Living With Unveiled Hearts

 

By Joe Chesser       The older I get, the more amazed I become at the depth of God’s word. What’s more, the deeper I dig into Scripture, the more I realize there is so much more to learn. I rarely read a passage from the Bible without thinking that I’ve never noticed that before. Of course, that could be attributed to getting older and more forgetful. But, whatever the reason, reading Scripture is exciting.     Recently my wife and I were reading 2 Corinthians 3. In that chapter the Apostle Paul was expressing how honored and confident he felt to be preaching about Christ and the new covenant Jesus introduced to the world (2 Corinthians 3.4-6). This was quite a switch from what he had once believed.     As you may recall, Paul (or Saul of Tarsus) had become renown as a fierce defender of the Old Law, even to the point of persecuting the followers of Jesus (Acts 9.13-14, 21).  As a youth he had a promising future among the Jews. He was educated and molded “according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers” by Gamaliel, a highly respected leader in the Jewish Sanhedrin (Acts 22.3; 5.34). As a young man, Paul was dedicated to eliminating believers in Jesus, even in cities beyond Jerusalem (Acts 22.4-5).     However, all of that dramatically changed when Jesus appeared to him in a vision on his way to Damascus with letters to persecute more Christians (Acts 22.5-16). Jesus knew Paul’s heart, and had a greater work in mind for him than what he was currently pursuing. It was time for Saul of Tarsus to become Paul the Apostle; it was time to be born again and to become a witness for Jesus. Instead of trying to put Christians to death, Paul was now teaching everyone how to be born again and to live for Jesus!     For that to happen, this new disciple of Jesus had to be taught to change his view of two very important concepts: the Old Law which he learned to  call “the ministry of death” and the teachings of Jesus which he described as “the ministry of the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3.7-8).     In 2 Corinthians 3 you can sense the depth of his change of attitude regarding the Old Law and the new Law of Christ as he compared the Old Law with the new one. • The old one was written on tablets of stone while the new one is written on tablets of human hearts (2 Corinthians 3.3). • Previously his sufficiency came from himself (Philippians 3.4-6); now his sufficiency came from God (2 Corinthians 3.5). • The letter (Old Law) kills; but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians3.6b). • The Old Law came with glory, but that glory was intended to only be temporary (fading) and would eventually die; thus it was the ministry of death. In contrast, the ministry of the Spirit came with a permanent, unfading glory that will never die  (2 Corinthians 3.7-11). • The old one was called the ministry of condemnation; the new one called the ministry of righteousness would far exceed the old one (2 Corinthians 3.9). • What once had glory had come to have no glory at all because of the glory that surpassed it       (2 Corinthians 3.10). • The Israelites’ minds were hardened because of the veil that remained unlifted when they read the old covenant; only through Christ is the veil taken away. When one turns to the Lord the veil is removed (2 Corinthians 3.12-16). • Removing the veil from our minds and hearts will allow us to see the glory of the Lord and allow him to transform our lives from death to a life of freedom (2 Corinthians 3.17-18).     As zealous as Paul was towards the Old Law, he allowed Jesus to liberate him from slavery to the law of condemnation and death. He allowed the Lord to lift the veil that had for so long kept him from seeing the truth of the Spirit and the freedom and glory and life that Jesus came to give.     That was Paul. Now, what about you? 2 Corinthians 3 confronts us with some profound insights and questions regarding the covenant of Jesus, the transformative power of the Spirit, boldness in Christ, freedom from legalism, and the unfading glory we can have through the Lord. • Is it possible that the laws of God are written somewhere other than on your heart? • Does the legalistic letter of the law still kill? Does the Spirit still give life? • It is possible that your sufficiency comes from yourself (what you can know and do) rather than from God (what He empowers you to learn and do)? Do you boast about knowing the will of God more perfectly than some others do? Does your confidence before God depend upon how many times you attend church services, how much you give, or on how many mission trips you may have taken? • Is it possible that a veil is covering your mind preventing you from seeing clearly the gospel of Jesus? Is your heart hardened to certain portions of the word of God?  Or, have you allowed Jesus to lift that veil allowing you to be transformed to enjoy the freedom the Lord offers? • Is the “god of this world” (Satan) blinding your mind, or are you, with an unveiled mind, beholding “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4.3-4)?     I have no particular person in mind by asking these questions. I am accusing/judging no one. However, if you have read to this point there is a good chance you are taking these thoughts personally and seriously. My hope and prayer is that every one of us will rip the veils of traditions, false doctrines, personal preferences and apathy off of our minds and open our hearts to the transformative power of the gospel of Jesus and live boldly and victoriously for Him every day!!     And may we never get to the point where we are no longer interested in digging deeper into Scripture!

Joe Chesser worked for years with the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO. Now retired from Z time preaching, he may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com

Halfway Through the Year

 

By Jeff Arnette     Can you believe we’re already halfway through the year? It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating New Years Eve and now, here we are, six months later. As we move into the second half of our year, I want to take a moment to reflect on where we’ve been and look ahead to where we’re going.     The first half of the year has been a journey for all of us. We’ve had our ups and downs, faced huge challenges, and celebrated victories. Through it all, we’ve grown together as a church family. Each Sunday, we gather to worship, learn, and support one another. It’s a beautiful thing to see how our faith community has strengthened and deepened.     But as we move forward, I want to challenge each of us to think about how we can share this journey with others. There are so many people in our lives—friends, family, coworkers—who might be looking for the very thing we’ve found here: a place to belong, a place to grow, and a place to find hope.     Inviting someone to church can feel daunting. We worry about being rejected or making things awkward. But I want to encourage you to see it as an act of love. When we invite someone to church, we’re not just inviting them to a building or a service; we’re inviting them to experience the love of God and the support of a community that cares.     Here are a few simple ways to extend that invitation: 1. Be Genuine: Share why church is important to you. Your personal story can be powerful and relatable. 2. Be Casual: Sometimes a simple, “Hey, want to join me for church this Sunday?” is all it takes. No need to overthink it. 3. Be Persistent: If they say no the first time, don’t be discouraged. Keep the invitation open and let them know they’re always welcome. 4. Be Supportive: Offer to go with them, sit with them, and introduce them to others. Sometimes, the fear of the unknown can be the biggest barrier.     As we journey through the rest of this year, let’s make it a priority to reach out and invite others to join us. There’s no better time than now to extend the love and grace we’ve found to those around us.     Let’s fill the second half of 2024 with new faces and new friends, all growing together in faith. Remember, it’s not about growing the numbers—it’s about growing the Kingdom and sharing the incredible gift of God’s love.

- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/

When Life Comes to an End

 

By Donna Faughn     I have spent the last several weeks at the hospital sitting with my only living aunt on my dad’s side of the family while her husband was slowly dying. To say it was difficult would be an understatement. You see, any time you sit at a hospital for extended periods of time is very hard. It was hard to watch him losing his battle with illness, and it was hard to watch my aunt losing her husband of 64 years. They never had any children and were totally devoted to one another.      As we watched his life slipping away day after day we began to talk about what he had done in his life. He was a naval officer and spent time working as a medic during battles. He was a retired Memphis City Police Officer. In fact, he was the officer on the balcony with Dr. Martin Luther King when he was shot. In his retirement, he was a locksmith helping hundreds of people by opening doors when they couldn’t unlock them or replacing door handles and locks so that the occupants might be safe. He was a “doer.”      He was a little bit “quirky” and could make a person laugh when they might not feel like it. I loved his sense of humor and the way he could always make me feel special. He cared about others and always tried to make them feel like they mattered.  He was fun to be around and always had a lighthearted comment to make. He loved to make people happy.      I could go on and on with so many things about his life that would impress you, but the most important thing about his life was that he was a Christian and he served others. He loved his wife more than any other person on this earth. He loved me and my family, and he dearly loved his friends, Rick and Cyndie, who lived close to them and helped them in so many ways.     Today he will be laid to rest, but the memories will last a lifetime.     As Paul said about himself, “I have fought the good fight, I have  finished the race, I have  kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness…” (2 Timothy 4:7-8a).     Uncle Mike was comforted by these words in his last few days of life. May Aunt Martha be comforted by these same words for all the days of her life.

- Donna Faughn is the wife and mother of preachers and is a frequent speaker at women’s events. She is a member of the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY.  She may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org

Your ID

 

By David A. Sargent
    Larry Morganti of Florence, South Carolina, is a Vietnam War Veteran.  He served in the 311th Squadron of the Air Force as a crew chief on a C-123 cargo plane from October 1967 to October 1968.  While serving in that capacity, Morganti lost his “dog tag” – a metal piece of identification for military personnel – during a rocket attack.  Thankfully, even though he lost his military ID, Morganti survived the war.    Over two years ago, Morganti’s dog tag came into the possession of a Swedish construction worker, Kristoffer Hansen.  A friend from Vietnam had discovered the dog tag with his metal detector and sent it to Hansen to add to his collection of military memorabilia.  Recognizing that there was a good chance that its owner was still alive, Hansen began looking for Morganti.  He found him two years later through Facebook.    Last month, Morganti received his dog tag in the mail along with a letter from Hansen thanking him for his service.    “It was real surprising. In fact, for a second, I didn’t believe it,” Morganti told WPDE. “It’s such a far-fetched idea to find tags 56 years old and then another two years to bring them to me.” *    YOU may be surprised to learn that God is looking for you to give you a new identity.    You and every other person in the world have been created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).  Each of us has marred that image due to our sin (Romans 3:23), and sin has separated us from our Creator (Isaiah 59:1-2).    But God loves us so much that He wants us to be reconciled to Him so that each of us can be a part of His family and have a new identity: child of God.    To be reconciled to God, our debt of sin had to be paid.  God gave His Son Jesus to pay the price for our redemption.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we can be forgiven and be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).    “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).    God will save, add to His family, and give eternal life to 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 1:7-9).    The Apostle Paul wrote to Christians in Galatia: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27 NIV).    In Christ, we have a new identity that brings with it eternal blessings.  We are children of God.    “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1 NIV).    YOU can be a child of God if you will 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

When Storms Come

 

By Andrew Beasley
    On a number of occasions, the Bible depicts storms as being a terrifying ordeal that can cause havoc in ones life. One might think of Jonah’s ordeal before being swallowed by the great fish, or the disciples as they were tossed about while Jesus slept as a reference point. While there are some in the world who teach that if you are a Christian, then you will be blessed with an abundance of wealth and good health. This teaching is patently untrue. That is not to say that Christians will not be blessed with health and wealth, but it is not a guarantee. What seemingly is guaranteed is that every individual, regardless of the safety of their soul, will face storms in their life.    How will we respond? During those storms will we become bitter like Jonah? Will our faith falter in the way that the disciples did? Or will we reflect on the fact that we have a Savior who can calm the storm (Lk. 8:22-25)? Will we remember that we have a Father who created all things and set them in their place (Psa. 19)? Whether our lives follow in the footsteps of Jonah, the disciples, or some other path one fact remains unchanged. In the midst of storms, we have hope in Him.

Andrew Beasley serves as a minister with the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/

Author Spotlight

 This week's articles come from contributor Jared Green who preaches for the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY. We appreciate Jared's willingness to share his articles with us and with each of you.

Rejoice in the God of our Salvation

 

By Jared Green    In most Old Testament books of prophecy, God provided prophets with a message to preach to his people. At times, prophets were tasked with preaching messages of repentance when God’s people were living in sin. At times, prophets provided messages of hope when God’s people were struggling. But in the book of Habakkuk, we find a prophet who seemed to work in reverse order. Rather than being God’s mouthpiece to the people, Habakkuk served as the people’s mouthpiece to God.     We do not know much about Habakkuk, but it is believed by many that his ministry was around that of Jeremiah, specifically in the time leading up to the Israelites’ Babylonian captivity. The first two chapters of the prophecy reveal a two-part discourse between Habakkuk and God in which Habakkuk brought a complaint to God followed by God’s response. In Habakkuk’s first complaint, he posed a common question asked of God: How long? Habakkuk looked out among God’s people and saw violence (1:2) and iniquity (1:3), which led to this conclusion: “So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted” (1:4). As we know, God’s people were in grave sin before the Babylonian exile, and Habakkuk called on God to intervene.     In his first answer, God promised divine intervention. He said, “Look among the nations and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told” (1:5). As great as that answer sounds on the surface, God went on to explain that he was planning to use the Babylonians to bring about judgement on his wicked people. Habakkuk was appalled. To summarize and paraphrase Habakkuk’s second complaint to God, he said: How could you use a more wicked nation to punish your people, a less wicked nation? In God’s final response to Habakkuk, he provided the most well-known passage from the book, one that is quoted by Paul in the New Testament: “…the righteous shall live by his faith” (2:4b).     While God may not have provided the answers Habakkuk seemed to be seeking, they are important answers for all God’s people to consider: I am doing a work that you would not understand, and the righteous shall live by his faith. Upon hearing God’s final answers, the prophecy closes with Habakkuk’s prayer of faith. At the end of his prayer, using language common in an agricultural society, Habakkuk made it clear that even if he experienced the worst physical pain imaginable, he would rejoice and trust in the Lord. In his words: “…yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places (3:18-19). No matter what life situations we find ourselves in, may we always find our joy and strength in the God of our salvation. God loves you, and so do I.

- Jared Green preaches the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com

I Am Not Ashamed

 

By Jared Green     In the introduction of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he explained his love and care for the church in Rome. Paul desired to spend time with them, and he was “eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome” (1:15). Immediately following his heartfelt introduction, Paul provided what I consider to be the thesis of his letter. He said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith’” (1:15-16).      A study through Romans provides a clear answer as to why Paul began the body of his letter with a proclamation that he was not ashamed of the gospel. The gospel, as preached by Paul and the Apostles, was met with great opposition at times. Just in this letter, Paul dealt with things such as God’s coming wrath on the unrighteous (chapters 1-2), the sinfulness of all people (chapter 3), righteousness through faith in Christ apart from the Law (chapters 3-7), salvation for all people regardless of race or ancestral heritage (chapters 9-11), submission to governing authorities (chapter 13), and a call to neither pass judgement on one another’s choices nor cause a brother or sister to stumble (chapter 14).      Because of the difficult messages in each of the letter’s sections, there could be plenty of reasons to be ashamed. Who wants to call someone out on their sin? Who wants to tell someone about God’s coming wrath? Yet Paul made clear that he was not ashamed of the gospel. Why? Because he knew that the gospel of Jesus Christ provided the only path to salvation for the people he loved. Did that mean Paul had to have hard conversations? Of course, but he approached those difficult conversations with confidence in the truth, hope, and love of Christ’s gospel.      Most of us would stand in agreement with Paul that we are unashamed of the gospel, but do our lives support that stance? As it was in Paul’s day, our world meets the difficult message of the gospel with opposition. As a result, it is easier to turn a blind eye to the sins of those around me. It is easier to make myself believe that it is not my job to step in and have a difficult conversation with someone I care about. It is easier to tell myself that someone around me can hear the beautiful message of Christ’s gospel from someone else. It is easier to live as though I am ashamed of the gospel. I challenge each of us, however, to stand firm and unashamed in the gospel, “for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes” (1:16). God loves you, and so do I.

- Jared Green preaches the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com

His Workmanship

 

By Jared Green
    In this past week’s study in Luke, we read Jesus calling Levi, also known as Matthew (the Gospel writer), to discipleship. In the passage just before, when Jesus healed the paralytic, he made clear his ability—as the Son of God—to forgive sins (Luke 5:24). In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus came to forgive and call to discipleship those who are unworthy. He truly came to be Lord of all, and Levi’s call to discipleship makes that clear.     Levi was a tax collector, a Jew hated by Jews because of his dishonest work for the Roman government. Levi’s call to discipleship, and his subsequent feast celebrating his new life of following Christ, made the scribes and Pharisees angry. They could not understand Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, eating with tax collectors and sinners. To them, Jesus’ participation in the feast was blatant acceptance of sinful living. Jesus, however, stated that his purpose in eating with sinners was to redeem them, not to condone their ways of living. He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (5:31-32).     As we talked about Sunday, this story paints for us a beautiful picture of Christ’s salvation, as well as an example of how to faithfully engage with those living in sin. To add to the lessons we have already studied from this encounter, we also learn what Jesus sees in those he calls to discipleship. When faced with the call to discipleship in our own lives, it is natural for us to feel inadequate. At times, the feelings of inadequacy come from the control sin has had over our lives in the past. Sometimes, we feel as though we have nothing to offer to Christ and his church. Other times, we allow ourselves to believe we can never be the people our Lord calls us to be. These feelings of inadequacy are natural, and they are used by the devil as a tool to keep us right where we are.     The story of Levi’s call to discipleship shows us that “Jesus sees what we can become even when we are lost in our sins. Christ saw in the disfigured life of Levi (tax collector) a Matthew (writer, evangelist, collector of souls)” (R. Kent Hughes, Luke, 190). Levi was a tax collector. Simon was a Zealot. Paul persecuted Christians. From the outside looking in, those called by Christ often seemed unworthy, inadequate candidates. The truth is, however, our Lord sees past our imperfections and inadequacies, and he sees souls made in his image. When he calls us to discipleship, his focus is on who we can become, not who we have been. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). God loves you, and so do I.

Jared Green preaches the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com

Do Not Be Afraid

 

By Jared Green
    You may have heard it said that the Bible says ‘do not fear’ 365 times—one command for every day of the year. That is a very encouraging statement, and it is true that God often commands his followers not to fear, but you likely will not be able to find exactly 365 ‘do not fear’ statements in your Bible. Though the phrase may not appear that number of times, it is still one of God’s most commonly given commands.     There are many life situations that lead us to fear. Will I marry the right person? Will I get the job? Will I be able to pay the electric bill this month? Will I be able to beat this diagnosis? Will my marriage survive this rough patch? How will I continue on now that my loved one is gone? At times, the list of life situations that lead us to fear seems never-ending. Yet God tells us not to fear. While that may seem like a difficult command to live out, it is imperative that we understand that God’s command to be fear-free is not given simply in the abstract. Instead, God reminds us that we can let go of fear because he is on our side.     Oftentimes when I read the Bible, I find myself thinking just how glad I am that I am not in the shoes of some of its men and women. Joshua is one of those men. I cannot imagine trying to lead God’s people into the promised land immediately after Moses’ death. Scripture says of Moses, “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face” (Exodus 34:10). Even still, Joshua was called by God to take his place. Undoubtedly, Joshua found himself in one of those life situations that breeds fear. But as God often did throughout the Israelites’ wilderness journey, he commanded Joshua not to fear. At the end of a great passage in which God commissions Joshua to lead his people, God says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).     God commanded Joshua to let go of his fear because God was on his side. So long as Joshua trusted and obeyed God, he was promised success and prosperity as Israel’s leader (Joshua 1:8). As we consider one of God’s most commonly given commands, let us remember that the reason we can let go of fear is because our God loves us, cares for us, and is on our side. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). God loves you, and so do I. 

- Jared Green preaches the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com

Replacing Sin

 

By Jared Green
     Among Jesus’ many great physical healings, he was well-known for casting out demons. In Luke 11, he cast out a demon that was mute, and once the demon was gone, the man was again able to speak. As they normally did, the people who saw the miracle marveled at what Jesus was able to do. The crowd reaction was mixed, however, as some believed Jesus was casting out demons in the name of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, while others sought a sign from heaven (11:14-16). Knowing the thoughts of the crowd, Jesus began to teach that he was casting out demons “by the finger of God” (11:20). At the end of his argument, Jesus taught a powerful lesson that extends well beyond casting out demons. Jesus said:When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first (11:24-26).    While Jesus is not in the business of casting demons from people today, Jesus is in the business of casting out sin. Upon our baptism into Christ, our sins are forgiven (Acts 2:38). While Christ’s grace alone provides forgiveness, we carry an important responsibility in our new Christian walks. It is vital that we replace the sin which once reigned in our lives with Christ-centered, obedient living.     What Jesus taught about the unclean spirits stands true on the topic of sin. When sin is cast from our lives, temptation is bound to return, and when temptation returns, it will undoubtedly be hard to fight against. So, when temptation returns, what will it find? Will temptation find a breeding ground for sin in your “house”? Or will it find that you have replaced the sin in your life with godliness? We must put to death worldly, sinful living (Colossians 3:5) in order that Christ-like living can take hold in our lives (Galatians 5:16-24). God loves you, and so do I. 

- Jared Green preaches the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY. He may be contacted through

Author Spotlight

 This week we are featuring articles written by David R. Ferguson. David studied at Freed Hardeman University and has preached for congregations in Mattoon, IL and Mentor, OH. We appreciate his long association with BulletinGold and his willingness to share his articles with us.

The Blind Leading the Blind

By David R. Ferguson
    Many of the familiar expressions we use today originated in the Bible. One such idiom, “the blind leading the blind,” comes from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 15:14: “Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (see also Luke 6:39).    As Jesus traveled around ministering in Galilee, He attracted crowds from places near and far, including Jerusalem – the authoritative center of Judaism at the time. The Gospel of Matthew records a scene in which a group of Pharisees and scribes travel from Jerusalem to confront Jesus. These religious leaders were the representatives of Judaism in that day. They were entrusted with studying the Scriptures and guiding God’s people in the ways of the Lord.    Without a doubt, these Jewish leaders were receiving reports of miracles and unconventional activities surrounding Jesus’ ministry. They became alarmed that their many regulations, laws, and age-old “traditions of the elders” (Matthew 15:2, ESV) were not being kept. Specifically, they had come to question why Jesus’ disciples were breaking the tradition of ceremonial handwashing before meals. According to their procedures – which, in reality, were human-made regulations and not part of God’s word – Jesus and His disciples were behaving in a way that made them ritually unclean. These so-called spiritual leaders had elevated their legalistic traditions to the point of equality with the commands of God in Scripture, a transgression Jesus was now compelled to confront.        Leading up to His description of the religious leaders as blind leaders of the blind, Jesus pointed out how the Pharisees had broken God’s commandments (Matthew 15:3-9). First, He established their hypocrisy – they regularly broke the laws of God while demanding that others follow their human-made traditions. They displayed outward piety but lacked true devotion to God and His word in their hearts. They were rebellious toward God and blind to their spiritual emptiness.    When Jesus said of the Pharisees, “The blind lead the blind,” He was emphasizing the foolishness of the situation. Only a person who can see ought to lead a blind person. To be a successful guide to others, one must be able to see where he or she is going. If the blind lead the blind, those leaders are arrogant, overconfident, and in serious denial about their own sightless condition. Jesus knew this was true of the scribes and Pharisees who had come to confront Him. “Guide for the blind” was a common title for Jewish teachers of that day (Romans 2:19). Jesus wasn’t about to let His detractors continue claiming this title when, in truth, they needed someone to lead them. We, too, must be careful not to let our own arrogance and pride blind us to our spiritual condition. We must trust in God and His word.

- 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

Sharing in the Suffering and Glory of Jesus

By David R. Ferguson     It’s interesting when you study the Old Testament and, while doing so, you recognize its fulfillment coming alive in the New Testament. When Joshua and the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land, they entered their inheritance. When we come to the Lord in obedient, saving faith, we receive many great blessings on top of having our sins removed. One of the greatest gifts we receive is we are adopted by God as His child legally, which is why from that point onward we become heirs to all that God has. The Apostle Paul writes about this process in Romans 8:16-17 [MEV], saying, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirits that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified with Him.”     This point Paul makes here is key and essential for us to know. The Holy Spirit of God, which Peter declared on the Day of Pentecost was given to obedient believers at baptism (Acts 2:38), bears witness to our spirit that we are, indeed, part of God’s family! But that’s not all the Spirit of God bears witness to. He also says we are now heirs of God and joint heirs with His Son Jesus! The entire inheritance of God becomes ours as we share it with His Son because we are also God’s child. And that’s very exciting to ponder.     But there’s also an “if” attached to this promise, and it’s important. We are children of God and co-heirs with Christ, if we share in His sufferings. By doing so, Paul says we then will share in His glory.     It’s difficult to suffer, but suffering for the sake of Christ is part of our inheritance we have in Him. Paul writes about this in 2 Timothy 3:12 [MEV], saying, “Yes, and all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Since Christ suffered, then so will we, but for Christians this suffering becomes a great blessing. Jesus spoke of this Himself in His Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. “Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be very glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in this manner they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12 [MEV]).     Great, indeed, is our reward in Heaven where our Father and Elder Brother await us!

- 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

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

By David R. Ferguson     In Matthew 9:27-31, we read of yet another great miracle on a day comprised of several astonishing miracles Jesus performed in the city of Capernaum so very long ago. As Matthew puts it, 27 As Jesus went on from there, two men who were blind followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 And after He entered the house, the men who were blind came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done for you according to your faith.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows about this!” 31 But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout that land.     From the moment He stepped off the boat that morning, Jesus had been going nonstop performing miracles, and this wasn’t even the last one He would do that day! He had already cured a paralyzed man; a woman with a blood issue that had lasted for 12 years was healed when she touched the hem of His robe; and He had just raised a 12-year-old girl from the dead. All these things had happened that day before He was accosted by these two blind men seeking His aid.     Some people naturally wonder why Jesus seemingly ignored the pleas of these two blind men as they cried out to Him. Jesus didn’t stop and heal these men, but instead He entered the house where He was staying without addressing the men. Although we aren’t told specifically why Jesus didn’t speak with these men initially, there are several possibilities that aren’t unreasonable. The first of these could be that Jesus may have been exhausted and simply hadn’t heard them initially as they cried out to Him since there were also many other people following Jesus that day. It may have been that Jesus wanted the men to repeat their request. This is the message Jesus taught in His Parable of the Persistent Widow. God loves His children, and He desires to hear from them often. And yet another reason Jesus didn’t respond immediately to these two blind men may be tied in with His command to them to “See that no one knows about this.”     It wasn’t yet time for Jesus to be crucified for the sins of mankind, and the cry these men made of “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” was not just a call for help, it was also a battle cry. The title “Son of David” is a Messianic title, and one the Jews used in their zeal to for a King to throw off their Roman overloads militarily. This wasn’t the mission of Jesus, and He didn’t need any trouble with the Romans. It’s my opinion that Jesus waited until the men followed Him inside the house to heal them for this very reason.

- 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 Plan

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By David R. Ferguson
    In Ephesians 4:15 we are told to “speak the truth in love.” So how do we overcome Satan? We must understand that we are in a battle. We must put on “the whole armor of God.” And we must utilize our spiritual victory plan.    That plan is laid out for the child of God in Revelation 12:11 where John wrote, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Look at those things. “The blood of the Lamb” is Jesus’ sacrifice. “The word of their testimony” is what we today recognize as the Scriptures. “And they did not love their lives to the death” is self-sacrifice. So today we can overcome Satan “by the blood of the Lamb.” The lamb that was slain in the Old Testament era was a symbol of something pure and perfect that took the place of sinners. John the Baptist once saw Jesus approaching and said, “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!” Hebrews 10:4 tells us that “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” Hebrews 10:12 says that Jesus, “after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” His sacrifice, being perfect (Hebrews 4:15), was able to remove completely the guilt and stain of sin for those who obey Him.    There also is “the word of their testimony,” which to us are the Scriptures. Those Scriptures are our spiritual lifeline. They, as it were, turn on a flashlight for us in a world of spiritual darkness (Psalm 119:105). The Scriptures are what make us spiritually clean. “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (Psalm 119:9). The Scriptures help us prevent sin in our lives. We hide God’s word in our hearts so that we will not sin against Him (Psalm. 119:11).    The third aspect in our spiritual victory plan has to do with the fact that we must be willing “not to love our lives to the death.” This means that we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves for the cause of Christ. We are not talking, of course, about a person going out and doing something foolish that would intentionally harm his body in the name of Jesus. What we are talking about is being willing every single day to give our lives to Christ, and being willing to submit our will to God’s will. The Scriptures teach in Romans 12:1 that we are “living sacrifices.” We are to consider ourselves “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20). We are to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily, according to Jesus in Luke. 9:23. The Scriptures teach us that the love of God ought to cause us to die to self daily to live for Jesus. Are you in the battle today to win? Are you aware that Satan is trying to cause you to lose your soul? If so, have you put on the whole armor of God? Are you prepared spiritually to go to battle against the Devil? Are you taking advantage of the spiritual victory plan? Always remain true to God, and fight the good fight of faith.

- 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

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God Is Love

By David R. Ferguson     I’m continually amazed and grateful for the many ways God demonstrates His love to us. During my devotional time, I began to make a list of them and want to share them with you. I pray that you will be blessed as you are reminded of His great love.     He doesn’t change. Hebrews 13:8 tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,” and Malachi 3:6 says, "I the Lord do not change.”     His love is always sure. Seasons change, people change, the world is changing, but God never changes. We can rely on Him.     He is faithful. God isn’t moody or fickle. We are. People will love you for a while and then they don’t. But God isn’t like that. He sticks with you. Mom     Whenever He asks us to obey Him, He also provides everything we need (1 Thessalonians 5:24). You can trust the One Who calls you to do that for you.     He’s our protector. He is our shield. And He is our “always there” protector. “So our hope is in the Lord. He is our help, our shield to protect us” (Psalm 33:20). Iti’s so comforting to know that everything that comes our way has to go through the shield about us before it touches us.     He’s always thinking about us. Psalm 139:17 says, “How precious it is, Lord, to realize that You are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many thoughts turn towards me.” This is one of the neatest things. When you think about it, there are over seven billion people in the world, and He still thinks of you and me constantly. He’s able to give us His undivided attention.     He’s always with you. This is made abundantly clear in Scripture. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). No matter where we are, God will be there with us.     He’s never too busy for us. He never goes away, takes a break, or goes on a vacation. He will always have time for us!     When we are in trouble, we can be encouraged. Deuteronomy 33:27 tells us, “The eternal God is a hiding place, and underneath are His everlasting arms.” Those arms are longing to embrace you today as His child, for as John puts it, “God is love” (1 John 4:16).

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted hrough the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.comt

The Untouchables

By David A. Sargent     Dan Richardson lost his battle with cancer. A fervent Christian, he wrote the following to be distributed at his memorial service.     Cancer is limited . . . It cannot cripple love, It cannot corrode faith, It cannot eat away peace, It cannot destroy confidence, It cannot kill friendship, It cannot shut out memories, It cannot silence courage, It cannot invade the soul, It cannot reduce eternal life, It cannot quench the Spirit, It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.*     “You have cancer.”  So many have heard these devastating words.  Fear is the most common response.  These are sobering, life-altering words.     The medical profession has made many advances.  We pray for our loved ones who have heard the somber diagnosis.  We long to hear the words after surgery and treatments: “You are cancer free.”     Even children of God are not immune from this disease.  But Dan Richardson’s words remind us of what cancer cannot touch.  May his words that are based on Scriptural truths bring strength, comfort, and peace to you, if you are battling cancer or going through some other difficult struggle.     Neither cancer nor any other trial in life can touch the spiritual blessings that are found in Christ.  That is because Jesus has won for us the victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57).      Unforgiven sin is the only real reason for despair because it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and puts us on the path to eternal destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).     But God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16) so that we can receive the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1:7) and the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).     God will save and give eternal life to 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 sin (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin and prepare for an eternal home those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).     Are you struggling with the difficulties that plague us in this world?  Consider the untouchable blessings that are found in Christ.  He died to make these things possible for you.  Embrace these blessings on His terms.  They will sustain you now and for eternity.

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

One Baptism (Ephesians 4:5)

By David Bragg     Years ago, in an issue of The World Evangelist, G. F. Raines related the story of a terrible head-on collision between two speeding trains. Both trains were barreling down the same track in opposite directions on a foggy, moonless night. Both engineers throw on their brakes in a futile attempt to stop their respective trains.      Rescue workers, systematically working their way through the wreckage, discovered "one of the engineers alive and pinned inside the locomotive. He was holding a yellow sheet of paper in his hand and saying with mournful repetition, "Someone gave the wrong orders".     The Apostle Paul was very clear that, although the New Testament speaks of various types of baptism, for the Chrisitan age there is but one. We are given but one set of marching orders (Matthew 28:18-20). There is but one action a person can take to wash away sins (Acts 22:16). The Apostle Peter was clear that there is but one action one can take that, when sincere, saves (1 Peter 3:21). We can be clear today, in a world confused by false doctrine, Jesus gave us but one baptism

David Bragg is co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through his blog: http://davidbragg.blogspot.com/

God’s Grace

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By Ron Thomas     It has been said that God's riches were given to man at Christ's expense. While this acrostic idea may easily preach (and it is true), it is more accurate to say that God's riches were given to man as the Lord willingly gave up the glories of heaven for the benefit of those He loves (all of us).     God's grace, it is our message to a world lost in sin but refuses to think they are guilty of anything as seriously consequential as eternal death. Some will speak as if they “okay” with the idea of going to Hell, but they have no idea about what that means, except to say it can’t be as bad as some harsh Christians say it is. “Anyway, my friends will be there!” They judge their actions as not being worthy of the Lord’s favor, but neither do they care.     We are very much aware of how the worldly mind thinks on this or that topic, and we also know the mind of the Lord and His view toward those who reject Him. With this knowledge, what do we do in a sinfully vile world around us?     Let us begin by understanding that we must live the life of Christ (Gal. 2:20). Difficult as it may be to do this, even more s- Ron Thomas preaches for the Church of Christ at Rio Grande in Bidwell, OH. He may be contacted at etsop95@gmail.como, consistently, we must begin here. Next, be sure we speak the words of Christ. When we speak of His saving grace, how He has given to each of us a hope that none in the world can take away (Rom. 8:24), repeat this message; in time, it will be heard. Third, support those who are serving in capacities that we are not, whether it be as elders, preachers, missionaries, schools of preaching, websites that promote the Lord’s way, etc. Fourth, do you enjoy being with your brethren? If so, then make association with them your priority and not those outside the Lord. Those things / events you value you will pursue, attain, and promote.     These are some things we can do, and if we do them with commitment, enthusiasm, and loyalty to the Lord, a difference we will make.

- Ron Thomas preaches for the Church of Christ at Rio Grande in Bidwell, OH. He may be contacted at etsop95@gmail.com

Untainted

By Rob Redden "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27 NIV).     Several years ago, Federal health regulators said they found tiny particles of trash in drugs used to treat rare enzyme disorders. Since the FDA has not discovered any adverse events, the agency is not removing the products from the market because it says there are few alternative treatments. The agency urged doctors to thoroughly inspect vials for particles before injecting them into patients!     How would you like to discover you have been injected with trash? What's a little steel, rubber and fiber as long as it makes you feel better? Years ago, when President Nixon attended a ceremony celebrating a high-tech water purification plant that treated water from sewage, he was offered a drink of its 99% pure water. He responded, "No, I'm worried about the 1%!"     There are so many people who do not worry about a little contamination. Just a little cheating, a little lying, a little sexual immorality, a little false doctrine are fine if it does not become a major percentage! Like the FDA, we tolerate a little bit of error and worldliness because we have not seen any adverse problems - yet. This is like saying, "I will eat out of trash cans as long as I don't get sick!" How foolish!     James tells us our religion must be pure and unadulterated, without spot (Jas. 1:27). Do we use a little "cussing"? What about a little lust? Perhaps a little road rage isn't all that bad! "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!" (James 3:4-6 NKJV)     We need to be vigilant about the subtle contaminations of our souls that daily attack us.

Rob Redden preaches for the Grover Beach Church of Christ in Grover Beach, CA. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - www.groverbeachchurchofchrist.com

The Word of God

 

By Dan C. Bailey     The word of God is God's revelation to mankind. God inspired men to write down His word. We read in Il Timothy 3:14-15, "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." The apostle Paul had personally instructed Timothy. Timothy had the assurance that he was taught the truth. The scriptures are holy because they are from God, they are from heaven. We read again in Il Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." The word "inspired" means "God breathed." So when we read the Bible, study the Bible, or preach the Bible, we are reading, studying or preaching from an inspired book. If we do not reverence the word of God, then we do not reverence God.      There are many who do not give due diligence to the word of God. We are instructed in Il Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." The word of God or the gospel, is God's power to save the lost. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1: 16). It is able to save our souls. "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21).      If we are serious about living right and about going to heaven, we will be serious about studying and learning the word of God. Let us all come to our Bible study classes on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Each class that we attend will increase our knowledge of the word of God. It is God's inspired word! We must take it seriously! It is God's word that will judge us one day. "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). That should prompt us to learn more about the word of God. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

- Dan C. Bailey serves as a minister with the State Street Church of Christ in Bristol, VA. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.thelordsway.com/statestreetchurchofchrist/framedindex.asp?Group=Home