Sabbath Thought - Life Lessons

Recently I gave a message on Life Lessons.  I thought I would summarize that message to make my Top Ten Life Lessons.  Have you ever thought about what wisdom you would pass along to someone else from your life?  What have I learned of value that a person may not consider when they are younger?  What "secrets" would I share to help someone else have a better life?  Maybe that is something a person thinks about when they are older and looking back on life.  If you haven't lived a long life yet, it is worth listening to someone who has, so you can have a life well lived. 

A life well lived is a life that will be shared, and experiences in that life can be used to help other people (Galatians 5:13).  One thing that is happening in the culture around us, is that wisdom and experience is not passed down to the next generations.  We don't have to learn everything the hard way, and the best way not to do that is to learn valuable lessons from the lives of others.

My current life lesson list has 40 points - but here are my Top 10!

1. Maintain the right priorities in life - God, Spouse, Family, Work (Proverbs 1:7, 3:1-2, 8:17, 3:1-2).  For us to have true wisdom, God has to be front and center in our lives.  To base our wisdom on anything else is to embrace false wisdom.
2. Be a light and example of God's way of life (especially when you think no one is watching [because they are] Matthew 5:14).
3. Don't go to bed angry (Ephesians 4:26).
4. Be quick to forget a wrong done to you (Leviticus 19:18).
5. Serve those who cannot return the favor (Galatians 5:13).
6. Always hear both sides of a situation before judging a matter (Proverbs 18:17)
7. Whatever job you are doing, do it to the best of your ability (this applies to serving people as well - Ecclesiastes 9:10).
8. Admit when you are wrong (Proverbs 9:9).
9. Be teachable (Proverbs 15:31-33).
10. Strive to be humble (1 Kings 3:6-9).

God has given us wisdom and knowledge of why we have life and how to live it.  He has given to His called out ones understanding of His Sabbath and Holy Days in order to know His plan of salvation for all of mankind.  He has given us His Holy Spirit for discernment, and to help us overcome Satan, society and ourselves.  This world is failing but God's desire is to give us His Kingdom (Luke 12:32).  God promises to protect us, to heal us, to be there for us, and to give us what we need to become His children.

These are things I have thought about in analyzing my life and my desire to be in God's Kingdom.  What would your list include?

I wish you a profitable and value filled Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

31 July, 2020