Things About God

GET TO KNOW THE NEW YOU When God calls us, He begins a work that changes how we think, what we value and how we live. Our past no longer has to determine our direction. Through repentance, forgiveness and the power of God’s Spirit, we can begin putting away sinful habits and developing the character of Jesus Christ. Paul described that change: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) Paul was describing the surrender of his former sinful way of life. He remained a mortal human being, but his life now belonged to Christ. His desires, decisions and conduct were to come under the direction of the One who had given Himself for him. We need to understand what this means. We are physical human beings, living souls, with a human spirit that gives us understanding. We are not immortal spirit beings inhabiting disposable bodies. Through repentance, baptism and receiving God’s Spirit through the laying on of hands, we become His spiritually begotten children. Our birth into His Family as immortal spirit beings awaits the resurrection. Meanwhile, conversion involves real work within us. Paul wrote that “our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” (Romans 6:6) The “old man” describes the person we were under sin’s rule. Baptism pictures the burial of that former life and our commitment to walk in newness of life. But baptism does not instantly remove every wrong desire or make us spiritually mature. We still face temptation. Old reactions can return. Pride, resentment, selfishness and impatience must be recognized and overcome through repentance and God’s help. Getting to know the “new you” means understanding the person God is developing. Paul tells us to “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24) That requires renewed thinking followed by obedient action. When someone offends you, practice patience and forgiveness. When dishonesty seems convenient, tell the truth. When your desires conflict with God’s commandments, choose His way. Christ living in us through God’s Spirit becomes evident in these everyday decisions. Faith involves trusting God enough to act on His Word. Our minds have an essential part in that process. We study, consider His instructions and learn to distinguish truth from error. Feelings alone cannot tell us whether we are following Him. As you read Scripture, ask what it reveals about God’s character and what needs to change in your own life. Pray for understanding and strength, then practice what you learn. God has given His begotten children a remarkable future. We are preparing to share immortal life in His Family. Today, let that calling shape the person you are becoming -- with Christ living in you and His way increasingly reflected in your conduct. I invite you to join Sabbath-Keepers Church News & Commentary on Facebook for biblical encouragement, fellowship and discussion about living God’s way. facebook.com/groups/sabbathk… -- Bob Schenfield, Founder of @ThingsAboutGod.

facebook.com/ProphecyAmerica ~

HOSEA AND AMOS -- AN END-TIME WARNING FOR AMERICA Can a nation be prosperous, powerful and confident while approaching disaster? Ancient Israel was. Hosea and Amos warned a people enjoying material abundance while rejecting the God who had blessed them. Their messages reach beyond ancient history. They carry an urgent warning for the United States and other modern descendants of Israel as we approach the end of this age. Both prophets confronted the northern kingdom before its fall to Assyria. Beneath its prosperity lay injustice, idolatry and spiritual decay. The people trusted their wealth and national strength while disregarding God’s commandments. They mistook outward success for lasting security. Through Hosea, God declared, “Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart.” (Hosea 4:11) He described people seeking counsel from wooden idols instead of their Creator. Their loyalties had shifted, and their judgment had become corrupted. America needs to consider that warning. Our wealth, technology and military strength cannot protect us from the consequences of rejecting God. As descendants of Joseph through Manasseh, Americans have inherited extraordinary national blessings. Those blessings bring responsibility, not permission to disregard the One who provided them. Modern idols need not be carved from wood. Political leaders, possessions, entertainment and personal desires can command the loyalty that belongs to God. When popular opinion determines right and wrong, a nation can become spiritually intoxicated while congratulating itself on being enlightened. Hosea identified the underlying failure: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6) The verse goes on to explain that they had rejected knowledge and forgotten God’s law. Their problem was not a shortage of information. It was a refusal to accept God’s instruction. Amos described people who “drink wine from bowls, and anoint yourselves with the best ointments, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.” (Amos 6:6) They enjoyed their comforts while remaining unmoved by their nation’s condition. Prosperity had helped dull their conscience. We must not let that happen to us. Do dishonesty, violence, injustice and broken families still trouble us? Or have we become so accustomed to them that we simply return to our entertainment? National decline becomes personal when we absorb the attitudes producing it. These end-time warnings call for repentance. Recognizing America’s prophetic identity means little if we refuse to examine our own conduct. God’s Ten Commandments, including His seventh-day Sabbath, remain the standard. We must measure our choices by His Word and turn from the compromises we have excused. Ancient Israel eventually discovered that prosperity could not shield it from judgment. America must not assume its power makes it immune. We cannot announce dates, but we can recognize the danger of repeating the sins God condemned. Yet judgment is not the end of the message. Hosea and Amos also point toward restoration. Jesus Christ will return, establish God’s Kingdom on earth and teach the nations righteousness. God promises, “I will bring back the captives of My people Israel.” (Amos 9:14) America needs that hope -- and the repentance these warnings demand. The time to listen is now. I invite you to follow America in Prophecy on Facebook for biblical perspectives on America’s future and the coming Kingdom of God. facebook.com/ProphecyAmerica -- Bob Schenfield, Founder of @ThingsAboutGod.

bit.​ly/news-net ~ 2 Corinthians 9:8 dlvr.​it/TWG9hC

bit.​ly/news-net Trump Has Lost Congress: What Happens Next? A Biblical Analysis of America’s Political Future dlvr.​it/TWG0hC

The Spiral Tunnels and the Spirit in Man dlvr.​it/TWG0MS

bit.​ly/news-net ~ Psalm 16:2 dlvr.​it/TWFVXz

Bob Schenfield, the founder of @ThingsAboutGod, is a longtime writer, publisher, and communicator whose work has centered on helping people understand the Bible, the coming Kingdom of God, and the relevance of God's truth to the world we live in today.

Facebook.com/ProphecyAmerica ~

WHERE IS THIS WORLD HEADING? PROPHECY GIVES THE ANSWER Weapons of mass destruction make the consequences of another world war almost beyond imagining. Nuclear, chemical and biological weapons give mankind the means to inflict suffering on an enormous scale. But understanding where this world is heading requires more than studying weapons. Bible prophecy reveals the governments, spiritual deception and human rebellion that will bring civilization to its greatest crisis -- and the divine intervention that will finally bring peace. The books of Daniel and Revelation belong together. Their prophetic symbols explain a succession of kingdoms leading to the return of Jesus Christ. These visions reveal who will ultimately govern this earth. In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar saw a great image with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet partly of iron and partly of clay. Daniel identified the beginning: “You are this head of gold.” (Daniel 2:38) Babylon would be followed by Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. Daniel 7 presents the same succession through four beasts. Scripture explains their meaning: “Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.” (Daniel 7:17) Verse 23 identifies the fourth beast as a kingdom. These creatures symbolize political powers. Revelation 13 brings the imagery together in a beast combining characteristics of a leopard, bear and lion. Behind its authority stands the dragon, identified as Satan in Revelation 12:9. Political strength and spiritual deception will work together in a system that demands allegiance while opposing God. Revelation 17 brings us to its final phase: ten rulers surrendering their authority to the beast. “These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.” (Revelation 17:13) This points to a final European union of ten kings or kingdoms, a revival of the Roman system. The woman riding the beast represents a powerful false religious system joined to political rule. We should watch Europe with that prophetic framework in mind. Its final configuration need not match today’s institutions or borders. We must not force every development into a completed fulfillment or announce dates Scripture does not provide. The prophecy’s outcome is unmistakable: “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings.” (Revelation 17:14) Humanity’s final answer will not be a more powerful military alliance. Jesus Christ will return and overthrow the powers resisting Him. Daniel declares what follows: “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.” (Daniel 2:44) This is the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed. His faithful followers, begotten now through God’s Spirit, will be born into His Family as immortal spirit beings at the resurrection and reign with Him on earth. Prophecy therefore calls for more than curiosity. We must repent, obey God’s commandments and develop the character needed to serve under Christ. The coming crisis is real, but so is the promised deliverance. This civilization will give way to righteous government -- and a world finally taught how to live at peace. I invite you to follow America in Prophecy on Facebook for biblical perspectives on world events and the coming Kingdom of God. facebook.com/ProphecyAmerica -- Bob Schenfield, Founder of @ThingsAboutGod.

WHAT DOES GOD FREELY GIVE US? God has already demonstrated the depth of His love through a sacrifice we could never repay. He gave His Son so that sinners could be forgiven, reconciled to Him and offered eternal life. When we wonder whether our Father cares about our future, we should remember what He has already done to make that future possible. His purpose is to bring us into His eternal Family. Paul asks, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) This is a powerful assurance of God’s commitment to those He calls. The Father who provided the sacrifice for our salvation will also provide what is needed to accomplish His purpose in us. We cannot earn forgiveness or purchase eternal life through good behavior. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Even a lifetime of obedience could not erase the guilt of past sins. We need Christ’s sacrifice and God’s mercy. Yet receiving a gift does not make our response unimportant. God calls us to repent, believe, be baptized and receive His Spirit through the laying on of hands. We become His spiritually begotten children, learning to live His way while awaiting birth into His Family at the resurrection. Our obedience expresses faith and love; it does not put God in our debt. What, then, does “all things” mean? The surrounding verses speak of becoming like Christ, being glorified and remaining within God’s love through hardship. Paul names tribulation, persecution, hunger and danger (Romans 8:29–39). He plainly did not mean that believers could claim a life without suffering or receive every material thing they desired. God’s promises are certain, but they must be understood according to their meaning, conditions and appointed fulfillment. Some concern His help now. Others await Christ’s return and our resurrection to immortal life. An inheritance promised by God is secure in His faithfulness, even while we must continue faithfully toward receiving it. Paul also wrote, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) Their certainty rests in God and Jesus Christ. Saying “amen” expresses agreement and trust. It is not a formula that obligates God to deliver whatever we name. Real faith brings our requests before our Father and yields to His wisdom. It continues obeying His Ten Commandments, including His seventh-day Sabbath, even when waiting is difficult. It accepts correction and seeks the help of God’s Spirit to overcome. You do not have to persuade God to become loving or generous. He has already shown that He is. Trust His promises, respond to His calling and remain faithful. The Father who gave His Son is preparing an inheritance greater than anything this temporary life can offer. I invite you to join Observers of the Sabbath and Holy Days on Facebook for biblical encouragement and fellowship. facebook.com/groups/SabbathA… -- Bob Schenfield, Founder of @ThingsAboutGod.

LIVING LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST What does it mean to live through Jesus Christ? It reaches into the ordinary decisions we make every day: how we speak when someone disappoints us, whether we forgive an offense and what we do when another person needs help. Christ gave His life so that we could be reconciled to God and begin living a different way. Following Him means allowing His teaching and example to shape our conduct. John wrote, “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” (1 John 4:9) God’s love was demonstrated through action and sacrifice. He provided through His Son what we could never provide for ourselves: forgiveness of sin and the way to eternal life. Jesus explained how that love should be expressed among His followers: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34) Notice the standard: as He has loved us. His example calls us beyond loving only when it is convenient or when someone has earned our approval. This command does not replace God’s Ten Commandments. Christ shows us how deeply their principles of love must reach into our lives. John makes the connection plain: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) Love for God includes obedience to Him, including honoring His seventh-day Sabbath. Love for our neighbor includes honesty, faithfulness and respect for what belongs to others. Living this way requires conversion. Following repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands, we receive God’s Spirit and become His spiritually begotten children. We are not yet born again into immortal life. We are growing toward that birth at the resurrection, learning now to put away the attitudes and habits of the old way of life. That growth takes daily effort with God’s help. We may need to pause before giving an angry answer, acknowledge that we were wrong or help someone who cannot repay us. Loving someone can also require speaking an uncomfortable truth, but with humility and a sincere desire for that person’s good. Paul describes the Christian life in personal terms: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20) Through God’s Spirit, Christ’s character is to become increasingly evident in our choices. Faith working through love produces conduct that reflects whom we follow. Prayer, Bible study and thoughtful meditation help us draw near to our Father and understand His will. Then we must practice what we learn. Today offers another opportunity to listen patiently, serve willingly and forgive sincerely. As we do, we begin experiencing the goodness of God’s way while looking toward the fullness of life in His eternal Family. I invite you to join Sabbath-Keepers Church News & Commentary on Facebook for biblical encouragement, fellowship and discussion about living God’s way. facebook.com/groups/sabbathk… -- Bob Schenfield, Founder of @ThingsAboutGod.

HOW LONG, O LORD? Have you ever looked at the violence, dishonesty and injustice around us and wondered why God allows it to continue? You pray, yet the suffering goes on. Wrongdoing is excused, truth is pushed aside and people who try to live honestly can find themselves at a disadvantage. Habakkuk brought that anguish directly to God. His questions speak to concerns many of us carry today. “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ And You will not save.” (Habakkuk 1:2) The prophet saw strife and distorted justice among his own people. He knew their conduct violated God’s standards, and he struggled to understand why God had not intervened. God’s answer showed that He had neither overlooked the wickedness nor lost control. He would raise up the Chaldeans to bring judgment upon Judah (Habakkuk 1:5–11). The answer was so sobering that it raised further questions for Habakkuk. God was acting, but His intervention would bring consequences the prophet found difficult to comprehend. We should remember that when we ask God to address our nation’s sins. His judgment is serious. It is no occasion for celebrating the suffering of people we dislike or imagining that our preferred political side stands above correction. God’s commandments judge everyone, including us. Ezekiel’s vision reveals something important about the people God distinguishes amid widespread corruption. He commanded that a mark be placed on those “who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” (Ezekiel 9:4) Their response showed that they had not become comfortable with evil. What does our response reveal? Do cruelty and dishonesty still trouble us when they benefit someone we support? Do we object to corruption in public life while excusing deception in our own dealings? Have repeated exposure and familiar entertainment made conduct seem acceptable that God calls sin? God’s law, expressed in the Ten Commandments, must remain our standard. Popular opinion cannot make stealing honest, hatred loving or idolatry acceptable. Neither can widespread neglect remove the obligation to remember God’s seventh-day Sabbath. Yet mourning over sin requires more than an angry comment beneath a headline. It should lead us to prayer, personal repentance and compassionate action. People suffer because of these wrongs. We can help someone who has been mistreated, refuse to spread an unverified accusation and teach our children honesty through our own example. We also need endurance. Habakkuk was told, “But the just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4) Faithfulness means continuing to obey God while waiting for answers. We must guard against allowing distress over the world to harden into bitterness toward everyone in it. God sees what is happening. Jesus Christ will return to establish righteous government on this earth. Until then, let us remain awake to wrongdoing, tenderhearted toward those who suffer and willing to accept God’s correction ourselves. I invite you to follow America in Prophecy on Facebook for biblical perspectives on our nation and the coming Kingdom of God. facebook.com/ProphecyAmerica -- Bob Schenfield, Founder of @ThingsAboutGod.

GOD’S STRENGTH NEVER RUNS OUT We know what it feels like to run out. Our energy fades, our patience wears thin and our ability to solve a problem reaches its limit. Sometimes we approach God as though He must have those same limitations. We hesitate to bring another concern before Him or wonder whether He has grown tired of hearing from us. But our heavenly Father does not become weary as we do. Isaiah asks, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.” (Isaiah 40:28) The God who created the mountains and oceans also understands the needs of each person He has called. His power does not diminish because our difficulties increase. That should encourage us to pray honestly. We can bring Him the serious decisions, the persistent struggles and the concerns we might feel embarrassed to mention to anyone else. Peter tells us to cast “all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) We do not need polished words to approach our Father. We need sincerity, humility and a willingness to listen to His instruction. Prayer also involves learning to trust His judgment. God’s unlimited power does not mean He promises to grant every request exactly as we present it. John explains, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14) His answers serve a purpose greater than our immediate comfort: He is preparing His children for eternal life in His Family. Sometimes we see help quickly. At other times, we must continue faithfully while an answer remains unclear. During that waiting, we can ask for wisdom, strength and the help of God’s Spirit to do what is right. Waiting does not mean God has forgotten us. Neither does a difficult day cancel His care. His mercy gives us reason to return when we have sinned. We should never treat forgiveness casually, as permission to continue breaking His commandments. But neither should shame persuade us to hide from Him. Through Jesus Christ, we can approach our Father, acknowledge our sins, turn from them and seek His forgiveness. Genuine repentance brings us toward God. Gratitude helps us remember whom we are approaching. Consider the understanding He has given, the help already received and the opportunities still before us to grow and serve. Even while asking for help, we have reasons to give Him praise. You may reach the end of your strength today. Your Father will not reach the end of His. Bring your concerns to Him, remain responsive to His Word and take the next faithful step. If messages like this encourage you, I invite you to join Observers of the Sabbath and Holy Days on Facebook for biblical encouragement and fellowship. facebook.com/groups/SabbathA… -- Bob Schenfield, Founder of @ThingsAboutGod.

2026 November-December dlvr.​it/TWFKM5

bit.​ly/news-net ~ John 12:26 dlvr.​it/TWDz6H

WAR IN HEAVEN -- AND HOPE FOR THIS EARTH We can watch wars unfold on our screens, examine military alliances and debate the decisions of national leaders. But Scripture reveals a conflict beyond the reach of a camera. Revelation describes war in heaven, with consequences for people here on earth. Understanding that conflict helps explain why material progress has never freed humanity from deception, hatred and war. “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought.” (Revelation 12:7) John identifies the dragon as Satan, the devil, who deceives the whole world. This is a real spirit being. His influence reaches into the thinking of a world that largely fails to recognize him. God did not create Satan evil. Ezekiel describes a created cherub whose ways were perfect until iniquity was found in him. His beauty became an occasion for pride, and he corrupted his wisdom (Ezekiel 28:12–17). Isaiah reveals the ambition behind that rebellion: exalting his throne and seeking to rival the Most High (Isaiah 14:12–14). His rebellion brought him into opposition to the God who created him. Revelation 12 describes an end-time conflict in which Satan and his angels are cast down to the earth. Heaven rejoices, but the earth receives a sobering warning: “For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” (Revelation 12:12) His defeat does not make him repentant. It makes him furious. That warning deserves our attention without becoming an excuse to assign dates Scripture does not give. A frightening headline does not establish that this heavenly battle has occurred. Jesus told His disciples to watch and remain ready. We must understand the prophetic sequence while resisting the temptation to turn every development into a claim of immediate fulfillment. Satan’s influence also calls for personal vigilance. Deception can appeal to pride, resentment or the desire to excuse disobedience. Before passing along an accusation, we can ask whether it is true. Before defending an angry response, we can examine whether it reflects Christ’s example. God holds us responsible for our choices. We need prayer, His Word and the help of God’s Spirit to resist the adversary. The coming Great Tribulation will be followed by the heavenly signs and the Day of the Lord. Jesus warned that humanity would face destruction unless those days were shortened (Matthew 24:21–22, 29). Yet the outcome is not in doubt. Jesus Christ will return and establish God’s Kingdom on this earth. Satan’s rule will end. That is why the gospel is good news. Christ proclaimed a coming government that will teach the nations God’s way of peace. We can begin living that way now, obeying His commandments and refusing to make room for the hatred and dishonesty that divide this world. Our confidence rests in the returning King. I invite you to join Sabbath-Keepers Church News & Commentary on Facebook for biblical encouragement and discussion about living God’s way. facebook.com/groups/sabbathk… -- Bob Schenfield, Founder of @ThingsAboutGod.

bit.​ly/news-net Why Did God Ask Abraham to Kill His Own Son? dlvr.​it/TWDvLc