Devotionals

SCIENCE AND REVELATION

The fool says in his heart,

“There is no God.” Psalm 14:1

MOMENTS OF PRAYER

☐ Pray for the items listed in your Prayer Journal

☐ Pray for the five individuals/families you chose

☐ Pray for God’s work in the South Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventist Church

☐ Pray that God will prepare your friends’ heart to receive the Good News

There are those who think they have made wonderful discoveries in science. They quote the opinions of learned people as though they considered them infallible, and teach the deductions of science as truths that cannot be controverted. And the Word of God, which is given as a lamp to the feet of the world-weary traveler, is judged by this standard, and pronounced wanting. The scientific research in which these individuals have indulged has proved a snare to them. It has clouded their minds, and they have drifted into skepticism. They have a consciousness of power, and instead of looking to the Source of all wisdom, they triumph in the smattering of knowledge they may have gained. They have exalted their human wisdom in opposition to the wisdom of the great and mighty God and have dared to enter into controversy with Him. The Word of Inspiration pronounces these persons “fools.”

God has permitted a flood of light to be poured upon the world in discoveries in science and art, but when professed scientists lecture and write upon these subjects from a merely human standpoint, they will assuredly come to wrong conclusions. The greatest minds, if not guided by the Word of God in their research, become bewildered in their attempts to investigate the relations of science and revelation. The Creator and His works are beyond their comprehension; and because they cannot explain these by natural laws, Bible history is considered unreliable. Those who doubt the reliability of the records of the Old and New Testaments will be led to go a step farther and doubt the existence of God, and then, having let go their anchor, they are left to beat about upon the rocks of infidelity. Moses wrote under the guidance of the Spirit of God, and a correct theory of geology will never claim discoveries that cannot be reconciled with his statements. The idea that many stumble over, that God did not create matter when He brought the world into existence, limits the power of the Holy One of Israel.

Many, when they find themselves incapable of measuring the Creator and His works by their own imperfect knowledge in science, doubt the existence of God and attribute infinite power to nature…. The Bible is not to be tested by human ideas of science, but science is to be brought to the test of this unerring standard.

Ellen Gold White, From The Heart, pg. 155 – May 23

GOING DEEPER

Skepticism toward ancient writings, well founded in many cases, was then also extended to the writings of the Bible. Many people thought that the Biblical records about this world’s ancient history, and the stories about the patriarchs, prophets, judges, and kings, were in most cases just as legendary as those of other ancient peoples which had come down to us through Greek and Latin writings. The most famous historians and theologians of the 19th century were the greatest doubters of the veracity of the stories of the Bible, and were among its most vigorous critics. This attitude has greatly changed since the turn of the [twentieth] century. Much more respect is now shown toward the Old Testament, its narratives, and its teachings than was shown a few decades ago. The results of explorations in the Near East have done more than anything else to bring this about. In the flood of light thrown by archaeology upon the ancient civilizations the Old Testament stands forth not only as historically reliable but also as unique in scope, power, and lofty ideals in comparison with the best products of the ancient world.

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church Bible Commentary, vol. 1, p. 100.

QUESTION…

What value did Job place upon the words of God? Job 23:12

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IN LETTERS OF GOLD

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK

1. Memorize: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

2. Contact the five individuals/families that you are praying for, and inform them that you have been praying for them and ask them if they have a special prayer request.