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Just Trust Me
See Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 14.
Highlight the paragraph that begins, “Jesus emptied Himself . . .”
Ephesians 5:21 (New International Version:
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
“Meekness is a precious, Christian attribute. The meekness and lowliness of Christ are only learned by wearing Christ's yoke. . . . That yoke signifies entire submission. . .
“The submission which Christ demands. . . . [is] brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit. There must be a transformation of the entire being, heart, soul, and character. . . . Only at the altar of sacrifice, and from the hand of God, can the selfish, grasping man receive the celestial torch which reveals his own incompetence and leads him to submit to Christ's yoke, to learn His meekness and lowliness (In Heavenly Places, p. 236).
Just Trust Me
The legend is told of a man who grew a bamboo forest on a mountain range. The forest loved the way the man cared and pruned and provided for its needs. The forest felt a connection to its master, and an affectionate bond continued over the years. One day the master approached the forest and said, “My dear forest, we have enjoyed the beauty of this mountaintop for many years now. I come to you to ask if you are willing for me to use you for an even greater purpose than covering the mountain.”
The forest, full of pride, responded, “I am willing to do whatever you need me to do.”
The master replied, “First, I must remove all of your branches and leaves if I am to use you for a greater purpose.”
The forest considered the strange request and said, “The beauty of this forest is in the plush foliage of the leaves and branches; if you take that away, you will remove my beauty.”
The master calmly answered, “Yes, I know. But if you are willing, I must remove them to accomplish a greater good.”
Solemnly the forest agreed. As soon as the branches and leaves were stripped away the master came again and said, “I imagine this will be hard for you to understand, but if I am to use you for a greater purpose, I must cut the forest down.”
“But the very strength of the forest is in the trunks of trees that grow to the sky. How can a greater good come from cutting me down?”
“One more thing I must ask of you,” the master said. “If you are to be used for a greater good, then you must allow me to split your trunks in half.”
“But I will be no more! cried the forest.” Is it not enough that I was stripped of my beauty and my strength was cut to the ground? Now you want to split my trunks in half? How can any greater good come from this?”
The master touched the trunk of one of the trees and said, “If you trust me, I will show you the greater good I have planned for you.”
The forest willingly allowed the master to split the trunks in half. The halves were hollowed out and connected together down the mountain range into the desert where the rain never fell. The rain that poured on the mountain was channeled down to the dry and barren wasteland, which soon became a land growing foliage and food.
On the mountain range the master went out to his forest and knelt down in the ground where the trunks were cut at the bottom. He moved away some of the dirt, revealing brand-new shoots emerging from the earth. And he smiled.
“Beware of following any voice but that of God. Those who call themselves sons and daughters of God, and yet walk contrary to his wise arrangements in order that they may follow the promptings of their own unsanctified hearts, which are ruled by passion and impulse, will have a bitter harvest to reap in this life, and their course may result in the loss of their souls.” (The Signs of the Times, Nov. 26, 1896).
“Physically, Samson was the strongest man upon the earth; but in self-control, integrity, and firmness, he was one of the weakest of men. Many mistake strong passions for a strong character, but the truth is that he who is mastered by his passions is a weak man. The real greatness of the man is measured by the power of the feelings that he controls, not by those that control him.
“God's providential care had been over Samson that he might be prepared to accomplish the work which he was called to do. At the very outset of life he was surrounded with favorable conditions for physical strength, intellectual vigor, and moral purity. But under the influence of wicked associates he let go that hold upon God which is man's only safeguard, and he was swept away by the tide of evil. Those who in the way of duty are brought into trial may be sure that God will preserve them; but if men willfully place themselves under the power of temptation, they will fall, sooner or later.
“The very ones whom God purposes to use as His instruments for a special work, Satan employs his utmost power to lead astray. He attacks us at our weak points, working through defects in the character to gain control of the whole man; and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed. But none need be overcome. Man is not left alone to conquer the power of evil by his own feeble efforts. Help is at hand and will be given to every soul who really desires it.
Here’s What I Think
Craig sat in church with a tremendous conviction resting on his soul. He sensed that God was reaching out to him. He took an honest look at his lifestyle and knew that the video games he played, sometimes late into the evening, were not helping him with his relationship to God or his family. He didn’t want to admit it, but the violence and the thrill of the games had him hooked and he wasn’t sure how to deal with this problem.
Craig wanted to reach out to an adult for help. His Sabbath School teacher, Jeff, was cool. But he wasn’t sure if he was ready for Jeff to know about this problem. What should Craig look for in a mentor? What qualities would be most helpful? How should Craig go about asking for help? Craig thinks that if he just lets it wait for a while it will become clearer what he should do. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Log on to www.guidemagazine.org/rtf to post your responses. Be up-front and honest. Say what you think. The lines below are provided as an alternative to posting. You may wish to share your thoughts with your class later.
See Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pp. 125, 126.
- Highlight the paragraph that begins, “His words describe one . . .”
- Underline the sentence that starts, “It is one’s own lack of the spirit . . .
- Underline the sentence that starts, “According to the figure that . . .”
- Highlight the statement, “Whoever presumes to judge the motives of others is again usurping the prerogative of the Son of God.
- What sometimes keeps us from asking others for help? Explain.
- According to what you’ve studied this far, what sort of person should we look to for advice or help with a problem?
- If we are critical of other people does it make asking for help hard or easy? Please explain.
- In the Bible there are two well-known men. One was great in strength, the other great in wisdom and wealth. Who were they? Use your Bible to look up Judges 13:5-6, and 1 Kings 4:29-34.
- Were there times in the lives of Samson and Solomon when they should have asked someone older and wiser for help? Explain?
See Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing pp. 126,127.
- Highlight the sentence that begins, “When the religious experience is devoid of love . . .”
- Highlight the paragraph that begins, “Christ does not drive but draws men unto Him.”
- Highlight the paragraph that begins, “ When a crisis comes in . . .”
Galatians 6:1-5 (Contemporary English Version) :
“My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don't be tempted yourself. You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand.
“If you think you are better than others, when you really aren't, you are wrong. Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others. We each must carry our own load.”
So What?
When Paul called Timothy to join him as a pupil in the gospel, Paul was still recovering from a stoning. Although Paul may have still been blackened, bleeding, and scraped up, Timothy enlisted as a student under his guidance. Evidently Timothy sensed that Paul had something he could give to Timothy’s life, and was willing to enter into service with Paul.
It is clear from God’s Word that resisting other people who can help us grow is an act of pride. Follow pride to its ultimate conclusion and you have trouble. The vast multitude of joy–filled believers have seized moments of wisdom and accountability from someone else they trust.
Accountability is giving someone the right to hold you to your promises. If you want to stop stealing, or quit smoking, or be nice to others, or use your time more wisely, then often a wiser, more experienced Christian can remind you of your commitment to God. Think of all the forgotten commitments we have made over the years. Would we be different people if we humbled ourselves to another and asked for help?
The greatest change-agents in the world are not super individualists, but the humble students who give others, including the Holy Spirit, a chance to help them to greatness.
- What do you think it mean to be submissive? What is the dictionary meaning?
- When the Bible talks of being submissive, does that mean that we let others tell us what to do and think? How do you think a Christian is submissive?
- Why is asking for help with a problem so hard for us?
- What does today’s reading have to do with being submissive?
- In order to help other people, do we need to be submissive ourselves?
Pick a text from the ones in the activity to memorize and share with your class. Fill in the blanks.
- 2 Timothy 2:1, 2 (NIV): “You then, my son, be ________ in the grace that is in ____________ _____________ . And the things you have heard me say in the __________________ of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be _______________ to teach others.”
- Corinthians 4:14-17 (NIV): “I am not writing this to shame you, but to __________ you, as my dear children. Even though you have ten thousand ______________ in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father though the ________. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is ________ in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every _______. ”
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV): Follow my __________, as I ___________ __________ of Christ.”
- 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 (NIV): “For we know, brothers loved by _______, that he has ___________ you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with __________, with the ________ ________ and with _________ __________. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of ______ and of the _______: in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in ____________ and __________.”
- Hebrews 13:7 (NIV): “Remember your ___________, who spoke the __________ of God to ________. Consider the ____________ of ____________ way of life and imitate their ___________. ”
- 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV): “Young men, in the same ______ be __________ to those who are older. All of you, ___________ yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ ”
SeeThoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p.128,129.
- Highlight the paragraph that begins, “If Christ is in you ‘the hope of glory,’. . . .”
- Underline the sentence that starts, “In dealing with those who are in error. . . .”
- Highlight the paragraph that begins, “Not until you feel that you could sacrifice your own self-dignity. . . .”
- Highlight the sentence that starts, “Let Christ be daily made manifest in you . . .”
“Do not think that when you walk with Jesus you must walk in the shadow. The happiest people in the world are those who trust in Jesus and gladly do His bidding. From the lives of those who follow Him, unrest and discontent are banished. . . . They may meet with trial and difficulty, but their lives are full of joy; for Christ walks beside them, and His presence makes the pathway bright” (In Heavenly Places, p. 62).
“Whatever path God chooses for us, whatever way He ordains for our feet, that is the only path of safety. We are daily to cherish a spirit of childlike submission, and pray that our eyes may be anointed with the heavenly eyesalve in order that we may discern the indications of the divine will, lest we become confused in our ideas, because our will seems to be all-controlling. With the eye of faith, with childlike submission as obedient children, we must look to God, to follow His guidance, and difficulties will clear away. The promise is, ‘I will instruct thee and teach thee . . . : I will guide thee with mine eye’ (Psalm. 32:8)” (Our Father Cares, p. 134).
What Does This Have to Do With Me?
Submission, humility, and being teachable are not popular qualities in the marketplace. In fact, many consider seeking help a sign of weakness.
But submitting to God’s Spirit and to fellow Christians who are guided by it is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of tremendous courage.
You might recall that Jesus’ most stern rebukes were not for the thief or the prostitute or the drug addicts. His judgment came to those who were self-sufficient. To those who stood before others proud and in need of no one. But grace, wisdom, help, and healing spill out of the Saviour like a waterfall to those who know they need Him. Nicodemus didn’t have all the answers. Mary made more mistakes than she could count. Zacchaeus desperately scaled a tree to get a moment with the one who could help him. The Syrophoenician woman endured the scorn of racism to get close to the Healer. This is the truth about God’s kingdom: Those that humble themselves before God and others become the story-makers and heroes of God’s kingdom of grace.
“In his work, Timothy constantly sought Paul's advice and instruction. He did not move from impulse, but exercised consideration and calm thought. . . . The Holy Spirit found in him one who could be molded and fashioned as a temple for the indwelling of the divine Presence.
“As the lessons of the Bible are wrought into the daily life, they have a deep and lasting influence upon the character. These lessons Timothy learned and practiced” (Conflict and Courage, p. 346).
“Paul saw that Timothy was faithful, steadfast, and true, and he chose him as a companion in labor and travel. Those who had taught Timothy in his childhood were rewarded by seeing the son of their care linked in close fellowship with the great apostle. Timothy was a mere youth when he was chosen by God to be a teacher, but his principles had been so established by his early education that he was fitted to take his place as Paul's helper. And though young, he bore his responsibilities with Christian meekness” (The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 203, 204).
Consider the following questions as you choose to connect yourself with someone who can help you become what God wants you to be:
♦ What is it about that person that you admire?
♦ Why do you think they would be helpful?
♦ What kind of interaction with them would be most helpful?
♦ How would you ask them to “be there” for you?