|
Stubborn or Obedient |
 In
different parts of the world, people ride different things to get where
they need to go. Some ride cars, trucks, trains, airplanes and others ride
donkeys, horses, or camels. Donkeys, like cars or trucks can carry people
and things that are even larger than themselves. |
 Donkey
facts:
Donkeys are usually brown or gray and come in all sizes. |
 Some
donkeys stand only 3 feet (1.5 meters) high.
These Sicilian donkeys originally came from East Africa. They are a very sure-footed animal. This donkey has been used in mountainous regions around the world as a pack animal. Recently, it has become a very popular exotic domestic animal on American farms, often worth thousands of American dollars. |
 Some
donkeys are as large as a full- grown horse. |
| The noise of a donkey is called "braying". |
| Mule Trivia
The mules are strong and carry loads like donkeys. There are many references to mules in the Old Testament. (2 Samuel 13:29; 2 tells us David and his sons had mules. Samuel 18:9-17 says that Absalom rode on a mule when his hair tangled in the branches of an oak tree. King Solomon, son of David rode on a mule when he was made king (1 Kings 1:32-40). |
 A
donkey had the privilege of carrying Jesus into the city of Jerusalem just
like it was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9. It also carried Him and His
mother Mary when he was a tiny baby about to be born in Bethlehem. |
 Almost
all Hebrews rode donkeys. Riding a donkey was different from riding a
horse. Instead of using a saddle, a straw pad was placed over a thick
cloth on the donkey's back. The rider steered with a bridle but no bit.  |
 The
good Samaritan rode a donkey when he found the injured man. (Luke 10:34)
He put the man on his own donkey, helped him to the inn, and cared for him all
night. In the morning he paid the inn keeper for both of them and left
money for care of the wounds till the injured man recovered. He promised
to come and pay for any extra charges left.
Jesus is the good Samaritan. If you want to be like Him, you will look for people that are hurt by others. Some are beat up and need a home. Some are made fun of by others. Some are rejected by their family and need love. You will do all you can to make them better. God will take care of every need that you have. If you spend all that you have and need something Jesus will pay you back, just like the Samaritan. |
 Donkeys are
happy to eat carrots and apples and lots of anything. |
 God's
true people act like Jesus. His 10 commandments and the life He lived
while on this earth show us how to act like Jesus. God's people keep the
commandments by having the character of Jesus. We do things the way Jesus
would do. God's true people are not stubborn
like the mule kicking every one.
|
 In
the last lesson, we noted there was a mark from the beast that was placed
in the hand and the forehead. In this lesson we learn that God's people
get a mark too. This mark is put only in the forehead because God only
wants you to obey out of love. He will not force you onto His
team.
Song: The angel said, "...we mark the servants of our God with a seal in their foreheads." Revelation 7:3 |
  God's
people pray for help to learn to be like Jesus. The more they study the
commandments and the life of Jesus, they become like Him. He promised He
would help us. |
  God's
people settle into the truth. They see what is right and they determine to
do it no matter what. This is sealing. Inside the mind the law of God is
printed. From our impulses we act out what we really think. This is
not something anybody can see. It is invisible. No human can read this
mark.
|
 The
sign between God and His forever friends is that they keep the 10
commandments and live to bless others like Jesus did. |
 Angels
can read the invisible mark placed in your mind. They can read it real
easy but we cannot see it. To have this mark, you need God to help you get
rid of all shouting or hateful feelings. You need to obey the Sabbath rule
and don't steal or kill. You must not covet or wish you had what belongs
to others.
Instead, you need to be kind and loving to each other. Ephesians 1:13 and Eph. 4:30. |
 This is the
insignia that represents the United states. It is on the front of
passports of those who belong in this country. |
 Here
is a picture of my passport. |
 When
you go to another country to visit, you need a passport with your name and
picture on it. The passport also has the name of the country you belong
to. When you keep God's commandments, He says you belong to His country.
His commanding angel writes on your forehead and puts your name in God's
book of life in heaven.
The invisible seal on your forehead is like a passport to heaven. Just before the end of the world, God's people will all be sealed. Their passports are ready for the great trip to heaven.
|
 The
angel writes on your forehead when you are settled into the truth. This
means you will not change your mind. No matter how hard it is to obey the
ten commandments, you will. All you think about when you are sealed is
trying to copy Jesus. He will help you obey. He is happy to help. Wouldn't
you like to have a passport to heaven? If you lie, or reject the things
you learn from the Bible, the Commanding angel cannot put the seal on you.
Revelation 7:2
Now is the time to choose. Today is the day to make your choice. Let's choose God's team and have our passports ready for our trip to go live in heaven. That is where I want to always be, how about you? |
Quiz:
1. Is there any force involved in receiving God's mark?
3. What is the sign between God and His forever friends? 4. What does it mean to be settled into the truth? 5. Memorize and repeat the ten commands often. There is music composed to help you do this. 6. What is the shortest donkey we mentioned? 7. Who rode on the donkey to Bethlehem? 9. Who got his hair caught in an oak tree while riding a donkey? 10. What did the good Samaritan put on his donkey? In Revelation 13:1-10 the Bible describes another beast like a leopard and the dragon gave power and authority to it. Thy symbol as most Protestants believe represents the Papacy which took over the power once held by the ancient Roman empire. The leopard had a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God. He blasphemed His name, His tabernacle, and those who live in heaven. And he was allowed to make war on God's people the saints and overcome them. He had power over all people of the world and all the different languages. This prophecy is like the talking horn prophecy we studied in the last lesson. There is no question but that this points to the papacy. |
A
mule is the offspring of a donkey and a horse. They are stubborn. At times
they plant their feet and refuse to do what their master says--often for
no apparent reason! King David said, "Don't be like a senseless horse
or mule that has to have a bit in its mouth to keep it in line!"
(Psalm 32:9).
They are willing to obey and act
like Jesus. The more we study these lessons of Jesus, we will want to copy the good things
we see.