The thought that came to me when reading this page is the wonder that "our little world is the lesson book of the universe." We are to show to the universe what it means to rely wholly on Christ through all of the traumas that come on this tired old world. We can show them that even in our weakness, Christ can see us through any trial that comes. How we can overcome through the power of Christ is part of the study of angels!

God bless,

Beryl

This first chapter has some of the most beautiful concepts ever expressed in human words. To know that the glory of God is the glory of selfless love makes me wonder if love itself is one of the building blocks of the universe.
And what a succinct summary of the great controversy: Satan in his selfishness wanted more honor. He wanted to become a God. Jesus, with his selflessness, didn’t care about honor. He became a human being.
I love the idea that when God gave his son to humanity, he adopted all humans. By becoming one of us, Jesus bound Himself to humanity with a tie that will never be broken.
What a remarkable picture of God!

I realise that for most of us, it is easier to read something on the internet than to go and grab a book (although I love reading, and usually spend my mealtime with one eye on my plate and the other in a book -- OK, I live alone!)

Anyway, I wonder whether it may be easier and create more comment if either I or someone else just posted the day's reading ready for comment. Not all pages start at the beginning of a paragraph, so some kind of commonsense will need to be used.

And thanks for joining us, Jerry. We look forward to your special insights.

So, here is that first page waiting for comments from those who still have to locate their book!

Chapter 1
"God With Us"


"His name shall be called Immanuel, . . . God with us." "The light of the knowledge of the glory of God" is seen "in the face of Jesus Christ." From the days of eternity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father; He was "the image of God," the image of His greatness and majesty, "the outshining of His glory." It was to manifest this glory that He came to our world. To this sin-darkened earth He came to reveal the light of God's love,--to be "God with us." Therefore it was prophesied of Him, "His name shall be called Immanuel."

By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels. He was the Word of God,--God's thought made audible. In His prayer for His disciples He says, "I have declared unto them Thy name,"--"merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,"--"that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them." But not alone for His earthborn children was this revelation given. Our little world is the lesson book of the universe. God's wonderful purpose of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the theme into which "angels desire to look," and it will be their study throughout endless ages. DA p. 19

I think the "study for endless ages" will include worship/study/reflection...in that sense perhaps. Part of our eternal mission will be to share our own testimony and God's love with other people (angels?) among the other worlds/planets...especially since we are unique in that ours is the only fallen planet, and no one else has experienced what we have.

One thought I had which ties into this and also to the chapter is how my feeble mind is unable to comprehend God's love. I sit down and read about it, but I cannot comprehend it. I think that is another reason why it will take an eternity to study, worship, and appreciate God's love.

Great Controversy, p. 677, 678.

"There, immortal minds will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love ....There the grandest enterprises may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realized; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend , fresh objects to call forth the powers of mind and soul and body....And the years of eternity, as they roll, will bring richer and still more glorious revelations of God and of Christ."

Sounds as though we will all be learning together, and as we share our experiences, so the inhabitants of other worlds will comprehend even better the love of God, and the wonders of redemption.

Beryl

Just "tagging on" here ...

I don't want to be a whiner, but I was kind of hoping this would be a little less structured -- would NOT have to go page by page, but be taken chapter by chapter, loosely, and not involve posting long portions of the book's content page by page by page by page, only just perhaps a paragraph here or there if someone wanted to quote it to illustrate or make a point or reference. And I was hoping it would be more a group discussion than a "led" class kind of atmosphere. I really did not envision there being any "leader".

Those were my original thoughts when I came up with the idea anyway. Looking at it so far, I feel kind of disappointed. Maybe it's just this bad day in this bad week I'm having -- maybe it will look different tomorrow.

Maybe not.

You've opened a new thought for me: we're to have a mission in heaven. Never thought about that before, somehow, I always thought that our "work" would be done. I've envisioned heaven as the ultimate Sabbath: resting forevermore.

Maybe my thoughts on heaven are just beginning.

Thanks for the input, Sid.

___________
Nico, I think that your idea is a pretty good one, but, like Beryl said in a previous post, it is a lot easier to read what's already on-line. Maybe a link to the URL with Desire of Ages would be enough for those of us who wish to read it on-line.

OK, Nico, that is fine by me. I just thought it may stimulate discussion more if we were all looking at the same thing and coming up with the thoughts that are impressed on our minds. However, you may all disagree with me. That's OK.

I only stepped in to actually start the discussion because it seemed to me that everyone was happy to begin the study -- but no-one was actually starting it, and, however good an idea is, if it doesn't get started, then it will go nowhere.

Is there someone who would actually like to run a quick pole to see what everyone thinks about it?

God bless,

Beryl

PS The URL to the Desire of Ages is www.whiteestate.org

You then click on "published works", select the book you wish to read -- and there it is!.