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The Hill Adventist church, 45 East Road Rewlatch, Johannesburg (2026)

17/06/2026

DEVOTIONAL: From Death to Life

Carl Ruse of the U.S. Air Force arrived at the Yokkaichi-Ishihara Sangyo labor camp in Nagoya, Japan, in September 1944. Captured by the Japanese over two years earlier, Ruse had been starved down to 80 pounds and had lost hope of surviving much longer. But then a fourteen-year-old Japanese boy who worked at the factory where Ruse was laboring began—at the risk of his own life—to smuggle food to the emaciated prisoner of war.

It saved Ruse’s life. A year later, the newly freed Ruse took food rations to the boy’s family as a gift, and the boy gave him a small photo of himself. The memory of this boy’s kindness made Ruse a better person throughout his life; he was devoid of the bitterness that gnawed at the hearts of so many POWs.

In a sense, we humans are all prisoners of war in the great conflict between good and evil. Due to the sad choice of our ancestor Adam, our enemy is able to enslave us, starve us spiritually, and destroy us. “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Left to ourselves, we would have no hope.

But Jesus stepped in as the representative of all humanity and was willing to risk His life, and even to die, “that whoever believes in him should not perish” (John 3:16). Through His death and resurrection, we can receive spiritual food, forgiveness, and healing. Through His provision, we are rescued, reconciled to God, and given life that never ends.

Because of Adam’s sin, we’ve inherited the rebellious tendency to turn away from God—the only One who can help us—and are headed for certain disaster. As the prophet Isaiah wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). But Jesus has the power to help us—if we choose—reverse our self-destructive path, point us in the right direction, and save us.

Apply It:

List three reasons you are thankful that Jesus is your representative.

Dig Deeper:

1 John 2:1, 2; Romans 5:18, 19; 1 Peter 3:18

Key Bible Texts
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22 KJV)

17/06/2026

DEVOTIONAL: A New Wash

Something as simple and common as laundry is changing. People used to wash certain clothes using the hot or warm water setting on their laundry machines. As a result of newly developed detergents, however, all laundry can now be thoroughly washed using the cold-water setting. This is because most detergents can dissolve just as well in cold water as they do in hot water.

Many people struggle with the stains of their past mistakes. They try to make themselves feel better by volunteering or doing community service. While some of these strategies may be innocent, God’s plan is to give them a more powerful experience.

The experience of justification is illustrated in a striking matter in the story of Joshua the high priest. This man had a checkered past. The metaphor of dirt on his garments was used to represent the guilt and condemnation that Joshua deserved. When Joshua’s faults were pointed out by Satan, God stepped in: “He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes’ ” (Zechariah 3:4).

The new clothing that Joshua received represented the new way of life that he began to live. On the one hand, Joshua’s faith in the removal of his past sins was the reception of his new right standing with God. On the other hand, his reception of that right standing was also shown in his new way of life: “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).

Joshua wasn’t trying to cover up his sinful past by doing good; rather, he was doing good now that the guilt of his past life no longer burdened him.

Apply It:

Encourage someone who is discouraged by their past.

Dig Deeper:

Romans 5:19; Philippians 3:9; Zechariah 3:2

Key Bible Texts
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV)

12/06/2026

"Study the Word, that your faith may not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" C Spurgeon

"Estudem a Palavra, para que a vossa fé não se baseie na sabedoria dos homens, mas no poder de Deus". C. Spurgeon

11/06/2026

DEVOTIONAL: "Covered in Righteousness"

What’s the most expensive piece of clothing you have ever purchased? Imagine buying your loved one an evening gown that costs $30 million. The Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur dress was designed by Faisol Abdullah in 2009. Studded with 750 diamonds, the red burgundy taffeta, chiffon, silk, and satin dress literally sparkles.

There’s a far more expensive wedding garment that cost all of heaven, but it’s being offered to you at no charge. This free gift came through the shed blood of Christ on Calvary. The robe of Jesus’ perfect righteousness is necessary for you to enter the gates of heaven and join in the great wedding supper (Revelation 19:9).

The perfect life that Christ offers is portrayed in a parable where guests were invited to a wedding. Each guest was offered a wedding garment. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11, 12). Coming to the wedding was not enough; he needed a wedding garment.

The same imagery is portrayed in the parable of the lost son. When the prodigal son returned home, broken and repentant, the father quickly told the servants to cover this son who was in filthy clothing. “Bring out the best robe and put it on him” (Luke 15:22).

Sinners need more than their ragged garments removed, they need new clothing. That is, they need a new life in Christ. When Jesus rose from the dead, His perfect life empowered us to live like Christ and “follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). When we depend on the life and death of Jesus, we are promised that His righteous life will be ours. As Paul stated, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Apply It:

What’s the most expensive piece of clothing you have ever purchased?

Dig Deeper:

Genesis 3:21; Zechariah 3:3, 4; Revelation 7:14

Key Bible Texts
"That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:27 KJV)

07/06/2026

DEVOTIONAL: "Empty no More"

What is the essential difference between Jesus and every other supposed “messiah” in human history? With enough searching, you can likely find the remains of every one of these claimants, except one: Jesus. There are sites purporting to be His tomb, but each of them is empty. No body, no bones, no dust, no trace of the Son of God’s remains.

Without the resurrection, Jesus is just another poseur, another claimant to a messianic title, of which there have been many—both religious and political—over the centuries. But we know, from history and from their gravesites, that all of these claimants are dead. All, that is, except for Jesus, who arose on the third day and later ascended into heaven, where He “sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

We know this because there were dozens of witnesses to the resurrection and ascension. We know it because those witnesses boldly proclaimed these facts in the face of fierce opposition. And we know it because many of those would be martyred for their beliefs. No one willingly surrenders their life for something they know is a lie.

Perhaps the most important argument for the resurrection of Jesus is the difference it has made in the lives of tens of millions of people through the years—and even today. Men and women have shed addictions, lost their anger, and have become productive citizens and loving family members because of the change that faith in Jesus has brought. That’s a living witness to an ever-living Savior.

Apply It:

Study the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to see how many doubted Him—but also how others believed and the change it made in their lives.

Dig Deeper:

1 Corinthians 15:1–17; Luke 24:36–43; Hebrews 8:1, 2

Key Bible Texts
"And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." (1 Corinthians 15:14 KJV)

04/06/2026

DEVOTIONAL: "Power in the Blood"

In 1628, the English physician William Harvey discovered the circulation of blood in the human body. Soon after this, the first-known blood transfusion was attempted. The first successful transfusion was accomplished by Richard Lower, who kept dogs alive by transfusing blood from other dogs.

An American physician, Philip Physick, performed the first human blood transfusion in 1795 but did not publish his work. James Blundell, a British obstetrician, successfully transfused human blood in 1818 to treat a postpartum hemorrhage. He used the patient’s husband as a donor and saved the woman’s life. Blood transfusions have come a long way since then, with the identification of blood types, the use of antibiotics to control infections during transfusions, the preservation of blood, and the creation of blood banks.

Blood played a central role in the sanctuary services established by God to atone for sin through the sacrifice of animals. In fact, Israel was instructed to no longer make blood sacrifices apart from the temple to other gods, otherwise “that man shall be cut off from among his people” (Leviticus 17:9). Blood represented life and was not even to be eaten (verse 10); if game was killed in the field, the blood was to be poured out on the ground and covered (verse 13).

The blood of the Old Testament ceremonies pointed forward to the sacrificial blood spilled by Christ on the cross. The Bible explains, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14).

We are saved by the blood of Christ “whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness” (Romans 3:25). Jesus blood satisfied the demands of the law so that we can live eternally.

Apply It:

Have you ever donated blood? Do you know someone whose life was saved by a blood transfusion?

Dig Deeper:

Matthew 26:28; John 6:53–58; 1 John 4:10

Key Bible Texts
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."
(Leviticus 17:11 KJV)

03/06/2026

DEVOTIONAL: "Core Change"

Going from blond to brunette has been called a health hazard due to the toxic chemicals involved in the process. Recently, however, scientists have been experimenting with a new material: graphene. This safer substance is processed into a gel and sprayed onto hair in order to provide a color change that lasts for 30 washes.

Unlike the superficial changes made by beauticians, Christ came to transform our sinful state by taking our sins upon Himself. Naturally, we could not change, and the sins we had already committed should have killed us. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil” (Jeremiah 13:23).

The Bible teaches that our sins—indeed, the sins of the “whole world” (1 John 2:2)—were transferred to Jesus. Isaiah expressed how God the Father would honor Jesus for taking the punishment for our law-breaking: “I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).

Jesus never sinned in order to take our sins upon Himself. This is why Isaiah points out that He was being treated like a sinner, even though He committed no sin. As a result of His true innocence, He could take our sins and give us His innocence instead.

David realized this when he repented of his sins of adultery and murder; he prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). In effect, he was believing that because of the right relation to God that the coming Messiah would have, David could receive forgiveness. By starting afresh, he could begin to live the beautiful way of life that the Messiah would live.

Apply It:

Respond with kindness to an unkind act directed toward you.

Dig Deeper:

Isaiah 53:10; Galatians 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3

Key Bible Texts
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
(Isaiah 53:6 KJV)

03/06/2026

DEVOTIONAL: "Twice Mine"

The story is told of a boy who built a toy sailboat and lost it on a large lake in the heart of the big city. Weeks later, he saw the boat—his boat—in a shop window, but, despite his pleas to the owner, was required to scrape together every penny he had to purchase that which his own hands had made. “Now you’re twice mine,” the boy said to the boat as he walked out of the store. “First, I made you, and then I paid to get you back!”

You can see the analogy, right? God made us, but sin put us in Satan’s shop window. In order to reclaim fallen humanity, a price had to be paid for sin—the ultimate price, in fact, being the death of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, on a cross of shame.

God’s righteousness had to be satisfied, but if God simply destroyed every sinner, there would be no one left. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).

The cost of redemption is beyond anything the human mind can imagine. Not only did Jesus have to come to earth as a human, He bore our sins and the required separation from God during an agonizing crucifixion. Think about it: Jesus, who spoke the world into existence—“by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible” (Colossians 1:16)—had to die in order to redeem the humans He made.

Like that little boy, Jesus can say of those who follow Him, “First I made you, and then I paid to redeem you!” When a sinner receives Christ as their Savior, their sins are wiped out, their debt is paid. And the reward is far better than being back on a young boy’s shelf!

Apply It:

Today, tell someone you know—or someone you’ve just met—that God loves them so much that He wants to call them “twice Mine.”

Dig Deeper:

Exodus 29:18; Leviticus 1:9; Ephesians 5:2

Key Bible Texts
"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"
(Romans 3:25 KJV)

The Hill Adventist church

17/06/2026

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11/06/2026

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