Twice Mine

 

By David A. Sargent     Brett Petrillo recently shared this interesting story:     Tom had just finished making his own toy boat. He brought the boat to the edge of a river and started to let out the string tied to it. He was admiring how smoothly his boat cut through the water when a strong current took hold. Tom tried to pull his toy back to shore but the current was too strong and the string snapped. He sprinted along the bank to catch it, but soon his boat drifted out of sight. He desperately searched for the boat until darkness set in. Unsuccessful, he finally gave up the hunt.     Several days later Tom was walking home from school and passed by a toy store. A certain boat caught his eye. He pressed his face against the store window to get a better look and sure enough, it was his lost boat. He ran inside and told the manager, “Sir, that's my boat in your window. I made it myself.”     The manager replied, “Sorry, son, but someone else brought it in this morning. If you want it, you'll have to buy it.”     Tom hurried home and counted all of his money; he had just enough. He rushed back to the store and purchased his beloved boat. As he walked home he held the toy tightly to his chest and said, “Now you're twice mine. First, I made you and now I bought you.” (Good News Publishers, “The Boy Who Lost His Boat”). *     God created mankind in His image (Genesis 1:26-27).  Sadly, due to our wrong choices, each of us has drifted away from God, and we’ve been caught up in the sweeping currents of sin.  In our sin, we’ve become the slave of sin and Satan (John 8:34), which will destroy us (Romans 6:23; 1 Peter 5:8).     But God loves us so much that even though He was the offended party, He paid the price for our redemption.  The price paid for our redemption was the precious blood of His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins (1 Peter 1:18-19).  Because of that “purchase,” we can have forgiveness of our sins and receive the gift of eternal life because of our Maker and Savior.     We belong to God by right of CREATION.  He made us, therefore we belong to Him.  Even though we rejected His ownership in our choice to serve sin and Satan, we can “belong” to Him once again through the REDEMPTION that is found in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7).     God will redeem those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  Having been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, we should live out the rest of our lives seeking to bring glory to Him (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).     When we accept God’s offer of redemption, we become “TWICE HIS.”  He made us and He purchased our redemption.  As His possession, we receive ALL of the spiritual blessings that are found in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).     Won’t YOU accept His offer of redemption and eternal life by trusting and obeying Him today?     Won’t YOU?

- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org  From “Twice Mine” by Brett Petrillo in Daily Bread (3/5/13), an e-mail ministry of the Bear Valley church of Christ in Denver, CO.  See www.bearvalleycofc.com

Out of the Fire

 

By David A. Sargent
    It was an October day in 1959 in Bixby, Oklahoma.  Six-year-old big sister was at school.  Little two-year-old sister was playing in the house.  Mom was also at home working in another room.  Dad was at work.  A carpenter was refinishing the hardwood floors in their old house.  The carpenter’s wife, accompanied by a five-year-old neighbor, had just arrived to pick him up.  Then it happened.  There was a loud explosion.  When the hot water heater came on, it ignited the freshly sealed hardwood floor and the bucket of sealer that was sitting near the furnace.  Instantly, fire raged in the dining room.    Mother ran out of the back of the house around to the front.  The carpenter, his wife, and the 5-year-old had made it out safely.  The two-year-old, however, was trapped inside.  Mother heard her daughter screaming inside the dining room.  Mother went to the window, ripped off the heavy screen window, threw it aside, and climbed into the smoke-filled room with fire blazing all around.  Huddled in the corner just a couple of feet from the fire was her daughter.  She was trying to shield herself from the fire with her arms.  Mother ripped off her own skirt and wrapped her daughter in it.  Carrying her, she climbed out of the window.  By this time, Dad had arrived.  Seeing that their daughter was badly burned, they rushed her to the hospital in Broken Arrow.  It wouldn’t be long before she would be rushed to a much larger, better-equipped hospital in Tulsa.    The little two-year-old had suffered terrible burns on her legs up to the middle of her thighs, on her right arm, and the right side of her face.  Over a four-month period in the hospital, the little two-year-old underwent multiple surgeries to place skin grafts on the burn sites.  Doctors even had to take her to surgery in order to change her dressings.    And every day, her mother was by her side.    That little girl, Pam, is now a wife and has a daughter of her own.  She has experienced success as an executive of the Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan.  She still walks with a limp and has scars on her legs and her right hand.  But she is alive and well… and thankful for her loving mother, Helen Parham, who saved her life by pulling her out of the fire.    The love of this mother for her daughter should help us to recognize how much the Heavenly Father loves each one of us...     “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  When we were doomed because of our sins, God sent Jesus to our rescue so that we would not perish in the flames of the fires of hell (Ephesians 1:7).  He came so that so we might have eternal life in a glorious place called Heaven (John 14:1-6).    Jesus will save and give eternal life to those who accept His offer of salvation on His terms: placing their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse those who strive to continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).    Jesus has come to save YOU from the fire.  He has something FAR BETTER for you!     Won’t YOU accept His offer on His terms? 

David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org

Never Alone

 

By David A. Sargent

    Steve Higginbotham relates an experience that will likely be familiar to parents of small children:

    I can remember a frequent routine that used to take place in our house when my youngest son was about six-years-old and my youngest daughter was about two-years-old. It would be evening, the family would be upstairs, and I might ask my youngest son to retrieve something from the first floor.

    He would quickly say, “But Dad, no one’s down there.” To which I would say, “I know.” Then he would reply, “But it’s dark and the lights are out.” I’d say, “Then turn on the lights and it won’t be dark anymore.” Then he’d say, “But I’m afraid.” And I’d say, “There’s nothing to be afraid of, now go on down there and get what I asked you to get.” Finally, he would turn to his two-year-old sister and say, “Hey Anne Marie, do you want to go downstairs with me?”

    Through the years, I’ve laughed about that. I mean, what’s a two-year-old girl going to do to help you when you’re scared?

    Presence - She’ll give you her presence. We value presence more than we may

realize. Our fears aren’t as great when we’re with someone else. The darkness doesn’t seem quite as dark. And our imaginations are kept in check by the presence of others *

    For those who have or who are experiencing storms (physical or emotional)… For those who are grieving the loss of loved ones… For those who are battling chronic illness and pain… For those who are lonely… It’s wonderful to know that IF we are children of God..... then we are NEVER ALONE!

    There’s only one thing that can separate us from God: our SIN! “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).

    But when we were separated from Him due to our sin, God came to us in the person of His Son, Jesus. “And the Word became FLESH and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

    Even while we were yet sinners, God first demonstrated His love by His PRESENCE. Then, He demonstrated His love completely when Jesus died on the cross for our sins – so that we would NEVER have to be separated from God anymore! “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

    We can be reconciled to God through Jesus when we: place our faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed; born of the water and the Spirit) for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; John 3:3,5). Then, as His children, we continue to “stay connected” to Him as we continue to walk in the light of His Word while the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

    Steve Higginbotham closed his article saying, “Thank God for two-year-old little girls who will go downstairs with their older brothers, and thank God for Jesus who promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).”

    Won’t YOU accept His offer of salvation and life? You’ll never be alone again.

David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org Steve Higginbotham, “Do You Want to Go With Me?” in MercEmail (5/31/13).

Distracted

By David A. Sargent

In August of 2011, a LifeNet helicopter crashed in a pasture near Mosby, Missouri, within sight of and only a mile from the intended destination. The pilot and three passengers – a patient and two medical personnel – were killed instantly.     Federal safety officials announced this week that the pilot was at fault. Specifically, they said the fatal crash was due to fatigue, lack of training, and… distracted texting!     Mike Ahlers of CNN reports that safety officials discovered in an investigation that the pilot “sent several text messages with one hand while flying the helicopter with the other....     But those text messages in the air – which ended 19 minutes before the crash – turned out to be less consequential than text messages he sent and received while on the ground. Investigators believe [the pilot] engaged in an extensive text conversation with a colleague about dinner plans while he was conducting mandatory pre-flight checks of his helicopter. Because of those distractions, [he] missed two opportunities to detect that his helicopter did not have sufficient fuel for his mission.”     After picking up the patient at a hospital, the pilot apparently took off after miscalculating that he could reach his destination. He was fatally wrong.*     Distractions can cause many problems in our lives; they can even cause us to miss out on a saving relationship with the Creator!     In the Parable of the Sower (see Mark 4:1-20), Jesus described FOUR different types of soils that represent the hearts of people and how receptive these hearts are to the Word of God. One of the soils He described was the “thorny soil” (v. 7). He later explained the hearts represented by this type of soil: “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and CHOKE the word, making it unfruitful” (vs. 18-19).     Jesus was warning that some hearts are TOO DISTRACTED to receive the Word into their hearts, obey it, and be saved.     In the same parable, Jesus taught that those whose hearts are like “good soil” are those who “HEAR the Word, RECEIVE it, and BEAR fruit” (v. 20).     Those who are not distracted are able to understand the Good News (the Gospel) that God sent His Son into the world to pay the price for our sins (John 3:16; Eph 1:7).     “GOOD HEARTS” will also understand that in order to receive the benefits of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, one must place his faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Then, as one continues to walk in the light of His Word, the blood of Jesus – that was shed for our salvation (Matthew 26:28) – will continue to cleanse one from sin (1 John 1:7).     Don’t let "distractions" keep you from reaching the heavenly destination that God desires for you (see John 14:1-6).     Study His Word with an open and honest heart, learn of God’s “unspeakable Gift” – the GIFT of His Son, and accept His salvation on His terms.     Won’t YOU?   - David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org * Information gleaned from “Pilot Texting a Factor in Deadly Copter Crash” by Mike M. Ahlers of CNN (4/10/13).

The Urban Trance

By David A. Sargent     Recently, Tim Elmore shared a quote from Dr. Daniel Goleman’s book, Social Intelligence: People on busy city streets worldwide are less likely to notice, greet, or offer help to someone else because of what has been termed the “urban trance.”  Sociologists have proposed that we tend to fall into this self-absorbed state on crowded streets, if only to gird against stimulus overloaded from the swirl around us.  Inevitably, the strategy requires a trade-off: we shut out the compelling needs of those around us along with the mere distractions.  As a poet put it, we confront the “noise of the street dazed and deafened.” *     A lawyer once asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told the following story in response to the question: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers.  They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.  Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper.  'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have'” (Luke 10:30-35 NIV).     Then Jesus asked the lawyer a question: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"     The lawyer replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”     Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:36-37).     The reason the priest and the Levite did not stop to help may not have been what Goleman described as the “urban trance,” but the effect was the same: a man who needed help didn’t receive it.  Those who don’t try to help others in need are not “good neighbors.”     In addition to learning from Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan about what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself,” consider the One who told the story.     When WE were “left by the roadside,” suffering the deadly effects of our sins, Jesus didn’t suffer from the “urban trance”; He saw us.  He didn’t “pass by on the other side” like the priest and the Levite.  Rather, He – like the Good Samaritan – came to us, to help us, so that we might be healed of our spiritual malady.     Jesus’ remedy for our sin required His death on the cross as payment for our sins (Ephesians 1:7).  “By His stripes we are healed” (1 Peter 2:24).  Through Jesus, we can be saved from our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).     God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His word (1 John 1:7).     Rather than having the “urban trance,” Jesus looked upon us with loving concern and came to us to meet our greatest need by giving Himself for us.     Won’t YOU accept His offer of forgiveness and eternal life?     Then, let’s see the needs of others and share the love of Christ with them.

- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org * Tim Elmore “The Unintended Consequence of an Overwhelmed Student.” August 12, 2015 - See more at: http://growingleaders.com/blog/the-unintended-consequence-of-an-overwhelmed-student/#sthash.SHWfuT8q.dpuf

One Nation Under God

By Clifton Angel     What if you could live in a nation whose foundation was built upon God? What if you could live in a nation whose primary leader was completely submissive to God?  What if you could live in a nation whose laws were always truly good and right? What if you could live in a nation whose justice system was entirely up-right? What if you could live in a nation whose good citizens always looked to God? A nation whose education system relied on the Bible? A nation where life was sacred? A nation where the leaders truly sought the best for the citizens? A nation that cared most about things Biblical, instead of things political? As much as this may seem like a fantasy, it is actually a reality.     Peter wrote these words to members of the body of Christ: "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Figuratively, the Lord's church is a nation, which must shine as a line to all physical nations. Paul said, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye  may be blameless and harmless, the sons  of God, without  rebuke,  in  the  midst  of a  crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:14–15).     The Psalmist proclaimed, "Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah, The people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance" (Psalm 33:12, ASV). Peter said  it this way, concerning  the  church, "Blessed be  the  God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his  abundant  mercy  hath  begotten  us  again  unto  a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  To  an  inheritance  incorruptible,  and  undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:3–4).     If you are in Christ's kingdom (Acts 2:37–47; Colossians 1:13)—an holy nation—you are in: (1) A nation whose foundation is built upon God! (2) A nation whose primary leader is completely submissive to God (Jesus)! (3) A nation whose laws are always truly good and right! (4) A nation whose justice system is entirely upright! (5) A nation whose good citizens always look to God! (6) A nation whose education system relies on the Bible! (7) A nation where life is sacred! (8) A nation where the leaders truly seek the best for the citizens! (9) A nation that cares most about things Biblical, instead of things political!      Are you in the church that belongs to Christ—the one nation that is willingly under God?

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/

The Merciful-1

By Clifton Angel     Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). In other words, “Blessed are they which give forgiveness, for they shall receive forgiveness.” It is much easier to preach than it is to practice. In our series on this subject, let us consider the Biblical examples of Jonah, Saul, and Jesus.     God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to them. However, Jonah tried to flee to Tarshish (Nineveh was much closer than Tarshish; it is amazing the lengths we will go to avoid forgiving another). We can easily shame Jonah, but if we are honest, we are more like him than we would like to admit. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria. The Assyrians were the world power of the time, a9 Jonah did not want to go preach to them. Therefore, when God commanded him to preach to Nineveh, he sought to flee in the opposite direction.     A great storm arose, and eventually, by his request, Jonah was cast out of the ship. I believe this was another attempt to escape the responsibility God placed on him.     At this point, he was ready to die instead of having to face the responsibility of preaching to the ungodly, Gentile barbarians of Nineveh. God had other plans. He prepared a great fish that swallowed Jonah. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, and it was there that he acknowledged his wrongdoing, repented, and sought God’s help. The fish expelled him onto dry land, and Jonah did as God had commanded him to do. He preached, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). “So the people of Nineveh believed God” (Jonah 3:5).     “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry” (Jonah 4:1). “And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil” (Jonah 4:2). Job was so enraged with disgust for other sinful people, and so unmerciful to their sins, that he wanted God to take his life (Jonah 4:3).     Our natural and societal inclination would be the same toward anyone considered morally depraved and disgusting in our eyes. However, Jesus has shown us a better way: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/