December 3
The King of glory stooped low to take humanity. Rude and forbidding were His earthly surroundings. His glory was veiled, that the majesty of His outward form might not become an object of attraction. He shunned all outward display. Riches, worldly honour, and human greatness can never save a soul from death; Jesus purposed that no attraction of an earthly nature should call men to His side. Only the beauty of heavenly truth must draw those who would follow Him. The character of the Messiah had long been foretold in prophecy, and He desired men to accept Him upon the testimony of the word of God.
Go online and you can find all sorts of Christian resources to help people discover about spiritual events and spiritual people. DVD’s present Jesus as a good, or even great teacher. Wonderful speakers tell the wonderful stories we expect to hear.
I learned a big lesson yesterday. We had quite a big group Bible study and chose to use a sermon on a DVD by a very well respected preacher to teach us something about God.
We prayed and then settled down to listen and watch. Two minutes later came the first question. We had to stop. The group broke off to answer the need for information. We re-started, one minute later, the second question. We had intended to watch a DVD about 10 facts that a Bible passage teaches us. We managed to look at 2 facts. The meeting was a great success, far more of a success than if we had seen the whole sermon.
During our time together what struck home to our visitors wasn’t the wonderfully produced DVD – but the account of the time when Barbara told her story of how what she perceived to be an angel rescued her from a crash. A little later Marilyn described her own personal experience of how she understood the Bible to have been written.
Jesus knew what we were like. He had to supply the human touch. He could have focussed on sermons and miracles. He would have impressed thousands. Instead he spent time with small groups (and the occasional great multitude) where he put the focus on God and His word. Jesus liked to use the word, ‘It is written’ to draw attention to the Bible.
We should do the same. My lesson from yesterday is that the personal touch makes the impression. Sermons are great – but there’s nothing like having a question answered!
That means it is you that is important as you find yourself given the task of being an angel, a messenger for God. It won't be the DVD you offer, or the suggestion to watch a TV programme. People need to see God at work in people. You.
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Housekeeping details for you
The point of this short blog will become clear if you decide to use this reading in the way we intend it. Netherfield Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in healthy churches. You can see what that means if you head to the relevant Healthy Churches page of the website. We also want other churches to be healthy. That means you can join in our campaign to create healthy churches, with healthy people serving the people in those churches.
A healthy church is one where Jesus comes first. A healthy church is one where the people work together to put Jesus first. One thing we are doing is to join people together to spread that news. I would like you to look at our prayer partners page. This will explain how we want you to use this short devotional. Very basically we want you to find a like-minded Christian friend who you will join with to : choose to pray together every day, decide together on a way to serve other people together, to help them grow as Christians - and to invite the Holy Spirit into your life every day. This blog that you will receive every day simply gives a common spiritual purpose. If you are a newcomer and want to join the blog with this object in mind click here
From October 21st this site will continue going through 'Desire of Ages' - but begin to advance rather faster than one paragraph at a time.
Our sister site, at the Upper Room, will progress at a rather slower pace - one paragraph at a time. If you want to head to our sister site for the slower trip through an excellent book you will eventually follow a link to the Upper Room. This will start on October 21st.
"When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, . . . to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Gal. 4:4, 5
The Saviour's coming was foretold in Eden. When Adam and Eve first heard the promise, they looked for its speedy fulfillment. They joyfully welcomed their first-born son, hoping that he might be the Deliverer. But the fulfillment of the promise tarried. Those who first received it died without the sight. From the days of Enoch the promise was repeated through patriarchs and prophets, keeping alive the hope of His appearing, and yet He came not. The prophecy of Daniel revealed the time of His advent, but not all rightly interpreted the message. Century after century passed away; the voices of the prophets ceased. The hand of the oppressor was heavy upon Israel, and many were ready to exclaim, "The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth." Ezek. 12:22.
