Sunday
July 28
1. A CALL FOR DILIGENCE
a. What should be the most serious priority in our Christian life? 2 Peter 1:10. Why does this involve a cross in our experience? Matthew 10:38.
“God has elected a certain excellence of character; and every one who, through the grace of Christ, shall reach the standard of His requirement, will have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of glory. All who would reach this standard of character, will have to employ the means that God has provided to this end. If you would inherit the rest that remaineth for the children of God, you must become a colaborer with God. You are elected to wear the yoke of Christ—to bear His burden, to lift His cross. You are to be diligent ‘to make your calling and election sure.’ Search the Scriptures, and you will see that not a son or a daughter of Adam is elected to be saved in disobedience to God’s law. The world makes void the law of God; but Christians are chosen to sanctification through obedience to the truth. They are elected to bear the cross, if they would wear the crown.”—Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 126.
“He who shuns the cross shuns the reward promised to the faithful.”—Sons and Daughters of God, p. 248.
Monday
July 29
2. WRESTLING WITH GOD
a. As we seek to overcome our defects of character—thus making our calling and election sure—what example is given us in Jesus as the Son of man while on earth? Hebrews 5:7, 8.
“While the city was hushed in silence, and the disciples had returned to their homes to obtain refreshment in sleep, Jesus slept not. His divine pleadings were ascending to His Father from the Mount of Olives that His disciples might be kept from the evil influences which they would daily encounter in the world, and that His own soul might be strengthened and braced for the duties and trials of the coming day. All night, while His followers were sleeping, was their divine Teacher praying. The dew and frost of night fell upon His head bowed in prayer. His example is left for His followers.
“The Majesty of heaven, while engaged in His mission, was often in earnest prayer. He did not always visit Olivet, for His disciples had learned His favorite retreat, and often followed Him. He chose the stillness of night, when there would be no interruption. Jesus could heal the sick and raise the dead. He was Himself a source of blessing and strength. He commanded even the tempests, and they obeyed Him. He was unsullied with corruption, a stranger to sin; yet He prayed, and that often with strong crying and tears. He prayed for His disciples and for Himself, thus identifying Himself with our needs, our weaknesses, and our failings, which are so common with humanity. He was a mighty petitioner, not possessing the passions of our human, fallen natures, but compassed with like infirmities, tempted in all points even as we are. Jesus endured agony which required help and support from His Father.
“Christ is our example.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pp. 508, 509.
b. Explain the result of this type of powerful prayer life. Acts 4:13.
“The life of Jesus was a life of constant trust, sustained by continual communion; and His service for heaven and earth was without failure or faltering.
“As a man He supplicated the throne of God, till His humanity was charged with a heavenly current that connected humanity with divinity. Receiving life from God, He imparted life to men.”—Education, pp. 80, 81.
Tuesday
July 30
3. PERSEVERING IN FAITH
a. What happens whenever we fail to maintain constant diligence in making our calling and election sure? Ezekiel 33:13. Give an example.
“God shows His displeasure at David’s having a plurality of wives, by visiting him with judgments, and permitting evils to rise up against him from his own house. The terrible calamity that God permitted to come upon David, who, for his integrity, was once called a man after God’s own heart, is evidence to after generations that God would not justify any one in transgressing His commandments; but that He would surely punish the guilty, however righteous and favored of God they might once have been while they followed the Lord in purity of heart. When the righteous turn from their righteousness and do evil, their past righteousness will not save them from the wrath of a just and holy God.”—The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 379.
“There is truth to be received if souls are saved. The keeping of the commandments of God is life eternal to the receiver. But the Scriptures make it plain that those who once knew the way of life and rejoiced in the truth are in danger of falling through apostasy, and being lost. Therefore there is need of a decided, daily conversion to God.
“All who seek to sustain the doctrine of election, once in grace, always in grace, do this against a plain, ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ ”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, pp. 1114, 1115.
b. In contrast, describe what is to be our attitude—and why we must keep vital truth in remembrance. Ezekiel 18:21; 1 Corinthians 15:1, 2 (first part).
“Many think it a sufficient excuse for the grossest errors to plead forgetfulness. But do they not, as well as others, possess intellectual faculties? Then they should discipline their minds to be retentive. It is a sin to forget, a sin to be negligent. If you form a habit of negligence, you may neglect your own soul’s salvation and at last find that you are unready for the kingdom of God.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 358, 359.
“Keep your Bible with you. As you have opportunity, read it; fix the texts in your memory. Even while you are walking the streets you may read a passage and meditate upon it, thus fixing it in the mind.”—Steps to Christ, p. 90.
Wednesday
July 31
4. CHOSEN BY OUR CHOICES
a. If we comply with the conditions upon which we make our calling and election sure, what is the result? 2 Peter 1:10 (last part), 11.
“God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’ This command is a promise. The plan of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning.
“The tempter’s agency is not to be accounted an excuse for one wrong act. Satan is jubilant when he hears the professed followers of Christ making excuses for their deformity of character. It is these excuses that lead to sin. There is no excuse for sinning. A holy temper, a Christlike life, is accessible to every repenting, believing child of God.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 311.
b. How is the election of grace through our power of choice shown in the lives of Jacob and Esau? 1 Peter 1:2 (first part); Romans 9:10–14; 11:4, 5.
“Esau and Jacob had alike been instructed in the knowledge of God, and both were free to walk in His commandments and to receive His favor; but they had not both chosen to do this. The two brothers had walked in different ways, and their paths would continue to diverge more and more widely.
“There was no arbitrary choice on the part of God by which Esau was shut out from the blessings of salvation. The gifts of His grace through Christ are free to all. There is no election but one’s own by which any may perish. God has set forth in His word the conditions upon which every soul will be elected to eternal life—obedience to His commandments, through faith in Christ. God has elected a character in harmony with His law, and anyone who shall reach the standard of His requirement will have an entrance into the kingdom of glory. . . . ‘Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.’ Revelation 22:14. As regards man’s final salvation, this is the only election brought to view in the word of God.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 207, 208.
Thursday
August 1
5. CLINGING TO THE VICTOR
a. How does the apostle Paul describe his upward walk? Philippians 3:12–14.
b. Why do we know victory is possible in Christ? Philippians 1:6; Jude 24; 1 Corinthians 1:30.
“We are saved by climbing round after round of the ladder, looking to Christ, clinging to Christ, mounting step by step to the height of Christ, so that He is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity are the rounds of this ladder. . . .
“It is no easy matter to gain the priceless treasure of eternal life. No one can do this and drift with the current of the world. He must come out from the world and be separate and touch not the unclean. No one can act like a worldling without being carried down by the current of the world. No one will make any upward progress without persevering effort. He who would overcome must hold fast to Christ. He must not look back, but keep the eye ever upward, gaining one grace after another. Individual vigilance is the price of safety. Satan is playing the game of life for your soul. Swerve not to his side a single inch, lest he gain advantage over you.
“If we ever reach heaven, it will be by linking our souls to Christ, leaning upon Him, and cutting loose from the world, its follies and enchantments. There must be on our part a spiritual cooperation with the heavenly intelligences.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, pp. 147, 148.
Friday
August 2
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What does the cross have to do with my life?
2. Why is the intensity of my prayer life so vital to salvation?
3. What causes a person to fall in the face of temptation?
4. Explain why erring Jacob was accepted by God, yet Esau was rejected.
5. Recite some promises to keep in mind when striving to overcome.