Prayer Request for Our Angolan Brethren

One of the things we enjoy on the Sabbath is being able to meet in peace. In my forty-some years of going to church services, we have been able to meet in peace.

We have been blessed not to face government or societal suppression and persecution. That is a blessing that has allowed us to meet for Sabbath services, Holy Days and to share the gospel on a wide scale.

Paul speaks of doors being opened to carry God’s message far and wide:

• 1 Corinthians 16:9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
• 2 Corinthians 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord
• Colossians 4:3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains

It is God who opens doors for us to find halls in which to meet and to hear the Christ’s gospel preached each Sabbath. It is God who makes it possible to meet in peace.

Just as Paul mentions adversaries in 1 Corinthians 16:9, we have “many adversaries” as well. Those adversaries may be human and they may also be of the spiritual variety as well, but they exist to thwart our coming together in peace and safety.

At the present time, we have a group of people affiliated with United who seek to meet each week to observe the Sabbath. However, they face a situation in which they might not be able to meet:

Prayer Request - Angolan Brethren Jorge de Campos, senior pastor, Portuguese speaking areas

The Angolan brethren, which number in excess of 5,000 men, women and children, request your prayers for their continued freedom to fellowship every Sabbath in Angola. The Angolan government just issued a decree that churches, to be able to gather in Angola, need to have 100,000 adult members in the country with their signatures duly notarized. The minimum threshold was established as 2/3 of that number in at least 2/3 of their provinces.

A number of churches which had been previously registered, had their previous registration revoked. What triggered this situation was that a number of small strange religions started appearing in Angola, originating from Brazil and other African countries, with weird practices causing what the Angolan government deemed as a nuisance and trouble. All churches had to submit their application to be recognized and allowed to continue gathering by yesterday (Monday, November 5th). The Angolan brethren submitted their application as required. They are appealing for an exception on the quantity of members and additionally they are referring to their ‘good works’ in the area of community schools and teachers that they are providing in various Angolan cities.

The process will now go through governmental review (for an unidentified period of time). We really do not know how long this will take. The Angolan government may ask for additional evidence, such as the notarized signatures, at any future time. As obtaining these signatures is a cost which to many of the local brethren is prohibitive (even though to us is only about US$7 per signature), UCGIA has sent them an unsolicited amount from the GCE approved Portuguese subsidy. This will help them in paying for a number of the notarized signatures of the brethren. The Angolan brethren are very grateful for all the help that they are receiving from UCG. However from now on, they will continue to gather in faith and they request your petitions to our Heavenly Father that they may continue to gather every Sabbath as it is commanded, and as per God’s will.

Thank you.
____________________________________________________________________________

We don’t have the power to change this, but God most certainly does. As we do offer up prayers on this matter please remember:

2 Timothy 2:1-3 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.

It would be most appropriate that we would offer up our “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks” to God that our fellow brethren in Angola “may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence”.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Be Anxious For Nothing

We live in age where anxiety and stress are all too common. Webster’s dictionary defines anxiety as:

• A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties.

Worry is a prime example of apprehensive behavior as we imagine the future in its worst-case terms.

Obviously, anxiety must have been a feature of Paul’s time since he addresses it in his letter to the Church of God in Philippi. In his letter he says, “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” (Philippians 4:6-7).

“Be anxious for nothing!” In other words, don’t worry or fret at all. How is that even possible when we have to deal with the uncertainties and stresses of life?

How do we avoid anxiety? By avoiding thinking about them? By absorbing ourselves in other pursuits? Avoiding facing the challenges in our lives or worrying about them are unhealthy paths that don’t bring resolution to life’s troubles.

Additionally, we can address the distresses of life by working this out our own way. We only have to look at Abraham’s choice to work out having a child his own way. We are still dealing with that choice and its outcome in the 21st century.

Paul gives us a prescription for dealing with the anxieties of life in verse 6. He tells us, “. . . in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. . .”  In other words, we don’t avoid, gloss over or minimize our concerns and challenges. We think about them, then take them to God in prayer.

Who knows better than God our predicaments, lacks, and the challenges we are facing? God knows our condition and our needs.

No limits are placed on what we can bring before our God. Note we are told, “in everything” go to God in prayer. Whatever challenges we may be facing, we can take them to God.

Four words are used in verse 6 in regard to going to God:

• Prayer (proseuche) describes a believer's approach to God.
• Petition (deesei) emphasizes requesting an answer to a specific need.
• Thanksgiving (eucharistias) is an attitude of heart which should always accompany one's prayers.
• Requests (aitemata) speak of definite and specific things asked for.

As we take our matters to God in “prayer and supplication”, we trust that He hears us. We trust that He will act in the way and at the time that is best for us. By putting our trust in God, we can let go of the matters that are making us anxious.

What is the outcome of placing worries and concerns into God’s hands through the spiritual solution of prayer? The natural outcome of seeking God’s involvement is, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

As we look at the examples in the Bible, we see the followers of God, repeatedly going to God with those issues that confronted them. The Psalms are replete with examples of taking matters to God’s sanctuary. Asaph states, “I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph” (Psalm 77:11-15).

The Apostle Paul said something similar to the Hebrew Christians, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, 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. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23).

Life can make us anxious, but the solution is to go to God in prayer. We can go into the very sanctuary of God in heaven with everything that confronts and know God will be there for us. Knowing that, we can be at peace in a way the world has difficulty understanding.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Make Prayer Great Again

Today is a day of hope for many as our new President, Donald
Trump, takes office.

Donald Trump was never supposed to become the president of
the United States. He was considered a clown, a blowhard and
an entertainer with no political expertise. He was opposed by
Republicans, Democrats, and the media. In fact, he was given
no chance of winning the presidency.

But against all odds, he went on to be victorious on November
8, 2016. When many of us went to bed on that evening, we
doubted he would be the next president. I know I was sleeping
soundly when my wife came in and told me that Mr. Trump
had won Wisconsin. As I was falling back to sleep, I thought
he might really win. On Wednesday morning, I learned that
his victory in Pennsylvania had put him over the top in the
electoral tally.

We might ask, “Why did Donald Trump win the presidency?”
It seems that Mr. Trump latched onto themes that resonated
with the American people. He promised to make America
great again. Why would people latch onto this promise?
Because many people feel that America has lost its greatness
and unless we turn from the path we are on national greatness
will be lost forever.

It is my hope that the new President, the Congress and the
Cabinet can make some progress toward restoring many of the
values that have made our country truly great for the last two
hundred years. Our greatness over that time has come about
because of God’s grace and mercy extended to our land.

Greatness can only be regained as we turn to the God of the
Bible. The prophet Joel spoke of the need for a return to God
and God’s mercy, “But even now," says the Lord, "repent
sincerely and return to me with fasting and weeping and
mourning. Let your broken heart show your sorrow; tearing
your clothes is not enough." Come back to the Lord your God.
He is kind and full of mercy; he is patient and keeps his
promise; he is always ready to forgive and not punish.” (Joel
2:12-13).

One of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln, was not
renowned for being overly religious when he took office.
However, the magnitude of being president as the nation was
divided in Civil War drove President Lincoln to turn to God in
a way he had not done in his earlier life. I believe that if our
president and other leaders turn to God then we can turn things
around. But will our leaders and our nation humble
themselves before God and seek his wisdom in the years
ahead?

President Trump faces a divided nation similar in many ways
to the time before the Civil War. There was no reconciliation
between the aggrieved parties in 1860 and it seems to be a
most formidable challenge to heal the breaches that exist in
2017. Healing the breaches in the present day are especially
formidable because there no longer seems to be a fixed
standard of right and wrong. Most sadly, if decisions are made
that are in harmony with God and His word the outcome will
likely be outrage among many in our land.

In Paul’s time, the Roman Emperors reigned supreme and
during the last part of his ministry, Nero ruled. Nero was an
abominable ruler and yet Paul requested prayers for him in 1
Timothy 2:1-4: “Therefore I exhort first of all that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be
made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that
we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth.”

Paul gives us good instruction in regard to how we should
pray for the new president. Mr. Trump faces a formidable
challenge ahead of him. Not only should we pray for all men,
but we should pray that God would make it possible for us to
“lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
reverence.”

We can be thankful this Sabbath day that we worship a God
who will be with us regardless of how things work out in the
political world.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

The Right Approach to God’s Feast Days

Since the Holy Days will be observed shortly, I thought it would be valuable to consider the right approach to God’s Feast Days.

Isaiah states, “Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah: "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" says the Lord. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats” (Isaiah 1:10-11). Isaiah’s statement seems odd in light of the fact that God directed Israel to offer various sacrifices.

The prophet condemns the people of Judah and Jerusalem for their sacrifices. Has God suddenly changed His mind about sacrifices or is there another reason why God inspired Isaiah 1:10-11?

Apparently, the people were quite diligent in making sacrifices and offerings at the temple. They offered and sacrificed large numbers of animals. However, God is not pleased with what they were offering because their approach is wrong. What is wrong with their approach? Before addressing what was wrong with their sacrifices, let’s examine what more God has to say.

"When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies —I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. (Isaiah 1:12-15).

It should be noted that where they were falling short in coming before God is explained by understanding what is meant by “to trample my courts”. Barnes’ Notes states, “To tread his courts was an expression therefore, equivalent to, to worship. To tread the courts of the Lord here, has the idea of profanation. Who has required you to tread those courts with this hollow, heartless service? It is often used in the sense of treading down, or trampling on” (from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Why are Judah’s sacrifices futile? Sadly, it has to do with their sinfulness. They offered sacrifices and offerings, burned incense, gathered for the Sabbath and Holy Days, and offered up an abundance of prayers. They were religious while still practicing sin. There was no humility, recognition of sin, or repentance.

The sacrificial system had ceased to serve its purpose of focusing the people on God and the need for righteousness. The people are religious but it is form without substance (2 Timothy 3:5).

The point here is that the character of the people had degenerated to the point that the manner in which they keep the Sabbath and religious festivals had become offensive to God. Their attitudes and approach had so degenerated that the Holy Day observances were hardly recognizable to God as having originated with Him. They were no longer His feasts, but the wayward people's feasts. Indeed, besides observing God's true festivals in a wrong manner and attitude, Israel had even instituted its own substitute holidays and participated in pagan observances.

Because of the people's defiance, we see that God has ceased listening to their prayers.

What is the lesson for the 21st century Christian? The lesson is that God has instructed us to make sacrifices and offerings, to attend the Holy Days, and to offer up prayers, but our attendance or giving an offering is not the most important thing. We can do all of those commanded things while continuing in sin and not walking humbly before God. Unless our heart is right, we are wasting God’s time and our time as well.

What is most important is the condition of our heart. King David came to understand this point and reflect that understanding in his prayer of repentance in Psalms 51:16-17, “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart — these, O God, You will not despise.”

As we come before God in prayer, on a Sabbath or Holy Day, God looks at our heart. Are we coming before Him in humility, in repentance, in joy and in gratefulness?

If we prepare our heart to seek our God, then He will accept our sacrifices and offering. He will hear our prayers. And He will be most glad that we are honoring Him through the Sabbath and Holy Days
.
As the Holy Days of the seventh month begin, we must take time to look at our spiritual condition and acknowledge our need for God in our lives. With that right approach, we can be assured God will be glad we honor Him at the Feast.

Gary Smith

What Kind of Leader Does Our Nation Need?

A thought we might consider this week comes in light of the Republican presidential debate held this week.

I was watching a discussion among voters who had volunteered to be a part of a group gathered by pollster, Frank Luntz. I was struck by what some voters had to say about the candidates and religion.

It was noted that one of those running for the highest office in the land appears to be quite religious. He allows his Christian religion to enter into his speech and to be reflected in the policies he would promote. The majority of the audience felt that it was unacceptable to mix politics and religion.

It was mentioned that one’s religion was to remain private and there was no need for a president to reflect his religion at all. In fact, it was said that religion was not really needed because of the inherent goodness of the American people.

My point in mentioning this is that if a president’s religion is to remain in private would it be a positive outcome for the nation?

Consider the fact that George Washington was notably religious. You cannot read his writings and not make note of that. He may not have had complete understanding of God and His great plan, but George Washington knew the importance of biblical morality, honesty, and integrity. He lived by many true principles and the nation was enhanced by it.

A second example is found in Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was not the perfect Christian, but he reflected upon God, and sought to point the nation toward God as President during one
of the most trying times in history. What could be more religious than to call for a national day of prayer requesting that the God of the Bible would save the nation torn apart by war?

One only has to examine the great leaders of the Bible to note that the greatest leaders of the nation of Israel were those who were closest to God. They were not perfect leaders, but their example helped the nation of Israel stay on track during their time of rule. It’s interesting to note what happened to Israel upon the death of a faithful man leading the nation. The outcome was rarely good.

Does our nation need a leader who is a Christian? Does it need a leader who is faithful to God and the people he serves? Does not our nation need a leader who is a true servant? Do we need a leader who is truthful? We need a leader who is all of these things and more. If we had such a leader it would make a huge difference in our nation, but it seems doubtful that such a leader will be raised up at this time.

Thankfully, we know that the leader our nation and the world needs will assume His position as King of Kings and Lord of Lords with the sounding of the seventh trump. His rule will be based upon truth and righteousness. No one will question whether we should have a ruler who is religious. The fruits will be available for the whole world to see.

Happy Sabbath!

Gary Smith

God Is Always There

My subject for this week’s Sabbath Thought comes from an event that occurred on Sunday, July 12.

On that date a group of church members met at Haak Winery in Santa Fe, Texas for a winery tour and tasting. It was a most pleasant opportunity to get together with brethren in a social situation.

As the occasion came to a close we headed back home on Highway 6. About the time we arrived in Alvin, Texas my phone rang. On the line was a woman who was frantic. We had difficulty hearing the caller but eventually deduced that the lady had just arrived back in Houston from the Middle East and was requesting anointing for her son.

We also learned that her son had been in prison for eight months and just been released fairly recently. Upon his release he went back to taking drugs and had taken drugs and gotten behind the wheel of his car. Not being used to the amount of drugs taken, he suffered cardiac arrest and had an accident.

When rescuers arrived at the scene, they did not think that the driver of the vehicle had survived. But they got him out of the vehicle and transported him to the hospital. There he remained unresponsive for three days before his mother arrived.

The mother of this young man was not a member of the United Church of God, but a part of the many “Churches of God” that characterize this age of the Church. She also understood anointing and that God is capable of intervention to heal. She was applying God’s instruction in James 5:14-15, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

We arrived at the hospital and met the mother and father. The mom was especially emotional because the prospects for her son’s recovery were not good.

I anointed the young man asking God to intervene in the situation and as I did so I could see his eyes open a bit. It seemed he was looking at me, but there was no recognition.

After speaking with the mother for a short time, we went home assuring the mother that we would be praying for her son’s healing. As we looked at the seriousness of the situation, we realized that without God’s direct intervention there was little hope. That realization is very hard for a parent to accept.

Interestingly, on Monday, we received a call from the mother in regard to this young man. She told us that the boy had awakened and had become responsive. The doctor was surprised by the outcome, but the nurse and the mother knew why the young man had taken a turn for the better. They knew that God in His mercy had intervened in this tragedy in order to give the youth another chance at life.

Why did God choose to intervene in this particular situation? We know, “for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). We know God is gracious and He is merciful to all in many ways. It is not always clear why God chooses to intervene in one situation over another.

But we can be assured that when we go to God with our ailment through being anointed by an elder that God hears our prayer and considers our situation. He will then act in the way that is best for us as it relates to eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

We can take comfort in the fact that God is always there for us.

Happy Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Then You Shall Delight Yourself in the Lord

Over the last three weeks, we have been considering God’s instruction concerning keeping the Sabbath as laid out for us by the prophet Isaiah.

God inspired Isaiah to tell us that we must honor God in our approach to the Sabbath. We keep the Sabbath holy as we avoid doing our own ways, finding our own pleasure, or speaking our own words. This approach to the Sabbath requires us to change our approach to life. We must put God first, instead of ourselves, and focus our thoughts and deeds on keeping the Sabbath holy.

Keeping the Sabbath as God instructs goes against our natural inclinations and it most assuredly goes against the direction the world is going. We must make choices in regard to what is most important in our lives.

Here are few examples to consider. On the Sabbath, should we devote extra time to prayer, or should we work on the house project that needs doing? Should we take extra time to diligently study God’s word, or should we tune into a TV program we like on Friday night. After all, watching TV is relaxing, isn’t it? On the Sabbath should we meditate on the things we have been studying in the Bible, or should we think about the work week ahead? On the Sabbath should we go to church services, or should we rest up from a hard week at work? After all, can’t we just listen to a sermon online or tune in to the cybercast?

It is true that to keep the Sabbath we must deny ourselves. But is that denial of self all that significant when we consider what God offers us?

Isaiah 58:14 describes the impact of our taking seriously God’s instruction concerning the keeping of the Sabbath. Verse 14 says, “Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Let’s consider a few points in verse 14. “Then” tells us that if we implement God’s instructions in verse 13 there will be a most positive result. The most significant result of living by Isaiah 58:13 is that we will delight ourselves in the Lord. In other words, we will find pleasure in God, His truth, and His way of life.

Not only will we take delight in the Lord, but there are also specific rewards that will come our way. I think Deuteronomy 32:9-12 offers us some insight into what God offers the Sabbath keeper, “For the Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance. He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness. He encircled him; He instructed him; He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings. So the Lord alone led him, and there was no foreign god with him.” Figuratively speaking, God offers us the physical blessings of Jacob now and the spiritual blessings of Jacob in the future.

Is it worth keeping the Sabbath holy? Only if we truly want to honor God and to enjoy the blessings God only offers to those who honor Him by keeping the Sabbath.

Gary Smith

Giving Thanks to God for Our Daily Bread

In reflecting on the meaning of Thanksgiving and our need for
thankfulness, I considered a portion of Christ’s example
prayer found in Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily
bread.” The inclusion of this idea in our daily prayers tells us
several important things.

First of all who does the giving? It is God who gives us the
food we need for life each day. This verse tells us that we
cannot exalt ourselves by saying that we, apart from God,
produced the food or that we earned the money to buy the
food. Apart from God, there would be no daily bread. In
essence, we must acknowledge our dependence on God.

In that Matthew 6:11 speaks of “this day our daily bread”, our
expression of thankfulness and dependence on God is to be on
display on a daily basis. We are to ask God each day that He
would continue to extend His mercy and grace toward us in
order that we would have our daily needs met.

For most of us reading this, we know that God has provided
for us on an everyday basis. Food is so abundant in America
that it is possible to take it for granted and not acknowledge
God. God knew this is a common human tendency and gave
us admonition in regard to our acknowledging God for the
good things that He gives us, "So it shall be, when the Lord
your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your
fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and
beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good
things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did
not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant —
when you have eaten and are full — then beware, lest you
forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
from the house of bondage” (Deuteronomy 6:10-13). We must
never forget that God is the one who provides for us every
day.

Finally in thinking of our daily bread, we also realize that we
must look beyond the physical to the spiritual. God inspired
Moses to write about this issue in Deuteronomy 8:3, “So He
humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna
which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He
might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone;
but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of
the Lord.”

This verse was quoted by Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:4 when
He was desperately hungry and being challenged by Satan.
Christ teaches us that even though He was hungry, it did not
justify putting physical sustenance before God. The lesson is
that we are more than physical human beings who need food
every day in order to live. We also need the spiritual food, the
word of God, which our Father in heaven supplies for us each
day.

Consider each day as you offer up prayers to God, how God
has answered your prayers to provide both physical and
spiritual food.

May you have a bountiful Sabbath,

Gary Smith

But They Shall Dwell Safely

In Memphis, Tennessee a violent attack that was caught on camera — and now, police in Memphis say they have arrested and charged four juveniles.
The attack happened in the parking lot of a Kroger grocery store on Saturday, September 6th.
Fox6’s sister station, Wreg in Memphis reports a 15-year-old has been charged with aggravated riot and acting in concert: to wit aggravated assault.
Wreg reports the teen was out on gun-related charges at the time of the attack. Wreg says the teen wasn’t enrolled in school, and his mother was previously charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Wreg reports a 16-year-old is also charged with aggravated riot, and acting in concert: to wit aggravated assault. A 15-year-old and a 17-year-old are charged with aggravated riot.

“It was nonsense violence. I can say that for sure. It seemed very unprovoked. They weren’t about anything, that it was fun for them. They were out having a good time. They were all smiling they were laughing,” the man said.

Laughing, as they knocked out a 17-year-old Kroger employee — kicking him in the head and throwing large pumpkins on him as he laid on the ground.

The man new to town says several Kroger employees were recording video of the incident — but one man seen at the end of the video knocked out, actually stepped in to defend him and the 17-year-old Kroger employee knocked unconscious.

Most likely a number of us living here in Houston shop at a Kroger store, or at one of the many other grocery stores in our communities. Such an incident, as what happened at this particular Kroger store, should cause us to think carefully about where we shop and areas that we frequent. It should also be a reminder that we need to be aware of our surroundings.

Sadly, assaults, break-ins, car-jacking’s, and thefts are all too common realities in this 21st century. Being aware of these threats certainly leads us to pray for God’s protection not only for ourselves, but also for our families and for God’s people as we all go about our daily lives.

The good news is that there is coming a time when our safety will no longer be uncertain. The prophets give us a couple of reassuring promises concerning safety in the world to come.

Micah 4:4 But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

How wonderful it will be to sit under our grape arbor or fig tree in the cool of the evening and not be afraid of anyone or anything. We will have confidence in God’s watching over us.

The prophet Ezekiel was also given insight into the safety of God’s Kingdom, “And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid.” (Ezekiel 34:28).

Many times, those who assault, steal, and vandalize are like predators looking for the weak and vulnerable to prey upon. Under Christ’s rule, we will dwell safely in our homes and communities and no one will make us afraid.

The Sabbath Day reminds us of the coming Kingdom of God, where peace and safety will abound.

Enjoy a most positive Sabbath Day.

Gary Smith