Great Days in History: Introduction

Great Days in History

If we look back through history, it is easy to see that the level of freedom we have enjoyed in the United States since the founding of the nation is certainly not typical. Those of us who have only lived under such blessed conditions often find it difficult to comprehend living in a society in which the people do not enjoy freedom, especially when we realize that the vast majority of mankind has not enjoyed the liberties that we have as American citizens. The fact that a free society such as ours exists – and has continued as long as it has – is truly remarkable.Continue Reading

Jesus Destroyed Satan’s Power Over Death

Jesus Crushing the Serpent Under Foot

The first prophecy in the Bible regarding the coming of Jesus was given after sin was introduced into the world in the Garden of Eden. In His curse to the serpent, God said, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel” (Genesis 3:15).

God was describing an event in which the seed of woman – Jesus – would be injured (His “heel” would be bruised) and Satan would be defeated (his “head” would be bruised or crushed). Remember that Satan came in the form of a serpent. We can imagine what would happen if someone were to kill a snake – one’s foot might be injured in crushing the head of the snake, but the snake would be killed. This prophecy was looking forward to the death of Christ.
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The Psalm of the Word (Part 17): Grace

The Psalm of the Word

Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul observes them.

The unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.

I opened my mouth wide and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
After Your manner with those who love Your name.

Establish my footsteps in Your word,
And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.

Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.

Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.

My eyes shed streams of water,
Because they do not keep Your law.

(Psalm 119:129-136)

We typically think of grace as a New Testament feature, and it is certainly emphasized there. “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). However, grace still existed in the Old Testament and this passage reminds us of that fact. Let us notice how God’s grace and God’s word are related.
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Making Wise Investments (Part 1): The Value of the Soul

Making Wise Investments (Part 1): The Value of the Soul

The first valuable commodity that we will consider in our study is the soul. People often fail to properly consider the value of their soul because their estimation is distorted by either self-deprecation (failing to see how valuable they are personally) or short-sightedness (failing to see past the things of this life). So let us see what the Scriptures teach us about the value of the soul.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26).

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"God Sent Me Before You" (1/27)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Genesis 43-45.

When Joseph finally revealed himself to his brothers, he did not lash out at them for what they had done. Instead, he told them that God was working through these circumstances to bring about good.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Please come closer to me.’ And they came closer. And he said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life’” (Genesis 45:4-5).

God preserved the family of Jacob on account of the promise He gave to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). This was not just for the benefit of Joseph and his brothers, but it was so that this people and Abraham’s lineage would be preserved. This was part of preparing the way for Christ – the one through whom God’s “eternal purpose” was “carried out” (Ephesians 3:11).
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I Know That My Redeemer Lives (1/8)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Job 17-20.

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth” (Job 19:25).

Job’s troubles were not going to be solved by his own actions. He understood this. Only God could deliver him. Despite the fact that his wife urged him to reject God (Job 2:9) and his friends repeatedly told him that God was the one who had afflicted him, Job held to his faith in the Lord. As long as his Redeemer lived, he had hope.
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The Sabbath Day

[This article was written by Larry R. DeVore.]

In Genesis 1:1 through 2:3 we find the account of God creating the world and everything in it in six days and resting on the seventh day. The Hebrew word for Sabbath (Shabbat) does not appear in the book of Genesis. It does not appear in the Scriptures until Exodus 16:23.

Therefore, this is contrary to the teaching of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, who teaches that God established an eternal Sabbath Observance Law in the very beginning.

Genesis 2:3 says, “God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God created and made” (NASB).
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