September 1, 2021
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
Scripture memorization is an excellent habit, filling your mind with the holiest and most powerful encouragements directly from the Lord Himself. Another good mental exercise which also serves to strengthen love for Him is to revisit scenes from His Word and play them like a movie. Below is an example adapted from the Great Controversy (page 666). Close your eyes and allow the panorama to unfold…
Visualize the unspoiled beauty and splendor of Eden; the walks through the garden of Adam and Eve with the Lord; then into the scenes of their temptation and fall, and how quickly and lovingly the Lord came looking for them to give them hope. Picture the successive steps in the great plan of redemption. The Savior’s lowly birth; His early life of simplicity and obedience; His baptism in the Jordan followed by the fast and temptation in the wilderness; His public ministry, unfolding to men heaven’s most precious blessings; the long days crowded with deeds of love and mercy; the nights of prayer and watching in the solitude of the mountains; the plottings springing from envy, hate, and malice given in return for His selfless benefits; the awful, mysterious agony in Gethsemane beneath the crushing weight of the sins of the whole world; His betrayal into the hands of the murderous mob; the fearful events of that night of horror—the unresisting prisoner, forsaken by His closest disciples and rudely hurried through the streets of Jerusalem; the Son of God exultingly displayed before Annas, arraigned in the high priest’s palace, in the judgement hall of Pilate, before the cowardly and cruel Herod, mocked, insulted, tortured, and condemned to die; the patient Sufferer treading the path to Calvary, collapsing under the weight of the cross; the Prince of heaven hanging upon the cross amid jeers; the supernatural darkness; the heaving earth, the rent rocks, the open graves marking the moment when the world’s Redeemer yielded up His life.
The great lengths of God’s love in action to redeem and restore us are unmatched! I ask myself why am I so reluctant to honor and obey Him? His love defies logic, but my willful disobedience is even more illogical! His willingness to redeem me from my own rebellion against Him and then to lead me in paths of righteousness is beyond amazing. He is the Lamb. He is the Shepherd. Brothers and sisters, we have a story to tell. It is called the “everlasting gospel” (Revelation 14:6). This story is for the benefit of all mankind.
The next scene in this panorama is of Jesus being laid to rest in the tomb just as the sun was setting and the Sabbath began. His followers also rested (Luke 23:56). And, just as the manna gathered in double-portion on the sixth day was preserved fresh through the Sabbath (Exodus 16:22-24), the body of Jesus, Bread of Heaven (John 6:33,50-51), while resting in the tomb on the Sabbath Day, did not “see corruption” (Acts 13:37).
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Psalm 32:1,11