Blessings Through Obedience

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Ps. 40:8.

What a God is our God! He rules over His kingdom with diligence and care, and He has built a hedge-- the Ten Commandments-- about His subjects to preserve them from the results of transgression. In requiring obedience to the laws of His kingdom, God gives His people health and happiness, peace and joy. He teaches them that the perfection of character He requires can be attained only by becoming familiar with His Word.

The true seeker, who is striving to be like Jesus in word, life, and character, will contemplate his Redeemer and, by beholding, become changed into His image, because he longs and prays for the same disposition and mind that was in Christ Jesus. . . . He longs after God. The history of his Redeemer, the immeasurable sacrifice that He made, becomes full of meaning to him. Christ, the Majesty of heaven, became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich; not rich merely in endowments, but rich in attainments.

These are the riches that Christ earnestly longs that His followers shall possess. As the true seeker after the truth reads the Word and opens his mind to receive the Word, he longs after truth with his whole heart. The love, the pity, the tenderness, the courtesy, the Christian politeness, which will be the elements in the heavenly mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him, take possession of his soul. His purpose is steadfast. He is determined to stand on the side of righteousness. Truth has found its way into the heart, and is planted there by the Holy Spirit, who is the truth. When truth takes hold of the heart, the man gives sure evidence of this by becoming a steward of the grace of Christ.

Each steward has his own special work to do for the advancement of God's kingdom. . . . The talents of speech, memory, influence, property, are to accumulate for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom. He will bless the right use of His gifts.

'Don't be a bystander,' Adventist leader advises young people

---

Young people from Cambodia to Bangladesh met in Manila, Philippines on February 7 for the first of two Let's Talk installments in East Asia. [photos: Rajmund Dabrowski/ANN]

Adventist world church president Pastor Jan Paulsen urges a group of students and young professionals in Hong Kong to embody the image of the church. "It's important that Christianity be dynamic -- a rich and appealing way to live," he said during the hour-long live broadcast.

Getting involved in the local church is the best way to impact the global Seventh-day Adventist community, world church president Pastor Jan Paulsen told two groups of young people gathered for the first Let's Talk broadcasts in Asia. Urging active participation in both church activities and personal spirituality, Paulsen answered questions from students and young professionals from across East Asia.

Previous installments of Let's Talk, a series of unscripted, unedited conversations between Paulsen and Adventist students and young professionals, have taken the church leader to 18 other locations worldwide since 2003.

One theme -- how to make Adventism, a religion with predominantly Western roots, relevant in Asia -- emerged early in the February 10 broadcast from Hong Kong, which included young people from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan and fell during Chinese New Year celebrations.

"You don't take people out of [their] culture," Paulsen, who donned a red changshan, the traditional Chinese formal wear, for the occasion, said. "The church has to find a meaningful way to reach people within their cultures. The values God teaches must make sense and be meaningful within your own culture."

Participants at both the Hong Kong broadcast and the February 7 recording from Manila, Philippines wanted Paulsen's take on marriage, divorce and being single.

Paulsen, citing his own 52 years of marriage, stressed the value of choosing partners wisely and attending pre-marital counseling. Because marriage is a "commitment, not an experiment," Paulsen said cohabitation as a "trial run" is not an acceptable means of cutting divorce rates.

Some participants wondered if divorce ought to even be an option. While certainly not the ideal, Paulsen described divorce as a "reality," not a reason to judge or ostracize members whose marriages have ended. "We need to remember that we are here to be a healing, forgiving, accepting community," he said.

One student at the Hong Kong broadcast suggested roles in the church for singles, whether divorced or never married, were narrow. Paulsen acknowledged that while some cultures prefer to hire married people, "God does not require that you marry and have kids in order to serve him." He added that being a minister or counselor is a "professional qualification" that need only be accompanied by "spiritual commitment."

Paulsen continued the theme of commitment -- this time loyalty to God -- when answering several questions about Sabbath observance from the group in Manila. When a student from Myanmar said some state exams are only held on Sabbath, Paulsen mentioned the work of the church's department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty to eliminate religious discrimination. "Governments don't like to be embarrassed, or viewed as depriving their citizens of the right to follow their consciences," he said.

One student asked whether it's OK to let Sabbath-keeping slip to curry favor with a professor or a boss. "We don't compromise the Sabbath for anything," Paulsen said. "The rest of life -- professional, educational or otherwise -- must fit into that context. Difficulties may come, but they will bring new opportunities to trust God."

And when young people trust God, they can also depend on their own "good minds and sound judgment," Paulsen stressed during both broadcasts. "Look, you know what's right," he said in response to questions about music, movies and other entertainment choices. He then shared the guidelines he uses to choose music for his iPod: "Is it worshipful? Does it communicate a message from God? Does it bond a community of believers?" If not, best not to "baptize" it, he said.

Several questions surrounded appropriate activities for Adventists. Should Adventists campaign for politicians, run for office, associate with other denominations, play sports? Paulsen's "Yes" to each question was tempered by a warning -- don't let anything elbow out your commitment to Christ. If you seek election one day, he told the students, "don't confuse the agenda of the state with the mission of the church."

"Know who you are and don't compromise your identity," Paulsen said, advising the students not to cloister themselves away in a solely Adventist community. "Christ said, 'Let's go down and meet those people.' So don't be a bystander -- go with conviction, the assurance of who you are and the value of what you offer," he said.

When a participant from Cambodia whose family died in the genocide under Pol Pot asked whether God would allow people into heaven who never had a chance to accept Jesus, Paulsen assured him God was "generous" beyond human comprehension. "Aren't you glad He is the One who will ultimately answer your questions?"

Qualifying for the Kingdom

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Mark 10: 15.

Christ does not acknowledge any caste, color, or grade as necessary to become a subject of His kingdom. Admittance to His kingdom does not depend upon wealth or a superior heredity. But those who are born of the Spirit are the subjects of His kingdom. Spiritual character is that which will be recognized by Christ. His kingdom is not of this world. His subjects are those who are partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And this grace is given them of God.
Christ does not find His subjects fitted for His kingdom, but He qualifies them by His divine power. Those who have been dead in trespasses and sins are quickened to spiritual life. The faculties which God has given them for holy purposes are refined, purified, and exalted, and they are led to form characters after the divine similitude. . . .

Christ draws them to Himself by an unseen power. He is the light of life, and He imbues them with His own Spirit. As they are drawn into the spiritual atmosphere, they see that they have been made the sport of Satan's temptations, and that they have been under his dominion; but they break the yoke of fleshly lusts, and refuse to be the servants of sin. . . . They realize that they have exchanged captains, and they take their directions from the lips of Jesus. As a servant looks to his master, and as a maid looks to her mistress, so these souls, drawn by the cords of love to Christ, constantly look unto Him who is the Author and Finisher of their faith. By beholding Jesus, by obeying His requirements, they increase in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. Thus they become changed into His image from character to character until they are distinguished from the world, and it can be written of them: "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth he praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous
light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God:
which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" (1 Peter 2: 9, 10).

Today's Devotion Feb 7th 2008

A Kingly Procession

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. Zech. 9: 9.

Five hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Zechariah thus foretold the coming of the King to Israel. . . . Christ was following the Jewish custom for a royal entry. . . . No sooner was He seated upon the colt than a loud shout of triumph rent the air. The multitude hailed Him as Messiah, their King. . . .They could lead the triumphal procession with no royal standards, but they cut down the spreading palm boughs, Nature's emblem of victory, and waved them aloft with loud acclamations and hosannas. . . .

Never before in His earthly life had Christ permitted such a demonstration. He clearly foresaw the result. It would bring Him to the cross. But it was His purpose thus publicly to present Himself as the Redeemer. He desired to call attention to the sacrifice that was to crown His mission. . . .

Never before had the world seen such a triumphal procession. It was not like that of the earth's famous conquerors. No train of mourning captives, as trophies of kingly valor, made a feature of that scene. But about the Saviour were the glorious trophies of His labors of love for sinful man. There were the captives whom He had rescued from Satan's power, praising God for their deliverance. The blind whom He had restored to sight were leading the way. The dumb whose tongues He had loosed shouted the loudest hosannas. The cripples whom He had healed bounded with joy. . . . Lazarus, whose body had seen corruption in the grave, but who now rejoiced in the strength of glorious manhood, led the beast on which the Saviour rode. . . .

That scene of triumph was of God's own appointing. It had been foretold by the prophet, and man was powerless to turn aside God's purpose.

As well might the priests and rulers attempt to deprive the earth of the shining face of the sun, as to shut from the world the beams of glory from the Sun of Righteousness. In spite of all opposition, the kingdom of Christ was confessed by the people.

STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE SUB COM YEARLY SCHEDULE GOLD AWARD

January February

*Meeting with interested youth to *Begin fitness practice sessions plan physical fitness practice schedules based on weather—indoors/outdoors

*Assign leadership roles under Section IV-1/2 *Plan Expedition for Section III and for first 6 months schedule based on optimal weather#

March April

*Select a Share Your Faith project for *Continue fitness practice sessions

Section IV-3 and schedule for optimum time of year.#

*Continue fitness practice sessions

May June

*Continue fitness practice sessions * Test first round of fitness activities

*Complete Community Service Honor I *Plan/Assign Cultural Improvement selected under Section IV-4 Section V

July August

*Complete Community Service Honor II *Begin Skills Honors selected selected under Section IV-4 under Section II

*Begin fitness practice sessions part two *Continue fitness practice sessions

*Assign leadership roles, Section IV-A for next group

September October

*Continue fitness practice sessions *Continue fitness practice session

*Complete Skills Honors selected in August

November December

*Complete Section V assignments *Test round two of fitness activities

*Have completed Sections II, III, and IV

# Be sure to insert these activities during the months selected and complete them prior to December.

Note: While this schedule presents the ideal of completing the Gold Award in one year, two or more

years is perhaps more realistic, especially considering the high level of physical training needed to complete the necessary events. It must be understood, that this Award is not designed for everyone, nor

should it ever be understood that all members of the Ambassador Club are somehow to complete this

Award—it is indeed for a select few who find its challenges enticing.

STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE SUB COM YEARLY SCHEDULE SILVER AWARD

January February

*Meeting with interested youth to *Begin fitness practice sessions plan physical fitness practice schedules based on weather—indoors/outdoors

*Assign leadership roles under Section IV-A *Plan Expedition for Section III and

for first 6 months schedule based on optimal weather#

March April

*Select community project for Section IV-B *Continue fitness practice sessions and schedule for optimum time of year.#

*Continue fitness practice sessions

May June

*Continue fitness practice sessions * Test first round of fitness activities

*Assign Cultural Improvement

Section V readings

July August

*Complete Community Service Honor *Complete Skills Honor selected selected under Section IV-C under Section II

*Begin fitness practice sessions part two *Continue fitness practice sessions

*Assign leadership roles, Section IV-A for next group

September October

*Continue fitness practice sessions *Continue fitness practice session

November December

*Complete Section V readings *Test round two of fitness activities

*Have completed Sections II, III, and IV

# Be sure to insert these activities during the months selected and complete them prior to December.

Note: Due to the high level of physical training required, this Award is not designed to be completed

by all members of the Ambassador Club.

R E C R E AT ION A L S U B COM Y E A R LY S CHE D U L E

January February

Caving Trip Team Sport I Tournament

March April

Bicycle Camp Orienteering Meet

May June

Beginner’s Camping weekend Backpack weekend

July August

Rock Climbing Trip Track and Field Day/ Triathlon

September October

Canoe Trip Search and Rescue Training Camp

November December

Team Sport II Tournament Winter Campout