Sunday
January 31
1. THE PRESENT TRUTH
a. What is our safeguard against the influence of false teachers? 2 Timothy 3:16.
“The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness. Satan employs every possible device to prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain utterances reveal his deceptions. . . . The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures.”—Ibid., p. 593.
b. What portions of Scripture are especially important for our time? 2 Peter 1:12, 13.
“There was a present truth—a truth at that time of special importance—in the days of Christ, of Paul, of Luther; there is a present truth for the church today.”—The Signs of the Times, June 21, 1883.
“Precious souls are starving, and dying for want of the present, sealing truth, the meat in due season.”—The Present Truth, September 1, 1849.
Monday
February 1
2. LOOKING UNTO JESUS
a. In order to obtain perfection, what must we be doing constantly? 2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 12:2.
“By acquaintance and association with Christ we may become like Him, the one faultless Example.”—Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 222, 223.
“It is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, which Jesus said He would send into the world, that changes our character into the image of Christ; and when this is accomplished, we reflect, as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord. That is, the character of the one who thus beholds Christ is so like His that one looking at him sees Christ’s own character shining out as from a mirror. Imperceptibly to ourselves, we are changed day by day from our own ways and will into the ways and will of Christ, into the loveliness of His character. Thus we grow up into Christ, and unconsciously reflect His image.”—In Heavenly Places, p. 337.
b. Where and how are we to behold Jesus constantly? John 5:39; Hebrews 1:2, 3; 3:1.
“No man, woman, or youth can attain to Christian perfection and neglect the study of the Word of God. By carefully and closely searching His Word we shall obey the injunction of Christ, ‘Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me’ (John 5:39). This search enables the student to observe closely the divine Model, for they testify of Christ. The Pattern must be inspected often and closely in order to imitate it. As one becomes acquainted with the history of the Redeemer, he discovers in himself defects of character; his unlikeness to Christ is so great that he sees he cannot be a follower without a very great change in his life. Still he studies, with a desire to be like his great Exemplar; he catches the looks, the spirit, of his beloved Master; by beholding he becomes changed. ‘Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith’ (Hebrews 12:2).’” —Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 17.
“Look to Calvary, and as you behold Christ offering up His precious life for you, that you may have an opportunity to form a character for eternal life, ask yourself the question, How shall I occupy the time given me of God at an infinite cost?”—The Review and Herald, October 27, 1896.
Tuesday
February 2
3. FACING OUR RECORD
a. What and whom will each individual, without exception, face one day? Hebrews 9:27; Romans 14:12.
“Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour’s mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God. The precious hours, instead of being given to pleasure, to display, or to gain seeking, should be devoted to an earnest, prayerful study of the word of truth. The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill. Every individual has a soul to save or to lose. Each has a case pending at the bar of God. Each must meet the great Judge face to face. How important, then, that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened.”—The Great Controversy, p. 488.
b. Since each of us will face the judgment, of what do we need to be aware, and how should we live in view of that awesome hour? Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14; 11:9.
“We should not be prevailed upon to take anything into the mouth that will bring the body into an unhealthy condition, no matter how much we like it. Why?—Because we are God’s property. You have a crown to win, a heaven to gain, and a hell to shun. Then for Christ’s sake, I ask you, Will you have the light shine before you in clear and distinct rays, and then turn away from it and say, ‘I love this, and I love that’?”—Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 328.
“There is altogether too much careless talking, censuring, fault-finding, in families that profess to love and serve God. The unkind words, the irreverence and disrespect, found in many families make angels weep. What a record is made upon the books of heaven of unkind looks and words that bite and sting like an adder. And this is not the record of one day in the year merely, but of day after day. Oh that these families would consider that angels of God are taking a daguerreotype [photograph] of the character just as accurately as the artist takes the likeness of the human features; and that it is from this that we are to be judged!”—The Review and Herald, February 2, 1886.
Wednesday
February 3
4. JUDGED BY THE LAW
a. What is the standard of the judgment? James 2:12.
“The only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming one with Christ. ‘The truth shall make you free’ (John 8:32); and Christ is the truth. Sin can triumph only by enfeebling the mind, and destroying the liberty of the soul. Subjection to God is restoration to one’s self—to the true glory and dignity of man. The divine law, to which we are brought into subjection, is ‘the law of liberty’ (James 2:12).”—The Desire of Ages, p. 466.
b. Which law is this law of liberty? Will even New Testament Christians be judged by this law? James 2:11 (Exodus 20:13, 14); 2 Corinthians 5:10.
“By the first angel, men are called upon to ‘fear God, and give glory to Him’ and to worship Him as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. In order to do this, they must obey His law. Says the wise man: ‘Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man’ (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Without obedience to His commandments no worship can be pleasing to God. ‘This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.’ ‘He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination’ (1 John 5:3; Proverbs 28:9).”—The Great Controversy, p. 436.
c. Since our life will be brought into judgment (Romans 14:10), to what question should we give top priority? John 8:31, 32; 14:15; 15:7, 14.
“We are not to allow our attention to be diverted from the proclamation of the message given us. For years I have been instructed that we are not to give our attention to non-essential questions. We are not bidden to enter into discussion regarding unimportant subjects. Our work is to lead minds to the great principles of the law of God.
“The only question asked in the judgment will be, ‘Are they obedient to My commandments?’ The petty strife and contention over questions of no importance is an education which our people do not need.”—West Indian Messenger, July 1, 1912.
Thursday
February 4
5. SPOTLESS ROBES
a. What warning demands our constant attention? Jeremiah 17:9; 1 Corinthians 10:12; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:6–9.
“Many are deceived concerning the condition of their hearts. They do not realize that the natural heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. They wrap themselves about with their own righteousness, and are satisfied in reaching their own human standard of character; but how fatally they fail when they do not reach the divine standard, and of themselves they cannot meet the requirements of God.
“We may measure ourselves by ourselves, we may compare ourselves among ourselves, we may say we do as well as this one or that one, but the question to which the judgment will call for an answer is, Do we meet the claims of high heaven? Do we reach the divine standard? Are our hearts in harmony with the God of heaven?”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, pp. 320, 321.
b. What can we claim with assurance after we have won the final victory? Matthew 24:13. Give an example. 2 Timothy 4:7, 8.
“Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil.”—The Great Controversy, p. 425.
“When the conflict of life is ended, when the armor is laid off at the feet of Jesus, when the saints of God are glorified, then and then only will it be safe to claim that we are saved and sinless.”—Selected Messages, bk. 3, p. 356.
Friday
February 5
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
a. What portions of Scripture are especially designed for our time?
b. How can we look to Jesus who is not present in person with us?
c. In light of the approaching judgment, how should we live?
d. Which law is the basis on which our characters will be judged?
e. Explain Matthew 24:13.