us? Psalm 36:5–9; Acts 14:17

Note: “The power of God is manifested in the beating of the heart, in the action of the lungs, and in the living currents that circulate through the thousand different channels of the body. We are indebted to Him for every moment of existence, and for all the comforts of life. The powers and abilities that elevate man above the lower creation, are the endowment of the Creator.

“He loads us with His benefits. We are indebted to Him for the food we eat, the water we drink, the clothes we wear, the air we breathe. Without His special providence, the air would be filled with pestilence and poison. He is a bountiful benefactor and preserver.” Counsels on Stewardship, 17

“He [God] bestows life-giving properties on all that nature produces. We are to regard the trees laden with fruit as the gift of God, just as much as though He placed the fruit in our hands.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, 1081

Monday

2 GOD’S GREATEST GIFTS

2.a. What is the greatest of God’s gifts? John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4–7

Note: “The natural world has, in itself, no power but that which God supplies. There is a personal God, the Father; there is a personal Christ, the Son.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 293

“Christ has purchased us by the price of His own blood. He has paid the purchase money for our redemption, and if we will lay hold upon the treasure, it is ours by the free gift of God.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, 245

2.b.      How does Christ identify His followers as a gift from the Father to Him? John 6:37–39; 17:24. Why should this fact encourage our hearts? James 1:17, 18

Note: “Because we are the gift of His Father, and the reward of His work, Jesus loves us. He loves us as His children. Reader, He loves you. Heaven itself can bestow nothing greater, nothing better.” The Desire of Ages, 483

“It is your privilege to trust in the love of Jesus for salvation, in the fullest, surest, noblest manner; to say, He loves me, He receives me; I will trust Him, for He gave His life for me. Nothing so dispels doubt as coming in contact with the character of Christ.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 517

Tuesday

3 WHO IS CHRIST?

3.a. As we reverence the heavenly Father as Creator, what should we also understand about Jesus Christ? Hebrews 1:1–3; John 1:1–3

Note: “If Christ made all things, He existed before all things. The words spoken in regard to this are so decisive that no one need be left in doubt. Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity. God over all, blessed forevermore.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 1126

3.b.      Upon what basis is Christ entitled to our worship and discipleship? Ephesians 3:9; Philippians 2:5–10

Note: “The apostle Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, declares of Christ that ‘all things have been created through Him, and unto Him; and He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together’ (Colossians 1:16, 17, R.V., margin). The hand that sustains the worlds in space, the hand that holds in their orderly arrangement and tireless activity all things throughout the universe of God, is the hand that was nailed to the cross for us.” Education, 132

Wednesday

4 A HEAVENLY PRINCIPLE

4.a. What fundamental concept should we learn from the example of Christ’s earthly life? Luke 22:27, last part; Hebrews 5:8; 12:2–4

Note: “The foundation of the plan of salvation was laid in sacrifice. Jesus left the royal courts and became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. All who share this salvation, purchased for them at such an infinite sacrifice by the Son of God, will follow the example of the true Pattern. Christ was the chief Cornerstone, and we must build upon this Foundation. Each must have a spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice. The life of Christ upon earth was unselfish; it was marked with humiliation and sacrifice. And shall men, partakers of the great salvation which Jesus came from heaven to bring them, refuse to follow their Lord and to share in His self-denial and sacrifice?” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, 387 [Author’s emphasis.]

4.b.      In what sense are we to gladly follow Christ’s example of sacrifice? 1 Peter 2:21; Romans 12:1, 2

Note:  “Christ sacrificed everything for man in order to make it possible for him to gain heaven. Now it is for fallen man to show what he will sacrifice on his own account for Christ’s sake, that he may win immortal glory. Those who have any just sense of the magnitude of salvation and of its cost will never murmur that their sowing must be in tears and that conflict and self-denial are the Christian’s portion in this life.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, 481

“A great lesson is learned when we understand our relation to God and His relation to us. The words, ‘Ye are not your own;’ ‘ye are bought with a price,’ should be hung in memory’s hall, that we may ever recognize God’s right to our talents, our property, our influence, our individual selves. We are to learn how to treat this gift of God, in mind, in soul, in body, that as Christ’s purchased possession we may do Him healthful savory service.” Medical Ministry, 276

Thursday

5 GRACE GRANTED

5.a. What is grace—and why is it essential to our salvation? Romans 5:6–9; Ephesians 2:8, 9

Note: “Grace is an attribute of God exercised toward undeserving human beings. We did not seek for it, but it was sent in search of us. God rejoices to bestow His grace upon us, not because we are worthy, but because we are so utterly unworthy. Our only claim to His mercy is our great need.” The Ministry of Healing, 161

“It was grace that sent our Saviour to seek us as wanderers and bring us back to the fold.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 332

5.b.      How should we respond to God’s bountiful grace? Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:11–14

Note: “But are good works of no real value? Is the sinner who commits sin every day with impunity, regarded of God with the same favor as the one who through faith in Christ tries to work in his integrity? The Scripture answers, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” In His divine arrangement, through His unmerited favor, the Lord has ordained that good works shall be rewarded. We are accepted through Christ’s merit alone; and the acts of mercy, the deeds of charity, which we perform, are the fruits of faith; and they become a blessing to us; for men are to be rewarded according to their works. It is the fragrance of the merit of Christ that makes our good works acceptable to God, and it is grace that enables us to do the works for which He rewards us. Our works in and of themselves have no merit. When we have done all that it is possible for us to do, we are to count ourselves as unprofitable servants. We deserve no thanks from God. We have only done what it was our duty to do, and our works could not have been performed in the strength of our own sinful natures.” The Review and Herald, January 29, 1895

“All your good works cannot save you; but it is nevertheless impossible for you to be saved without good works. Every sacrifice made for Christ will be for your eternal gain.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 147

Friday

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1    Name some simple gifts of God bestowed from the days of Eden.

2    How does God’s greatest gift involve a reciprocal relationship?

3    Why is it important for us to understand who Christ really is?

4    What fundamental principle underlies the entire plan of salvation?

5    What power does grace give the redeemed in preparation for heaven?

Copyright 1997, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

The Creator and Owner

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Treasure in Heaven

June 29 – July 5, 2025

Key Text

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11

Study Help: Job 38; Selected Messages, Book 1, 290–295

Introduction

“Jehovah, the eternal, self-existent, uncreated One, Himself the Source and Sustainer of all, is alone entitled to supreme reverence and worship.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 305

Sunday

1 CREATOR AND MAINTAINER

1.a. What should we realize as we look upon the magnificent splendor of creation? Psalm 19:1–3; Isaiah 40:26

Note: “Wherever we turn, we hear the voice of God and behold His handiwork. From the solemn roll of the deep-toned thunder and old ocean’s ceaseless roar, to the glad songs that make the forests vocal with melody, nature’s ten thousand voices speak His praise. In earth and sea and sky, with their marvelous tint and color, varying in gorgeous contrast or blended in harmony, we behold His glory. The everlasting hills tell of His power. The trees that wave their green banners in the sunlight, and the flowers in their delicate beauty, point to their Creator.” Child Guidance, 53

“Some may suppose that these grand things in the natural world are God. They are not God. All these wonders in the heavens are only doing the work appointed them. They are the Lord’s agencies. God is the superintendent, as well as the Creator, of all things.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 294

1.b. What aspect of God’s omnipotence directly touches each of us daily? Acts 17:24–29

Note: “As regards this earth, Scripture declares the work of creation to have been completed. ‘The works were finished from the foundation of the world’ (Hebrews 4:3). But the power of God is still exercised in upholding the objects of His creation. It is not because the mechanism once set in motion continues to act by its own inherent energy that the pulse beats, and breath follows breath. Every breath, every pulsation of the heart, is an evidence of the care of Him in whom we live and move and have our being. From the smallest insect to man, every living creature is daily dependent upon His providence.” Education, 130, 131

“The Divine Being is engaged in upholding the things that He has created. The same hand that holds the mountains and balances them in position, guides the worlds in their mysterious march around the sun.” Selected Messages, Book, 1, 294

Monday

2 WORTHY OF REVERENCE

2.a. What facts show that God is unique in deserving our worship? Psalm 33:8, 9; Jeremiah 10:9–13 

Note: “God’s claim to reverence and worship, above the gods of the heathen, is based upon the fact that He is the Creator, and that to Him all other beings owe their existence.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 336

2.b. What questions should inspire us with reverence for God? Job 11:7; 38:1–7. How does this reverence promote the salvation of our souls?

Note: “Divine inspiration asks many questions which the most profound scholar cannot answer. These questions were not asked, supposing that we could answer them, but to call our attention to the deep mysteries of God, and to make men know that their wisdom is limited; that in the common things of daily life there are mysteries past the comprehension of finite minds; that the judgment and purposes of God are past finding out, His wisdom unsearchable. If He reveals Himself to man, it is by shrouding Himself in the thick cloud of mystery.

“God’s purpose is to conceal more of Himself than He makes known to man. Could men fully understand the ways and works of God, they would not then believe Him to be the infinite One. He is not to be comprehended by man in His wisdom, and reasons, and purposes. ‘His ways are past finding out’ (Romans 11:33). His love can never be explained upon natural principles. If this could be done, we would not feel that we could trust Him with the interests of our souls. Skeptics refuse to believe, because with their finite minds they cannot comprehend the infinite power by which God reveals Himself to men. Even the mechanism of the human body cannot be fully understood; it presents mysteries that baffle the most intelligent.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 3, 1141

Tuesday

3 TRUE OWNERSHIP

3.a. What principle has God always wanted for man to understand regarding the ownership of property? Psalm 50:7, 10–12

Note: “The Lord sought to teach Israel that in everything He must be first. Thus, they were reminded that God was the proprietor of their fields, their flocks, and their herds; that it was He who sent them the sunshine and the rain that developed and ripened the harvest. Everything that they possessed was His.” The Acts of the Apostles, 337

3.b. How extensive is God’s property? Psalm 24:1, 2; Deuteronomy 10:14. What does this mean to us? Revelation 4:11

Note: “Consider that there is only one Proprietor of the universe, and that every man, with his time, his intellect, his resources, belongs to the One who has paid the ransom for the soul. God has a righteous claim to constant service and supreme affection. God’s will, not your pleasure, is to be your criterion.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 137

Wednesday

4 WHO HAS DOMINION?

4.a. To whom did God entrust dominion over His earthly goods? Genesis 1:26–28. Why is this such an honor to the human race? Psalm 8:1, 3–8

Note: “He who set the starry worlds on high and tinted with delicate skill the flowers of the field, who filled the earth and the heavens with the wonders of His power, when He came to crown His glorious work, to place one in the midst to stand as ruler of the fair earth, did not fail to create a being worthy of the hand that gave him life. The genealogy of our race, as given by inspiration, traces back its origin, not to a line of developing germs, mollusks, and quadrupeds, but to the great Creator. Though formed from the dust, Adam was ‘the son of God.’ ” Patriarchs and Prophets, 45

4.b. Because of Adam’s fall, what did the deceiver boast to Christ? Luke 4:5, 6. When is Christ’s dominion over this planet to be fully recovered? Daniel 7:13, 14; Micah 4:8

Note: “When Satan declared to Christ, The kingdom and glory of the world are delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I give it, he stated what was true only in part, and he declared it to serve his own purpose of deception. Satan’s dominion was that wrested from Adam, but Adam was the vicegerent of the Creator. His was not an independent rule. The earth is God’s, and He has committed all things to His Son. Adam was to reign subject to Christ. When Adam betrayed his sovereignty into Satan’s hands, Christ still remained the rightful King. Thus, the Lord had said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will’ (Daniel 4:17). Satan can exercise his usurped authority only as God permits.” The Desire of Ages, 129, 130

“As the Son of man, Christ would stand loyal to God. Thus, it would be shown that Satan had not gained complete control of the human race, and that his claim to the world was false. All who desired deliverance from his power would be set free. The dominion that Adam had lost through sin would be recovered.” Ibid., 115

Thursday

5 STEWARDSHIP ENTRUSTED

5.a. Whenever any degree of dominion—great or small—is entrusted to us, what admonition are we to heed? Deuteronomy 8:11–18

Note: “We should regard ourselves as stewards of the Lord’s property and God as the supreme proprietor, to whom we are to render His own when He shall require it.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, 480, 481

5.b.      What message bears special force in these final days just before our Lord’s return? Luke 19:11–13

Note: “God calls us servants, which implies that we are employed by Him to do a certain work and bear certain responsibilities. He has lent us capital for investment. It is not our property, and we displease God if we hoard up our Lord’s goods or spend them as we please. …

“Every talent which returns to the Master will be scrutinized. The doings and trusts of God’s servants will not be considered an unimportant matter. Every individual will be dealt with personally and will be required to give an account of the talents entrusted to him, whether he has improved or abused them. The reward bestowed will be proportionate to the improvement of the talents. The punishment awarded will be according as the talents have been abused.

“The inquiry of each one should be: What have I of my Lord’s, and how shall I use it to His glory? ‘Occupy,’ says Christ, ‘till I come.’ The heavenly Master is on His journey. Our gracious opportunity is now. The talents are in our hands. Shall we use them to God’s glory, or shall we abuse them? We may trade with them today, but tomorrow our probation may end and our account be forever fixed.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, 668 [Author’s emphasis.]

Friday

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1    What facts reveal that our Creator is also our Sustainer?

2    Why is God alone worthy to be worshiped?

3    How should we respond when we consider that God owns everything, and that He entrusted dominion of the earth to man?

4    What should we understand about Satan’s usurped authority?

5    What temptation comes to each of us when entrusted with goods?

Copyright 1997, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

Recipe – Flourless Strawberry Apple Breakfast Crisp

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Strawberries

Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside. Berry seeds are on the inside, so strawberries really aren’t true berries.

The average strawberry has 200 seeds. Each seed is considered by botanists to be its own separate fruit. Most strawberry plants reproduce from runners despite the fact that seeds can grow into plants.

Strawberries are low fat, low calorie, high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, and potassium. Strawberries contain more vitamin C than oranges. As part of a 5-a-day fruit and vegetable program, they can help reduce the risk of cancer and heart attacks.

Eating strawberries, which are rich in nitrate, can increase the flow of blood and oxygen to the muscles by 7 percent. This prevents muscle fatigue, making exercise easier, helping the muscles work more proficiently. In a test, subjects who ate nitrate rich foods like strawberries before exercising burned 100 more calories than those who did not.

Ninety-four percent of U.S. households consume strawberries. Over 53% of seven to nine-year-olds picked strawberries as their favorite fruit.

 www.londonstrawberryfestival.com/strawberry-fun-facts.html

Recipe – Flourless Strawberry Apple Breakfast Crisp

Ingredients

Filling:

3 large Granny Smith apples, chopped

2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced; or cherries, rhubarb, or fruit of choice

1/4 cup Sucanat, or sweetener of choice

1/8-1/4 tsp. ground cardamon

1/4 tsp. salt

1 Tbs. lemon juice

1 Tbs. + 1 tsp. arrowroot powder or cornstarch

1/2 tsp. vanilla powder

Topping:

1 cup almonds, or nuts of choice

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/8 cup Sucanat, or sweetener of choice

1 Tbs. maple syrup, optional

2 Tbs. olive oil

1/4 tsp. vanilla powder

pinch of salt

Process

Spray a casserole dish with oil. Place apples and strawberries in a bowl and add the rest of the filling ingredients. Stir well. Into a food processor, process almonds until chunky. Add the rest of the topping ingredients and pulse for a couple seconds until just mixed, keeping mixture chunky. Take ½ cup of the topping mixture and stir into the apple filling mixture. Pour the topping/apple mixture into a prepared casserole dish and sprinkle on the remaining topping. Cover, keep covered, and bake at 375°F for about 35-40 minutes.

Unguarded Avenues

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John Swinton, a Scottish-American journalist and the chief editorial writer of the New York Times during the 1860s, made the following remarks to his fellow journalists at a banquet given in his honor in 1880: “There is no such thing, at this date of the world’s history, in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it.

“There is not one of you who dares to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my paper, before 24 hours my occupation would be gone.

“The business of the journalist is to destroy the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it, and what folly is this toasting an independent press?

“We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes.” (Source: Labor’s Untold Story, by Richard O. Boyer and Herbert M. Morais, published by United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America, NY, 1955/1979.)

This is quite an honest admission of the truth. It provides us with the sad reality that we are but a deteriorating mass of humanity. I think it would be safe to say that most, if not all of us, are affected by the media in one way or another. Massive technological advancements in the media industry have occurred from 1880 until now, and we no longer deal only with the written page, but also Silicon Valley media ammunitions. This media empire is, with great success, the shaper of the human population’s world view at this present time.

In his book Secret Societies and Psychological Warfare, Michael A. Hoffman II tells us of the plan for the reshaping of our minds.

“The battle for the mind of North America will be fought in the video arena, the videodrome.” (p. 92.)

“If we consider the hours in a day most Americans spend in front of a TV and add to that the hours children spend immersed in the digital world of videogames and add to that their forthcoming immersion in computer-simulated worlds of supposed ‘history’ and ‘travel’ in their schools, we see the gradual creation of a population of dwellers-in-perpetual-illusion.” (p. 94.)

A former Amway Crown Direct distributor Bunny Marks concluded, “What you see is what you’ll be.”

In the first part of this fourth deadly sin which God hates (LandMarks May 2025 issue, Wicked Imaginations), we discovered that the majority of people who are living today have “a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations” (Proverbs 6:18). They allow their minds to become the devil’s workshop by cherishing “wicked imaginations” or “thoughts of iniquity.” It was made clear that we must strictly guard the avenues to our souls, especially our eyes and ears, because Satan will use these senses, if left unguarded, to bring about our ruin.

As we examine in a deeper way this fourth deadly sin, I would like to share with you some alarming statistics that will help us to understand just how very serious Mr. Swinton’s assertions are for us today. Social media, while it can be beneficial to us, is also used by the devil to disconnect people from Jesus Christ and destroy the Christian religion.

  • The United States—a self-declared Christian nation—is the largest producer and exporter of hardcore pornographic DVDs and web material. According to British authorities, there are at least 4.5 million porn sites, of which more than half are located in the US.
  • More than 40 million Americans are regular visitors to porn sites. The average visit lasts six minutes and 29 seconds.
  • The porn industry’s annual revenue is more than the NFL, NBA, and MLB combined. It is also more than the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC.
  • 47% of families in the US reported that pornography is a problem in their home.
  • Pornography use increases the marital infidelity rate by more than 300%.
  • Eleven is the average age that a child is first exposed to porn, and 94% of children will see porn by the age of 14.
  • On average, teenagers spend five hours and 38 minutes online every day. Nearly half of teens admit to taking action to hide their online behavior from parents.
  • 56% of American divorces involve one party having an “obsessive interest” in pornographic websites.
  • 70% of Christian youth pastors report that they have had at least one teenager come to them for help in dealing with pornography in the past 12 months.
  • 68% of churchgoing men and more than 50% of pastors view porn on a regular basis. Of young Christian adults ages 18-24, 76% actively search for porn.
  • 59% of pastors said married men seek their help for porn use.
  • 33% of women ages 25 and under search for porn at least once per month.
  • Only 13% of self-identified Christian women say they never watch porn—87% of Christian women have watched porn.
  • 55% of married men and 25% of married women say they watch porn at least once a month.
  • 57% of pastors say porn addiction is the most damaging issue in their congregation. And 69% say porn has adversely impacted the church.
  • $3,075.64 is spent on porn every second on the internet. The United States was the country with the most traffic in 2019.
  • According to a Gallup poll taken in June 2018, “More than four in 10 Americans (43%) now say pornography is morally acceptable.”
  • In 2008, a survey of more than 560 college students was taken. It revealed:
  • 69% of boys and 55% of girls have seen same-sex intercourse on line.
  • 32% of boys and 18% of girls have seen bestiality online.
  • 88% of scenes in porn films contain acts of physical aggression, and 49% of scenes contain verbal aggression.
  • Those who frequently consume Internet pornography are less likely to marry because they see pornography as a marital sexual gratification substitute.
  • 70% of wives of sex addicts could be diagnosed with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
  • 82% of tweens (a child between the ages of 10 and 12) and 94.50% of teens expressed or experienced violent subject matter/thoughts.
  • 09% of tweens and 74.61% of teens were involved in a self-harm/suicidal situation.
  • 35% of tweens and 93.31% of teens engaged in conversations surrounding drugs/alcohol.

These statistics are very troubling because they illustrate how what we look at and listen to affects our minds and behavior.

The Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force recently found 46 published research studies demonstrating that exposure to pornography puts individuals at increased risk for committing sexual offenses.

An article in the April 15, 2018, Christianity Today magazine entitled, “3 Ways Social Media Endangers a Christian’s Life” reveals why it is important that Christians guard the avenues to their souls.

  • It allows room for secret sin. Here’s the most dangerous effect of all: social media is a perfect breeding ground for secret sin.
  • Handled the wrong way, it will steal precious time.
  • It pollutes the mind.

In We Become What We Watch, Abigail Dodd made the following remarks:

“J. Gresham Machen says, ‘When any new fact enters the human mind it must proceed to make itself at home; it must proceed to introduce itself to the previous denizens (occupants) of the house. That process of introduction of new facts is called thinking. And, contrary to what seems to be quite generally supposed, thinking cannot be avoided by the Christian.’

“Whether we are reflecting on a fact at any given moment or not, we are always thinking, and that thinking shapes us in profound ways. … whenever new facts enter our mind, we are engaged in a type of thinking—whether we want to be or not. Watching shows is one of the most passive forms of thinking, which makes it one of the most powerful. Because we are not engaged in active thinking, we allow any number of morally-suspect thoughts to enter our mind unhindered. These thoughts immediately get comfortable in their new home. … To say this is a cunning move by our adversary is an understatement. Under the guise of entertainment, evil thoughts often move into our minds and entrench themselves unopposed.” [Author’s emphasis.]

“Your imagination was not given you to be allowed to run riot and have its own way without any effort at restraint or discipline. If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong; and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character. When you decide that as Christians you are not required to restrain your thoughts and feelings, you are brought under the influence of evil angels and invite their presence and their control.” Mind, Character, and Personality, Vol. 2, 593

Mrs. White is very clear that our thoughts and feelings shape our characters. She also highlights one particular way that the imagination is corrupted.

“Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. Instead of being a school of morality and virtue, as is so often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality. Vicious habits and sinful propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments. Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes, deprave the imagination and debase the morals. Every youth who habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in principle. There is no influence in our land more powerful to poison the imagination, to destroy religious impressions, and to blunt the relish for the tranquil pleasures and sober realities of life than theatrical amusements. The love for these scenes increases with every indulgence, as the desire for intoxicating drinks strengthens with its use. The only safe course is to shun the theater, the circus, and every other questionable place of amusement.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, 652, 653

The imagination is the vehicle by which the mind becomes depraved.

“The heart is corrupted through the imagination. The mind takes pleasure in contemplating scenes which awaken the lower and baser passions. These vile images, seen through defiled imagination, corrupt the morals and prepare the deluded, infatuated beings to give loose rein to lustful passions. Then follow sins and crimes which drag beings formed in the image of God down to a level with the beasts, sinking them at last in perdition. Avoid reading and seeing things which will suggest impure thoughts.” Ibid., Vol. 2, 410

Corinth, being a metropolis, was a center of all manner of immorality and sexual perversion. The Corinthian church was surrounded and likewise affected by such corrupting influences, resulting in a very serious problem; the Corinthians impure and immoral thoughts translated into impure and immoral actions. The apostle Paul had to address the church members about this matter.

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.” 1 Corinthians 5:1

“Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. … Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:13, 18

“Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.” 1 Corinthians 10:8

“And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.” 2 Corinthians 12:21

The word fornication used here by Paul, is the Greek word porneia from which we get the English word pornography. “The word pornography is composed of two Greek words. The first is porne, meaning “harlot,” which is akin to the word pernanai, meaning “to sell.” The second word is graphein, meaning “to write.” In other words, pornography is literally “the writing of harlots.” (Source: Richard & Linda Sauer, Pornography: A Distortion of God’s Plan, March 29, 2007.)

“The tentacles of pornography have invaded almost every area of our lives through TV, movies, sports, music, the arts, the news media, video gaming, marketing, magazines, and the Internet. Differing degrees and aspects of pornography are everywhere. Many of these far-reaching tentacles go unnoticed and are even embraced by mainstream Americans—Christians and non-Christians alike. What once was considered unacceptable has become completely commonplace.” Ibid., 1

We must heed Peter’s warning.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Eve sinned because:

  • She provided an opportunity for the evil one.
  • She was curious.
  • She questioned God’s word.
  • Her thoughts resulted in disobedience.
  • She became corrupted.

Satan appealed to Eve’s senses and played with her imagination. Consequently, she laid aside God’s word, believed a lie, and sin entered this planet! (See Genesis 3:1–7; Patriarchs and Prophets, 55.)

Helen Howarth Lemmel appeals to us in her song Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”

“Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at 718-882-3900.

Free Radicals and Antioxidants

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Our bodies are infinitely complex and to be healthy, our many complex systems desire to be in balance. Free radicals interfere with the balance our body cells strive for, and are associated with such things as aging skin, cancer, autoimmune diseases, cataracts, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, ulcers, emphysema, macular degeneration, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. They are highly reactive and unstable molecules. These radicals have an imbalance in the electrons, meaning one or more electrons do not have a pair, making it unstable. They have a very short lifespan of only a fraction of a second, but what damage they can do in that short time. Because of the unpaired electrons, they react with other balanced molecules in the body by taking one of their electrons. The new molecule is then unstable and will attempt to “steal” an electron from another stable molecule, making it unstable and the cascade of “stealing” an electron is repeated time and time again. This cascade can result in high levels of free radicals and cause damage to surrounding cells, organs, and can even cause DNA mutations.

DNA is the genetic material responsible for producing the proteins that guide all processes and structures in the body. Damaged DNA will try to reproduce the cells that comprise our bodies; but being damaged, they will not make healthy cells. Free radicals are made by the body as a byproduct of normal metabolism and in response to stress and inflammation. Free radicals can also be made by the body after exposure to toxins in the environment such as tobacco smoke, environmental pollutants, ultraviolet light, some metals, some drugs, some viruses, pesticides, industrial solvents, ozone and radiation, and after an extreme, intense workout. Diets high in refined sugar and simple carbohydrates, as well as preservatives found in food can also increase free radicals. A high number and availability of free radicals creates oxidative stress. Occurring silently, oxidative stress causes damage to and even the death of healthy cells.

As you now understand, free radicals can be, in excessive numbers, nasty little molecules, and as is so often true, prevention is better than a cure. So, how can we prevent an excessive number of free radicals and ultimately, oxidative stress?

First, limit the number of free radicals from entering the body.

  • Do not smoke. Avoid second-hand smoke as much as possible.
  • Avoid alcohol intake.
  • Limit your time in the sun, properly using non-toxic sunscreen and protective clothing.
  • Learn to remove yourself from unnecessary stress and manage the stress you are unable to avoid.
  • Avoid environmental pollution as much as possible.

Second, consume enough antioxidants to keep the free radicals from taking over. Our body actually makes some antioxidants, but not enough to neutralize all the free radicals. So, what is an antioxidant?

Antioxidants are unstable molecules, and, like free radicals, antioxidants have unpaired electrons in their molecules. But unlike free radicals, antioxidants don’t typically steal from otherwise stable molecules to become stable. They will freely give up an electron to a free radical and both molecules are then stable, greatly decreasing the likelihood of causing damage. They are therefore sometimes referred to as free radical scavengers. These key free radical scavengers can be obtained by eating an antioxidant-rich diet comprised of good quantities of these vitamin-rich foods high in antioxidant:

Vitamin C: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, blueberries, cauliflower, cantaloupe, grapefruit, leafy greens, kale, strawberries, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, tomatoes, and citrus fruits.

Vitamin E: almonds, avocado, sunflower seeds, oatmeal, legumes, peanuts, red pepper, and leafy greens.

Beta carotene: apricots, cantaloupe, mangos, carrots, asparagus, beets, kale, mangoes, oranges, peaches, pink grapefruit, pumpkin, squash, tomatoes, tangerines, and watermelon.

Selenium: brown rice, onions, Brazil nuts, chia seeds, oatmeal, whole wheat bread, barley, lentils, navy beans, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds.

Zinc: oatmeal, tofu, sesame, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, lentils, cashews, garbanzo beans, peanuts, almonds, and pecans.

Phenolic compounds: apples, onions, berries, grapes, peanuts, and spices, including oregano, thyme, and rosemary.

We need to remember that antioxidants are unstable molecules, so an overabundance of antioxidants can potentially be damaging, too. Obtaining antioxidants from supplements can be problematic. “Food-first is always the best way to go in terms of getting proper antioxidant.” Anthony DiMarino, RD, (verywellhealth.com+2). This is one reason why a diet rich in vegetables and fruits has been linked with a lower risk of many diseases.

Third, is to combat free radicals through other healthy lifestyle choices including adequate rest, activity, and water consumption are helpful.

Improve your health and prevent premature aging and disease by avoiding dangerous free radicals whenever possible, and developing a healthy lifestyle that includes a diet high in fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, and seeds.

Sources: health.clevelandclinic.org/free-radicals; verywellhealth.com/information-about-free-radicals-2249103; mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-are-free-radicals-a-dietician-explains; cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet-antioxidents-fact-sheet; naturallivingfamily.com/health-nutrition/chia-seeds-and-diabetes; clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/oxidative-stress; medicinenet.com/what_are_free_radicals_and_why_are_they_bad/article; Are+there+foods+that+increase+free+radicals

The Monarch

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There are 17,500 species of butterflies in the world. Approximately 550 species can be found in the United States. Butterflies are an important part of nature because they supply food for birds and are pretty pollinators.

Possibly the most well-known species is the Monarch. Those of us of a certain age, can remember a time when monarch butterflies were everywhere. We would go outside with our butterfly nets and chase them all around the yard until we finally caught one.

Did You Know? Aside from their favorite food, milkweed, these are the best flowers to attract butterflies to your yard: dill, blazing star, hibiscus, flowering dogwood, lilac, and parsley, to name a few.

The monarch has a four-stage life cycle: egg, caterpillar, pupa (chrysalis), and adult, which can be five weeks, two to six weeks, or six to nine months. It doesn’t matter which life stage the butterfly is in, when winter comes, it will enter a dormant (hibernative) state similar to mammal hibernation. Butterflies must stay cold and dry while dormant. If disturbed during this state, it might wake up too soon and die. Left undisturbed, most butterflies will hibernate until the beginning of March. Since butterflies in the caterpillar state can only consume certain plants, and it is important that those plants are nearby and are blooming when they wake up so they can begin to eat right away.

Monarchs lay their eggs on the milkweed plant. This plant is its only source of food. The monarch lays only one egg at a time, but over a couple of weeks, she can lay as many as 700 eggs. As you can imagine, the eggs, white and round, are extremely small. The butterfly larva remains in the egg for less than a week. When it “hatches,” it is in the caterpillar stage and remains a caterpillar for two more weeks. During this time, it molts and sheds its skin as many as five times. It also goes through multiple growth spurts and will eat its body weight in milkweed. It grows until it becomes a two-inch long caterpillar. Now it is ready to find a safe, quiet place to form its chrysalis.

The caterpillar forms a small green chrysalis—great camouflage—on a leaf or plant. They remain in the chrysalis for two weeks. You can know when the butterfly is about to emerge when the chrysalis has changed from green to brown.

Did You Know? A butterfly rests with its wings closed, while a moth rests with them spread out. Moths are dull in coloring, but butterflies are vibrant in color. Butterflies are diurnal, and moths are nocturnal.

Finally, the monarch hatches from its chrysalis. Its wings are folded and damp. It takes a little while for them to dry off. Once dry, the female monarch is ready to reproduce. The males need a couple extra days. Their wings are covered in scales and this is what gives them their colorful wings.

When monarchs migrate, it is a long and amazing trip and can consist of as many as five generations of butterflies. Over two months, monarchs will fly approximately 2,000 miles south—a staggering trek—to Mexico and the southern U.S.. This generation lives two to nine months because they spend most of that time flying and hibernating, but this generation is also responsible for the subsequent generations that will keep the life cycle of the monarch going, flying north at the end of winter to lay their eggs.

Sadly, butterflies are decreasing in number—22% in the last 20 years—resulting in the decline of other insects as well.

Sources: birdsandblooms.com/gardening/attracting-butterflies/monarch-migration-magic; ecokidsplanet.co.uk/blogs/news/science-in-the-park-how-do-butterflies-survive-winter; a-z-animals.com/how-long-do-monarch-butterflies-live; activewild.com/difference-between-moth-and-butterfly; usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/06/us-butterfly-population-decline/81350506007 thespruce.com/plants-for-butterflies-8606986

Joy By and By

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Franklin E. Beldin was a prolific hymn writer and a Seventh-day Adventist. He was born March 21, 1858, in Battle Creek, Michigan. His mother was Ellen G. White’s older sister. He began writing in his late teens after the family moved to California. However, in 1881, his ill health took him to Colorado where he met and married Harriet C. McDearmon. They had a daughter, Linnie Louise. They eventually returned to Battle Creek where Franklin became involved in the Adventist publishing work.

Franklin was known as “the sweet singer of Israel.” He had the ability to spontaneously compose both music and poetry together to fit the sermon topic as it was being presented. Then, he and Harriet would sing the newly-composed song at the end of the sermon, giving the manuscript to the preacher.

He served as music editor and contributor along with Edwin Barnes and J. Edson White on the compilation of a number of Adventist hymn books. He is especially associated with the Christ in Song hymnbook, Adventism’s most popular songbook.

Sadly, Franklin had disputes with the Review and Herald Publishing Association over the ownership of the copyrights on his music. For several reasons of his own, he also developed an animosity toward his aunt, Ellen White.

At the beginning of the 20th century, after a renewal in his spiritual life, he would reconcile with her for a time, only to turn away from her again over the continuing disputes regarding the publication of his music. He remained embittered against her and church leadership to the end of his life.

The 1941 Church Hymnal included 22 of Franklin’s songs and hymns. The 1985 Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal includes 12 hymns and four tunes.

Franklin E. Belden died in Marshall, Michigan, on December 2, 1945, at the age of 87.

My personal favorite of his hymns is Joy By and By. Written in 1886, he composed both music and words.

O there’ll be joy when the work is done,
Joy when the reapers gather home,
Bringing the sheaves at set of sun
To the new Jerusalem.

Joy By and By

Sweet are the songs that we hope to sing,
Grateful the thanks our hearts shall bring,
Praising forever Christ our King
In the New Jerusalem.

Pure are the joys that await us there,
Many the golden mansions fair;
Jesus Himself doth them prepare,
In the New Jerusalem.

Joy, joy, there’ll be joy by and by,
Joy, joy where the joys never die;
Joy, joy; for the day draweth nigh
When the workers gather home.

Source: Encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id+D8YK&highlight+y; hymnary.org/text/o_therell_be_joy_when_the_work_is_done

Do You Doubt God’s Love?

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Do you doubt that God loves you? Are you afraid that your life has just been too bad for God to want to save you? Let me suggest a few words to help us remember just exactly how much He does love us.

  • Peter
  • David
  • Paul
  • Nebuchadnezzar
  • Job
  • Mary Magdalene
  • Jacob
  • The thief on the cross

“And great multitudes came unto Him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and He healed them.” Matthew 15:30

I am reminded of the song When Jesus Comes:

One sat alone beside the highway begging,
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see.
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee.

From home and friends the evil spirits drove him,
Among the tombs he dwelt in misery;
He cut himself as demon powers possessed him,
Then Jesus came and set the captive free.

“Unclean, unclean!” the leper cried in torment,
The deaf, the dumb, in helplessness stood near;
The fever raged, disease had gripped its victim,
Then Jesus came and cast out every fear.

Their hearts were sad as in the tomb they laid him,
For death had come and taken him away;
Their night was dark and bitter tears were falling,
Then Jesus came and night was turned to day.

So men today have found the Saviour able,
They could not conquer passion, lust and sin;
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,
Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.

When Jesus comes, the tempter’s power is broken;
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away,
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

“Now when Jesus came … the Prince of heaven was among His people. The greatest gift of God had been given to the world. Joy to the poor; for Christ had come to make them heirs of His kingdom. Joy to the rich; for He would teach them how to secure eternal riches. Joy to the ignorant; He would make them wise unto salvation. Joy to the learned; He would open to them deeper mysteries than they had ever fathomed; truths that had been hidden from the foundation of the world would be opened to men by the Saviour’s mission.” The Desire of Ages, 277

“Jesus came to suffer in our behalf, that He might impart to us His righteousness. There is but one way of escape for us, and that is found only in becoming partakers of the divine nature.” The Review and Herald, March 1, 1892

“When Jesus came to our world, … He devoted His life to the teaching of those truths that pertain to the salvation of the soul. …

“God has claims upon every power of our being. His service demands the action of the whole man—all the heart, all the soul, all the strength, and all the mind. How to render this complete service to God is the only subject of any value in this life.” The Upward Look, 105

Story – Only a Boy

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More than a half a century ago a faithful minister coming early to the church met one of his deacons, whose face wore a very resolute expression.

“I came early to meet you,” he said. “I have something on my conscience to say to you. Pastor, there must be something radically wrong in your preaching and work; there has been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he is only a boy.”

The old minister listened. His eyes moistened, and his thin hand trembled on his broad-headed cane.

“I feel it all,” he said; “I feel it, but God knows that I have tried to do my duty, and I can trust Him for the results.”

“Yes, yes,” said the deacon, “but ‘by their fruits ye shall know them,’ and one new member, and he, Robert, only a boy, seems to me rather a slight evidence of true faith and zeal. I don’t want to be hard, but I have this matter on my conscience, and I have done but my duty in speaking plainly.”

“True,” said the old man; “but ‘charity suffereth long and is kind; beareth all things, hopeth all things.’ Ay, there you have it; ‘hopeth all things’! I have great hopes for Robert. Some seed that we sow bears fruit late, but that fruit is generally the most precious of all.”

The old minister went to the pulpit that day with a grieved and heavy heart. He closed his discourse with dim and tearful eyes. He wished that his work was done forever, and that he was at rest among the graves under the blossoming trees in the old graveyard.

He lingered in the dear old church after the rest were gone. He wished to be alone. This place was sacred and inexpressibly dear to him. It had been his spiritual home from his youth. Before this altar he had prayed over the dead forms of a bygone generation, and had welcomed the children of a new one; and here, yes, here, he had been told at last that his work was no longer owned and blessed!

No one remained—no one?—“Only a boy.”

The boy was Robert Moffat. He watched the trembling old man. His soul was filled with loving sympathy. He went to him, and laid his hand on his black gown.

“Well, Robert?” said the minister.

“Do you think if I were willing to work hard for an education, I could become a preacher?”

“A preacher?”

“Perhaps a missionary.”

There was a long pause. Tears filled the eyes of the old minister. At length he said: “This heals the ache in my heart, Robert. I see the divine hand now. May God bless you, my boy. Yes, I think you will become a preacher.”

Some years ago, an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. When he went into an assembly, the people rose. When he spoke in public, there was a deep silence. Priests stood uncovered before him; nobles invited him to their homes.

He had added a province to the church of Christ on earth; had brought under the gospel influence the most savage of African chiefs; had given the translated Bible to strange tribes; had enriched with valuable knowledge the Royal Geographical Society; and had honored the humble place of his birth, the Scottish church, the United Kingdom, and the universal missionary cause.

It is hard to trust when no evidence of fruit appears. But the harvests of right intentions are sure. The old minister sleeps beneath the trees in the humble place of his labors, but men remember his work because of what he was to one boy, and what that one boy was to the world.

“Do thou thy work: it shall succeed
In thine or in another’s day;
And if denied the victor’s meed,
Thou shalt not miss the toiler’s pay.”
—Youth’s Companion

Stories Worth Re-Reading, ©1913, 178–180