This morning I taught one of the adult lesson study groups at the Thompsonville Seventh-day Adventist Church (the 3ABN Worship Center). We had a small group, but a good discussion. The topic was “Extreme Heat” — the extreme trials that Christians and others sometimes face.
Key questions in our discussion included: What do we do when God asks us to do something that seems to conflict with our picture of who God is and what He is like? How can we know God’s voice? Does God ever ask us to do something immoral? something that we think is immoral? Does a sense of God’s presence (or not) tell us anything objective about our spiritual life? How do we cope with the dark times?
Here are some of the guiding points that our group discussed:
- A trial of “extreme heat” is one where we are tested beyond our ability to understand the point or purpose of the trial, as opposed to trials that make sense or seem normal to us. And it is precisely, and to some extent especially, during such times that our faith is tested and allowed to grow and blossom.
- Stories like Abraham’s call to sacrifice Isaac do not tell us much about how to know God’s voice today. Christians have been deceived into murdering people because they thought God was leading them. But if we pray earnestly for God’s will to be known to us, and do not blindly follow impressions, He will not allow us to be misled.
- Sometimes God does ask us to do unthinkable things, things we might think are wrong — but He never asks us to do anything that is truly immoral.
- The ethical questions surrounding stories like Abraham’s are not our domain when we are still struggling with the clear and obvious things God has asked us to do or not do.
- “God is love” is a guiding light and source of hope is our darkest times. Believing the goodness of God helps us consider possibilities we might not otherwise think about. (See Hebrews 11:17-19.)
- Spiritual discernment is key to a mature Christian perspective on trials. We do not get spiritual discernment by acquiring facts, philosophies, or principles merely. Spiritual discernment comes through asking for and accepting the leading of the Holy Spirit (God), and comes in conjunction with our study of God’s Word. Spiritual discernment does not always mean we will understand our trials, or that they will make sense; instead, it means we can accept the good purpose of God through any trial.
- We must be wary of discouragement and feelings of disconnect with God. A loss of a sense of God’s presence does not mean God has abandoned us, or even that we are failing.
This was a really powerful lesson. I am thankful for the opportunity to dig into it.
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I must add that I am always blessed by the Pan de Vida Sabbath School Commentaries, featuring David Asscherick. This week’s commentary was really good. The highlights were the importance of understanding “God is love” when we face fiery trials, and the significance of Romans 8:28-39.
Tags: theology