Sunday
May 21
1. THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
a. How are we warned against the spirit of fighting and bloodshed carried on even by many who profess the name of Christ? Matthew 26:51-53; John 18:36.
“Oh, how greatly Christ is dishonored by those who, professing to be Christians, disgrace the name they bear by failing to make their lives correspond to their profession, by failing to treat one another with the love and respect that God expects them to reveal in kind words and courteous acts! The powers from beneath are stirred with deep intensity. War and bloodshed are the result. The moral atmosphere is poisoned with cruel, horrible doings. The spirit of strife is spreading; it abounds in every place.”-Testimonies, vol. 8, pp. 248, 249.
b. What are some of the implications of the sixth commandment? Exodus 20:13.
“All acts of injustice that tend to shorten life; the spirit of hatred and revenge, or the indulgence of any passion that leads to injurious acts toward others, or causes us even to wish them harm (for ‘whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer,’ 1 John 3:15); a selfish neglect of caring for the needy or suffering; all self-indulgence or unnecessary deprivation or excessive labor that tends to injure health-all these are, to a greater or less degree, violations of the sixth commandment.”-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 308.
Monday
May 22
2. MANY GRAVES DUG WITH TEETH
a. How are we warned against becoming slaves to gradual forms of self-murder? Romans 8:12, 13; Proverbs 23:1-3.
“To take one’s life instantly is no greater sin in the sight of heaven than to destroy it gradually, but surely. Persons who bring upon themselves sure decay, by wrong-doing, will suffer the penalty here, and without a thorough repentance, will not be admitted into heaven hereafter any sooner than the one who destroys life instantly.”-A Solemn Appeal, p. 72.
“Many have lost their lives by overeating or through demoralizing dissipation, and souls have been lost by this means.”-The Review and Herald, November 21, 1878.
“By showing contempt for the laws of nature, men and women lay the foundation for misery and suffering. Through the weakness of their moral powers they are abject slaves to passion. Some are digging their graves with their own teeth.”-This Day With God, p. 123.
“God cannot let His Holy Spirit rest upon those who are enfeebling themselves by gluttony.”-The Review and Herald, May 8, 1883.
“Overeating is the sin of this age.”-Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 454.
b. What else often causes health problems even among vegetarians? Proverbs 25:16, 27.
“Persons may kill themselves with sweets. More harm is done to children by sweets than by anything else.”-Sermons and Talks, vol. 1, p. 12.
c. How is the sixth commandment violated in other ways? Proverbs 18:21.
“We think with horror of the cannibal who feasts on the still warm and trembling flesh of his victim; but are the results of even this practice more terrible than are the agony and ruin caused by misrepresenting motive, blackening reputation, dissecting character?”-Education, p. 235.
Tuesday
May 23
3. AMONG THOSE WE LOVE
a. How are we to avoid the real danger of hurting those we love most? Ecclesiastes 7:9.
“Guard against a hasty spirit, which prompts hasty words and actions. Resentment, which is indulged because you think you have been misused, is the spirit of Satan and leads to great moral evil. When you are controlled by a hasty spirit you deprive your reason, for the time, of the power of regulating your words and your conduct, while you make yourselves responsible for all the evil consequences. That which is done in haste and anger is not excusable. The action is bad. You may, by a single word spoken in haste and passion, leave a sting in the hearts of friends which may never be forgotten. Unless you exercise self-control you will be a most unhappy couple. You each ascribe your unhappy life to the faults of the other; but do this no more. Make it a rule never to speak a word of censure to each other, but commend and praise whenever you can.”-Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 243.
b. How are professedly religious parents too often guilty of actually destroying the spirituality of their own children? Ephesians 6:4.
“Great care should be exercised by parents lest they treat their children in such a way as to provoke obstinacy, disobedience, and rebellion. Parents often stir up the worst passions of the human heart because of their lack of self-control. They correct them in a spirit of anger, and rather confirm them in their evil ways and defiant spirit, than influence them in the way of right. By their own arbitrary spirit they thrust their children under satanic influences, instead of rescuing them from the snares of Satan by gentleness and love. How sad it is that many parents who profess to be Christians are not converted! Christ does not abide in their hearts by faith. While professing to be followers of Jesus, they disgust their children and, by their violent, unforgiving temper, make them averse to all religion. It is little wonder that the children become cold and rebellious toward their parents. And yet children are not excused for disobedience because of their parents’ unsanctified ways.”-The Review and Herald, November 15, 1892.
Wednesday
May 24
4. BANISHING THE SPIRIT OF STRIFE
a. What vivid example reveals how people can think they are free, yet actually be deluded by anger-even on supposedly religious pretenses? John 8:31-40.
“Murder first exists in the mind. He who gives hatred a place in his heart is setting his feet in the path of the murderer, and his offerings are abhorrent to God.”-The Desire of Ages, p. 310.
“[The Pharisees and rulers] were in the worst kind of bondage-ruled by the spirit of evil. Every soul that refuses to give himself to God is under the control of another power. He is not his own. He may talk of freedom, but he is in the most abject slavery. He is not allowed to see the beauty of truth, for his mind is under the control of Satan.”-Ibid., p. 466.
b. On a seemingly different note, what types of popular activities in today’s society are also way out of harmony with Christian love as shown in Romans 12:10, and why?
“I have not been able to find one instance where [Christ] educated His disciples to engage in amusement of football or pugilistic games, to obtain physical exercise.”-Special Testimonies on Education, p. 192.
“Turn to another scene. In the streets of the city is a party gathered for a bicycle race. In this company also are those who profess to know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. But who that looks upon the exciting race would think that those who were thus exhibiting themselves were the followers of Christ? Who would suppose that any of that party felt their need of Christ? Who would think they realized the value of their time and their physical powers as gifts from God, to be preserved for His service? Who thinks of the danger of accident, or that death may be the result of their wild chase? Who have prayed for the presence of Jesus, and the protection of the ministering angels? Is God glorified by these performances? Satan is playing the game of life for these souls, and he is well pleased with that which he sees and hears.”-Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 83, 84.
c. In what sense is the sixth commandment not to be merely passive in nature, but indeed active? Matthew 5:43, 44; Romans 12:19, 20.
Thursday
May 25
5. GAINING THE VICTORY
a. How does the apostle John summarize the spirit of murder? 1 John 2:9-11; 3:14, 15; 4:20, 21. With this in view, for what realities in life must we all prepare ourselves?
“To every soul things will come to provoke, to stir up anger, and if you are not under the full control of God, you will be provoked when these things come. But the meekness of Christ calms the ruffled spirit, controls the tongue, and brings the whole being into subjection to God. Thus we learn how to bear with the censure of others. We shall be misjudged, but the precious ornament of a meek and quiet spirit teaches us how to bear, how to have pity for those who utter hasty, unadvised words. . . . Rather suffer wrong than do wrong.”-Our High Calling, p. 274.
b. What must we realize about anger? Ephesians 4:26, 27; Hebrews 12:14, 15.
“It is true there is an indignation that is justifiable, even in the followers of Christ. When they see that God is dishonored, and His service brought into disrepute, when they see the innocent oppressed, a righteous indignation stirs the soul. Such anger, born of sensitive morals, is not a sin. But those who at any supposed provocation feel at liberty to indulge anger or resentment are opening the heart to Satan. Bitterness and animosity must be banished from the soul if we would be in harmony with heaven.”-The Desire of Ages, p. 310.
c. What points should we keep in mind when tempted by the spirit of anger? Matthew 6:14, 15; Proverbs 19:11.
Friday
May 26
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What scriptures reveal that war is inappropriate during Christ’s kingdom of grace?
2. Under what circumstances do I tend to fall prey to the spirit of anger?