Living Today

 Sabbath School

Growing in a Relationship with God 

Into Eternity

Lesson 13 - Sunday

When God’s Face Shines on Me

Psalm 80 is a heartfelt prayer from God’s people during a time of distress. Again and again, the psalmist cries out, “Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved” (Psalm 80:3, 7, 19). When we personalize these words and replace “us” with “me,” the psalm becomes deeply personal:

“Restore me, O God; cause Your face to shine, and I shall be saved.”

Many of us can relate to this prayer. There are times when we feel weak, discouraged, distant from God, or overwhelmed by the struggles of life. We may see areas where we have failed, seasons where our faith has been inconsistent, or burdens that seem too heavy to carry. Like the psalmist, we long for restoration. We long for God to draw near and renew our hearts.

The beautiful truth of Psalm 80 is that the focus is not on what we can do to save ourselves. The psalmist does not plead, “Look at my goodness,” or “Reward my efforts.” Instead, he asks for God's face to shine upon him. In Scripture, God's shining face represents His favor, presence, mercy, and blessing. It reminds us of the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24–26: “The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.”

When God’s face shines on me, it means He looks upon me with grace through Jesus Christ. It means He does not save me because of my righteousness but because of His righteousness. Left to myself, I cannot earn salvation. My best efforts fall short. But Christ lived the perfect life I could never live and died the death I deserved. Through faith in Him, I am accepted before God.

This understanding changes everything. God's shining face is not merely a feeling of peace or a moment of happiness. It is the assurance that I am loved, forgiven, and accepted because of Jesus. When His face shines on me, I know that His grace is greater than my failures, His mercy is stronger than my weaknesses, and His righteousness is sufficient for my salvation.

Psalm 80 also reminds us that restoration is an ongoing experience. We need God's presence every day. We need Him to strengthen us, guide us, and keep us close to Him. As verse 18 says, “Then we will not turn back from You; revive us, and we will call upon Your name.” God's grace not only saves us—it transforms us and empowers us to walk faithfully with Him.

Today, whatever challenges you face, make the psalmist's prayer your own: “Restore me, O God. Let Your face shine upon me.” Trust that God's favor rests upon all who place their faith in Christ. His righteousness is enough, His grace is sufficient, and His presence is your hope.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing grace and mercy. I come before You needing restoration and renewal. Cause Your face to shine upon me, and remind me that my hope is not in my own goodness but in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Strengthen my faith, revive my heart, and help me remain close to You each day. When I am discouraged, remind me of Your love. When I fail, remind me of Your forgiveness. Thank You for accepting me through Christ and for promising never to leave me. May Your presence guide me, transform me, and fill me with hope until the day I see You face to face. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly Online for 2nd Quarter: Growing in a Relationship with God  

Next Quarter Sabbath School: 1st and 2nd Corinthians 

First and Second Corinthians: Sabbath School 3rd Quarter 2026

Sabbath School 3rd Quarter - 2026

First and Second Corinthians

While 1 Corinthians focuses on how a church should function according to God's design, addressing issues such as division, immorality, worship, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection, 2 Corinthians reveals the heart of Christian ministry and the sustaining power of God's grace. In 1 Corinthians, Paul instructs believers on living together in unity, holiness, and love as members of Christ's body. In 2 Corinthians, he shares his personal struggles, defends his ministry, and demonstrates how God works through weakness, suffering, and hardship to accomplish His purposes. Together, these letters teach that God not only cares about the health and conduct of His church but also equips His people with sufficient grace to endure trials, serve others faithfully, and represent Christ in a broken world.

Sabbath School Lesson 13: Into Eternity

 Growing in a Relationship With God

Lesson 13 

Into Eternity

 

You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson.

Christ's Love: Beyond Knowledge, Beyond Measure

 

Beyond Knowledge, Beyond Measure

Ephesians 3:17–19 is one of the most beautiful prayers in Scripture. In these verses, the apostle Paul the Apostle prays that believers would experience a deeper relationship with Christ, be firmly grounded in His love, and understand the immeasurable greatness of that love.

Rooted and Grounded in Love

Paul first prays that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. This is more than simply believing that Jesus exists; it is inviting Him to take up residence in every area of our lives. Just as a tree sends its roots deep into the soil for nourishment and stability, Christians are called to be rooted and grounded in God's love. When life's storms come, those deep roots keep us from being shaken.

Too often we seek security in circumstances, achievements, or the approval of others. Yet Paul reminds us that our true foundation is Christ's love. The more we understand His love, the stronger our faith becomes.

Knowing the Unfathomable Love of Christ

Paul goes on to describe the width, length, depth, and height of Christ's love. These dimensions suggest a love that cannot be measured or exhausted. Christ's love reaches every person, spans every generation, descends to our deepest failures, and lifts us to heavenly hope.

What makes this remarkable is that Paul prays for believers to know a love that "surpasses knowledge." In other words, God's love is greater than our ability to fully comprehend it. We can spend a lifetime growing in our understanding of His grace and still discover new depths of His mercy.

Living in the Fullness of God

The ultimate goal of Paul's prayer is that believers may be "filled with all the fullness of God." As we experience Christ's love, our lives are transformed. Fear gives way to faith, bitterness to forgiveness, and selfishness to service. God's character becomes increasingly reflected in us.

Today, Ephesians 3:17–19 encourages us to do three things:

1. Invite Christ to dwell deeply in our hearts.
2. Anchor our lives in His unfailing love.
3. Continually seek a greater understanding of the love that surpasses all human knowledge.

The closer we draw to Christ, the more we discover that His love is greater than our failures, stronger than our fears, and sufficient for every need.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible love You have shown us through Jesus Christ. Help us to be rooted and grounded in that love each day. May Christ dwell fully in our hearts through faith, and may we grow in understanding the width, length, depth, and height of His love. Fill us with Your presence and transform our lives so that we reflect Your character to those around us. Strengthen us when we are weak, comfort us when we are discouraged, and remind us that Your love is greater than anything we face. In Jesus' name, Amen.

More on: Lesson 12: Share Him    

Brought Back by His Grace

 

Brought Back by His Grace

If you have walked with God for any length of time, you know that the Christian journey is not always lived on the mountaintop. There are seasons when our faith feels strong and vibrant, but there are also valleys—times when our hearts grow cold, our priorities drift, and our relationship with God becomes distant. Sometimes we wander through outright disobedience; other times we simply settle into spiritual complacency. Yet the wonderful news of Scripture is that God does not give up on His people.

Think for a moment about your own experience. What brought you back when your walk with God weakened? Was it a difficult circumstance that reminded you of your need for Him? Was it the loving encouragement of another believer? Perhaps it was a passage of Scripture that pierced your heart or a quiet conviction from the Holy Spirit. Whatever the means, behind it all was the faithful love of God calling you home.

Zechariah 10 paints a beautiful picture of that divine love. As you read the chapter slowly, several themes emerge.

First, God is the source of every blessing. The chapter begins with an invitation to ask the Lord for rain (Zechariah 10:1). In an agricultural society, rain meant life, growth, and provision. Spiritually, it reminds us that renewal comes from God alone. We cannot manufacture revival in our own hearts. We must seek Him and depend upon His grace.

Second, God sees the confusion and emptiness that come from trusting in false sources of security. Zechariah speaks against idols, false shepherds, and deceptive guidance. Whenever we place our trust in something other than God—whether success, possessions, relationships, or even ourselves—we eventually discover that those things cannot satisfy the deepest needs of our souls.

Third, God promises restoration. Repeatedly throughout the chapter, the Lord declares that He will strengthen, gather, and save His people. Though they have wandered, He has not forgotten them. His purpose is not merely to rescue them from trouble but to bring them back into fellowship with Himself.

One of the most encouraging verses is Zechariah 10:8: “I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them” (NKJV). The image is that of a shepherd calling scattered sheep back together. God's people may wander, but His voice continues to call. His desire is always reconciliation, restoration, and renewal.

Finally, Zechariah reminds us that God's restored people will walk in His name (verse 12). Restoration is not merely about returning to blessings; it is about returning to relationship. God wants His people to live daily in dependence upon Him, drawing strength from His presence and reflecting His character.

If you find yourself in a spiritual valley today, remember that God's heart is not to condemn but to restore. The same God who gathered Israel still calls His children back to Himself. His grace is greater than your failures, His mercy is deeper than your wandering, and His love is stronger than your weakness. Listen for His voice, respond to His invitation, and abide in Him once again.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for never giving up on us when we wander or grow spiritually weak. Thank You for Your faithful love that continually calls us back into fellowship with You. Forgive us for the times we have trusted in other things instead of relying on You. Renew our hearts, strengthen our faith, and help us abide in Your presence each day. Gather us close to You, restore what has been lost, and teach us to walk faithfully in Your name. We thank You for Your grace, mercy, and unfailing love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

More on: Lesson 12: Share Him