Sunday
December 23
1. BATHED IN GRATITUDE
a. How does Christ describe the type of worship God longs to see? John 4:23.
“Our God is a jealous God; and He requires us to worship Him in spirit and in truth, in the beauty of holiness.”—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 592.
“When our hearts are tuned to praise our Maker, not only in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs but also in our lives, we shall live in communion with Heaven. . . . There will be gratitude in the heart and in the home, in private as well as in public devotion. This constitutes the true worship of God.”—That I May Know Him, p. 322.
b. What understanding does true worship inspire? Titus 3:5–7.
“Do you feel that because you are a sinner you cannot hope to receive blessing from God? Remember that Christ came into the world to save sinners. We have nothing to recommend us to God; the plea that we may urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition, which makes His redeeming power a necessity.”—The Ministry of Healing, p. 65.
Monday
December 24
2. WHO DESERVES THE CREDIT?
a. For what purpose were we created—and what does God consider in His desire to grant us eternal life? Ephesians 2:4–10.
“We have nothing in ourselves of which to boast. We have no ground for self-exaltation. Our only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and in that wrought by His Spirit working in and through us.”—Steps to Christ, p. 63.
b. On what must we focus our eyes in order to escape the chief snare of fallen human nature? Jeremiah 9:23, 24.
“[Christ] saw that the weakness, the curse of the church, would be a spirit of self-righteousness. . . . Many who had made a little advancement would be puffed up and think themselves superior to others. They would be eager for flattery, jealous if not thought most important. Against this danger Christ seeks to guard His disciples.
“All boasting of merit in ourselves is out of place. [Jeremiah 9:23, 24 quoted.]
“The reward is not of works, lest any man should boast; but it is all of grace.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 400, 401.
“Love rejoices in the truth and institutes no envious comparisons. He who possesses love compares only the loveliness of Christ and his own imperfect character. . . .
“Whenever pride and self-complacency are indulged, the work is marred.
“It is not the length of time we labor but our willingness and fidelity in the work that makes it acceptable to God. In all our service a full surrender of self is demanded. The smallest duty done in sincerity and self-forgetfulness is more pleasing to God than the greatest work when marred with self-seeking. He looks to see how much of the spirit of Christ we cherish, and how much of the likeness of Christ our work reveals. He regards more the love and faithfulness with which we work than the amount we do.
“Only when selfishness is dead, when strife for supremacy is banished, when gratitude fills the heart, and love makes fragrant the life—it is only then that Christ is abiding in the soul, and we are recognized as laborers together with God.”—Ibid., p. 402.
Tuesday
December 25
3. WALKING IN LOVE
a. Describe the fragrant walk of the true believer in Christ. Ephesians 5:1–4.
“The sinner cannot depend upon his own good works as a means of justification. He must come to the point where he will renounce all his sin, and embrace one degree of light after another as it shines upon his pathway. He simply grasps by faith the free and ample provision made in the blood of Christ. He believes the promises of God, which through Christ are made unto him sanctification and righteousness and redemption. And if he follows Jesus, he will walk humbly in the light, rejoicing in the light and diffusing that light to others. Being justified by faith, he carries cheerfulness with him in his obedience in all his life.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, p. 1071.
b. How is the reverential Christian life summarized? Micah 6:8.
“True worship consists in working together with Christ.”—Christian Service, p. 96.
“Our acceptance with God is sure only through His beloved Son, and good works are but the result of the working of His sin-pardoning love. They are no credit to us, and we have nothing accorded to us for our good works by which we may claim a part in the salvation of our souls. Salvation is God’s free gift to the believer, given to him for Christ’s sake alone. The troubled soul may find peace through faith in Christ, and his peace will be in proportion to his faith and trust. He cannot present his good works as a plea for the salvation of his soul.
“But are good works of no real value? Is the sinner who commits sin every day with impunity, regarded of God with the same favor as the one who through faith in Christ tries to work in his integrity? The Scripture answers, ‘We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them’ (Ephesians 2:10). In His divine arrangement, through His unmerited favor, the Lord has ordained that good works shall be rewarded. We are accepted through Christ’s merit alone; and the acts of mercy, the deeds of charity, which we perform, are the fruits of faith; and they become a blessing to us; for men are to be rewarded according to their works.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E.G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1122.
Wednesday
December 26
4. PRACTICAL GODLINESS
a. Describe the high calling of Christ toward every single believer. Matthew 5:14–16; Galatians 5:5, 6.
“He who loves Christ the most will do the greatest amount of good. There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, by putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God. If men will endure the necessary discipline, without complaining or fainting by the way, God will teach them hour by hour, and day by day. He longs to reveal His grace. If His people will remove the obstructions, He will pour forth the waters of salvation in abundant streams through the human channels. If men in humble life were encouraged to do all the good they could do, if restraining hands were not laid upon them to repress their zeal, there would be a hundred workers for Christ where now there is one.
“God takes men as they are, and educates them for His service, if they will yield themselves to Him. The Spirit of God, received into the soul, will quicken all its faculties. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the mind that is devoted unreservedly to God develops harmoniously, and is strengthened to comprehend and fulfill the requirements of God. The weak, vacillating character becomes changed to one of strength and steadfastness. Continual devotion establishes so close a relation between Jesus and His disciple that the Christian becomes like Him in mind and character. Through a connection with Christ he will have clearer and broader views. His discernment will be more penetrative, his judgment better balanced. He who longs to be of service to Christ is so quickened by the life-giving power of the Sun of Righteousness that he is enabled to bear much fruit to the glory of God.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 250, 251.
“True character is not shaped from without, and put on; it radiates from within. If we wish to direct others in the path of righteousness, the principles of righteousness must be enshrined in our own hearts. Our profession of faith may proclaim the theory of religion, but it is our practical piety that holds forth the word of truth. The consistent life, the holy conversation, the unswerving integrity, the active, benevolent spirit, the godly example—these are the mediums through which light is conveyed to the world.”—Ibid., p. 307.
Thursday
December 27
5. THE FINAL RAYS OF LIGHT
a. In what ways and with what attitude can we only have the chance to spread effectively God’s final message to humanity? Luke 17:3–10.
“The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of [God’s] character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them.
“The light of the Sun of Righteousness is to shine forth in good works—in words of truth and deeds of holiness.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 415, 416.
“It is the fragrance of the merit of Christ that makes our good works acceptable to God, and it is grace that enables us to do the works for which He rewards us. Our works in and of themselves have no merit. When we have done all that it is possible for us to do, we are to count ourselves as unprofitable servants. We deserve no thanks from God. We have only done what it was our duty to do, and our works could not have been performed in the strength of our own sinful natures.
“The Lord has bidden us to draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to us; and drawing nigh to Him, we receive the grace by which to do those works which will be rewarded at His hands.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1122.
b. What ultimate thought will shine brightest in eternity? Zechariah 13:6.
“Every print of the nails [in Jesus’ hands] will tell the story of man’s wonderful redemption and the dear price by which it was purchased.”—Early Writings, p. 179.
Friday
December 28
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Why is thankfulness a clear requirement in service to Christ?
2. How does heavenly light spread in this dark world?
3. What happens when a little bit of pride creeps into our experience?
4. Explain the relationship between faith and works in the Christian’s life.
5. What is the final message for earth—and the main theme in heaven?