Previous Sabbath Thoughts
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025Jesus became Human to Serve Humans — February 14, 2026
Jesus came to serve all humans in humility with Godly love, to die for us to forgive our sins. Matthew 20:28 (TMSG), “That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.” This is repeated in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Luke states the same principle, but in a different way. Luke 22:27, “For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” This is most evident during Jesus’ last Passover on this earth when He washed the disciples’ feet, even Judas Iscariot’s feet. John 13:3-5, “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” While most Christian churches don’t perform this sacred ceremony on Passover evening, Jesus said we should. In addition, Jesus said out attitude should be one of serving others in humble love. John 13:12-17, “So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.’” The Apostle Paul describes the humble service of Jesus in Philippians 2:5-8, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Let us remember the many scriptures quoted here and elsewhere in the Bible that we Christians are to serve one another, following the example Jesus set for us. Galatians 5:13-14, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Things God Cannot (Will Not) Do! Part 22 — February 7, 2026
Our Great God cannot ignore those who are broken hearted! The Bible refers to a broken heart as one that is crushed by sorrow, sin, or overwhelming circumstances, representing a state of spiritual brokenness that makes one receptive to God’s presence and healing. It signifies deep repentance, a contrite heart, and the abandonment of self-reliance to fully depend on God’s mercy. Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.” God promises to take care of the broken hearted. Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.” Humility and a broken heart go together and God pays attention to those who have both. Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” God made this promise to the people of Israel. 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Our Eternal God has a soft spot in His heart, so to speak, for those who are humble. Isaiah 57:15, “ For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’” Isaiah also prophesied that the Messiah would heal the brokenhearted. Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” Jesus read this scripture in a synagogue on the Sabbath and said He fulfilled it (Luke 4:16-21). The many acts of healing and forgiveness that Jesus performed demonstrate the healing of the brokenhearted. There are the examples of the woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears (Luke 7:39-40) and the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:21-32). Jesus promised to give peace to our troubled hearts. John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” The Apostle Paul echoed this in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” We live in a troubled world. This will end when the Father and Son make their residence on this earth in the New Heavenly Jerusalem. At that time, there will be a new order of things where there will no longer be broken hearts. Revelation 21:4, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Jesus Became Human to make us Clean — January 31, 2026
During His last Passover on this earth, Jesus washed the feet of all twelve of His disciples in an act of humility and to teach His disciples to serve one another in humility. This He said was also an act of cleansing them. John 13:5, 10, 14-15, “After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. … Jesus said to him, ‘He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you. … If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.’” This is another way of describing the forgiveness of sins, washing away our sins. Acts 22:16, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Paul summarized this in 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Titus 3:5 (NLT), “he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” Another way the Apostle Paul states this is that we are purified by Jesus. Titus 2:14, “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Jesus not only cleansed us from our sins, but this also gives us a clear conscience. Hebrews 9:14, “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 10:22, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Jesus primary mission on this Earth was to forgive our sins. Hebrews 1:3 (NLT), “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” Jesus’ shed blood not only cleanses us as individuals, but it cleanses and sanctifies the whole Church of God. Ephesians 5:26-27, “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” The Apostle John expresses this clearly in some of the last books of the New Testament. 1 John 1:7, 9, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. … If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Let us close with Revelation 1:5-6, “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Things God Cannot (Will Not) Do! Part 21 — January 24, 2026
It is impossible for God to forsake His people or forget them. This Sabbath we conclude this discussion with New Testament scriptures. Jesus told Peter He prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail (NKJV). “The Message Bible” paraphrases Luke 22:32 like this, “Simon, I’ve prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.” Once God selects someone for conversion, God will never let them go. John 10:28-30, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” Shortly before Jesus’ death and resurrection, He promised His disciples He would never leave or forsake them. John 14:18, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” God allows us to experience tests and trials to strengthen our faith in Him and develop Godly character. But the end result is always to help us become the children of God born into His heavenly kingdom. 2 Timothy 4:18, “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” Paul encouraged the Hebrew brethren with two quotes from the Old Testament. Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” Peter echoed what Paul said to Timothy. 1 Peter 1:5, “who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” To those who are true and faithful Christians, God promises to protect them from the Great Tribulation. Revelation 3:10, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” While it is not always directly stated, there are a multitude of New Testament scriptures that state God will help us, strengthen us and guide us to the end of this life so that we enter the Kingdom of God. Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” God is involved in Christian lives to help them succeed. Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” When God selects us for the purpose of having us born into His spiritual family, nothing can defeat that purpose. Romans 8:31, 37-39, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? … Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Things God Cannot (Will Not) Do! Part 20 — January 17, 2026
This Sabbath we will continue our review of the scriptures that tell us it is impossible for God to abandon or forget His people. King David believed God would always take care of him. Psalm 27:10, “When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.” Psalm 37:25, 28, “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. … For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.” In this current world, God’s people may suffer greatly, even ending in death. But, we have to remember, for God’s people there is a promise of eternal life after this physical life. Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” To be remembered in the eyes of God, we have a responsibility to put our trust in God. Psalm 94:14, “For the Lord will not cast off His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.” When His people are disobedient, God will allow them to be punished. But He will never completely forget and abandon them. Isaiah 14:1 (NLT), “But the LORD will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. He will choose Israel as his special people once again. He will bring them back to settle once again in their own land. And people from many different nations will come and join them there and unite with the people of Israel.” Isaiah 41:10, 17, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. … The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.” Isaiah 44:21, “Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!” Isaiah 49:14-15, “But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.’ ‘Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.’” God has made promises to Israel past and future to bring them back from captivity. Jeremiah 29:10-14, “For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.” Because of His great love for His people, God will never forget or abandon them. Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT), “Long ago the LORD said to Israel: ‘I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.’” Next Sabbath we will review the New Testament scriptures on this topic.
Things God Cannot (Will Not) Do! Part 19 — January 10, 2026
It is impossible for God to abandon or forget His people. God promised this to the Israelites as they left Egypt under the guidance of Moses. Moses reminded the Israelites of the promises God had made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 4:31, “(for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.” Moses reminded Joshua of this shortly before the Israelites crossed the Jordon into the land of Canaan. Deuteronomy 31:7-8, “Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ‘Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.’” God confirmed this by speaking directly to Joshua. Joshua 1:5, 9, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. … Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” God foretold that Israel would disobey Him and He would allow their enemies to take them into captivity. However, God said He would eventually bring them back to Him. Leviticus 26:44, “ Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the Lord their God.” Even when Israel rejected God by asking for a king to rule over them, God said He would not abandon them. 1 Samuel 12:22, “For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.” God also spoke to Solomon while he was building the Temple for God with this promise. 1 Kings 6:11-13, “Then the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying: ‘Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.’” Next Sabbath we will recite scriptures from the Psalms and the Prophets that emphasize that it is impossible for God to forsake and forget His people.
Reasons Jesus Became Human, To Make Us Blameless — January 3, 2026
The Bible uses several different ways to express how Jesus became God in the flesh in order to die for the forgiveness of our sins. Even though we all sin, the shed blood of Jesus removes those sins in order that we may appear blameless before God our Father. 1 Corinthians 1:7b-8, “…eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:4, “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” The Bible uses other terms similar to blameless to express this concept: without offense and faultless. Philippians 1:10, “that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” Jude 1:24, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” By believing in Jesus and living a good life it changes how we appear before God. Philippians 2:14-15, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” The New Living Translation expresses this very clearly in Colossians 1:22, “Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” Jesus wants to make us sinless when we appear before God our Father at His Second Coming. 1 Thessalonians 3:13, “so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This should be our goal in this life as we look forward to a new life in a new heaven and earth. 2 Peter 3:13-14, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”