Sunday
October 10
1. AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP
a. What are the components of the human being? 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
“God’s people should place themselves where they will grow in grace, being sanctified, body, soul, and spirit, by the truth. When they break away from all health-destroying indulgences, they will have a clearer perception of what constitutes true godliness.”—Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 34.
b. What is the relation between what we do physically and our spiritual condition? 1 Corinthians 3:17.
“All the laws of nature—which are the laws of God—are designed for our good. Obedience to them will promote our happiness in this life and will aid us in a preparation for the life to come.”—Ibid., p. 23.
“It is as truly a sin to violate the laws of our being as it is to break the ten commandments. To do either is to break God’s laws.”—Ibid., p. 17.
c. How do the Scriptures describe the sacredness of our responsibility in taking care of our body? Romans 12:1.
Monday
October 11
2. WE ARE WHAT WE EAT
a. What does the Bible say about eating and drinking, as well as the relationship between what we eat and what we are? Proverbs 23:1–3, 6, 7.
“Our habits of eating and drinking show whether we are of the world or among the number whom the Lord by His mighty cleaver of truth has separated from the world.”—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 372.
“The habits of the age are serious obstacles to the perfecting of Christian character. Physically we are composed of what we eat, and our minds are greatly influenced by our bodies.”—The Signs of the Times, January 6, 1876.
b. On the new earth, what will be the relationship between an animal’s nature and the food it will eat? Isaiah 11:6, 7; 65:25.
c. What wrong habits affect the character and the mind from infancy?
“Sugar is not good for the stomach. It causes fermentation, and this clouds the brain and brings peevishness into the disposition.”—Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 327.
“Our children should be taught to deny themselves of such unnecessary things as candies, gum, ice cream, and other knickknacks.”—Ibid., p. 329.
“Mothers make a great mistake in permitting [children] to eat between meals. The stomach becomes deranged by this practice, and the foundation is laid for future suffering. Their fretfulness may have been caused by unwholesome food, still undigested; but the mother feels that she cannot spend time to reason upon the matter and correct her injurious management. . . . She gives the little sufferers a piece of cake or some other dainty to quiet them, but this only increases the evil.”—Ibid., p. 242.
“[Your children] are fed with the very things that will excite their animal passions, and then you come to meeting and ask God to bless and save your children. How high do your prayers go? You have a work to do first. When you have done all for your children which God has left for you to do, then you can with confidence claim the special help that God has promised to give you.”—Ibid., p. 245.
Tuesday
October 12
3. ALTERED NERVES
a. Explain why what we eat can cause bad behavior. Ecclesiastes 10:17; Isaiah 22:12–14.
“Eating has much to do with religion. The spiritual experience is greatly affected by the way in which the stomach is treated. Eating and drinking in accordance with the laws of health promote virtuous actions. But if the stomach is abused by habits that have no foundation in nature, Satan takes advantage of the wrong that has been done and uses the stomach as an enemy of righteousness, creating a disturbance which affects the entire being. Sacred things are not appreciated. Spiritual zeal diminishes. Peace of mind is lost. There is dissension, strife, and discord. Impatient words are spoken, and unkind deeds are done; dishonest practices are followed and anger is manifested—and all because the nerves of the brain are disturbed by the abuse heaped on the stomach.”—Counsels on Health, pp. 577, 578.
b. What grace of the Spirit goes hand in hand with patience? 2 Peter 1:5, 6.
“Temperance in eating must be practiced before you can be a patient man.”—Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 65.
c. What habits help us to have clear thoughts and discernment? Leviticus 10:9, 10; Daniel 12:3.
“Those who by habits of intemperance injure mind and body, place themselves in a position where they are unable to discern spiritual things. The mind is confused, and they yield readily to temptation, because they have not a clear discernment of the difference between right and wrong. Sinful indulgence defiles the body and unfits men for spiritual worship. He who cherishes the principles of true temperance has an important aid in the work of becoming sanctified through the truth and fitted for immortality. But if he disregards the laws of his physical being, how can he perfect holiness in the fear of God?”—The Signs of the Times, January 27, 1909.
Wednesday
October 13
4. MORAL SENSES AFFECTED
a. What reveals humanity’s responsibility toward the animal creation? Proverbs 12:10 (first part). On the other hand, what is the greatest cause of animals’ suffering?
“It is because of man’s sin that ‘the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together’ (Romans 8:22). Suffering and death were thus entailed, not only upon the human race, but upon the animals. . . . He who will abuse animals because he has them in his power is both a coward and a tyrant. A disposition to cause pain, whether to our fellow men or to the brute creation, is satanic. Many do not realize that their cruelty will ever be known, because the poor dumb animals cannot reveal it. But could the eyes of these men be opened . . . they would see an angel of God standing as a witness, to testify against them in the courts above.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 443.
b. Why does the consumption of flesh food increase the risk of getting sick?
“Flesh was never the best food; but its use is now doubly objectionable, since disease in animals is so rapidly increasing.”—The Ministry of Healing, p. 313.
“The process of fitting animals for market produces in them disease; and fitted in as healthful manner as they can be, they become heated and diseased by driving before they reach the market. The fluids and flesh of these diseased animals are received directly into the blood, and pass into the circulation of the human body, becoming fluids and flesh of the same. Thus humors are introduced into the system. And if the person already has impure blood, it is greatly aggravated by the eating of the flesh of these animals.”—Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 64.
c. What is the main cause of diseases? Deuteronomy 28:15, 21.
“Satan is the originator of disease. . . . There is a divinely appointed connection between sin and disease. . . . Sin and disease bear to each other the relationship of cause and effect.”—Healthful Living, p. 60.
“Sickness is caused by violating the laws of health.”—Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 164.
Thursday
October 14
5. A HEALTHY MIND IN A HEALTHY BODY
a. What foods can be a risk for our health, and why? Romans 8:22.
“The time will soon come when there will be no safety in using eggs, milk, cream, or butter, because disease in animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of wickedness among men.”—Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 349.
b. If we preserve our bodies in good health, what part of our being can be better developed? Proverbs 4:23.
“The brain is the organ and instrument of the mind, and controls the whole body. In order for the other parts of the system to be healthy, the brain must be healthy. And in order for the brain to be healthy, the blood must be pure. If by correct habits of eating and drinking the blood is kept pure, the brain will be properly nourished.”—Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 1, p. 60.
c. What lesson can we learn from Christ’s first temptation in the wilderness? Matthew 4:3, 4.
“Christ overcame by the denial of appetite. And our only hope of regaining Eden is through firm self-control.”—Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 167.
d. Why is spiritual discernment so important for us today? 2 Timothy 3:13.
Friday
October 15
REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS
a. What does God’s moral law have to do with our physical body?
b. What do sugary foods do especially to children?
c. What is too often the hidden cause of quibbling and strife?
d. What factors should be considered in connection with animals?
e. Why is Christ’s victory over appetite in the wilderness so vital for us?