Have you noticed how busy our lives have become? The digital age has accelerated our pace, there are numerous distractions, the media is clamoring for our attention, healthy lifestyles are easily compromised, and time with God is often diminished. It is as though we are on a runaway train hurtling down the tracks. It cannot be stopped, and we scream out in desperation,“I want off!”
Beyond and above us, however, is a different picture that sometimes startles us: The world we live in will soon reach a point when the God of heaven will say, “It is closing time.” During these last seconds of earth’s history, the world Seventh-day Adventist Church encourages us every year to refocus our energies on eternal realities and the final spreading of the gospel to every corner of our world.
.jpg)
Adventist churches and institutions, large and small, all around the world, spent January 7 to 17, 2015, in Ten Days of Prayer. This year our focus was the fruits of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:22-23. There were so many things to consider and so many things to pray about.
The Chinese Union Mission staff members, directors, and administrators called a moratorium on all travel from January 12 to 16. They met for two sessions every day in order to cover the ten days of material provided.
Two highlights emerged during this time. First, the only way to bear the fruits of the Spirit is to spend much time with Jesus. Clearly branches never bear fruit if detached from the vine. Second, only when the Holy Spirit produces those nine fruits in our lives will we be able to witness effectively to others.
Welcome to eternity!
As we seek eternity with Jesus, let us do it on our knees, tightly clinging to the word of God.