As he thought about the distance between himself and his wife, he knew that he had been wrong. He’d been unkind and harsh and had said some things he’d regretted. Yet, his next thought was, Didn’t she deserve it, even a little bit?

Is this thought process familiar to you? It’s easy to flip from a sense of remorse to a justification of our thoughts and actions. It’s not always easy to say, “I’m sorry . . .” when we have done wrong, yet this is so essential to rebuilding or strengthening any relationship.

Image © Deb Minnard at Goodsalt.com

The same is true of us and God. The Holy Spirit often prompts our minds to think about the sins that we commit. Our hearts are moved because of these promptings, but it can be easy to push away that still, small voice as we justify why we acted a certain way. One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to “ ‘convict the world of sin’ ” (John 16:8, NKJV). What an incredible gift from God (Luke 11:13), for we need such convictions to repair the distance that can creep into our walk with Him!

Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in the process of grafting us back onto the Vine (John 15:4). “We often sorrow because our evil deeds bring unpleasant consequences to ourselves; but this is not repentance. Real sorrow for sin is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit reveals the ingratitude of the heart that has slighted and grieved the Saviour, and brings us in contrition to the foot of the cross. By every sin Jesus is wounded afresh; . . . we mourn for the sins that have brought anguish upon Him. Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 300.

The truth is, we can’t grow in our relationship with God when chosen and cherished sins stand between us and Him. We’ve all fallen short of the glory of God, but we can—and should—repent of our sins when the Holy Spirit brings them into our minds (Ephesians 4:30).

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Photograph by William Earnhardt

Key Text: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NKJV).

Read in Class: Hosea 6.

Study: What specifically do you notice here about how God describes Himself in His appeal for repentance?

Apply: When did you last hear a rebuke or a call to repentance? How did you respond? Ask the class to spend some time in prayer right now, asking God to soften our hearts and open our ears to His voice in His Word this week.

Share: Please share how Isaiah 64:6, Zechariah 3:4, and Isaiah 61:10 reveal the importance of Christ’s righteousness to us? Why are these promises so important? 

Read in Class: Acts 2:37-38, and Acts 3:18-19.

Study: Why is repentance so important in the process of spiritual growth? What is a time of “refreshing”?

Apply: Repentance leads to life (Acts 11:18) and is a vital part of growing in a relationship with God. In the process of surrender, repentance, and allowing God to prune you, what step is most challenging for you?

Share: Your friend says we need more of those old-fashioned fire-and-brimstone sermons to bring people to repentance. What do you tell your friend? See Hosea 2:14 and Romans 2:4.

Read in Class: Exodus 34:1-10.

Study: What crucial truth is found here?

Apply: Does God’s mercy tend to turn you away from sin or encourage you to test God’s limits and patience with sin?

Share: Slowly read the following verses. Share what they tell you about God’s grace toward you: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23, NKJV). “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:20-21, NKJV). “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8, NKJV).

Read in Class: Matthew 22:1-14.

Study: What messages can you find in this parable?

Apply: Adam and Eve wore a white robe of soft light before they sinned; after they sinned, they realized they were naked (Gen. 3:7) and made clothing of fig leaves. Then God replaced their fig leaves with a clothing from animal skins. There was a sacrifice that produced their garment. In a similar way, we accept Jesus’ sacrifice by accepting His robe of righteousness. “Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for covering…. Nothing can man devise to supply the place of his lost robe of innocence. No fig-leaf garment, no worldly citizen dress, can be worn by those who sit down with Christ and angels at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God’s presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul.”–Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 311. Reflect: We should daily choose to be clothed with Jesus’ robe of righteousness. What does this really mean, and how do we do this?

Share: How would you explain the precious gift of Christ’s robe of righteousness to a non-Christian or a new believer?

Mission: Can you think of someone with whom you could share the plan of salvation this week?

It had been a very busy week. Although she knew there was a lot to be done before Sabbath, the urgent seemed to consume the important, and before she knew it, the sun had gone down. The family shared a special Friday night meal and worship together.

But when Sabbath morning came and she woke up early, she couldn’t help noticing the dirty bathroom, which she wiped down. Then she saw that her young son had wet the bed, so she threw his sheets into the washer with other clothes. As she prepared breakfast for her family, she realized there was no dessert for lunch, so she quickly baked some banana bread. She saw that her husband needed a shirt ironed for church, so she did that, too, then folded some clothes and took out the trash.

And then it hit her. It’s Sabbath—a day I love more than any other! Yet here I am, doing all these chores and allowing these things to distract me from what Sabbath is really about—drawing near to God.

Image © Phil McKay at Goodsalt.com

For just a moment, her mind started justifying her actions—these were all things that needed doing. Were they really? She realized that she was acting like Martha, “distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40, NKJV), but the words of Jesus echoed in her mind: “ ‘You are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’ ” (Luke 10:41-42, NKJV). That good part. Sitting at Jesus’ feet out of a deep love for Him—not just on Sabbath, but every day. She hadn’t chosen that this morning.

She loved God, yet it was easy to forget that He had given her the Sabbath as a gift in time to make their relationship stronger. Silent tears fell from her eyes as she stood there in the kitchen.

The purpose of this example is not to focus on what we should or shouldn’t do on Sabbath; rather it is a reminder of why it’s important for us to notice the things that weaken or break down our relationship with God. When our hearts feel the pain of sin and separation and we call out to Him, Jesus is very close (Psalms 53:2). In His bloodstained hands, He holds a white robe. He sees our tears of repentance and takes away our dirty clothes. He then wraps His pure robe of righteousness all the way around us. His purity covers our confessed sin—completely and perfectly. We can wash our robe in His blood (Revelation 7:14).

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study

Isaiah 61:10; Hosea 6:1-11; Acts 3:18-19; Exodus 34:1-10; Romans 6:23; Matthew 22:1-14.

Memory Text:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NKJV).

The Promised Land seemed so far away to the Israelites, who camped beneath the pillar of cloud on the plain. Moses had ascended into the thick darkness, which had covered the top of the mountain many days earlier. Surely their leader had died by now, they reasoned, if not from starvation then perhaps from the consuming fire on its peak. This mixed multitude (the Israelites along with those who left Egypt with them on the Exodus) felt restless and impatient, ready to move on to the land flowing with milk and honey. Although these same people had, just a few days earlier, made a solemn covenant with God to obey Him, they wanted an image they could see. And so, they rallied around Aaron’s tent and demanded that he create an idol for them. Fearing for his own safety, Aaron agreed. In Exodus 32:1-35; Exodus 33:1-23; Exodus 34:1-35, we read how this sad story unravels.

This account is just one story from Scripture that teaches us about repentance and forgiveness, the theme of this week’s lesson study. Keep the theme of this week’s memory verse in your mind as you go through each day’s study. Yes, we sin, but thanks to Jesus’ death on the cross, forgiveness is there for the sincere confessing and repentant sinner.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, June 6.

Sunday–>

Watch a YouTube video of Tarsis at: bit.ly/Tarsis-IS.

Tarsis Gomes, a 19-year-old student, received a monthly allowance of 50 Brazilian real (worth US$50 at the time) from his father. After giving 5 real for tithe and 5 real for offering, he had 40 real left for university expenses.

One Sabbath, after giving tithe and offering in church, a friend named Nivaldo asked Tarsis for help buying new tires for his wheelchair. Tarsis didn’t hesitate. “Sure, I’ll give you twenty real,” he said.

Then a second friend, Jairo, also asked for help. He sang with an a cappella group called Communion that was touring churches in Brazil, and they needed money for lodging. “Sure, I’ll give you twenty real,” Tarsis said.

He forgot that he needed 23 real to cover university fees that month.

Image © Pacific Press

A few days later, Tarsis got in line at an ATM to withdraw money for his university fees. His sister, who also was a student, stood with him. It was then that he remembered that he had promised the 40 real that remained after tithe and offering to his two friends. He began to talk to God. “Why did You allow me to make those promises?” he asked, bowing his head sadly. “How can I help people if I don’t study? What will Father say to me?”

At that moment, he sensed God was saying, Look up at the ATM. He raised his eyes and saw money sticking out of the ATM’s cash dispenser slot. Then someone approached the ATM and withdrew money, but the banknote remained in the slot. He couldn’t believe it. He prayed, “Lord, if three people use the ATM and don’t see that money, then I’ll know that it’s for me.”

The next three people in line withdrew money, but the banknote remained.

With a prayer, Tarsis boldly cut in line and walked up to the ATM. Reaching out his hand, he pulled a 50-real banknote out of the slot. All eyes fell on him. His sister later said it looked like he pulled the money out of thin air. One moment there was no money in the slot, and the next it was in his hand.

Tarsis couldn’t believe it. He was shaking. The next second, his sister was beside him, asking, “Where did you find that money?”

“Right here,” he said. “It was just sticking out of the ATM.”

“No way,” she said. “If it had been there, I would have taken it myself.”

Tarsis, now a 42-year-old military police officer in Recife, Brazil, has been asked why God provided 50 real and not more. He replies, “Because I didn’t help more people. If I had offered to help more people, God would have given me more.” To him, the 50 real made perfect sense: 5 real for tithe, 5 real for offering, and 40 real for his friends.“We do not become poor when we help people,” he said. “God is the One who sustains us. Be faithful.”