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Respect for Authority

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Preparing for Eternity Together

January 26 – February 1, 2025

Key Text

“Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King.” 1 Peter 2:17

Study Help: Testimonies, Vol. 6, 394–397; Ibid., Vol. 3, 428–434; Ibid., Vol. 5, 105–113

Introduction

“It [the fifth commandment] also enjoins respect for ministers and rulers and for all others to whom God has delegated authority.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 308

Sunday

1 COOPERATION—A HEAVENLY CONCEPT

1.a. Why does the attitude of holy angels promote harmony and happiness among them? Psalm 148:2; 1 Peter 3:18, 22

Note: “I have been shown the order, the perfect order, of heaven, and have been enraptured as I listened to the perfect music there. … There is one angel who always leads, who first touches the harp and strikes the note, then all join in the rich, perfect music of heaven.” Testimonies, Vol. 1, 146

1.b.      How was leadership enjoined in the days of Moses? Exodus 18:21–23; Deuteronomy 1:15, 16

1.c. What attitude is particularly offensive to God, and why? 2 Peter 2:9–11

Note: “Lucifer in heaven desired to be first in power and authority; he wanted to be God, to have the rulership of heaven; and to this end he won many of the angels to his side. When with his rebel host he was cast out from the courts of God, the work of rebellion and self-seeking was continued on earth.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 32

Monday

2 SECULAR AUTHORITIES

2.a. What duty do Christians owe to civil authorities? 1 Timothy 2:1, 2; Titus 3:1

2.b.      How did Daniel treat the Babylonian authorities? Daniel 1:8, 9; 6:19–22

Note: “ ‘Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.’

“This request was not preferred in a defiant spirit, but as if soliciting a great favor. The appearance of Daniel and his companions was like what every youth’s should be. They were courteous, kind, respectful, possessing the grace of meekness and modesty. And the good behavior of these youth obtained favor for them.” The Youth’s Instructor, September 15, 1898

2.c. Summarize the attitude we are to have toward authorities. Romans 13:1–7

Note: “We are not required to defy authorities. Our words, whether spoken or written, should be carefully considered, lest we place ourselves on record as uttering that which would make us appear antagonistic to law and order. We are not to say or do anything that would unnecessarily close up our way. We are to go forward in Christ’s name, advocating the truths committed to us. If we are forbidden by men to do this work, then we may say, as did the apostles, ‘Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’ ” The Acts of the Apostles, 69

“The government under which Jesus lived was corrupt and oppressive; on every hand were crying abuses—extortion, intolerance, and grinding cruelty. Yet the Saviour attempted no civil reforms. He attacked no national abuses, nor condemned the national enemies. He did not interfere with the authority or administration of those in power. He who was our example kept aloof from earthly governments. Not because He was indifferent to the woes of men, but because the remedy did not lie in merely human and external measures. To be efficient, the cure must reach men individually, and must regenerate the heart.” The Desire of Ages, 509

“Let God have the matter of condemning authorities and governments wholly in His own keeping. In meekness and love let us as faithful sentinels defend the principles of truth as it is in Jesus.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 397

Tuesday

3 CHURCH LEADERS

3.a. Name one problem which has ever existed since the days of the early church. 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13; 2 Thessalonians 3:11

Note: “The church had been properly organized, and officers had been appointed to act as ministers and deacons. But there were some, self-willed and impetuous, who refused to be subordinate to those who held positions of authority in the church. They claimed not only the right of private judgment, but that of publicly urging their views upon the church. In view of this, Paul called the attention of the Thessalonians to the respect and deference due to those who had been chosen to occupy positions of authority in the church.” The Acts of the Apostles, 261, 262

3.b.      Explain some of the various reasons why we need to respect and cooperate with our ministers and church leaders. Psalm 105:12–15; Hebrews 13:17

Note: “It is of great importance what attitude we assume toward those who are laborers together with God. I am so sorry to write that the Lord withholds many blessings which He longs to bestow upon those who have a knowledge of the truth; He cannot pour out His blessing upon the human agents because of their attitude toward their fellow laborers and their fellowmen.” The Review and Herald, May 26, 1896

“Satan is constantly working through his agents to dishearten and destroy those whom God has chosen to accomplish a great and good work. They may be ready to sacrifice even their own life for the advancement of the cause of Christ, yet the great deceiver will suggest doubts, distrust, jealousy, concerning them, that if entertained, will undermine confidence in their integrity of character, and thus cripple their usefulness. Too often he succeeds in working through their own brethren.” Sketches from the Life of Paul, 232

“Jesus is ministering in the heavenly sanctuary, but He is with His workers also; for He declares, ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world’ (Matthew 28:20). He is spiritual director of His church on earth, and He longs to see the members filled with a determination to labor harmoniously for the advancement of His kingdom. He has raised up a succession of workers who derive their authority from Him, the Great Teacher.” Ye Shall Receive Power, 210

Wednesday

4 THE CHURCH ITSELF

  1. What essential duties are entrusted to the church? Matthew 16:19; John 20:23

Note: “The world’s Redeemer has invested great power with His church. He states the rules to be applied in cases of trial with its members. After He has given explicit directions as to the course to be pursued, He says: ‘Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever [in church discipline] ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ Thus even the heavenly authority ratifies the discipline of the church in regard to its members when the Bible rule has been followed.

“The word of God does not give license for one man to set up his judgment in opposition to the judgment of the church, neither is he allowed to urge his opinions against the opinions of the church. If there were no church discipline and government, the church would go to fragments; it could not hold together as a body.” Testimonies, Vol. 3, 428

“Toward those who fall into sin, the church has a duty, to warn, to instruct, and if possible to restore. ‘Reprove, rebuke, exhort,’ the Lord says, ‘with all longsuffering and doctrine.’ 2 Timothy 4:2. Deal faithfully with wrongdoing. Warn every soul that is in danger. Leave none to deceive themselves. Call sin by its right name. Declare what God has said in regard to lying, Sabbathbreaking, stealing, idolatry, and every other evil. ‘They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.’ Galatians 5:21. If they persist in sin, the judgment you have declared from God’s word is pronounced upon them in heaven. In choosing to sin, they disown Christ; the church must show that she does not sanction their deeds, or she herself dishonors her Lord. She must say about sin what God says about it. She must deal with it as God directs, and her action is ratified in heaven. He who despises the authority of the church despises the authority of Christ Himself.

“But there is a brighter side to the picture. ‘Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted.’ Let this thought be kept uppermost. In labor for the erring, let every eye be directed to Christ. Let the shepherds have a tender care for the flock of the Lord’s pasture. Let them speak to the erring of the forgiving mercy of the Saviour.” The Desire of Ages, 806, 807

Thursday

5 RESPECTING GOD’S REMNANT

5.a. What duty of Christ’s militant church may not always be easy, but must nonetheless be acknowledged as part of God’s plan? Matthew 18:15–18

Note: “There is altogether too little respect paid to the opinion of members of the same church. It is the want of deference for the opinions of the church that causes so much trouble among brethren. The eyes of the church may be able to discern in its individual members that which the erring may not see. A few persons may be as blind as the one in error, but the majority of the church is a power which should control its individual members.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 107

5.b.      How can we overcome one factor which often hinders this necessary part of reform? Psalm 119:104

Note: “Reproofs always hurt human nature. Many are the souls that have been destroyed by the unwise sympathy of their brethren; for, because the brethren sympathized with them, they thought they must indeed have been abused, and that the reprover was all wrong and had a bad spirit. The only hope for sinners in Zion is to fully see and confess their wrongs, and put them away.” Testimonies, Vol. 3, 329

5.c. How does God view His faithful church members who discharge difficult duties in the needed work of reformation? Zechariah 2:8; Job 23:10

Note: “The church is the one object of Christ’s intense interest in this world, and for which He has unceasing care.” The Upward Look, 239

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1    What are some common ways by which we may tend to disregard authority?

2    How long will reproof be necessary in the purification of God’s remnant?

Copyright 2006, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

Recipe – Jackfruit Street Tacos

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Jackfruit

Jackfruit is a tropical fruit native to South India. It is part of the Moraceae plant family which also includes fig, mulberry and breadfruit. It is has a spiky outer skin, is green or yellow, and is the largest tree fruit in the world. A single jackfruit can grow to as much as 80 pounds.

It contains more protein than similar fruits, and some of nearly every vitamin and mineral the body needs, as well as a decent amount of fat. It has a distinctive sweet flavor that has been described as a combination of apples, pineapples, mangoes, and bananas, and can be used in a wide variety of dishes. Vegans and vegetarians use the jackfruit as a meat substitute, as its texture is like shredded meat. It is very nutritious, being a major source of calories and carbohydrates and containing carbohydrates, fiber, protein, vitamins A and C, riboflavin, magnesium, potassium, copper, and manganese. One cup of jackfruit contains 155 calories.

It is rich in several types of antioxidants, which is likely responsible for most of its health benefits. It may help control blood sugar, protect against disease, boost the immune system, improve skin problems, and reduce the risk of heart disease. While eating jackfruit is safe and beneficial for most all people, like any other food, it should not be eaten by those who may be allergic to it. And since it might lower blood sugar levels, individuals with diabetes should consult their physician before eating, since it might be necessary to change the dosage of medication.

Sources: healthline.com/nutrition/jackfruit-benefits; simplyplantbasedkitchen.com/vegan-jackfruit-street-tacos-recipe

Recipe – Jackfruit Street Tacos

Ingredients

1 onion, diced

1 Tbs. garlic, minced

2-20 ounce cans green jackfruit in water or brine

1 Tbs. chili powder

1 Tbs. cumin

1 Tbs. smoked paprika

2 Tbs. tomato paste

2 limes, juiced

1/2 cup vegetable broth

12 whole grain corn tortillas

Process

  • Rinse and drain the jackfruit. Shred it with your hands. Chop the harder pieces with a knife.
  • In a large pan, add onion and garlic and sauté over medium heat for about 5 minutes until soft. Add jackfruit, seasonings, tomato paste, lime juice, and broth and combine.
  • Continue cooking for 5–7 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed. If too dry, add more broth.
  • Wrap tortillas in a paper towel and heat them in the microwave for 20–30 seconds to warm.
  • Fill taco shells with the jackfruit mixture and your favorite toppings!

Summary of the Mystery of Godliness Series

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Summary of the Mystery of Godliness  & Introduction to new series in 2025

For the last two years, Pastor Grosboll’s sermon series The Mystery of Godliness has proved vital to our understanding of Christ’s human nature. A subject that has engendered controversy between brethren for decades, the nature of Christ is as important to us as His crucifixion.

So, I’d like to leave this series with a summary of what we have learned over these past months about the nature of Christ. See the table below.

Christ’s nature was the perfect combination of divinity and humanity (forever a mystery for us) to fulfill the plan of salvation. It was in this dual nature that He was tempted and yet lived a life of perfect obedience to God’s law. While on this earth, Jesus was what we will become, when we live our lives trusting in Him who alone can save us, choosing to combine our human weakness with His divine power. Then, as He promised, He will live His life of perfect obedience through us. Remember, we will only take one thing from this life to heaven—our perfected character (Christ’s Object Lessons, 75, 332).

As necessary as the cross was to pay the penalty for sin, Christ’s life, as our example, is even more so if we wish to meet Him in glory as His child. Obedience is the key, friends. We will not be saved in our sins. There is only one period of probation and we are living in it today. There is no second chance. Sin must be completely eradicated from our lives if we are to live with Jesus forever, and Jesus’ life shows us how (Manuscript Releases, Vol. 3, 71, 72).

“You may show by your life what the power and grace of God can do in transforming the natural man into a spiritual man in Christ Jesus. You may be overcomers if you will, in the name of Christ, take hold of the work decidedly.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, 349

“Christ came to this world to show us what God can do and what we can do in cooperation with God. …

“Our ransom has been paid by our Saviour. No one need be enslaved by Satan. Christ stands before us as our divine example, our all-powerful Helper.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, 1074

“There is no way by which you may be saved in sin. Every soul that gains eternal life must be like Christ, ‘holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.’ [Hebrews 7:26].” Gospel Workers, 446

As we move forward into 2025, we begin a new series presented by Pastor Ivan Plummer on the subject of the seven deadly sins found in Proverbs 6:16–19. Pastor Plummer presented a portion of this series with power and compassion during the 2024 Steps to Life camp meeting. It was a tremendous blessing for us then, and I know it will be for you also as we present the series here in LandMarks over the next few months.

The Nature of Christ

Mrs. White tells us: “The incarnation of Christ has ever been, and will ever remain a mystery.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 1129
God cannot die, nor can He be tempted. It was necessary for Christ to assume human form in body and mind so that He would be able to die for our sins and to be tempted in all points like we are.
Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. The characteristics of God’s government are love—the underlying principle of His government (Christ’s Object Lessons, 50)—holiness, and righteousness. His law, which is His character, was written in their hearts and they obeyed it. They were in perfect harmony with the law of God which is the nature of God.
When Adam and Eve chose to believe the serpent [Satan] over the Father, they were changed. No longer were they holy or righteous. The law was no longer written in their hearts and they no longer reflected God’s character. They traded a government of love for one of selfishness.
Depending on the context, the flesh and carnal are synonymous with the word sinful, which is most often used to describe man’s nature after the Fall. Adam and Eve’s holy nature became carnal, and this nature is inherited by every son and daughter of Adam throughout the history of the world.
Sin is not action alone but a state of being (Matthew 5:17). Man’s nature—both physical and spiritual—is selfish (Matthew 12:34–37; Mark 10:18; Romans 3:10–18), and selfishness is sin (The Signs of the Times, April 13, 1891). Therefore, man is not only sinful because he yields to temptation but also because he is naturally selfish—sinful.
The Bible is clear that no one with a fleshly or carnal, sinful nature can please God (Romans 8:7–9). But it also says that Jesus did please God (Matthew 3:17; 17:5). If Jesus had an inherently sinful, selfish nature as we do, He could not have pleased God. He would not have been a perfect sacrifice for our sins, nor could His life be a perfect example for us to follow.
Jesus was fully human in that He voluntarily took upon Himself the physical flesh and blood of man (Hebrews 2:14). Christ wore our nature and the guilt of our sins like an old worn out, ruined coat. However, He was also fully divine. Christ was not selfish, His spiritual nature was selfless and free from sin (The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7A, Appendix B). Christ came as a man to live the principles of the law of God; the principles that are the very nature of God (Steps to Christ, 60). As man, Jesus was a physical representation of God’s law.
Jesus Christ hates only one thing—sin—but He loves us.

“Hating sin with a perfect hatred, He yet gathered to His soul the sins of the whole world, as He trod the path to Calvary, suffering the penalty of the transgressor. Guiltless, He bore the punishment of the guilty; innocent, yet offering Himself to bear the penalty of the transgression of the law of God. … The guilt of every sin pressed its weight upon the divine soul of the world’s Redeemer. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. …

“In His humanity … This is a deep mysterious truth, that Christ is bound to humanity by the most sensitive sympathies. The evil works, the evil thoughts, the evil words of every son and daughter of Adam press upon His divine soul. … He bore the sins of every sinner, for all transgressions were imputed unto Him.” Our Father Cares, 119, 120
Jesus, in His humanity, perfectly obeyed the law and promised that if we will follow after Him, He will enable us to live the same life of perfect obedience.

“All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. … Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.” The Desire of Ages, 668
Christ came to this world, combining humanity with divinity (Christ’s Object Lessons, 18), and we are assured that He will enable us to be partakers of the divine nature with a transformed, perfected character.

“As the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command, may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 333

“Satan had claimed that it was impossible for man to obey God’s commandments; … But Christ came in the form of humanity, and by His perfect obedience He proved that humanity and divinity combined can obey every one of God’s precepts.

“ ‘As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.’ John 1:12. This power is not in the human agent. It is the power of God. When a soul receives Christ, he receives power to live the life of Christ.” Ibid., 314
Our transformation must be both physical and spiritual. The selfishness and sinfulness that have become a part of our DNA must be removed. It is a transformation of character (Christ’s Object Lessons, 315) that we require if we are to live the life of Jesus—the life God intended man to live when he was first created.

 

To Be Like Him

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To ensure a full understanding of this article, I want to start with several dictionary definitions. It is important that an understanding of the following terms be agreed upon so that the reader can achieve a full comprehension of the themes I am attempting to present.

Sinful: “Tainted with sin, wicked, iniquitous, criminal, unholy.” “Containing sin or consisting in sin; contrary to the law of God.”

Tainted: “Impregnated with something noxious, disagreeable to the senses or poisonous, infected, corrupted, stained.”

Propensity: “A bent of mind, a natural or acquired inclination in a moral sense, a disposition to anything good or evil, particularly to evil as a propensity to sin.” “A natural tendency.”

Tendency: “An inclination toward a particular characteristic or type of behavior.”

Our sinful nature involves the affections of the mind, the natural bent or tendency of our desires, inclinations, and propensities. This bent or tendency to sin proceeds from a selfish heart. However, many believe that—in spite of our sinful nature—a tendency, propensity, or bent toward sin is only an inclination toward doing or a desire to do something and, therefore, is not sin, and I am not a sinner because no actual act was committed.

A simple example: A man is born in the United States of two native-born German parents. Their ancestors were German. He does not have to like the Germans, speak German, or live in Germany to be German. He is German.

Mrs. White states that selfishness is sin (The Signs of the Times, April 13, 1891) and that man possesses a selfish nature. Selfishness is embedded within our central nervous system. It is in our DNA. For us, sin is not just action; it is an actual state of being. My thoughts, desires, and actions are the outworking of my selfish nature, and are, therefore, sinful. I am born selfish, a sinner long before I commit a sinful act, because of my inherent sinful condition. Sin originates from a selfish heart, so my sinful acts originate from my selfish heart (James 1:13–15).

Any propensity toward sin results in an imperfect character which is sin (The Signs of the Times, September 3, 1902). A person who possesses, inside, even one propensity toward sin will fall short of a perfected character.

Christ had a human mother. His “father” was the Holy Spirit. Inspiration, as well as Scripture (Luke 1:35), tells us that He was fully human and fully divine. Two natures, one Man. Inspiration also tells us that we must be careful not to make Christ too human (the Baker Letter, Manuscript Releases, Vol. 13, 18). Many too often fall into the trap of making Christ too much like us. They believe He possesses all the tendencies and propensities that are part of our nature. If Jesus’ nature had any tendency or propensity toward sin, then it would follow that He was born with a selfish heart from which sin originates, resulting in an imperfect character—rendering Christ unfit to offer Himself as an unblemished lamb, and the Saviour of mankind.

The seriousness of attributing a sinful nature to Christ, the importance of having a correct understanding of “sinful nature,” “evil propensity,” and what constitutes an imperfect character, can clearly be seen.

The emphasis on the combination of the divine and human in Christ’s nature is not meant to show how like us Jesus is, but rather, how like Him we can become. Yes, He had to be human in body and mind so that He could be tempted and able to die to pay the ransom for mankind, but Christ did not give up His divinity. He cloaked it with our humanity so that He could carry our sins and guilt to the cross. In His humanity, Jesus came to draw us up to become partakers of the divine nature. He presented before us the perfect example of what we can become, how we can live here until the day He appears in the clouds to take us home—a former sinner, a redeemed saint.

“Human nature will continue to be human nature, but it can be elevated and ennobled by union with the divine nature. It is by partaking of the divine nature that men and women escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.” This Day With God, 70

Just as Jesus bore our sins, “We must put on Christ; we must be Christlike in every word and action. Thus we shall be partakers of the divine nature. Only by partaking of the divine nature can we live the Christ-life.” Peter’s Counsel to Parents, 27. He offers us His spotless white robe of righteousness. Will we take it?

So, What About Me?

Because there is plenty in man that responds to the devil’s prodding, how can we ever hope to be like Jesus?

When I was young, the devil tried me with temptations that today are no longer temptations to me. I once liked a particular type of worldly music. But as I matured physically and mentally, I also matured spiritually. And today, I no longer have the desire to listen to that kind of music, therefore, the devil doesn’t tempt me to listen to it. This is the process of sanctification. I started out as my wicked, sinful self, but as I responded to the leading of the Holy Spirit, as I committed my life to Jesus Christ, and turned my back on the things of the world, I am changed—set apart, made holy for God’s purpose.

But there is something more involved in this change. I have inherited propensities in my body. I carry in my central nervous system an exact record of every sin that I have ever committed. Those sins must be removed, and if I fully surrender to the in-working of the Holy Spirit, they will be removed. Then my will is united with God’s holy will. Only then will I be pure and holy as Jesus is and able to stand in the presence of a holy God without a mediator.

“It is in this life that we are to separate sin from us, through faith in the atoning blood of Christ. Our precious Saviour invites us to join ourselves to Him, to unite our weakness to His strength, our ignorance to His wisdom, our unworthiness to His merits. God’s providence is the school in which we are to learn the meekness and lowliness of Jesus. The Lord is ever setting before us, not the way we would choose, which seems easier and pleasanter to us, but the true aims of life. It rests with us to cooperate with the agencies which heaven employs in the work of conforming our characters to the divine model. None can neglect or defer this work but at the most fearful peril to their souls.” The Great Controversy, 623

“We need not retain one sinful propensity. … As we partake of the divine nature, hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong are cut away from the character, and we are made a living power for good. Ever learning of the divine Teacher, daily partaking of His nature, we cooperate with God in overcoming Satan’s temptations.

“How this is accomplished, Christ has shown us. By what means did He overcome in the conflict with Satan? By the word of God. Only by the word could He resist temptation. ‘It is written,’ He said. And unto us are given “exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature. …” Every promise in God’s word is ours. … When assailed by temptation, look not to circumstances or to the weakness of self, but to the power of the Word. All its strength is yours.

“Grasp His promises as leaves from the tree of life: ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’ John 6:37. As you come to Him, believe that He accepts you, because He has promised. You can never perish while you do this—never.” The Faith I Live By, 23

“The example of Christ is authoritative for every son and daughter of Adam. His life was the law of God lived and exemplified, a perfect pattern for all humanity, showing what man may become by partaking of the divine nature. Representing as he did the character of God, he was a perfect standard of moral excellence in humanity.” The Signs of the Times, November 12, 1896

“When the truth is received into the heart, the habits and customs are conformed to Christ. The learner feels bound to uplift the Saviour. The truth works by love and purifies his soul, and he regards God’s commands, not as being abrogated, but as unchangeable truth, given to the world from the beginning. He presents the treasures of God’s word in a fresh and agreeable way, because the truth has taken possession of his mind, his heart, his entire being.” Ibid., March 1, 1899

Friends, time is passing quickly to the close of Earth’s history, when all decisions will be made—obedience or rebellion. Jesus didn’t come to show the universe what a God could do, but what we can do when united with Him through faith in the promise of His power and grace to overcome every temptation. He has bridged the gulf that sin made, connecting earth and heaven—finite man with the infinite God. Jesus kept God’s law in the same way that we can keep it. And once we have turned away from this world, committing our hearts and lives to Him, when we have escaped the corrupting power of the world, then we are changed. By continually focusing on Jesus and His character, we are changed, becoming a new man or woman, with a renewed heart (Lift Him Up, 251; Sons and Daughters of God, 337)—selfishness gone, sins forgiven and cast into the depths of the sea. Man is once more righteous and holy in character (Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 342).

“The transforming power of Christ’s grace molds the one who gives himself to God’s service. Imbued with the Spirit of the Redeemer, he is ready to deny self, ready to take up the cross, ready to make any sacrifice for the Master. … He has been created anew in Christ, and self-serving has no place in his life. He realizes that every part of his being belongs to Christ, who has redeemed him from the slavery of sin; that every moment of his future has been bought with the precious lifeblood of God’s only-begotten Son.

“Christ is our pattern, and those who follow Christ will not walk in darkness, for they will not seek their own pleasure. To glorify God will be the continual aim of their life. Christ represented the character of God to the world. The Lord Jesus so conducted His life that men were compelled to acknowledge that He had done all things well. The world’s Redeemer was the light of the world, for His character was without fault.” God’s Amazing Grace, 236

“A character formed according to the divine likeness is the only treasure that we can take from this world to the next. Those who are under the instruction of Christ in this world will take every divine attainment with them to the heavenly mansions. And in heaven we are continually to improve. How important, then, is the development of character in this life.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 333

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at 316-788-5559.

The Tongue

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The tongue is a muscular organ in your mouth. It has many nerves and blood vessels, which make it sensitive to touch and temperature. Its soft covering is called a mucous membrane. It weighs between 3 and 3.5 ounces and is typically just short of four inches long.

The tongue has two parts: the oral (at the front) and the pharyngeal (at the back). You see the front of the tongue when you stick it out, and you see the back when the doctor says, “Open wide and say Aaaaah.” The line down the middle of your tongue is called the median sulcus.

The tongue is a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, making it very strong and capable of moving around. The four tiny intrinsic muscles help alter the shape of the tongue but are not attached to bone. The four extrinsic muscles are attached to bone in pairs, allowing the tongue to change position. So, both are necessary to help the tongue move around, making it an important part of the digestive system. Assisted by the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, the tongue also plays an essential role in man’s ability to speak.

The tongue begins to develop in the fourth week of embryonic development.

The body of the tongue is located in the central part between the front and the back of the tongue. It helps us talk, eat, and taste. It is covered with tiny taste buds, 2,000-8,000 of them, and approximately every 10 days, you get new ones. The taste buds help us discern between sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami (savory, a rich meaty taste). The tongue helps us move food around to thoroughly chew and swallow it. It is also a natural way of keeping our teeth clean.

Did You Know? Dogs have only 1,700 taste buds on their tongues, but they are able to taste water. Whole-dog-journal.com/food/do-dogs-have-taste-buds

 There are a number of diseases that affect the tongue including oral cancer, thrush, canker sores, and black hair tongue—a harmless, but particularly disgusting-looking condition. Then there is that white film. It appears when food and bacteria are caught between the tiny bumps on the surface of the tongue. It can mean that your tongue is dry because the body is dehydrated from an inadequate intake of water, poor hygiene, not flossing or brushing your teeth properly (yes, there is a right way), certain medications, and acid reflux.

As with all the parts that make up man’s anatomy, the tongue is a marvel. And it is also a curse.

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

“For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.

“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren these things ought not to be so.” James 3:6–10

“Guard well the talent of speech, for it is a mighty power for evil as well as for good. You cannot be too careful of what you say; for the words you utter show what power is controlling the heart.” In Heavenly Places, 174

“The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity … it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 19, 33

Sources: humanbodypartsanatomy.com/tongue-anatomy-parts-names-functions-diagram; Wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste_bud

The Gecko and Chuckwalla Lizards

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The Gecko and Chuckwalla lizards are found in the southwestern United States. The Gecko lizard has an amazing ability to run upside down across the ceiling regardless of what the ceiling is made of and can run sideways across a wall, again regardless of the content of the wall. This has confounded scientists for some time. We have known for some time that the pads of the feet of the Gecko lizard are covered with little fine fibers, but this did not explain how the lizard could walk upside down on the ceiling.

Able to take pictures of the lizard’s toe pad magnified to 35,000 times, the electron microscope was able to reveal the answer. At the end of each of these fine fibers, there was a microscopic suction cup, each measuring eight-millionths of an inch in diameter. These suction cups allow the Gecko to run upside down on the ceiling and not fall off. These suction cups also present a challenge: how do they maintain suction and then release it so the little lizard can walk across the ceiling and not be forever stuck in the same place? His feet are specifically designed so that the tips of the toes bend or curl upward so that he can peel off the suction cups gradually at each step and not get so firmly stuck to the surface as to remain stuck.

Another very interesting lizard is the Chuckwalla lizard. The second-largest lizard species in the United States, its body shape is reflected in its scientific name, Sauromalus, which means flat lizard.

This lizard has skin across its back, almost like a blanket, and can change its colors throughout the day depending on its need for warmth. In the early morning, when it is cool, the lizard is dark-colored, allowing it to absorb heat from its surroundings. As the day warms up, the lizard changes to a light sandy color, allowing it to reflect heat and not burn up in the desert sun.

Another interesting design built into his body, allowing him to live in the desert, is a desalination (salt removal) factory in its nose! When the salt in his blood gets too high, the blood is shunted through this nasal factory, and the excess salt is removed. The lizard then sneezes out pure salt crystals, keeping the salt in its blood at levels compatible with life.

A third interesting fact about this lizard is its ability to protect itself from predators. When in danger, the lizard will run into the crevice of a rock and expand its body like a blowfish. Its body enlarges to perfectly match the crevice in the rock, and then it cannot be pulled from the crevice.

Evolutionists can find no fossil record that the feet of the Gecko evolved. So, it seems evident that they were perfectly formed to meet the needs of this little lizard. Neither can they find fossil evidence of the Chuckwalla adapting its life-saving mechanisms randomly and over time. These remarkable lizards clearly point to intelligent design by their Creator and not evolution.

Adapted from Incredible Creatures That Defy Evolution, Volume 1 by Dr. Job Martin

I Shall Know Him

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Fanny Crosby was one of, if not the most prolific hymn writer in the history of Christianity. We have all had the privilege of singing and listening to many of her more than 8,000 hymns. What a legacy for a woman blind from the age of eight.

Near the end of the 19th century, Fanny was visiting the Lake Chautauqua Institute in Western New York State. A place for Christian fellowship, great preaching and singing, it was here that she met John R. Sweney.

Having a rest on the front porch of the hotel after a busy day at the camp meeting, John asked Fanny an interesting question.

“Fanny,” he asked, “do you think we’ll recognize our friends in heaven?”

Initially, she answered yes. But then she added, “John, that’s not what you really want to know. You wonder how an old lady who has been blind all her life could even recognize one person, let alone her Lord and Saviour.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought and I don’t think I’ll have a problem. But if I do, when I get to heaven, I’m going to look around and when I see the one who I think is my Saviour, I’m going to walk up to Him and say, ‘May I see Your hands?’ When I see the nail prints in the hands of my Saviour, then I’ll know I’ve found my Jesus.”

“Oh Fanny,” John said, “that would make a great song.”

The next morning, bright and early, Fanny met John for breakfast and before they went their separate ways, she dictated the words of this great hymn; a hymn about heaven and the hope of every Christian—at last to see Jesus face to face. What a wonderful day that will be!

I Shall Know Him

When my life work is ended, and I cross the swelling tide,

When the bright and glorious morning I shall see

I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side,

And His smile will be the first to welcome me.

 

Oh, the soul-thrilling rapture when I view His blessed face

And the luster of His kindly beaming eye;

How my full heart will praise Him for the mercy, love, and grace

That prepared for me a mansion in the sky.

 

Oh, the dear ones in glory, how they beckon me to come,

And our parting at the river I recall;

To the sweet vales of Eden they will sing my welcome home,

But I long to meet my Saviour first of all.

 

Thro’ the gates of the city in a robe of spotless white,

He will lead me where no tears will ever fall;

In the glad song of ages, I shall mingle with delight,

But I long to meet my Saviour first of all.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him

And redeemed by His side, I shall stand.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,

By the print of the nails in His hand.

Source: Barryshymns.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-shall-know-him

Crisis

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Opioids, violence, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, racism, pandemic, voting rights, abortion, nuclear testing, global warming, war, child trafficking, suicide, disease, socialism, communism, politics, natural disasters, social disorder. Crisis! Crisis! Crisis!

It seems there is a new crisis every day and the people of the world are crushed by the weight of it all. But what is the real problem? Where do all these crises come from?

In a word: sin. Sin affects the natural world, it is the natural state of the human heart and the great desire of our nature. It is no wonder that there is a great dearth of faith in this world, often even among God’s own people.

“Satan desires to keep you in the lowlands of sin, but will you not decide that you will go free? Will you not say: ‘Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling’?” The Signs of the Times, August 8, 1892

Without sin, the world would be a perfect place, and, just as God designed it to be, we would be a perfect people.

In spite of the wickedness that seems to permeate everything around us, we have the assurance that Jesus is coming again and that sin and all who hold it dear will soon be gone.

“The chaos caused by sin will not last forever. Someday we will live as God intended—in peace, love, and happiness. Death and sorrow will be banished forever. And best of all, you can be a part of that amazing new world!” Darkness Before Dawn, 52

“The powers of darkness are arrayed against you. Satan desires to see you deserting your Leader. He would be greatly pleased to see you disappointing the One who has done so much for you. Do not yield to his temptations. Fight bravely against his suggestions. Remember that God and Christ and the heavenly angels are fighting with you.” The Youth’s Instructor, January 1, 1903

Lord, as You calmed the sea, calm our fears and doubts. Fill our hearts with Your peace. Help us to trust You during this time of progressing wickedness. Keep us faithful so that when all these crises have ended, we will be standing inside the holy city of God, with You.

The Strength of Clinton

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When Clinton Stevens was eleven years old, he was taken very sick with pneumonia. During convalescence, he suffered an unexpected relapse, and his mother and the doctor worked hard to keep him alive.

“It is ten to one if he gets well,” said Dr. Bemis, shaking his head. “If he does, he will never be very strong.”

Mrs. Stevens smoothed Clinton’s pillow even more tenderly than before. Poor Clinton! He had always been such a rollicking, rosy-cheeked lad. Surely it was hard to bear.

The long March days dragged slowly along, and April was well advanced before Clinton could sit at the window and watch the grass grow green on the slope of the lawn. He looked frail and delicate. He had a cough, too, a troublesome “bark,” that he always kept back as long as he could.

The bright sunlight poured steadily through the window, and Clinton held up his hand to shield his eyes. “Why, Ma Stevens!” he said, after a moment, “Just look at my hands! They used to be regular hands, but now are as thin and white as a girl’s. It does not look like I would pull many weeds for Mr. Carter this summer, does it?”

Mrs. Stevens took his thin hands in her own patient ones. “Never mind, dearie,” she said, “they will grow plump and brown again, I hope.” A group of schoolchildren were passing by, shouting and frolicking. Clinton leaned forward and watched them till the last one was gone. Some of them waved their caps, but he did not seem elated.

“Mother,” he said, “I believe I will go to bed if you will help me. I guess I am not quite so strong now as I used to be.”

Clinton did not pull weeds for Mr. Carter that summer, but he rode around with the milkman and did a little outdoor work for his mother, which helped him to mend. One morning in July, he surprised the village by riding out on his bicycle, but he overdid it, and it was several weeks before he again appeared. His cough continued, though not as severe as in the spring, and it was decided to let him go to school in the fall.

Dr. Bemis told Mrs. Stevens that the school room would be a good place to test Clinton’s strength. And he was right. In no other place does a young person’s strength develop or debase itself so readily, for honor or dishonor. Of course, the doctor had referred to physical strength, but moral strength is much more important.

Clinton was a bright lad, given his age. Although he had not looked into his books during the summer, he was placed in the same grade he had left when taken sick. He did not find much difficulty keeping up with his studies except spelling. Whenever he received a perfect mark on that subject, he felt that a real victory had been won.

About Christmas time, the regular examinations were held. The teacher offered a prize to each grade; the pupil receiving the highest average in all studies would receive the prize. Much excitement, no little speculation, and a great deal of studying ensued. Clinton felt fairly confident over all his studies except spelling. So he carried his spelling book home every night, and he and his mother spent the evenings in wrestling with the long and difficult words.

Examination day came at length, and the afternoon for the seventh grade spelling test was at hand. The words were to be written, and handed in. Across the aisle from Clinton sat Harry Meyers. Several times when the teacher pronounced a word, Harry looked slyly down into the palm of his hand. Clinton watched him, his cheeks growing pink with shame. Then he looked around at the others. Many of them had some dishonest device for copying the words. Clinton swallowed something in his throat, and looked across at Billy Matthews, who pursed up his lips and nodded, as if to say that he understood.

The papers were handed in, and school was dismissed. On Monday, after the morning exercises, Miss Brooks gave out the prizes to the three grades under her care. “I have now to award the prize for the highest average to the seventh grade,” she said. “But first I wish to say a few words on your conduct during the recent examination in spelling. I shall censure no one in particular, although there is one boy who must set no more bad examples. No one spelled all the words correctly — Clinton Stevens the least of any — making his average quite low; yet the prize goes to him. I will tell you why” — as a chorus of O!  greeted her ears. “Spelling is Clinton’s hardest subject, but he could easily have spelled more words right had he not possessed sufficient strength to prevent him from falling into the way followed by some of you.”

As Clinton went up the aisle for his prize, he felt like crying, but he managed to smile instead. A few days before, Harry Meyers had ridiculed him because he was not strong enough to throw a snowball from the school house to the road; now the teacher had said he was strong.

Clinton’s Aunt Jennie came to visit the family in December, bringing her little daughter Grace with her. Grace was obsessed with pulling other people’s hair, and Clinton was her favorite. She began on him cautiously, then aggressively. Clinton stood it for a while and then asked her, politely but firmly, to stop. She stopped for a half a day.

One night, Clinton came home from school pale and tired. Some of the boys had been taunting him on his spare frame and imitating his cough, which had grown worse as the winter advanced. Sitting down by the window, he looked out at the falling snow. Grace slipped up behind him and gave his hair a sharp tweak. He struck out hastily and hit her. She was not hurt, only very much surprised, but she began to cry lustily, and Aunt Jennie came hurrying in and took the child in her arms.

That night, after supper, Clinton went into the sitting room and called Grace to him. “I want to tell you something,” he said. “I am sorry that I hit you, and I ask your pardon. Will you forgive me?” Grace agreed quickly and said shyly, “Next time I want to pull someone’s hair, I will pull my own.”

Aunt Jennie was in the next room and overheard the conversation. “It strikes me, Sarah,” she said to Mrs. Stevens later, “that Clinton is a remarkably strong boy for one who is not strong. Most boys would not have taken the trouble to ask a small girl to forgive them, even if they were completely wrong. But Clinton has a strong character.”

One August night, when Clinton was thirteen, the boys planned to have a corn roast. “We will get the corn in old Carter’s lot,” said Harry Meyers. “He has just acres of it and can spare a bushel. Will you go with us, Clinton?”

Clinton hesitated. “No,” said he, “I guess not; and I should think if you want to roast corn, you could get it out of your own gardens. But if Mr. Carter’s corn is better than any other, why not ask him?”

“O, come, now,” retorted Harry, “do not let it worry you! Half the fun of roasting corn is in taking it. Don’t come, Clinton. You are too nice, Mr. Coughin.”

Clinton’s cheeks flushed red, but he turned away without a word. When Mr. Carter quizzed Billy Matthews, and found out all about it, Clinton was made very happy by the old man’s words: “Not every boy will take the stand you took. You ought to be thankful that you have the strength to say no.”

In the fall, when Clinton was fifteen, his health began to fail noticeably, and Dr. Bemis advised a little wine “to build him up.”

“Mother,” said the boy, after thinking it over, “I am not going to touch any wine. I can get well without it, I know I can. I do not want liquor,” he continued. “ ‘Wine is a mocker,’ you know. Did you not tell me once that Zike Hastings, over in East Bloomfield, became a drunkard by drinking wine when he was sick?”

“Yes, Clinton, I believe I told you so.”

“Well, then, I do not want any wine. I have seen Zike Hastings too many times.”

In December, Aunt Jennie and Grace made their annual visit. With them came Uncle Jonathan, who took a great liking to Clinton.

“My boy,” he said one day, placing a big hand on the lad’s shoulder, “early in the new year, Aunt Jennie and I start for the Pacific Coast. Would you like to go with us?”

“Well, I guess I would!” gasped the surprised boy, joyfully clasping his hands.

“Very well, then, you shall go,” returned Uncle Jonathan, “and your mother, too.”

Clinton began to feel better before they were outside of Pennsylvania. When they had crossed the Mississippi and reached the prairies, his eyes were sparkling with excitement. The mountains gave him new life. Uncle Jonathan watched him with pleasure. “Tell me,” he said one day, when they were winding in and out among the Rockies, “what has given you so much strength of character?”

“Why, it was this way,” said Clinton, bringing his eyes in from a chasm some hundreds of feet below: “One day, when I was beginning to recover from that attack of pneumonia, I saw a lot of the boys romping along, and I felt pretty bad because I could not romp and play, too. Then I thought that if I could not be strong that way, I could have the strength to do right, so I began to try.”

“Succeeded admirably,” said Uncle Jonathan approvingly. “And, really, my boy, I see no reason why you should not shout and play to your heart’s content in a few months.”

And Uncle Jonathan’s words proved true; within a few months, Clinton grew well and strong in the sun-kissed California valley. But throughout his life, he would have reason to be glad that he learned the value of the strength gained by resisting temptation, controlling one’s spirit, and obeying the Lord’s commands.

Stories Worth Re-Reading, Benjamin Keech, ©1913, 23–28

Rectifying Wrong

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“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” Matthew 18:15

As you go to the one you suppose to be in fault, see that you speak in a meek and lowly spirit, for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. The erring can in no other way be restored than in the spirit of meekness and gentleness and tender love. Be careful in your manner of speaking. Avoid everything in look or gesture, word or tone of voice, that savors of pride or self-sufficiency. Guard yourself against word or look that would exalt yourself or set your goodness and righteousness in contrast to their failings. Beware of the most distant approach to disdain, overbearing, or contempt. With care, avoid every appearance of anger, and though you use plainness of speech, yet let there be no reproach, no railing accusation, no token of warmth, but that of earnest love.

Above all, let there be no shadow of hate or ill will, no bitterness or soreness of expression. Nothing but kindness and gentleness can flow from a heart of love. Yet all these precious fruits need not hinder your speaking in the most serious, solemn manner, as though angels were directing their eyes upon you, and you acting in reference to the coming judgment.

Bear in mind that the success of reproof depends greatly upon the spirit in which it was given. Do not neglect earnest prayer that you may possess a lowly mind, and that angels of God may work upon the hearts before you, which you are trying to reach, and so soften them by heavenly impressions that your efforts may avail. If any good is accomplished take no credit yourself. God alone should be exalted. God alone hath done it all. …

All your efforts to save the erring may be unavailing. They may repay you evil for good. They may be enraged rather than convinced. What if they hear to no good purpose and pursue the evil course they have started to follow? This will frequently be the case. Sometimes the mildest and tenderest reproof will have no good effect. In that case the blessing you wanted another to receive by pursuing a course of righteousness, ceasing to do evil and learning to do well, will return into your own bosom. If the erring persist in sin, treat them kindly and leave them with your heavenly Father. This Day With God, 105