Troy SDA Church

09/06/2026

Meekness is not weakness—it is the beauty of a life surrendered to Christ. 🌿

🌅 Daily Devotional | September 6
Acquiring the Divine Beauty of Meekness

📖 Scripture: “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” — Zephaniah 2:3

✨ Reflection
Jesus revealed the true beauty of meekness through His own life. Though divine in majesty, He walked among people as a servant, putting self aside and choosing to fulfill His Father’s will.

Meekness means allowing Christ to transform how we respond to neglect, insult, and irritation. When self no longer controls us, we don't have to defend our pride or return anger for anger.

The peace Christ gives does not depend on circumstances, possessions, or the approval of others. It is a constant peace that flows from Him, the Fountain of living water.

When Christ's meekness is present in our homes, it brings gentleness, patience, and peace. Our families can become a reflection of the harmony of heaven.

💛 Encouragement:
Ask Christ today to make His meekness beautiful in you. When self is surrendered to Him, His peace can remain even when circumstances are difficult.

🙏 Prayer:
Lord Jesus, teach me the meekness and humility You demonstrated. Help me surrender self, respond with love instead of anger, and bring Your peace into every relationship. Amen.

📚 Source — Ellen G. White — Reflecting Christ

09/06/2026

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 06
The Example of Jesus

The context of 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 has to do with Paul’s encouraging members in Corinth to complete a fundraiser for the impoverished churches in Judea. Apparently, they had already committed to doing that (2 Cor. 8:10, 11; 2 Cor. 9:5; see also 1 Cor. 16:1–4), but relationship issues between them and Paul had complicated things. After dealing with these issues (2 Corinthians 1–7), Paul now turns to the conclusion of that task (2 Corinthians 8–9).

Initially, Paul appeals to the example of the Macedonians (2 Cor. 8:1–7), whose extreme poverty did not prevent them from overflowing “in a wealth of generosity” (2 Cor. 8:2, ESV). Yes, poverty and generosity can walk together. However, this admirable generosity of the Macedonians is but a replication of Jesus’ generosity in giving Himself for us (2 Cor. 8:8–15).

Read 2 Corinthians 8:9. What does this passage tell us about the example of Jesus?

Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 8:9 is one of the most astonishing, powerful, and profound passages in the whole Bible. Paul tells the story of Jesus’ mission but with an incredible economy of words. There is so much theology here. This is the story of redemption but in only one verse.

Even more impressive is that this story is told through financial language. Yes, Jesus was rich. His richness refers to His pre-existence in heaven (John 17:5). He decided to become poor by giving up the heavenly glory and coming to this world of sorrows. He became literally poor (Luke 9:58). Although He was equal with God, He “emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7, NASB). “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8, ESV).

Jesus gave His own life so that we might live forever with Him. His offering had a purpose: our salvation. Stewardship and mission go together. Second Corinthians 8–9 tells the story of a particular money offering, but this story is based upon Jesus. During this week, we will see theological principles related to the practice of offering gifts that are based on Christ’s offering of Himself.

Dwell on the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. When you realize that all this was done for you so that you can have hope of something beyond this miserable existence here, what should your reaction be?

To read today’s full lesson see link in bio or download the free Sabbath School App.
https://adventech.io/sabbath-school/

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

Our influence reaches farther than we may ever know. 🌊

🌅 Daily Devotional | September 5
Influence may Bless Thousands

📖 Scripture: “Your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.” — 1 Thessalonians 1:8, R.S.V.

✨ Reflection
Every life carries an influence. Through our words, actions, attitudes, and example, we affect the people around us—whether we realize it or not.

Like a pebble creating ever-widening ripples in a lake, one faithful life can influence another, and then another. A simple act of kindness, courage, faith, or unselfish love may continue blessing others far beyond what we can see.

Our influence can bring warmth and hope, or it can spread discouragement and selfishness. We cannot always measure the results, but every influence becomes part of a larger chain of events.

When we reveal the character of Christ through our daily lives, we cooperate with Him in reaching others. What begins quietly in one life may ultimately bless thousands. 💛

💛 Encouragement: You may never know how far your influence reaches. Let Christ shape your words, actions, and attitudes today, and trust Him to use your life for good.

🙏 Prayer: Lord, help me to reflect Your character in everything I say and do. Make my influence a source of faith, courage, hope, love, and blessing to everyone I encounter. Amen.

📚 Source — Ellen G. White — Reflecting Christ

09/04/2026

What if true greatness isn't about being above others, but being willing to serve them?

🌅 Daily Devotional | September 4
The Greatest in the Kingdom

📖 Scripture: “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 18:4

✨ Reflection:
The disciples were arguing about who would be greatest, but Jesus answered their ambition with an unforgettable demonstration of humility. The One they called Master and Lord knelt before them and washed their feet.

Christ chose the humblest form of service to teach them that greatness in God's kingdom is completely different from greatness in the world.

Jesus then pointed them to a little child. True greatness begins with humility—willingly submitting ourselves to God, allowing Him to teach and discipline us, and laying aside the desire for recognition.

When we walk humbly with God, we place ourselves where the enemy cannot easily take advantage of us. The greatest are not those seeking to be honored, but those willing to serve.

💛 Encouragement:
You don't have to prove your importance. Follow Christ's example. Humble yourself, serve others, and allow God to use your life for His glory.

🙏 Prayer:
Lord, teach me to walk humbly with You. Remove my desire for recognition and give me the heart of a willing child. Help me follow Christ's example by serving others with love and humility. Amen.

📚 Source: Ellen G. White — Reflecting Christ

09/03/2026

Our sufficiency is not found in ourselves—it is found in Christ alone. When we stop trusting our own strength and surrender completely to Him, His grace becomes our strength.

🌅 Daily Devotional | September 3
Our Sufficiency is in Christ Alone

📖 Scripture
“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto world.” — Galatians 6:14

✨ Reflection
Faith means letting go of self-trust and reaching out for the infinite power of Christ. We cannot transform ourselves by outward observances or human effort. We must allow Christ to do the work within us.

Surrender is not something we experience only at the beginning of our Christian walk. At every step toward heaven, we must renew our dependence upon Christ. Our good works are possible only because His power is working through us.

The closer we come to Jesus, the more clearly we recognize our own weakness and the sinfulness of sin. Like Peter, we have nothing in ourselves in which to glory. The people who walk closest with God are not those who boast of their goodness, but those who know how completely they depend upon the righteousness and grace of Christ.

💛 Encouragement
You do not have to become strong enough, good enough, or worthy enough on your own. Give Christ your heart again today. Your sufficiency is not in what you can accomplish—it is in what Christ can accomplish through a surrendered life.

🙏 Prayer
Lord Jesus, I surrender my heart and my self-reliance to You. I cannot change myself or keep myself pure by my own strength. Take my heart, mold me, and fill me with Your grace. Teach me to depend completely upon You and to find my sufficiency in Christ alone. Amen.

📚 Source — Ellen G. White — Reflecting Christ

09/03/2026

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 03
Comfort and Joy

Read 2 Corinthians 7. What are Paul’s feelings upon hearing that the Corinthians had repented?

How much love flows from the words “You are in our hearts” (2 Cor. 7:3, NKJV; see also 2 Cor. 6:11). In his deep desire to have his love reciprocated, Paul also says, “Make room in your hearts for us” (2 Cor. 7:2, ESV). While the phrase “in your hearts” is not in the Greek text, most English versions supply it, which is correct because the context supports it.

Indeed, the Corinthians opened their hearts to Paul and his fellow workers. This is why verse 4 is a burst of joy. Paul’s words express how positive his feelings are at this moment: “Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Cor. 7:4, NKJV). Paul is filled with comfort and joy. How much comfort and joy our churches can bring to the hearts of their ministers by faithfully committing themselves to Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 7:5–16, Paul further explains the reason for his comfort and joy. These two concepts dominate the passage. The verb parakaleō (“to comfort”) or the noun paraklēsis (“comfort”) occurs together a total of seven times in 2 Corinthians 7. This section of the letter ends the same way it began, namely, with much comfort in God (2 Cor. 1:3–7). Paul’s comfort in 2 Corinthians 7 comes from the relief he experienced because the severe letter produced the effect he intended for it.

Although this relief is the result of Titus’s positive report, ultimately, God is the agent of the comfort Paul experienced (2 Cor. 7:6). God is indeed the “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation” (2 Cor. 1:3, 4, NKJV).

Interestingly, while Paul is “filled with comfort,” he is “exceedingly joyful” (2 Cor. 7:4, 7, 13). Although his painful letter had caused much sadness, that was a sadness according to God’s will with repentance intended (2 Cor. 7:9–11, NASB). The Corinthians “sorrowed in a godly manner” (2 Cor. 7:11, NKJV), a sorrow producing “repentance leading to salvation” (2 Cor. 7:10, NKJV). What else could bring more joy to the heart of an authentic minister of God?

Have you ever experienced godly sorrow in your life? How did you know that it was sorrow according to God’s will to lead you to repentance?

To read today’s full lesson see link in bio or download the free Sabbath School App.
https://adventech.io/sabbath-school/

09/02/2026

Growing in Christ is not about trying harder—it is about staying connected to Jesus.

🌅 Daily Devotional | September 2
Growing Up into Christ

📖 Scripture
“I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” — Psalm 16:8

✨ Reflection
We may trust Christ for forgiveness and then mistakenly try to live the Christian life in our own strength. But Jesus says, “Without me ye can do nothing.” Our growth in grace, our joy, and our usefulness all depend upon our continual union with Him.

Growing in Christ means giving Him everything—our hearts, our wills, our plans, and our service—and receiving from Him everything we need: His strength, His righteousness, His wisdom, and His abiding presence.

This surrender is a daily experience. Each morning, we can place our plans at God’s feet and ask Him to use us that day. As we continually give ourselves to Him, He molds our lives more and more after the life of Christ.

A life in Christ is a life of peaceful trust. Our hope is not in ourselves but in Him. As we keep our minds focused on Christ—His love, humility, purity, holiness, self-denial, and perfect character—we are transformed into His likeness.

💛 Encouragement
You were never meant to grow into Christ by your own strength. Stay close to Him. Give Him your weakness and trust His strength. As you surrender to Him day by day, He will faithfully work in you and shape your life after His.

🙏 Prayer
Lord, I give myself completely to You today. Take my heart, my will, my plans, and my service. Abide with me and work through me. Help me to depend wholly upon Christ and to keep His character before my mind. Transform me into His likeness. Amen.

📚 Source — Ellen G. White — Reflecting Christ

09/02/2026

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 02
Call to Holiness

In 2 Corinthians 6:3–10, Paul keeps encouraging the Corinthians to be reconciled to God. He presents a long list of hardships and triumphs to show what it means to be a follower of Christ and a minister of God. In short, he lists difficult situations (2 Cor. 6:4, 5), virtues of character (2 Cor. 6:6), equipment for ministry (2 Cor. 6:7), and vicissitudes of ministry (2 Cor. 6:8–10). After instructing the members in Corinth to be reconciled to God, Paul appeals for them to live a holy life, and to do so by separating themselves from the harmful influence of unbelievers and from unclean things (2 Cor. 6:14–17).

Read 2 Corinthians 6:11–7:1. According to this passage, what does a holy life look like?

Paul emphasizes in this passage the importance of affection and love within the church (1 Cor. 6:11–13). The evidence that people have been reconciled to God is that they seek reconciliation with one another. Indeed, they become, as it were, agents of horizontal reconciliation.

Next, the call to holiness is given by means of six appeals, namely, (1) “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Cor. 6:14, NKJV); (2) “ ‘Come out from among them’ ” (2 Cor. 6:17, NKJV); (3) “ ‘Be separate’ ” (2 Cor. 6:17, NKJV); (4) “ ‘Do not touch what is unclean’ ” (2 Cor. 6:17, NKJV); (5) “Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit” (2 Cor. 7:1, ESV); (6) “Make holiness perfect in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1, RSV; emphasis supplied). These exhortations show that a holy God requires a holy life and separation from idolatry.

On the other hand, the passage also brings seven promises that highlight the role of the Christian church as a holy temple: (1) “ ‘I will dwell in them’ ”; (2) “ ‘[I will] walk among them’ ”; (3) “ ‘I will be their God’ ”; (4) “ ‘They shall be My people’ ”; (5) “ ‘I will receive you’ ”; (6) “ ‘I will be a Father to you’ ”; (7) “ ‘You shall be My sons and daughters’ ” (2 Cor. 6:16, 17, 18, NKJV).

Notice that the four promises in 2 Corinthians 6:16 are the basis for the three imperatives in 2 Corinthians 6:17 (see the word “therefore” at the beginning of 2 Corinthians 6:17). This demonstrates that holiness is not the result of one’s efforts but the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart. Although holiness results from God, believers must do their part and reject idolatry and every impure practice.

What do God’s promises in 2 Corinthians 6:16–18 tell us about what holiness is?

To read today’s full lesson see link in bio or download the free Sabbath School App.
https://adventech.io/sabbath-school/

09/01/2026

Are you living today in the light of Christ’s soon return?

🌅 Daily Devotional | September 1
Be Ready for the Coming of Christ

📖 Scripture: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” — Titus 2:13, 14

✨ Reflection:
Christ has promised to return, and His people are called to live with that hope before them—not as a date to calculate, but as a promise to prepare for.

We may not know the day or hour, but we can recognize the signs and remain spiritually awake. Waiting for Christ means living soberly, righteously, and faithfully today.

Our preparation is more than watching the skies. We are called to represent Christ, reflect His light, serve others, and be zealous in doing good.

💛 Encouragement:
Keep looking up. The delay does not cancel the promise. Let the hope of Christ’s return shape the way you live, serve, and love today.

🙏 Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me to live each day ready for Your coming. Keep me faithful, watchful, and useful in Your service, and let my life reflect Your light to others. Amen.

📚 Source: Ellen G. White — Reflecting Christ