Know Yourself

 Sabbath School

Growing in a Relationship with God 

Lesson 3 - Monday 

Two Prayers, Two Hearts

Scripture: Gospel of Luke 18:9–14

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Jesus tells a striking story: two men go to the temple to pray. One is a Pharisee—respected, disciplined, outwardly righteous. The other is a tax collector—despised, known for corruption. On the surface, you’d expect the Pharisee to be the “good guy.” But Jesus flips that expectation completely.

The Pharisee stands confidently and prays about himself: his fasting, his giving, his morality. His words sound spiritual, but his heart is full of comparison and pride. He doesn’t really need God—he’s impressed with himself. The tax collector, on the other hand, won’t even lift his eyes. He beats his chest and simply says, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” No performance. No comparison. Just honesty.

And Jesus delivers the verdict: it’s the tax collector—not the Pharisee—who goes home justified before God.

That cuts deeper than it first appears.

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What does this reveal?

God is not impressed by outward religion when the heart is proud. You can do all the “right” things and still be far from Him. Pride has a subtle grip—it convinces you that you’re doing fine, that you’re better than others, that you don’t really need grace.

But grace only flows into empty hands.

The tax collector had nothing to offer—and that’s exactly why he received everything. He came low, and God lifted him up. That’s the upside-down kingdom Jesus teaches: “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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A question you shouldn’t dodge

When did you last truly experience God’s grace?

Not just in theory—but in a real, personal way where you knew: “I don’t deserve this, but God is being merciful to me.”

If it’s been a while, it’s worth asking why. Often, it’s not because God stopped giving grace—it’s because we’ve slowly stopped seeing our need for it. Pride numbs us. It makes us self-reliant instead of God-dependent.

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Living this out daily

Grace isn’t a one-time experience—it’s meant to shape your everyday life.

• Start your day low, not high. Come to God like the tax collector, not the Pharisee.
• Stop comparing. Comparison feeds pride and kills compassion.
• Extend grace quickly. If God is patient with you, you don’t get to be harsh with others.
• Practice honest prayer. Drop the polished words—God responds to truth, not performance.

If you’re not regularly aware of your need for grace, you’ll struggle to give it.

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A challenge

Don’t just admire the tax collector—imitate him. Strip away the image, the comparison, the quiet pride. Come to God as you really are. That’s where transformation begins.

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Prayer

Heavenly Father,
I come before You with nothing to boast about. Forgive me for the pride that so easily takes root in my heart—the ways I compare myself to others, justify myself, and rely on my own goodness. Teach me to see myself honestly and to depend fully on Your mercy.

Lord, humble me under Your mighty hand. Break down anything in me that resists Your grace. Help me to live each day aware of how much I need You—and how freely You give.

And as You pour Your grace into my life, make me quick to extend that same grace to others. Soften my heart, remove judgment, and fill me with compassion.

Exalt me in Your time and in Your way, not for my glory, but for Yours alone.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

The Tight Fingers of Pride

 Sabbath School

Growing in a Relationship with God 

Lesson 3 - Sunday 

Clinging to Dust or Living for Eternity

Scripture: First Epistle of John 2:15–17

There’s something revealing about the way pride works—it clings. Like tight fingers wrapped around something it refuses to release, pride holds on to status, control, recognition, and self-importance. And the harder it grips, the harder it becomes to receive anything from God.

In this passage, John lays out three clear warnings about pride and loving the world:

1. Love for the world crowds out love for God.
You can’t fully love both. When your heart is set on gaining approval, possessions, or power, your affection for God gets pushed to the margins. Pride subtly shifts your focus from God-centered to self-centered living.

2. Pride expresses itself in three ways: desire, sight, and status.
John describes “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” In plain terms: craving what feels good, chasing what looks good, and boasting in what makes you look important. Pride isn’t always loud—it often hides in ambition, comparison, and the need to be seen.

3. Everything fueled by pride is temporary.
The world and its desires are passing away. Pride invests everything in what won’t last. But the one who does God’s will is building something eternal. Pride says, “Build your name.” God says, “Surrender your life.”

Now the harder question—don’t dodge it:
How prideful are you, really?

Not the version you show others—the honest version.
Do you struggle to admit when you’re wrong?
Do you compare yourself to others to feel better?
Do you seek recognition more than quiet obedience?

Pride doesn’t just damage your relationship with God—it strains every relationship. It makes you less teachable, less compassionate, and more defensive. It builds walls where humility would build bridges.

If you feel resistance reading this, that’s worth paying attention to. Pride fights exposure. But freedom starts when you loosen your grip.

Prayer:
Lord, I confess that pride grips my heart more tightly than I realize. I see how easily I chase recognition, control, and my own way. Forgive me for loving the things of this world more than I love You. Soften my heart and loosen the grip of pride in my life. Teach me humility—not just in words, but in how I think, act, and respond to others. Help me to value what is eternal over what is temporary. Shape me into someone who reflects Your character—gentle, teachable, and surrendered. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Seeing God Clearly, Showing Him Faithfully

Seeing God Clearly, Showing Him Faithfully

Many people carry a distorted view of God—harsh, distant, or indifferent. Yet Jesus came to reveal the truth: a God who is loving, just, patient, and near. In John 14:9, Jesus says, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” If we want to understand God’s character, we must look at how Jesus lived, loved, forgave, and served.

But this truth isn’t meant to stay with us—it’s meant to be shown through us. People often won’t read the Bible first; they’ll read your life. In Matthew 5:16, we’re told to let our light shine so others may see and glorify God. That means our daily choices either clarify or distort who God is.

Practical ways to reflect God accurately:

• Live with consistency – Let your actions match your beliefs (Titus 2:7).
• Show grace, not just truth – Speak honestly, but with kindness and patience (Colossians 4:6).
• Be quick to forgive – Reflect God’s mercy in how you treat others (Ephesians 4:32).
• Stay close to Christ – You can’t reflect what you don’t consistently behold (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Challenge:
Take a hard look at your daily interactions. Are people seeing a clearer picture of God because of you—or a confusing one? Choose one relationship today and intentionally reflect Christ in it.

Prayer:
“Lord, reshape my understanding of who You are, and let my life reflect Your true character. Help me reveal Your love, truth, and grace to everyone I encounter. Amen.”

More on Sabbath School Lesson 2 - To Know God

Sabbath School Lesson 3: Pride Versus Humility

 Growing in a Relationship With God

Lesson 3 

Pride Verses Humility

 

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Knowing God to Reflect Him

 Sabbath School

Growing in a Relationship with God 

Lesson 2 - Friday Further Thought 

Knowing God to Reflect Him

Scripture Focus: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” — John 5:39

God does not simply call His people to believe in Him—He calls them to represent Him. That’s a serious responsibility. You can’t reflect a character you don’t truly know. And too often, we rely on secondhand knowledge—what others say about God—while neglecting the one place He has clearly revealed Himself: His Word. The Bible is not just information; it is revelation. It corrects our distorted views, challenges our assumptions, and steadily reshapes how we see God.

The truth is, our human perspective is flawed. Sin clouds our understanding. Left to ourselves, we misunderstand His justice, question His love, and sometimes even doubt His intentions. But when you open Scripture with humility, something changes. You begin to see God as He truly is—holy, just, patient, and overwhelmingly loving. Not a distant force, but a deeply personal Father.

Ellen G. White powerfully describes this love as something beyond human comprehension. Every expression of love we’ve ever known—every act of kindness, every moment of compassion—is only a faint reflection of the vast, infinite love of God. Think about that. The greatest love you’ve ever experienced is still just a drop compared to His ocean. And yet, many people barely explore it.

Here’s the hard truth: if you’re not consistently in the Word, you are settling for a shallow understanding of God. That affects everything—your worship, your trust, your obedience, your witness. But if you commit to searching the Scriptures—not casually, but intentionally—you will begin to grasp more of His heart. And as you do, you won’t just learn about Him—you’ll start to reflect Him.

The life of Jesus is the clearest picture of God’s character. His compassion, His humility, His sacrifice—this is what God is like. As you study Christ and the plan of redemption, your understanding deepens. You won’t fully comprehend it—not in this lifetime—but you will grow. And that growth is what transforms you.

So don’t approach the Bible as a routine task. Approach it as a pursuit. Dig into it. Wrestle with it. Let it correct you. Let it reveal God to you. Because the more clearly you see Him, the more accurately you will represent Him.

Challenge:
Stop relying on surface-level knowledge of God. Set aside intentional, daily time to search His Word—not just to read, but to understand who He is. Ask yourself: Do I truly know the God I claim to represent?

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Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I come before You knowing that my understanding of You is often limited and flawed. Forgive me for the times I’ve neglected Your Word and settled for a shallow view of who You are. Open my eyes as I search the Scriptures. Reveal Your true character to me—Your love, Your justice, Your holiness. Shape my heart so that I may reflect You rightly in my thoughts, my words, and my actions. Teach me to know You deeply, not just intellectually, but personally. And as I grow in that knowledge, transform me into Your likeness.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.