Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
This week’s lesson from “The Adult Sabbath School Guide” is titled “The Roots of Restlessness”. As you study this week’s lesson, it becomes apparent that the common denominator cited in each lesson as the “root of selfishness” is … me… self. It is THE one issue that deprives us of our freedom. THE one issue that keeps us locked-up in the prison of sin and leads to death. A death that is inherent in the very nature of sin itself. As Paul so tersely states, “Sin pays its servants: the wage is death” (Romans 6:23, Phillips). No wonder that God is so solicitous to us, His children. He is doing everything He can to save us from destroying ourselves and striving to set us free from “…the sin which so easily ensnares us” (Hebrews 12:1).
I’d like to close this thought with a couple quotes from EGW that pertains to our freedom from sin and self. And the cooperation that is essential if we are to ever eradicate this “restlessness” and our walking death. I hope these quotes helps you as they have helped me.
“There are many who profess Christ, but who never become mature Christians. They admit that man is fallen, that his faculties are weakened, that he is unfitted for moral achievement, but they say that Christ has borne all the burden, all the suffering, all the self-denial, and they are willing to let him bear it. They say that there is nothing for them to do but to believe; but Christ said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Review and Herald June 17, 1890).
“We are living in an important and interesting period of this earth's history. We need more faith than we have yet had; we need a firmer hold from above. Satan is working with all power to obtain the victory over us, for he knows that he has but a short time in which to work. Paul had fear and trembling in working out his salvation; and should not we fear lest a promise being left us, we should any of us seem to come short of it, and prove ourselves unworthy of eternal life? We should watch unto prayer, strive with agonizing effort to enter in at the strait gate. {ST, June 16, 1890 par. 5}
There is no excuse for sin, or for indolence. Jesus has led the way, and he wishes us to follow in his steps. He has suffered, he has sacrificed as none of us can, that he might bring salvation within our reach. We need not be discouraged. Jesus came to our world to bring divine power to man, that through his grace, we might be transformed into his likeness. When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man's best service, and he makes up for the deficiency with his own divine merit. But he will not accept those who claim to have faith in him, and yet are disloyal to his Father's commandment. We hear a great deal about faith, but we need to hear a great deal more about works. Many are deceiving their own souls by living an easy-going, accommodating, cross-less religion. But Jesus says, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." {ST, June 16, 1890 par. 6} May we always and ever surrender all to our loving and gracious Father, is my prayer.
With brotherly love,
Jim