GOLD LIKE GLASS
(BEING REAL, PART 1)
LESSON 9
May 31, 2008
Sabbath Afternoon
Today’s Reading
Proverbs 16:13 (New International Version)
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.
Nothing is worth so much to a young man just starting out in life as a reputation
for unbending integrity. {OHC 226.3}
Truthfulness and frankness should be ever cherished by all who claim to be
followers of Christ. God and the right should be the motto. Deal honestly and
righteously in this present evil world. Some will be honest when they see that
honesty will not endanger their worldly interests; but all who act from this principle
will have their names blotted out of the book of life. {OHC 226.5}
. . . . . . . .. When God makes up His jewels, the true, the frank, the honest, will be
His chosen ones, His treasures. Angels are preparing crowns for such, and light
from the throne of God will be reflected in its splendor from these star-gemmed
diadems. {OHC 226.6}
For further study you may read, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p.125-126.
THE EMPEROR’S SEEDS
Once there was an emperor in eastern Asia who was growing old and knew the
time was coming to choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his own
children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young people in
the kingdom together one day. He said, “It has come time for me to step down
and to choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose the next emperor. I
have decided to choose one of you.” The kids were shocked! But the emperor
continued. “I am going to give each one of you a seed today. One seed. It is a
very special seed. I want you to go home, plant the seed, water it, and come back
here one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will
then judge the plants that you bring to me, and the young person I choose will be
the next emperor of the kingdom!”
There was one boy named Ling who was there that day, and he, like the others,
received a seed. He went home and excitedly told his mother the whole story.
She helped him get a pot and some planting soil, and he planted the seed and
watered it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown.
After about three weeks some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds
and the plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept going home and checking
his seed to grow.
A year finally went by, and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to
the emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn’t going to take an
empty pot. But she encouraged him to go and to take his pot and be honest about
what happened. Ling felt sick to shi stomach, but he knew his mother was right.
He took his empty pot to the palace.
When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by all the
other youths. They were beautiful—in all shapes and sizes. When the emperor
arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to
hide in the back. “What great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the
emperor. “Today one of you will be appointed the nest emperor!”
All of a sudden the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty
pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. “The
emperor knows I’m a failure!” Maybe he will have me killed!” When Ling got to the
front, the emperor asked his name. “My name is Ling.” He replied. All the kids
were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet
down. He looked at Ling and then announced to the crowd, “Behold your new
emperor! His name is Ling!”
Ling couldn’t believe it. How could he be the new emperor?
Then the emperor said, “One year ago today I gave everyone here a seed. I told
you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave
you all boiled seeds, which would not grow. All of you, except Ling, have brought
me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow,
you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with
the courage and honesty to bring me a point with my seed in it. Therefore, he is
the one who will be the new emperor!”—Taken from More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne
Rice. Copyright 1995 by Youth Specialties Inc. Used by permission of the Zondervan Corporation.
1. What reason did the emperor have in giving each child the same boiled seed?
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2. What trait did the emperor want to find in a young person?
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3. From “Today’s Reading” why is truthfulness so important to Christians?
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4. Is it wrong to pretend?
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5. What is a synonym for the word pretense?
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Sunday
Today’s Reading
1 Chronicles 29:17 (New International Version)
17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All
these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen
with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary
in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive
Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.
When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He
directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care
upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard,
is assurance also to us. (Steps to Christ p. 93)
The conditions of obtaining mercy of God are simple and just and reasonable.
The Lord does not require us to do some grievous thing in order that we may
have the forgiveness of sin. We need not make long and wearisome pilgrimages,
or perform painful penances, to commend our souls to the God of heaven or to
expiate our transgression; but he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have
mercy.
The apostle says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for
another, that ye may be healed." James 5:16. Confess your sins to God, who
only can forgive them, and your faults to one another. If you have given offense
to your friend or neighbor, you are to acknowledge your wrong, and it is his duty
freely to forgive you. Then you are to seek the forgiveness of God, because the
brother you have wounded is the property of God, and in injuring him you sinned
against his Creator and Redeemer. The case is brought before the only true
Mediator, our great High Priest, who "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin," and who is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities," and is able to
cleanse from every stain of iniquity. Hebrews 4:15. (Steps to Christ p. 37)
For further study you may read, Steps to Christ p.98.
HERE’S WHAT I THINK
Kim wrote this question: “When I pray to God I want to be open and honest, but I
don’t know where to begin. I feel as though there is so much to tell Him, and I feel
stupid repeating what He obviously knows already. How do you talk with
someone who knows what you are going to say? I have made so many promises
to Him that I have broken. I’m tired of asking forgiveness al the time. What’s the
point? Is there a better way? I’m really kind of open for suggestions.”
What would you say to Kim? Is there anything you have experienced that might
encourage her? When have you felt the same? How did you get through?
Log on to http://guidemagazine.com/rtf to post your responses. Be up-front and
honest. Say what you think. The lines below are provided as an alternative
posting. You may also wish to share your thoughts you’re your class.
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Monday
Today’s Reading
This lesson should take two days. You will begin today and finish on Friday.
Read the following passages then answer the questions at the end.
Matthew 4:17-19 (New International Version)
17From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
is near." 18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two
brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net
into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I
will make you fishers of men."
Matthew 14:23-36 (The Message)
22-23As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the
boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the
crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray.
He stayed there alone, late into the night.
24-26Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against
them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o'clock in the morning,
Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their
wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying out in terror.
27But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid."
28Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on
the water."
29-30He said, "Come ahead."
Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he
looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started
to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"
31Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said,
"Faint-heart, what got into you?"
32-33The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The
disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying,
"This is it! You are God's Son for sure!"
34-36On return, they beached the boat at Gennesaret. When the people got
wind that he was back, they sent out word through the neighborhood and
rounded up all the sick, who asked for permission to touch the edge of his coat.
And whoever touched him was healed.
Matthew 16:15-17 (The Message)
15He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17-18Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that
answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you
in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are,
really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my
church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be
able to keep it out.
Matthew 17:1-5 (The Message)
1-3 Six days later, three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the
brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance
changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his
face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah
were also there in deep conversation with him.
4Peter broke in, "Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built
three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for
Elijah?"
5While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them,
and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: "This is my Son, marked by my
love, focus of my delight. Listen to him."
Matthew 26:32-34 (New International Version)
32But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
33Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."
34"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster
crows, you will disown me three times."
Matthew 26:36-46 (New International Version)
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said
to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37He took Peter and the two
sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of
death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My
Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as
you will."
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men
not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41"Watch and pray so
that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for
this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were
heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time,
saying the same thing.
45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and
resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of
sinners. 46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Acts 12:1-17 (New International Version)
1It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the
church, intending to persecute them. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to
death with the sword. 3When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to
seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4After
arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four
squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after
the Passover.
5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for
him.
6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between
two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck
Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell
off Peter's wrists.
8Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did
so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9Peter
followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing
was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first
and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for
them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one
street, suddenly the angel left him.
11Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the
Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything
the Jewish people were anticipating."
12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of
John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to
answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed
she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"
15"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so,
they said, "It must be his angel."
16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him,
they were astonished. 17Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and
described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the
brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.
1. What was Peter like according to the Bible readings?
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2. Did Peter hide his personality?
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3. Did Peter try to be someone that he wasn’t?
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4. Why did Jesus call Peter, “the rock”?
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5. Did Peter Plan everything out before he did it, or spoke it?
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6. Did Peter love Jesus?
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7. Did Peter ever stop loving Jesus?
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8. When did Peter try to hide who he was?
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9. What caused Peter to hide?
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10. If you try to “hide” who you are, what causes you to do it?
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11. Did Peter change? Explain.
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12. What might have caused Peter to change?
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13. What might cause you to change?
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14. Being real is important. How can we be sure to “stay real”?
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Tuesday
Today’s Reading
Proverbs 12:22 (New International Version)
22 The LORD detests lying lips,
but he delights in men who are truthful.
1 John 3:18-20 (New International Version)
18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our
hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is
greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
In every action of life the true Christian is just what he desires those around him
to think he is. He is guided by truth and uprightness. He does not scheme;
therefore he has nothing to gloss over. He may be criticized, he may be tested;
but through all, his unbending integrity shines out like pure gold. He is a friend
and benefactor to all connected with him; and his fellow men place confidence in
him; for he is trustworthy. {RC 272.5}
He (the Christian) may be criticized, he may be tested, but his unbending
integrity will shine forth like pure gold. He is a blessing to all connected with him,
for his word is trustworthy. He is a man who will not take advantage of his
neighbor. He is a friend and benefactor to all, and his fellowmen put confidence in
his counsel. Does he employ laborers to gather in his harvest? Their hard-earned
money is not kept back by fraud. Has he money for which he has no immediate
use? He relieves the necessities of his less fortunate brother. He does not seek
to add to his own land or to fill his pocket by taking advantage of the distressing
circumstances in which his neighbor is placed. His object is to help and bless his
neighbor. {2MCP 438.1}
For further study you may read, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p.127-128.
SO WHAT?
Having a “see-through” faith is what God is calling young people to. Have you
noticed how hard it is to believe people are who they say they are today? Nice
people double as serial killers. Politicians accuse their opponents of being
deceptive. Athletes say one thing and do another. How refreshing it would be to
just “be real.”
The Bible refers to our faith as being like “pure gold” (1 Peter 1:6-8; Revelation
3:14-18). When gold is totally purified it is transparent—the yellow color in gold
comes from impurities still remaining in the metal. When John describes the
streets of gold they are “like glass.” God’s hope for you is that you become seethrough.
It’s not as though God can’t read your thoughts and know your mind. He does
not scratch His head and wonder what you are thinking or if you really do love
Him. He knows. He also knows that a relationship is a two-way street, and
although your ticket to heaven isn’t earned by being good, it has everything to do
with knowing God (John 17:3)
One thing is certain: no one will sneak through the pearly gates with a mask on
pretending to be a child of the King. God’s children proudly display their family
colors on earth, as they will in heaven. Are your colors clear?
1. How can we know if we are pretending or sincere?
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2. Is being “real” easy?
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3. Please explain your answer for #2.
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4. If you need an example to “Be Real” Where should you look?
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Wednesday
Please match the phrase with the corresponding text. These texts have been
taken from the NIV Bible. You will find an NIV Bible at www.RealTimeFaith.net,
click on resources and then on Bible Gateway. You will find many different
versions of the bible available to you there.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
I Peter 1:6,7
James 3:17
Psalm 139:1-4
2 Corinthians 6:2-10
I Timothy 1:5
2Corinthians 11:3
Hebrews 10:22
A. Lord, you have searched me and you know me. ________________
B. “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. . . _________
C. In this you greatly rejoice. . . . . . . . .________________
D. I tell you now is the time of God’s favor. . . . . . . ______________
E. But mark this; there will be terrible time in the last days. ____________
F. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning. . .
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G. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith
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Thursday
Today’s Reading
Job 31:5-7 (New International Version)
5 "If I have walked in falsehood
or my foot has hurried after deceit6 let God weigh me in honest scales
and he will know that I am blameless-
7 if my steps have turned from the path,
if my heart has been led by my eyes,
or if my hands have been defiled,
The gospel of Christ is from beginning to end the gospel of saving grace. It is a
distinctive and controlling idea. It will be a help to the needy, light for the eyes
that are blind to the truth, and a guide to souls seeking for the true foundation.
Full and everlasting salvation is within the reach of every soul. Christ is waiting
and longing to speak pardon, and impart the freely offered grace. He is watching
waiting, saying as He said to the blind man at the gate of Jericho, "What wilt thou
that I should do unto thee?" (Mark 10:51). I will take away thy sins; I will wash you
in My blood. {AG 339.2}
Satan will not sift the chaff, because he gains nothing in this. He sifts the wheat.
The devil will not try and tempt and persecute those whom he is sure of, because
[they are] living in known transgression of the law of God. Those who have
enlisted in the army of the Lord standing under the bloodstained banner of Prince
Emmanuel, Satan will seek to harass and destroy. Christians will meet and have
many and severe conflicts with the wily foe, who is merciless. He will bring them
into the most difficult places and then exult in their distress. But, thank God,
Jesus lives to make intercession for every one of us. Our safety is in committing
ourselves to God and resting by faith in His merits who has said, "I will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). {UL 222.3}
For further study you may read, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p.129.
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME?
While shopping with his father, a young boy tried to scare his dad by putting on
a mask and sneaking up behind him. He donned the image of some weird
creature; but the father saw the boy’s sandy hair sticking up. His shoes, which the
father had bought him the previous week, were untied, as always. The hands
contorted in the form of scary claws were familiar.
The father had held those hands as they trembled with fear when the boy got
his first shot from the doctor. The father had wrapped countless Band-Aids on
those fingers over the previous five years. The voice, although garbled by the
plastic lips of the mask, was unmistakably clear—it was his son’s. Although the
son was pretending, the father could never imagine his son, no matter how crazy
or scary he dressed up, being anything other than his son.
The boy pulled the mask off and said, “it’s me!” God is waiting for you to say the
same thing. Probably the safest place to remove the mask is on your knees
before Jesus.
1. Why do we try to wear a mask in front of God?
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2. Why did Adam and Eve hide from God?
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3. Do we hide from God for somewhat the same reason? Explain.
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4. Should we hide from God? Explain.
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5. How does God feel about our shortcomings?
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6. What text do we have that tells us God doesn’t push us away just because
we have sinned?
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Friday
Today’s Reading
Psalm 119:104-106 (New International Version)
104 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.
It may seem that we are to study our own hearts, and square our own actions
by some standard of our own; but this is not the case. This would but work
deform instead of reform. The work must begin in the heart, and then the spirit,
the words, the expression of the countenance, and the actions of the life, will
make manifest that a change has taken place. In knowing Christ through the
grace that He has shed forth abundantly, we become changed. . . . In humility we
shall correct every fault and defect of character; because Christ is abiding in the
heart, we shall be fitted up for the heavenly family above. {AG 240.4}
My son {my daughter}, give me thine heartt, and let thine eyes observe my
ways. Prov. 23:26. {SD 98.1}
Give to God the most precious offering that it is possible for you to make; give
Him your heart. He speaks to you saying, "My son, My daughter, give Me thine
heartt. Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them white as snow; for I will
cleanse you with My own blood. I will make you members of My family--children
of the heavenly King. Take My forgiveness, My peace which I freely give you. I
will clothe you with My own righteousness,--the wedding garment,--and make you
fit for the marriage supper of the Lamb. When clothed in My righteousness,
through prayer, through watchfulness, through diligent study of My Word, you will
be able to reach a high standard. You will understand the truth, and your
character will be molded by a divine influence. {SD 98.2}
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Make a list of three things you want to pray about his week to practice being
authentic.
1. ___________________________________________________________
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2. ___________________________________________________________
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3. ___________________________________________________________
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