|
Despite the clear
evidence, they all came to the wrong conclusions. The story in 1 Samuel 4-5 would be funny if
it wasn’t so sad. The Philistines had
been warring against the Israelites, and winning. So, the Israelites got the bright idea that
if they took the Ark of the Covenant to the battle sight, God would give them
victory. Wrong Conclusion #1 They had reduced the Ark
of the Covenant down to nothing more than an idol, thinking that the mere
physical presence of the Ark would give them victory. That was no better than thinking that being
in a church building will automatically result in worship. As the story continues,
the Israelites lost the battle. In the battle 30,000 Israelite soldiers were slain.
Sometimes the numbers of the slain become just a number to us. But these men
were real people: sons, husbands, brothers, fathers. The loss was a genuine
tragedy. The Philistines also
captured the Ark of the Covenant, placing it in the temple next to their god,
Dagon. The next morning, Dagon had
fallen face down in front of the Ark of the Covenant (wonder how that
happened). Since Dagon was only a
man-made statue, the people had to pick him up and place him next to the Ark
again. (Aren’t you glad our God doesn’t need us to do something like
that?) But the next morning, not only
was Dagon again on his face on the floor in front of the Ark, his head and
hands had broken off and were lying on the threshold. Wrong Conclusion #2 Instead of seeing that
the God of the Israelites is greater than Dagon, the priests and all the people
who entered Dagon’s temple at Ashdod concluded that they should never again
step on the threshold of the temple.
Why? Because that’s where Dagon’s head and arms landed when they had
broken off! Even when the Lord’s hand
was heavy against the Philistines, they never came to any other conclusion than
to send the Ark back to Israel ... and to never again step on the threshold of
the temple. It never seemed to occur to
them to conclude that the Lord was God and that they should serve Him instead
of Dagon. God has placed before us clear evidence that He is God and what He
expects of us as people who believe in Him.
And yet, much like the people in this story, we, too, sometimes choose
to reduce God down to something we can see and feel, and to content ourselves
with silly superstitions and empty traditions.
It seems the natural thing to do. It’s what everybody around us does. It’s what we’ve always done. It takes no courage. You don’t even have to think about it. But God has called us to
rise above the world (Psalm 20:7-8), to walk by faith and not by sight (2
Corinthians 5:7), and to think outside of the box of worldly restrictions
(Romans 8:5-8). Christians aren’t
allowed to conform (Romans 12:2) or to drift (Hebrews 2:1). Christians are called to see with the eyes of
faith the extraordinary, the unconventional, even the impossible. Through faith
we can turn loose of those gods of ours that we have to mold and repair (like
Dagon), and can allow the Lord God Almighty to mold and repair us into His own
likeness (like the men and women of Hebrews 11). The facts are before
us. Making wrong conclusions will lead
to superstitions and restrictions. But
the right conclusions will open us up to the possibilities of God. |
- Joe Chesser worked for
years with the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO. Now retired from
full time preaching, he may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com  |
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Wrong Conclusions
Life is Too Short
|
In 2022, there were a lot of celebrities
who died. The number seemed greater than in previous
years. The ages range from the young to those in their nineties. However old
they were, life is still short. The Biblical teaching is that the importance of
life is not so much the quantity of years as it is the quality. The Psalmist
wrote, “We spend our lives as a tale that is told” (Psa. 90:9 KJV). What kind
of tale is your life telling? In thinking about the quality of our lives,
emphasis is placed on making the most of the time we have. We should pay attention and make the most of our lives on earth. The Psalmist wrote, "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psa. 90:12 (NKJV). This is a similar thought Paul expressed when he wrote, “…redeeming the time because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). We should make the most of our lives because we don’t have long here compared to eternity. Peter described our lives as grass that eventually withers and falls away (1 Pet. 1:24). In the Bible life is compared to: a sigh (Ps. 90:9), sleep (Ps. 90:5), a shadow (Eccl. 6:12), a moment (2 Co. 4:17), and a weaver’s shuttle (Job 7:6). How are we spending our lives? Do we pay more attention to the physical comforts of life than we do the spiritual? Jesus said, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). Let us be more diligent in our spiritual lives in case death comes too early for us and our lives end too soon. |
- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church
of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's
website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/ |
Searching for Truth?
|
The wise man Solomon advised, “Buy the
truth and sell it not” (Prov. 23:23). In
the marketplace of ideas one must be careful to distinguish the true from the
counterfeit. Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you
free” (John 8:32). How will we know the
truth when we see it? Some seek truth in their own hearts, though
the Bible warns, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). How much
religious error do we subject ourselves to when we follow the path of simply
doing what “seems right”, or “what I’ve always believed.” Some seek truth from preachers and church
councils, accepting what they are told without question, though Paul warned,
“Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things” (Acts
20:30). Men are fallible, subject to
error. Preachers and religious-leaders
may be ever so sincere in their beliefs, and still be misled. We who endeavor to preach the truth of God
should do so with fear and trembling. We
dare not seek what is regarded as popular in our religious circles. While this may seem to be the way to go, it
opens the door to error. Ultimate truth is found in Jesus, who said,
“I am the way, the truth and the life.
No man cometh to the Father but by me” (John 14:6). Truth is found in His word, the Scriptures,
of which Paul wrote, “All scripture is inspired of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy
3:16-17). How many supposed “truths” do
we defend even when we have accepted such “truths” on their popularity. We should follow the example of the noble
Bereans who, upon hearing the apostle Paul’s proclamation of the gospel,
“searched the scriptures (to see) whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). |
- Ronald Bartanen is a
retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois,
Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. After the passing of his beloved
wife, Doris, Ron has relocated from Illinois to Florida where he is near
family. He may be contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com |
When Jesus Shaved His Head
|
Mike Benson reports: "Nine-year-old
Kamryn Renfroe was recently kicked out of her Colorado elementary school. She
was told she couldn't come back to class — at least until she either put on a
wig, or her hair grew back. Kamryn had shaved her head, and so the
administration disciplined her. It was an obvious dress code infraction.
She had blatantly broken the rules of Caprock Academy. The school's dress code
requires uniformity and that all students adorn themselves in a non-distracting
fashion. And what could be more distracting than a bald-headed little girl in class?”
This little bald-headed girl had a friend who had lost the hair on her head due
to chemotherapy treatments. Benson continues: "You see, Kamryn
didn't shave her head to create a scene or contravene the rules. Hers was not
an act of violation, but compassion. She shaved her head to become like her
friend, Delaney. Eleven-year-old Delaney Clements suffers
from neuroblastoma — a deadly form of childhood cancer. Kamryn saw that her
friend had [a] bald head…, so she decided to support and encourage her lonely,
hurting friend by essentially becoming just like her. Delaney loved it! She said, ‘It made me
feel very special and that I'm not alone.’" What a beautiful expression of friendship!
It points to Someone who gave an even greater expression of love and friendship
for you and for me… Benson explains: "Man suffered from the deadly form of
"soul cancer" (i.e., sin) with no hope of survival (Romans 3:10, 23).
And instead of just watching him suffer in silence, Jesus ‘shaved his head’
metaphorically speaking, by taking on flesh and manifesting Himself in human
form. He became one of us. He identified himself with us." * "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..."
(John 1:14a). "God was manifested in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16a).
"Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" (1 John 4:2b). "Therefore, in ALL things He had to be made like His
brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things
pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people"
(Hebrews 2:17). Jesus was the "propitiation" for the sins of man in
that He paid the price for man’s redemption by dying on the cross for our sins
(Ephesians 1:7). "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down
one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). Jesus gave His life for you and
for me. His desire is that we accept His offer of salvation and eternal life
that has been made available through His loving sacrifice. Jesus
will save those who place their faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn
from their sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans
10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed)
into Him for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). His blood will continue to
wash away the sins of those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1
John 1:7). Thankfully, Caprock Academy’s school board
took up the matter and voted 3-1 in favor of letting Kamryn return to the
public charter school in Grand Junction, CO. Jesus also desires that each of us will
CHOOSE to accept His offer of salvation and life by submitting to His will (cf.
John 15:13-14). |
- 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 |
It Works!
|
God’s
word makes it clear that He views success quite differently than we do. We set
a goal, plan a strategy, and carry out the plan. If it works, we claim success.
Someone asks, “What is the problem with this?” Simply put, God’s will has been
left out of the equation! During
King Asa’s reign over Judah, King Baasha of Israel invaded. Asa paid the
Syrians to attack Israel’s homeland, forcing Baasha to go back home to defend
his own land. Asa then re-captured the territory Baasha had taken (see 1 Kings
15:16-21). Pretty
good strategy, wouldn’t you say? And it definitely worked! God, however, sent
His prophet, Hanani, to rebuke Asa (2 Chronicles 16:7-9). The king had put his
trust in his pagan neighbors rather than in the Lord. Yes, it “worked,” but it
dishonored God. Moses
also “succeeded” in a task, but sinned in the process. God told him to provide
water for Israel by speaking to a rock (Numbers 20:8). Instead of obeying,
Moses, being furious with his people, gave the rock a double-whack with his rod
(20:9-11). Water miraculously gushed forth in great abundance. It worked! But
Moses and Aaron forfeited the blessing of going across Jordan into the promised
land (20:12). Worldly
philosophy says that the end justifies the means. Since Asa gained relief from
his enemies, his method doesn’t matter. Since Moses acquired water for his
people, it makes no difference how he did it. The Bible, on the other hand,
teaches that people offend God by reaching the right goals using the wrong
means. Church
growth, for example, is an eminently Scriptural goal. God wants His church to
grow; if you don’t want the church to grow, you need to repent! And God’s
church will grow when Christians are serving as they ought. Some, however, in
misguided zeal, seek to produce church growth by using methods that are outside
of God’s will. Watering down the gospel, exchanging worship for entertainment,
and otherwise appealing to people’s carnal side, might attract large crowds;
but it doesn’t glorify God! |
- Joe Slater serves as
minister of the Church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com |
Which Soil Describes Your Heart?
|
In His parable of the sower (Luke 8) Jesus
described God’s word as seed planted into four types of soil (human hearts).
The seed’s fruitfulness, or lack thereof, depended on the condition of the soil
(heart). First was the “wayside,” literally the path
or road surrounding the field (Luke 8:5). As seed cannot germinate and grow on
hardpacked ground, God’s word cannot grow in a hard heart. Satan easily removes
the word from the resistant soul. Next came the rock (v. 6). This doesn’t
mean stony ground, but a thin layer of earth atop bedrock. Seed might sprout on
such shallow soil, but the tender shoot would wither and die, having no deep
root to reach water. Just so, a person with shallow faith might joyfully
receive the word of God at first, but would fall away in times of trial. Third, Jesus spoke of ground infested with
thorns (v. 7). Seed could begin to grow under such conditions, but the thorns
would eventually choke out the good plants, rendering them fruitless. Thorns
represent distractions – worldly cares, riches, and pleasures (v. 14). God’s
word produces no harvest in a distracted heart. Finally,
the good ground produced an abundant crop (v. 8). The good, noble heart isn’t
hard, has a deep and abiding faith, and steers clear of the world’s
distractions. Such a person not only believes God’s word, but keeps it (i.e.
obeys it, v. 15). Which of these four soil types best
describes your heart? Are you resisting God’s word with a hard heart? Is your
faith shallow, fading away when trials appear? Are you distracted with the
deceitful world’s cares, riches, and pleasures? Or do you have a deep, abiding
faith that keeps God’s word? |
- Joe Slater serves as
minister of the Church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com |
Resolutions
|
I am all for doing
whatever is necessary to improve our lives, but I am a strong believer that we
should always remember to do what our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, said in Matthew
6:33: “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall
be yours as well.” We should never fail to put God and His will first in our
lives in everything we do. The word of God is all
about new beginnings: We have the Book of Genesis itself, whose very name means
“beginning,” and within its pages God shares with us the creation story and how
with just His word the whole universe sprang into existence. We also see how sin
first arrived in that perfect world, and how quick was God to offer a remedy
for that sin by stating the very first prophecy of redemption regarding the
Messiah in Genesis 3:15. A few chapters later we see the underpinning of the
nation of Israel laid as God promises Abraham that from him would come peoples
and nations and most importantly, the Promised Seed from Whom all the world
would be blessed. At the conclusion of the Book of Genesis, we see the
foundation of God’s chosen people being created as Joseph protects his family
from the famine that had ravaged the land, his family who were direct descendants
of Abraham, in the land of Egypt. In the Book of Exodus,
we see the beginning of the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people, come to
fruition as God calls them out of bondage in Egypt as the Lord formed His covenant
with them at Mt. Sinai. But shortly thereafter, we witness the beginning of the
long history of Israel’s rebellion against Jehovah. But He is steadfastly
loving and patient and kind in His longsuffering, always maintaining a remnant
for Himself. In 1 Samuel, we find the beginning of the monarchy created as God
has Samuel anoint Saul as its first earthly king, once again resulting from the
people rejecting their true King, Jehovah. It’s in 2 Samuel we find the
beginning of the Davidic line to the throne established, the line from which
came Israel’s and our King and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Upon His arrival,
the Old Covenant gave way to the new, which is why the Hebrews writer tells us in
Hebrews 8:13 just before the Destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, “And what is becoming
obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Jesus Christ is all
about new beginnings. Through Him we have forgiveness of sins |
- David R. Ferguson
preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH. He may be
contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com |
A Story of Faith
|
Jesus “said to the man which had the
withered hand, Rise up and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. …He said to the
man, stretch forth your hand. And he did
so, and his hand was restored whole as the other” (Luke 6:8, 10). The account recorded in Luke 6:6-10 of
Jesus healing a man with a “withered” (paralyzed) hand is a powerful example of
the power of Jesus Christ in confronting our hopelessness. In every physical healing performed by our
Lord we are reminded not only of Jesus’ power over our physical maladies, but
also, and more importantly, His power over our spiritual needs. Our “withered hand” may be a destructive
habit, chains of lust, or greed. Or it
could be bitterness in our hearts due to unforgiving spirit. The most important lesson applicable today is
that the same Jesus who has power over our physical infirmities has just as
much power over our spiritual deficiencies. |
- Ronald Bartanen is a
retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois,
Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. After the passing of his beloved wife,
Doris, Ron has relocated from Illinois to Florida where he is near family. He
may be contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com |
The Truth About The Birth of Christ
|
Today,
a lot of people in the world are celebrating the day called “Christmas”. The
real question that I have is are these people correct in celebrating such a
religious holiday? Is this something that a Christian can take part in and be
pleasing in the sight of God? Is everything in the “Christmas story” correct?
In this article, I will address these questions that need our attention. Let’s
begin with the questions about people being correct in observing this also can
a Christian take part in the observance of this Christmas “RELIGIOUS” holiday?
The first thing that I want to look at is the concept that if the majority of
the world is observing it, does it make it right or wrong? The answer is simply
NO. The Bible is very clear to the point that the majority of individuals are
going down the road that is the broad and wide road that is leading to
destruction (Mat. 7:13-14). So with that being said, the majority does not
determine right and wrong. But what about a Christian observing this day as a
RELIGIOUS holiday? As Christians, we are told that we are to have authority for
everything we do in religion (Col. 3:17). It is looking to Jesus, our Head,
King, and Master for guidance in what we should and should not be involved in.
When you look into the scriptures, we see that there is no command, nor
mentioning of “Christmas” or observing a day celebrating the birth of Christ.
For this very reason, we CANNOT SAY that we have scriptural authority to
celebrate this day regarding the birth of Christ. If God wanted us to observe
such a day, He would have stated it, which He did not. Now, let’s take a look at that question,
“is everything in the “Christmas story” correct”. Usually, you read about the
“nativity” and you will hear that Jesus was born on December 25 and that there
were 3 wise men that came bringing gifts to the manger of Christ. What if I
told you that none of this is true? Did you know that we can have a general
idea of when Jesus was born and it all revolves around Zacharias, John the
Baptist’s father? We know that John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, was 6
months older than Jesus (Lk. 1:26). We also know that Zacharias was a priest
who served during the division of Abijah (Lk. 1:5-8). Now the priests served on
a circuit or rotation according to their division and his was according to the
division of Abijah. With this knowledge, we also know that they served twice a
year and so if you take the circuit and see when Abijah was in place, and then
add 6 months after that, you will notice that this would place the birth of
Christ either in early spring or early fall. But we know from other things,
like the shepherds living out in the field with their sheep (Lk. 2:8), that
this was not in the dead of winter. So it is very clear that we are NOT talking
about December 25th. Another
thing that we need to look at is the wise men at the birth of Christ. What if I
was to tell you that the wise men were never at the manger of Christ? And
exactly how many wise men were there? We see in Matthew 2, the account of the
wise men and see when they came to Jesus THEY CAME INTO THE HOUSE (Mat. 2:11).
When you are talking about the timing of their coming, Herod killed all the
baby boys from the AGE OF 2 and under ACCORDING TO THE TIME WHICH HE HAD
DETERMINED FROM THE WISE MEN (Mat. 2:16). It is seen that Jesus was PROBABLY
ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD when the wise men came and offered their gifts. And the Bible
NEVER MENTIONS that there were 3 wise men. It only states that 3 gifts were
brought, but the world wants to say that there were 3 wise men. We don’t know
exactly how many there were. So what is a Christian’s response needing to be concerning celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday? We have no authority! But WE CAN observe this day as a secular holiday to be with family and to exchange gifts, just like any other secular “non-religious” holiday. We just have to be careful that we don’t do things that are against the will of Christ and do those things that we have no authority for. |
- Wesley Garland preaches
for Warners Chapel church of Christ in Clemmons, NC. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: http://warnerschapelchurchofchrist.org/ |
How Much Does it Cost?
By Jeff
Arnette This is a question that we often ask. We
ask it whenever we are shopping for something we want. I did this just the
other day while at Goodwill. I was looking at the dress pants and found several
nice pairs of dress pants. After looking at the pants and deciding that I would
like to have them. I asked that all too familiar question, “How much does it
cost?” In life and in Christianity, this is an
important question to ask. In Matthew 16:24-28, Jesus reminds us of the cost of
following him. Giving up on our desires and taking up the cause of Christ is a
price we must be willing to pay. Jesus even took this so far as to say we must
be willing to give up our lives for him. Most of us would agree that at Goodwill we
are not paying much for the items there. Luckily for me those pants were only
$3.75 a pair. We spend great amounts of time trying to find the best bargain we
can. However, I am afraid that we are doing this to Christianity as well. Most of us like the idea of being a
Christian but we don’t want to spend much of our time, effort, or money to do
it. We are so concerned that it might take more than we are willing to give
that we often shortchange being Christians. Jesus understood that this would be the
case with people and ask the question, “What will it profit a man if he gains
the whole world and forfeits his soul?” Or “What shall a man give in return for
his soul?” Jesus has promised that it would be worth the cost saying that each
person will be repaid for what they have put into the Christian life. Not to
mention that we gain our souls for eternity by following him. How much does it cost is a great question
to ask. Perhaps this is the question that we should ask next time we consider
doing something we know is sinful. Is it really worth what it will cost me? |
- Jeff Arnette preaches for
the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/ |
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Be Immersed
By
Clifton Angel Baptism: an immersion or submersion of an object
or person. It is likened to a burial, in which one is completely covered in
dirt/rock (Romans 6:3–4). However, the burial or immersion of interest for this
study is in water. In the words of a friend, “What is so special about being
dunked in water?” I kindly submit to you that baptism is important because God
said so—not me. Let’s consider some Scriptural reasons for the need to be
baptized. 1. Baptism stands between the sinner and
salvation. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).
Jesus’ words are simple and “unget-around-able.” We should be able to end this
article here, but for emphasis we will continue. Peter reemphasized this
teaching at 1 Peter 3:21: “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism
(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (NKJV). 2. Baptism stands between the sinner and
forgiveness of his sins. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). 3. Baptism stands between the sinner and
having his sins washed away. “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts
22:16). 4. Baptism stands between the sinner and
the cleansing blood of Jesus. “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful
witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the
earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”
(Revelation 1:5). Coupling the truth of this verse with that of Acts 22:16
leads us to the conclusion that the point at which one contacts Jesus’ blood is
baptism. 5. Baptism stands between the sinner and addition
to the Lord’s church. Reading Acts 2:37–47 is a clear foundation to seeing that
those who are baptized are those who Jesus adds to His church. Why is this
important? Because His church is the only body of the saved (see Ephesians
5:23; Ephesians 1:22–23; Colossians 1:18). The list could go on. For, baptism stands
between the sinner and being in Christ (Galatians 3:27), which leads to a host
of other things the sinner lacks if he does not submit to baptism: All
spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), Absence of condemnation (Romans 8:1), A
real reason to rejoice (Philippians 4:4), just to name a few. |
- 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/ |
Look Up!
By Lance Cordle Recently, my wife and I
set up a bird feeder in a different part of the yard from the section we had
used previously. A cold front was on its way and we set the feeder up before
its arrival. Following the placement of the feeder, we watched to see if the birds
would find it in time to take advantage of it during the frigid temperatures.
As I watched some of the birds gathering in the vicinity of the feeder, I kept
saying to myself (because the birds could not hear or understand me), “Look
up!” I knew the source of their nourishment and strength was within their
reach, and that they needed to see it and fly up to it. It seems to me that
there is a similar situation when it comes to people and their spiritual
strength. The Psalmist confidently affirmed, “God is my refuge and strength, a
very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1). However, not everyone feels the
same way, and not everyone takes advantage of the strength available, even if
they know about it. Followers of God would
do well to remember the main point of one of the most famous incidents/stories
in the Bible. As young David arrived at the scene of an impending battle, he
was surprised and dismayed to know that the army of Israel, and in turn, the
God of Israel were being defied by their enemy. It is interesting to notice
that the English word “defy” or a form of it is used at least four times in the
seventeenth chapter of 1 Samuel, (English Standard Version) and is in reference
to the actions of the giant Goliath. When David heard of the taunts of the
enemy, he was quick to defend the LORD and assert that a victory over Goliath
could and would come through God Almighty. Before he killed Goliath, David made
it clear where his faith was placed and delivered a detailed summary of what he
was sure would happen to the Philistine, when he concluded, “For the battle is
the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand” (1 Samuel 17:47). When we are tempted to
be discouraged and sure of defeat, we must remember to look up—to the same God
who delivered David and others from physical and spiritual peril. The Lord has
promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). In a
masterfully worded rhetorical question, the divinely inspired apostle Paul
asked, “If God be for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31). Who, indeed? Our obstacles are real:
discouragement, lust, anger, jealousy, unbelief, to name a few. They can be
overcome—but we must look up! “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where
does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth”
(Psalms 121:1, 2). |
- Lance Cordle preaches the
Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com |
Happy Valentine’s Day
By Joe Slater Not even the Roman
Catholic Church can decide with certainty which (if any) of three candidates is
the real “Saint” Valentine. One popular view is that he was a “bishop” who kept
on solemnizing marriages despite Roman emperor Claudius II supposedly banning
marriage of soldiers in his army. This Valentine, so the story goes, was
arrested and eventually martyred. Historical evidence is lacking; even
referring to this as “legend” might be a stretch. More likely, “Saint
Valentine’s Day” is yet another attempt to “Christianize” a pagan holiday. In
this case, it’s the feast of Lupercalia, a fertility festival honoring Faunus,
the Roman god of agriculture. It was celebrated on February 15. Our calendar
puts Valentine’s Day on February 14. Oh well, close enough! As with Christmas,
Easter, and Halloween, celebrating Valentine’s Day doesn’t make you a pagan. Go
ahead, give your sweetheart a box of chocolates! When people’s minds are
focused on the birth of Christ, it’s a great opportunity to teach the truth
about it. Ditto with the Resurrection. So let’s use this holiday to teach the
truth about marriage! |
- Joe Slater serves as
minister of the Church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com |
The Greatest Gift
By
David R. Ferguson William Sydney Porter, better known as the
short story author O. Henry, said, “The magi, as you know, were wise men –
wonderfully wise men who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented
the art of giving Christmas presents.” Although I enjoy the stories with their
clever plot twists from the pen of O. Henry, in this instance I disagree with
the conclusion of Mr. Porter. It wasn’t the wise men who invented the giving of
“Christmas” presents, it was God Himself. He did so when He gave us His only
begotten Son. This was the best “Christmas” gift ever. The wise men merely
continued the tradition. In Jesus, this supreme offering from the
Father, we see the glory of God on display. But what is that glory? Did it come
with a lot of pomp and circumstance, as Paul saw demonstrated as he declared
his defense and the gospel of Jesus Christ before King Agrippa, Bernice and
Festus? Did it come with fanfare? No. God’s glory is demonstrated through His
humility. In Jesus Christ we see Someone Who was willing to put aside all the
trappings of what it means to be God, the Creator of the universe, in order to
reach out to us. And it’s this humility that makes the conception, birth, life,
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ such glorious events indeed. As Paul
wrote so eloquently summing up the life and purpose of Jesus Christ, “Christ
Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality
with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a
servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a
man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of
the Cross” (Philippians 2:5-8). In Jesus Christ we see God coming to Earth and
being born in a lowly manger. The God of Heaven, even through the lowly birth
He chose, demonstrated how He intended to live a life of service. As Jesus
later would declare, “Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and
I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and
lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy,
and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). In Jesus, God showed up as one of us. Even
one of His names, Immanuel, means “God With Us”. The One Who made it all, the
One Who holds it all together, the One Whom we call the Creator showed up
humbly, served His entire life meekly, and gave His life freely, and all that
you and I might lay claim to eternal life through His shed blood. There is
something amazing about being created in the image of God, being created to be
in a relationship with God, and to be someone that God finds value. You do have
great worth, indeed, for God saw fit to give you His one and only begotten Son!
Never forget that. |
- David R. Ferguson preaches
for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com |
The Ruined Loincloth
By
Jeff Arnette In Jeremiah 13 there is a strange and yet,
intriguing story about a loincloth. The Lord instructs the prophet to buy a new
loincloth, put it on, and wear it without washing it in water. After some time,
the Lord tells him to bury it in the rocks near the Euphrates River. Again,
after some time has passed, he is told to dig up that old loincloth. Once
Jeremiah digs it up, he describes it as “good for nothing.” After all that time
buried in the dirt it was spoiled and now unfit for its intended purpose. In a time when money was tight and new
clothing hard to acquire the Lord’s instructions for Jeremiah seem odd at best.
It seems like such a waste of time, money, and energy to buy this new loincloth
and just bury it. When I spend money on something I want it to last. I want it
to be a smart purchase, and just as importantly, I want to know it was a good
deal. Why buy something if you’re not going to value it, use it, and take care
of it? The Lord often used object lessons like
this to teach the prophet who in turn had to teach the people what God is
saying by such demonstrations. Ezekiel was told to write on two sticks (Ezek.
37:15-28). Isaiah was told to walk around naked for 3 years (Isa. 20:1-6).
Hosea was told to marry a prostitute and give his kids weird names. Even
Ezekiel was told to lay on his left side for 390 days (Ezek. 4). The lesson of the loincloth was a hard
lesson for Israel. They had been bought for a purpose, brought close by the
Lord, and through pride & sin had become good for nothing. Being close to
the Lord had come with blessings but they had become proud and thought nothing
could touch them and that is going to change. The Lord is going to spoil their
pride by allowing them to be conquered by Babylon, who came from the Euphrates
River area. In their defeat they would learn the lesson
of the loincloth. With sin and rebellion comes defeat. Faithfulness to the Lord
always equals success but unfaithfulness will always defeat us. What about us?
How will we learn this lesson? Will it take total defeat, or will we learn to
trust in the Lord? We too have been bought (1 Cor. 6:19-20:
Acts 20:28) for a price. Where are we focusing our lives? Was His purchase and
actions for nothing? Instead of a life wrapped up in our own desires lets cling
to the Lord and His purpose for us. Then we will be good for something; a
people for his own possession, a people who will follow and praise him. |
- Jeff Arnette preaches for
the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/ |