Sunday
June 21
1. AN UNFLINCHING HOPE
a. Although many of God’s people have died as a result of various diseases, what is the hope of the faithful? Job 19:26, 27. How can we take new courage even in sickness?
“Into the experience of all there come times of keen disappointment and utter discouragement. . . . Could we at such times discern with spiritual insight the meaning of God’s providences, we should see angels seeking to save us from ourselves, striving to plant our feet upon a foundation more firm than the everlasting hills; and new faith, new life, would spring into being. . . .
“From the depths of discouragement and despondency Job rose to the heights of implicit trust in the mercy and the saving power of God.”—My Life Today, p. 328.
b. On what is this hope based? Job 19:25; 1 Corinthians 15:20.
“The resurrection of Jesus was a sample of the final resurrection of all who sleep in Him. The risen body of the Saviour, His deportment, the accents of His speech, were all familiar to His followers. In like manner will those who sleep in Jesus rise again.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, p. 1092.
Monday
June 22
2. A THOROUGH CHANGE
a. What physical change will the faithful experience at the last trumpet? 1 Corinthians 15:51–55.
“There stands the risen host [on the morning of the resurrection]. The last thought was of death and its pangs. The last thoughts they had were of the grave and the tomb, but now they proclaim, ‘O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’ (1 Corinthians 15:55) . . . When they awake the pain is all gone. . . .
“Here they stand, and the finishing touch of immortality is put upon them, and they go up to meet their Lord in the air. The gates of the city of God swing back upon their hinges, and the nations that have kept the truth enter in.”—Ibid., vol. 6, p. 1093.
b. Upon what promises can we base our hope when physically sick? Isaiah 35:3–6; Revelation 21:4.
“This earth is the place of preparation for heaven. The time spent here is the Christian’s winter. Here the chilly winds of affliction blow upon us, and the waves of trouble roll against us. But in the near future, when Christ comes, sorrow and sighing will be forever ended. Then will be the Christian’s summer. All trials will be over, and there will be no more sickness or death.”—Ibid., vol. 7, p. 988.
c. When we consider the wonderful hope we have of heaven, what thoughts should fill our mind? Philippians 4:8.
“By beholding we are to become changed, and as we meditate upon the perfections of our divine Model, we shall desire to become wholly transformed and renewed in the image of His purity. There will be a hungering and thirsting of soul to be made like Him whom we adore. The more our thoughts are upon Christ, the more we shall speak of Him to others, and represent Him to the world. We are called to come out and be separate from the world, that we may be the sons and daughters of the Most High; and we are under sacred obligation to glorify God, as His children upon the earth. It is essential that the mind should be stayed upon Christ.”—Ibid., vol. 3 p. 1145.
Tuesday
June 23
3. A NEW PHYSICAL LIFE
a. What are some of the physical characteristics of the redeemed as they are raised from their graves? 1 Corinthians 15:35, 42, 43. How will those who died many years ago appear different from those of later generations? Psalm 90:17.
“All come forth from their graves the same in stature as when they entered the tomb. Adam, who stands among the risen throng, is of lofty height and majestic form, in stature but little below the Son of God. He presents a marked contrast to the people of later generations; in this one respect is shown the great degeneracy of the race. But all arise with the freshness and vigor of eternal youth. In the beginning, man was created in the likeness of God, not only in character, but in form and feature. Sin defaced and almost obliterated the divine image; but Christ came to restore that which had been lost. He will change our vile bodies and fashion them like unto His glorious body. The mortal, corruptible form, devoid of comeliness, once polluted with sin, becomes perfect, beautiful, and immortal. All blemishes and deformities are left in the grave. Restored to the tree of life in the long-lost Eden, the redeemed will ‘grow up’ (Malachi 4:2) to the full stature of the race in its primeval glory. The last lingering traces of the curse of sin will be removed, and Christ’s faithful ones will appear in ‘the beauty of the Lord our God’ (Psalm 90:17), in mind and soul and body reflecting the perfect image of their Lord. Oh, wonderful redemption! long talked of, long hoped for, contemplated with eager anticipation, but never fully understood.”—The Great Controversy, pp. 644, 645.
b. What means did God use for the perpetuation of life before the Fall? Genesis 2:9. What suggests that He will use this same means again in the New Earth? Revelation 22:2, 14.
“The tree of life is a representation of the preserving care of Christ for His children. As Adam and Eve ate of this tree, they acknowledged their dependence upon God. The tree of life possessed the power to perpetuate life, and as long as they ate of it, they could not die. The lives of the antediluvians were protracted because of the life-giving power of this tree, which was transmitted to them from Adam and Eve.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 988.
Wednesday
June 24
4. CHOOSING OUR FRAME OF MIND
a. What does God want our attitude to be, even when we are sick? 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Why? Proverbs 17:22.
“A person whose mind is quiet and satisfied in God is in the pathway to health.”—My Life Today, p. 150.
“There is a physiological truth—truth that we need to consider— in the scripture, ‘A merry {rejoicing} heart doeth good like a medicine’ (Proverbs 17:22).
“The true principles of Christianity open before all a source of inestimable happiness.
“We should encourage a cheerful, hopeful, peaceful frame of mind; for our health depends upon our so doing.”—Ibid., p. 151.
b. What promises can comfort the sick in their affliction? Philippians 4:6, 7; Psalm 103:1–3.
c. How can the sick be a blessing to others, and what effect will this have upon themselves? Matthew 5:16; Isaiah 58:6–8.
“If the mind is free and happy, from a consciousness of rightdoing and a sense of satisfaction in causing happiness to others, it creates a cheerfulness that will react upon the whole system, causing a freer circulation of the blood and a toning up of the entire body.”—Ibid., p. 150.
d. What things can the sick meditate upon even when they cannot see immediate healing? Psalm 77:11, 12.
“The Christian should live so near to God that he may approve things that are excellent, ‘being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God’ (Philippians 1:11). His heart should be attuned to gratitude and praise. He should be ever ready to acknowledge the blessings he is receiving, remembering who it is that has said, ‘Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me’ (Psalm 50:23). . . .
“It is the duty of everyone to cultivate cheerfulness instead of brooding over sorrow and troubles.”—Ibid., p. 153.
Thursday
June 25
5. EXPRESSING YOUR JOY
a. Why can we be joyful even while in trying circumstances? Isaiah 65:17–19; 1 Corinthians 2:9.
“The children of God may rejoice in all things and at all times. When troubles and difficulties come, believing in the wise providence of God, you may rejoice. You need not wait for a happy flight of feeling, but by faith you may lay hold of the promises and lift up a hymn of thanksgiving to God.”—In Heavenly Places, p. 123.
b. What will we do as we compare our trials with what Jesus has done for us? Psalms 62:5, 6; 63:3, 4.
“Rest yourself wholly in the hands of Jesus. Contemplate His great love, and while you meditate upon His self-denial, His infinite sacrifice made in our behalf in order that we should believe in Him, your heart will be filled with holy joy, calm peace, and indescribable love. As we talk of Jesus, as we call upon Him in prayer, our confidence that He is our personal, loving Saviour will strengthen and His character will appear more and more lovely. . . . Our peace is like a river, wave after wave of glory rolls into the heart, and indeed we sup with Jesus and He with us. We have a realizing sense of the love of God, and we rest in His love. No language can describe it, it is beyond knowledge. We are one with Christ, our life is hid with Christ in God. . . . With strong confidence, we can call God our Father.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 3, pp. 1147, 1148.
Friday
June 26
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What hope can we have, even when suffering from incurable diseases?
2. Describe the physical change of the faithful at Christ’s second coming.
3. What difference is seen among the redeemed at the resurrection?
4. What advantage is there in finding reasons for thankfulness towards God even in the most discouraging situations?
5. Why shouldn’t we hide our joy in the hope which God offers us?