It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

By Bill Brandstatter     It never ceases to amaze me that Christmas seems to come earlier every year. This year before Labor Day, Christmas items were on display in stores. Why is this so? Why is the Christmas season seemingly coming earlier every year?     For retailers, the main reason is: MONEY! Sales at Christmas time exceed the sales earlier in the year. The Friday after Thanksgiving is called the biggest shopping day of the year. Some have referred to that day as “Black Friday.”     There are some aspects of the Christmas season that have nothing to do with the presents and the prices. The joy that permeates this season gives everybody a real boost. Joy is one of those fruits of the Spirit that Paul mentions in Gal. 5:22. The happiness Christmas brings to many is simply beautiful.     I have seen joy already in some people. As travel plans are made and gifts are purchased, joy is behind all that is being done. This joy needs to be extended to the rest of the year.     Christ is all about joy. When the angel appeared to the shepherds in the field when Christ was born, he announced, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” (Lk. 2:10 NKJV) The gospel message ought to bring joy to everyone.     The joy of Christianity centers on the hope of heaven and a life better and more bountiful than this life. Paul wrote: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice! (Phil. 4:4)     Joy is the reason I like the Christmas season so much. The joy in the eyes of children brings a smile to the faces of many. The joy of giving is truly a Biblical concept. Jesus stated, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)     My hope is that you will have great joy this season. The joy that is found in Christ is beyond any present that can be found in any store.

Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/

Home For The Holidays

By Bill Brandstatter
    Home becomes a magnet for the heart at this time of the year. The holiday season is when Americans go home. Families separated by miles or years come together. Children who have left home to pursue dreams and careers come back trying to recapture whatever it was they left to escape! This human desire for home is a reminder of some great spiritual truths.    1) God Gave Us Earthly Homes To Prepare Us For A Heavenly Home. We have an instinctive longing for home. That is due in part to the fact that the home and family are creations of God-given for the good of mankind. (Genesis 2:18-19) God's intent is for the home to be one of the sweetest blessings which this world can provide. To that end, God has given us laws to regulate the home so it can be all He intended it to be (Ephesians 5:22-23). The Bible tells us that “Those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland” (Heb. 11:14 NKJV). Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has set eternity in our hearts. In all of us there is an instinctive longing for home. Later, Solomon writes, “For man goes to his eternal home” (Eccl. 11:5). That instinct is rooted in heaven. Popular wisdom says, "You can't go home again;” but God does not place any longing in us which He Himself cannot satisfy! We can't go back, but we can go forward to our greater home. (John 14:1-3) God gives us “ a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1).    2) Christ Left Home So We Could Go Home. Being separated from those you love especially at times like the Holidays is painful. Our most tragic, most serious separation is separation from God. God created us; He loves us; but we become estranged from Him through sin: “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1 -2, NKJV) God devised a plan to bring us back home. To accomplish that plan, when the time was right, He sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law that we might receive adoption as His children. (Galatians 4:4-5.) Jesus gave up His home in glory to come to this world on a mission of reclamation! (2 Corinthians). In His last years on earth, Jesus had no home: "...The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head..." (Luke 9:58) During those years of service and sacrifice and suffering...did He long for the home in which He had grown to manhood? Did He long for His mothers cooking? More to the point, did He long for the home He had left in glory? He could have had it; but Jesus deliberately chose to leave home for our sake! "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) The real question is, will you be going home for eternity?     3) Christ Gives us a Home Better Than Our Earthly Home. Christ is making mansions or dwelling places for us. (John 14:1-4) Paul identified the fact that we are not citizens here (Phil. 3:20). The Bible often uses the term “stranger” or “pilgrim” to describe the Christians here on earth (1 Peter 2:11). Sometimes the word “sojourner” is used. All these describe the individual who is out of place. A “pilgrim” and “sojourner” gives the idea of someone just passing through an area on the way to somewhere else. Notice what Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:1--“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”    Won’t it be great when some day we truly go home. Won’t it be wonderful there!!

- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/

Some Good Resolutions

By Dan C. Bailey     It is beneficial to make good resolutions for the New Year. When we reflect upon the past and plan for the future, resolutions are very helpful. How could we ever improve ourselves without resolving to do so? Here are some resolutions which will help us all to have a happy and blessed New Year. Let Us Resolve To Read The Bible Daily This is a simple resolution, and one that all Christians should make. If not, then why not? The Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God. It will strengthen our souls, guide our feet, and help us to have the best year possible. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). "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" (II Tim. 3:16-17). "I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches" (Psalm 119:14).   Let Us Resolve To Teach Others What We Know Jesus gave the great commission to the apostles. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matt. 28:18-20). Now think about it for a moment. If Jesus commanded His apostles to teach the lost, and then commanded them to observe all things which He commanded them, then Jesus by implication has given the great commission to the disciples who were taught by the apostles. Then, they in turn taught the great commission to others whom they taught. So today, as Christians, we are to teach others the gospel and then baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. In a parallel passage we read, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16).

- 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

Behold, a Child Is Born

By Andrew Beasley     It is that time of year again where the world begins to talk about the birthday of our savior, Jesus of Nazareth. You might see a bumper sticker on a car or two that read “Jesus is the reason for the Season” or “Keep Christ in Christmas.” When you read those statements, you might have the urge to talk about how Jesus was probably born sometime between March and May but certainly not in December. Maybe you will want to talk about how we were never instructed to remember Jesus’ birthday, and in fact Christ told us how He desires us to remember Him and it is through the memorial of the Lord’s Supper.     Let me encourage you to fight those urges. There is certainly a time and a place to have those discussions but let us not discourage anyone, at any point in time, for having their thoughts centered on Jesus. His birth is not something we should avoid talking about. Truly, His birth is something we should rejoice over because without Christ taking on flesh we would lose out on so much, not the least of which is a high priest who understands personally what the day-to-day life of being a human is like (Heb. 4:15-16).     Use these opportunities while the world is focused on Jesus to teach them about what He gave for them, regardless of what day He was born on, and rejoice with them that the Son of God took on flesh to become the sacrifice we desperately needed.

- 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/

Auld Lang Syne

By David R. Ferguson     Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish song written by Robert Burns in 1788 and sung in the English-speaking world each year since as the New Year dawns. Burns’ lyrics were inspired heavily by an earlier work composed by James Watson in 1711. Watson’s poem, in turn, has roots in an earlier old Scottish song from Scotland’s ancient past. The Scottish words auld lang syne literally mean “old long since,” better stated as “for old time’s sake.” The words “till dine” in the fourth verse mean “dinner time.” The song begins, then, by asking poetically, "Is it best for us to forget our loved ones, those who have gone before us?" The chorus, then, answers this question by saying, “No, it’s better to remember our loved ones fondly and in memory of all the good times they gave us for old time’s sake."     It breaks our heart to lose our loved ones to death, but for those of us in Christ, we know this is really not true. They haven’t been lost at all to death, for death no longer holds sway over those who lived their lives faithfully in Christ due to His victory over the sting of death (1 Corinthians 15:57). Because of the great sacrifice He made on our behalf, we are assured that our loved ones have been called home to life eternal with their Lord. So, let’s all take a cup of kindness yet in their memory for auld lang syne, and rejoice in their blessed state they now are living!     Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.     And surely you’ll buy your pint cup and surely I’ll buy mine! And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.     We two have run about the slopes, and picked the daisies fine; But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.     We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine; But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.     And there’s a hand my trusty friend and give us a hand o’ thine! And we’ll take a right good-will of draught, for auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

- 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

When Silence Isn't Golden

By Joe Slater     We spend the first year trying to get the baby to talk; then we spend the next seventeen years trying to get him to be quiet!     There is a time to be silent (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Even Jesus was silent when the occasion called for it (Matthew 26:63).     But silence isn’t always golden. Sometimes it’s counterproductive or downright sinful. When David had sinned, his guilt ate him alive as long as he kept it bottled up inside. “When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long” (Psalm 32:3). Only when he confessed to God did he find pardon and relief.     When you have information that can help other people, remaining silent about it would be sinful! For example, when Syria besieged Jerusalem, a terrible famine resulted. The Lord caused the Syrians to flee, leaving behind abundant food. The four lepers who discovered it knew they must tell others. “This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we want until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household” (2 Kings 7:9).     If remaining silent in that day of good news would have been sinful, how much more if Christians stay quiet about the gospel of Christ? Paul had suffered terrible abuse for evangelizing virtually everywhere he went. Still, he came to Corinth and led many to Christ. The Lord told him, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10).     Speak to the Lord about your burden of sin! Speak to other people about the Gospel! Silence isn’t golden!

- 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

God's Benefit Package

By Joe Slater     While salary is obviously important, job hunters know that benefits can be equally or more important. Health insurance, paid vacation, retirement, sick days, and other considerations may tip the scale as to whether one accepts an employer’s offer.     Becoming a Christian isn’t a perfect parallel to being employed, so don’t make more of this illustration than you should. God doesn’t “owe” us anything for working for Him! Nevertheless, by His grace He provides valuable benefits to His willing servants. That was true even under the Law of Moses. David exclaimed, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2). Psalm 116:12 rhetorically asks, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?”     Do we recognize and appreciate the benefits of being a Christian? Let’s start with the most obvious one: forgiveness of sins. God washed us completely clean in the blood of the Lamb. Our debt is paid in full!     That naturally results in eternal life. We have a new life in Christ now, and we know that when our physical life ends, we will continue to live with the Lord.     In the meanwhile, we enjoy the privilege of prayer. Through our mediator, Jesus Christ, we can approach the Father’s throne of grace boldly, knowing that He will hear and answer in whatever way is best according to His infinite wisdom and love.     These benefits are but the beginning of a virtually endless list of advantages Christians have. And remember, we earned none of them. Our loving Father provides them by His grace.     What other benefits can you list?

- 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

Come, Take, Learn

By Joe Slater
    Can you imagine how frustrated Jesus must have  felt when the very people who ought to have recognized and welcomed Him stubbornly refused? Nevertheless, He continued offering salvation to those humble enough to accept it.“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).    This beautiful invitation has three imperatives. The first is “come.” While He was on earth in the flesh people could physically come to Him, but even then (as now) coming to Jesus required faith and obedience. Those who bore heavy burdens of sin and trials found rest in Him. That is still the case.    Then Jesus said, “Take.” Take My yoke upon you. A yoke is an instrument of service such as oxen would wear to pull a plow or cart. Yes, we must serve our Savior. But whereas an ox yoke might gall and chafe the animal’s neck or shoulder, Jesus’ yoke is “easy” (v. 30). Serving Him brings delight in contrast to the crushing misery of sin.    Finally, Jesus said, “Learn.” We cannot know how to serve Him and enjoy rest unless we learn from Him. We learn from what He taught as we read through the gospels. In the same way we learn from what He did as we observe His mercy, His obedience, His power, His faith, His suffering, His anger, His patience (and you can extend that list indefinitely).    Come. Take. Learn. Those three simple steps form a good summary of what discipleship involves. His invitation is for you. Will you accept it?

- 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

Truancy (Chronic Absenteeism)

By Joe Slater     You aren’t supposed to call it truancy anymore. It’s “chronic absenteeism.” Most schools don’t have truant officers anymore. Now they’re “Professional Student Advocates.” The new title supposedly helps parents to be less defensive when approached about their children’s non-attendance at classes. I feel better already!     I read that in Connecticut a student who misses 18 or more days out of 180 (ten percent or more) is considered chronically absent. Hmmm. What if we used that kind of standard for church attendance?     A typical year has 52 Sundays. How many of us miss fewer than five of them? I shouldn’t have to re-state the obvious, but to prevent any hurt feelings let me make it clear: this has nothing to do with absences due to health or other legitimate reasons.     Absence by choice has been problematic for as long as I can remember and has only grown worse post-pandemic. In far too many cases absenteeism far exceeds ten percent, and that’s if we count only the Sunday morning assembly. Add the Sunday evening service and Bible classes (as we should) and the picture is even more dismal.     “Professional student advocates” are focusing less on enforcement and more on determining why children are skipping school and then remedying the issues. I can only imagine the reasons they’re hearing: Johnny doesn’t like his teacher; Susie doesn’t enjoy Biology; the cafeteria doesn’t serve what my children like. Truth be told, they probably don’t understand the importance of education. Maybe their parents don’t either.     Why are some Christians chronically absent? I’ve heard a freight car load of excuses with abundant finger-pointing and blaming. But the bottom line remains the same: failure (or refusal) to see the importance of it. What about you?

- 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

Looking Like God

By Joe Slater     Do you look like God? Every human is made in His image, yet people’s physical appearance varies widely.     If we had lived while Jesus walked the earth, we could have pointed to Him and truly said, “There goes God!” Jesus Himself told Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). But the Bible says precious little of how He looked except that He was ordinary (Isaiah 53:2). Fast-forward pas the Renaissance painters who depict Him as an effeminate, stringy-haired, blue-eyed European!     Facial features, height, weight, and skin tone don’t make you look like God anyway! Such characteristics may indicate that you have your parents’ genes, and that may become more obvious as the years pass.     But the passing of those same years ought to make us, as God’s children, look more like Him. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). That transformation is what makes us a reflection of God in His glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).     Look at Jesus! I don’t mean His physical attributes; those aren’t the point. Look at His attitude; see His love; ponder His purpose; observe His selfless sacrifice. You ought to be notably more like Him than you were a year ago . . . five years ago . . . ten years ago.     Do you look like 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

All Things That Pertain To Life and Godliness

By Dale J. Babinsky
    Have you ever spent Christmas Eve feverishly trying to assemble that last gift? Perhaps you waited until the last moment thinking it wouldn’t be a big deal or difficult. It only required some assembly, after all. Then you notice that the instructions are not clearly written, and the diagrams are small and ambiguous as to which side of the frame the screws are supposed to be inserted. Don’t you wish that you had all that pertains to how to put this thing together?    God’s instructions for us are not like that. They are neither unclear, nor ambiguous. Peter tells us that God, through His magnificent ability and divine power, “has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3 NKJV). He has given us all the things that we need in order to know how to live a godly life. He has left nothing to chance. He has given us no reason to wonder what it is that He wants. Through God’s written word, the Bible, mankind can have all the information and instruction necessary to live a life that pleases the Lord. We can read and understand what God wants us to know (Ephesians 3:3-5). We can understand the will of the Lord (Ephesians 5:17). We can have the knowledge of Him and His will so that, “you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).    Of course, many choose to ignore the instructions. Sometimes our pride gets in the way. I know how to put this thing together. Hours later, we begin to look for where we laid those instructions. When all else fails, consult the instructions. However, it would be better to start with the instructions so that we can arrive at the desired end. Our desired end ought to be heaven. Our desired end ought to be having a relationship with our Lord and Savior. We can say, “I don’t need the instructions, I know what I am doing,” but that path will not lead us to know God as He wants to be known. He has given us all things for living a godly life in His inspired words. Let us look to those basic instructions before leaving earth so that we will get to be where we want to go.

- Dale J. Babinsky preaches for the Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://gsmchurchofchrist.com/

A Thoughtful Gift

By David A. Sargent     Brenna Martin graduated from high school in 2012.  One of the things that she will remember most is the graduation gift that she received from her parents.  She posted her thoughts about her gift not long after she received it.  Here are her words: “I graduated High School this week.  When my Dad said he had a present for me, I thought I was getting some cheesy graduation card.  But what I received was something truly priceless....  Following the ceremony he handed me a bag with a copy of ‘Oh, The Places You'll Go!’ by Dr. Seuss inside.  At first I just smiled and said that it meant a lot and that I loved that book.  But then he told me, ‘No, open it up.’  On the first page I see a short paragraph written by none other than my kindergarten teacher.  I started tearing up but I’m still confused.  He tells me, ‘Every year, for the past 13 years, since the day you started kindergarten, I’ve gotten every teacher, coach, and principal to write a little something about you in this book.’  He managed to keep this book a secret for 13 years, and apparently everyone else in my life knew about it!  Yes the intended effect occurred… I burst out into tears.      Sitting there reading through this book there are encouraging and sweet words from every teacher I love and remember through my years in this small town.  My early teachers mention my ‘pigtails and giggles,’ while my high school teachers mention my ‘wit and sharp thinking.’  But they all mention my humor and love for life.  It is astounding to receive something this moving, touching, nostalgic, and thoughtful.  I can’t express how much I love my Dad for this labor of love.”     The book "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" has a cash value of less than $20, but to Brenna, it is "truly priceless."  She will cherish the comments from her teachers and coaches, but what makes the book so valuable to her is that her Dad worked on “this labor of love” for 13 years.     If the value of a gift can be determined by the time and thoughtfulness behind it, consider the worth of God’s greatest Gift for you and me…     The Apostle Peter wrote to Christians regarding the price that was paid for their redemption: “18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” – 1 Peter 1:18-19 Our sins condemn us (Romans 3:23; 6:23), but God loves us so much that He provided a Gift – His Son Jesus – to pay the price for our redemption (Ephesians 1:7).  That Gift, which provides salvation and eternal life to those who accept it, is precious – not only because it is the precious blood of the Son of God who died for us, but also because of how long ago God determined to provide the Gift.  “He was chosen before the creation of the world.”      In order to accept God’s offer of salvation and life through His Son, one must place his faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), and follow Him faithfully (Revelation 2:10).     God planned to save us through the blood of Jesus His Son before He even created us!  That Gift is “truly priceless.”      “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” – 2 Corinthians 9:15     Won’t YOU accept the GIFT 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 * Information gleaned from the Huffington Post -- http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Blessed Assurance (Part 1)

By Clifton Angel     Hearing produces faith (Romans 10:17). Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Repentance, a decision made within the mind to change the direction of your life, is required for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Confessing with the mouth leads to salvation (Romans 10:10). And the culmination of all these actions occurs when one is baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3, 4). It is at this point that a person puts on Christ (Galatians 3:27). It is at this point that a person’s sins are washed away (Acts 22:16). It is at this point that a person is saved (Mark 16:16). It is at this point that a person has access to all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3).     Yet, after this point, it is still possible for a person to sin: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Even so, it is possible for a person to so sin as to be lost eternally: For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire (2 Peter 2:20-22).     With this fact in mind, it is often the case that Christians find themselves “walking on eggshells” in fear of so sinning. Furthermore, they will sin, and then become discouraged, begin to doubt their salvation, forgetting the power of the blood of Christ, and live in misery, wondering why such misery can be found in those that are to be most happy of all. Dear friends and brethren, such doubt should not be found in a Christian, for we have blessed assurance! Paul wrote the church in Rome, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1a). From this terse and powerful passage, we will consider three primary thoughts that should dwell in the mind of every true follower of Christ.     If you are reading this and have left the faith, come back to this blessed assurance! If you are reading this and have never had this blessed assurance, let us study God’s Word together so that you might obtain it. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1a).

- 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/

Blessed Assurance (Part 2)

By Clifton Angel “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1a).     Now. In order to appreciate the word “now” in this passage, we must first consider the word “therefore”. Paul is concluding something. He has just been explaining the discouragement, heartache, and struggle that came with living under the old law (cf. Rom 7:5-25). Paul begins such a discussion with the phrase, “for when we were in the flesh” (Rom 7:5). “Flesh” was a symbolic term that Paul sometimes used to refer to the temporary old law (cf. Gal 3:1-3). What was wrong with the old law, Paul? Nothing! “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Rom 7:12). It served the purpose God intended (cf. Gal 3:19-27). Then, what is the problem? With a paraphrase of Romans 7 and evident events in Paul’s life, consider what he might say: “Me! I’m the problem; I have sinned! Let me explain. It’s the yearly Passover Feast. I have my beautiful young lamb. Many friends and family will be there. I take my lamb to the priest. I smell the burning flesh. I see blood all over the place. I tell him my sin, and just for a moment I hoped...I thought that maybe...but he said, “Remember, you’re still a sinner.” “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom 7:24). But now. “There is therefore now.” Can you try to picture Paul’s face as this was being written? I wonder if his eyes lit up with joy? Perhaps a smile came across his face and tears began to roll down his cheeks? Now. Paul was a man that knew what it is like to live under the old law and under the new law: the Gospel! Do we ever stop and thank God that we live now?     No Condemnation. The original word translated “condemnation” literally means “down judgment.” When we think of heaven, we think “up.” When we think of hell, we think “down.” To be condemned would mean that at the judgment, one would be going “down” to hell. However, we are talking about “no condemnation.” When a house is condemned, it is declared “unfit for use.” There is no life in it. Likewise, there is no life in a condemned person. But in Christ, there is no condemnation, and His life is in you (cf. Rom 6:3–4; Gal 2:20). Read Romans 8:35-39.     O, the blessed assurance of no condemnation! Who can separate me from the love of Christ? Only I can separate myself from the love of Christ. The Apostle Paul knew this, for he said, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Cor 9:27). Are you partaker in this blessed assurance?

- 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/

 

Blessed Assurance (Part 3)

By Clifton Angel “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1a).     In Christ. The phrase in Christ occurs some 77 times in the New Testament. In the Lord can be found some 111 times throughout the Bible. The Bible gives definite importance to one being in Christ. What is so great about one being in Christ?     It is in Christ that the fulfillment of prophecies and eternal plans are found (Eph 1:10). It was in Christ that God’s eternal purpose was accomplished (Eph 3:11). It is in Christ that all spiritual blessings are found (Eph 1:3). Think about the blessing of approaching our Father in prayer (Luke 11:1–4; 1 Pet 3:12). Think about the blessing of forgiveness of sins. Think about the blessing of offering up spiritual sacrifices in spirit and truth on the first day of the week (John 4:23–24; 1 Pet 2:5; Acts 2:42). Think about the blessing of walking in the light (1 John 1:7–9). Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). If we are walking in the Light, it is the same as saying we are walking in Christ! Sometimes we do not realize how saved we are! God is not like human beings in that He is not watching our every move with intentions of catching us in a fault. He does not want to condemn us! He wants to save us (1 Tim 2:4)!     Read Philippians 4:4-8.      These words are from a man that was in prison when he wrote them. They are from a man that received 195 stripes from the Jews (but only 39 stripes per instance, so that they satisfied their self-righteous view of the law), had been stoned and left for dead, was beaten with rods on three occasions, was shipwrecked on three different occasions. No one could stop a man like Paul because he had blessed assurance. It has been said: “If you set Paul free, he would convert the world. If you put him in prison, he would write the Bible. And if you kill him, you will put him right where he wants to be: with Christ.” Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20).     “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long” (Fanny Crosby, Hymn: “Blessed Assurance”). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1a). Are you “in Christ” (Rom 6:3–4; Gal 3:27)?

- 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/

Making Room For The King

By Jeff Arnette     As Christmas approaches, we often hear the familiar story of the birth of Jesus. We hear of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, only to find no room in the inn (Luke 2:1-7). But what does this story mean for us today?     In a world filled with noise, distractions, and endless demands, it’s easy to find ourselves in a similar situation. Our hearts, like the manger, can become cluttered with anxieties, worries, and worldly pursuits. Just as Mary and Joseph found themselves forced to seek alternative shelter, we too can find ourselves pushing Jesus out of our lives, leaving him to find a place in the margins.     However, the Bible reminds us that Jesus desires a place in our hearts, not just during special occasions but every day. He says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20) He doesn’t force his way in, but waits patiently for us to invite him into the manger of our lives.     But how do we make room for him in the midst of our busy schedules and overwhelming to-do lists? Here are a few ways, inspired by the wisdom of the Bible: 1. Seek him first. Jesus reminds us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33). When we prioritize our relationship with him, everything else falls into place. We find the strength to face challenges, the wisdom to make decisions, and the peace that transcends understanding. 2. Nourish your spirit. Just as we need food for our physical bodies, we need spiritual nourishment to grow our relationship with Jesus. Immerse yourself in the Bible, read devotional readings, and allow his words to wash over you like a soothing balm. As the Psalmist writes, “Your words are sweeter than honey to my mouth, and my portion forever.” (Psalm 119:103) 3. Connect with your church. Reconnect with your church family where you can worship together, share your faith, and support one another on your spiritual journeys. As the book of Hebrews encourages, “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) 4. Shine his light. Don’t keep Jesus locked away in your heart. Let his love and compassion overflow into your interactions with others. Serve those in need, offer words of encouragement, and be a living testament to his grace. As Jesus himself said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)     Making room for Jesus is a continuous journey, not a destination. It requires constant effort, but the rewards are immeasurable. When we choose him above all else, we discover a peace that surpasses all understanding, a joy that fills our hearts with every sunrise, and a love that guides us through every storm.     We need to clear the “manger of our hearts” and invite the King to reign supreme. As we do, we transform the world around us, one act of love and kindness at a time.

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

Making An Investment in People

By Brian Mitchell     There is a dire need for Evangelism in the Lord’s church today. It is OUR JOB to reach out to the lost. If we don’t do it, who will? If we won’t do it, it won’t get done. If it doesn’t get done, a lot of souls will be unnecessarily lost—including ours if we never ever tried to reach out.     As I have said before—there is NO SUCH THING as an UNDERCOVER CHRISTIAN. If we belong to the Lord, are a part of the body of Christ, then we have the obligation to sow the seed of the kingdom. We are in the People Business and in the end, there is no better place to make an investment than in people. Do you remember Jesus’ last words?     Jesus said this to his disciples in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” And the next verse reads, “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” (Acts 1:9). So, these were Jesus’ last words to His disciples, but let’s travel back in time to an earlier encounter with Jesus.     This episode is recorded in Matthew 4:18 and following. It was here that Jesus was walking one day beside the Sea of Galilee, and he saw two brothers, Peter and Andrew. Peter and Andrew were common fishermen. They were working hard that day, casting their nets into the lake and pulling in their catch. That’s when Jesus came up to them and said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Verse 20 says, “At once they left their nets and followed him.”     In essence, what Jesus said to the two of them that day was: “I understand your preoccupation with catching fish. But if you will trust me and follow me, if you will try to understand who I am and what I am up to in this world, then I will make you fishers of men. And believe me, this is an infinitely more significant endeavor than merely catching fish!”     Now, it’s important to understand that Jesus was not knocking the fishing business, any more than He would have knocked the carpentry business in which both He and his father participated. There’s nothing wrong with those occupations, nor the food business, the travel business, the insurance business, or any other wholesome business. They are all fine. But no earthly enterprise is as important as the business of bringing lost people to the cross of Christ. This soul saving enterprise should be central to the lives of all Jesus’ followers, regardless of what they do for a living.      This is Who We Are!!! Those of us who choose to follow Jesus must eventually come to the realization that there’s nothing more important than reaching people. When we do, our values will change—our focus will change—our pursuits will change. We will be seized by the realization that every other earthly activity pales in comparison with helping an individual enter into a saving relationship with the God of the universe.     When we finally come to that understanding, then we will: Live differently, Pray differently, Love differently, Work differently, Serve differently and Give differently. We will become preoccupied with people and their spiritual needs and in doing what we can to help them meet those needs. So, let me ask you a personal question: Has this kind of thing happened to you yet? Have you come to that conclusion yet?

- Brian Mitchell serves as a minister with the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net

What Is Religious Prejudice

By Bob Prichard     Prejudice is one of the great problems of mankind. War in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Israel and Gaza, and many other places is primarily over religious prejudice. The root idea of prejudice is to “pre-judge” someone or something, without considering all the evidence. Prejudice results when someone decides “all” are “like this” because a “few” are. Prejudice comes because someone has the attitude, “my mind is made up, don’t confuse me with the facts.” Race, gender, size, religion, or just about any other distinguishing characteristic may be the basis for prejudice. The basic idea is that “we” are better, and “they” are not as good.     The Jews of Christ’s time had an attitude of racial and religious prejudice toward the Samaritans. It was almost beyond the belief of Christ’s Jewish listeners that there could possibly be a “good Samaritan.” The Samaritan woman at the well acknowledged the division, “for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans” (John 4:9). Jesus offered her “living water” that would bring unity to the Jew, the Samaritan, and the Gentile as well. “The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23).       Jesus came to unite all “true worshippers” who would “worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” By seeking true worshippers, He frequently challenged the religious authorities. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation” (Matthew 23:13-14). He called the Pharisees “hypocrites” so often that “Pharisee” and “hypocrite” are almost synonymous to us. The Pharisees were the most religious of all the sects of the Jews, but they had lost sight of God’s will. Was Jesus “prejudiced” against the Pharisees because he criticized them? No! He had not “pre-judged” them, but He knew what they were teaching and doing, so he condemned them.     In our religious world, some think that any criticism of what any religious group teaches or practices is “religious prejudice.” It seems that we have reached the point that people can do anything in the name of religion, and because of cries of “religious prejudice,” we should never compare their religious practices to what the Bible says. Criticism that is “pre-judged,” not based on a right consideration of all the evidence is wrong, but too often the “standard” is what men like or dislike, rather than what God has said through His written Word. Jesus said, “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). To say, “this religious group teaches or practices such and such a doctrine, but the Bible says this,” is not religious prejudice. We must be sure that our facts are right, and that we do not misapply or mishandle the Word, but we also must make sure that we abide by what it teaches. We risk our souls if we disregard God’s will.

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Unchanging Truth

By Glen Elliott     “People cannot change truth, but truth can change people.” Truth has always been one of life’s most precious commodities. Solomon, the wise king of Israel, advised his son to buy the truth and not sell it (Proverbs 23:23). What is so special about truth? It doesn’t change. It abides forever. It can be relied upon.     In this world, deception is the order of the day. We are well advised to examine everything carefully. The misrepresentation and distortion of truth leads to tragedy. We hear of some losing their life’s savings because they believed a lie. Truth is precious because people can be deceived.     In the spiritual realm, dependence on truth carries eternal significance. The word of God is our only reliable guide to heaven. The psalmist says, “The sum of Your word is truth and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting” (Psalm 119:160). Sadly, there are many who misrepresent the truth. For this reason, we must test all that we hear by comparing it to the word of God (Acts 17:11). We cannot risk our eternal well-being by blindly accepting the words of men. Instead, our faith must rest on the teaching of our Lord.     Jesus said, “everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John 8:34). The question of slavery had been introduced earlier, when Jesus said: “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (vv. 31-32). Insisting on the truth and adhering to it is essential because only the truth sets us free from the bondage of sin.     We cannot change the truth. We can exchange it for a lie; but that lie will not set our souls free from sin. We cannot change the truth, but we can let the truth change us as we earnestly seek its teachings and follow its precepts.

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

The Great and Terrible Day

By David R. Ferguson     There’s a great and terrible day coming. It will be great for those of us in Christ, but a terrible day for the multitudes who have chosen to reject the Lord and the salvation that only He can offer. Because salvation is available only through Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), then it’s paramount that we prepare ourselves to be clothed in His holy garments when He returns.     This great and terrible day will occur when Jesus returns to gather His saints to take them home to be with Him forever and the last enemy, Death, is destroyed forever, cast into the Lake of Fire: 16. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a cry of command, with the Archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; 17. then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 [RSV])     A glorious reunion with the living awaits those who have already passed away to be with their Lord: 22. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ. 24. Then comes the end, when He delivers the Kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26. The last enemy to be destroyed is Death. (1 Corinthians 15:22-25 [RSV])     No one will be beyond the Lord’s reach: 13. And the sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were judged by what they had done. 14. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death, the Lake of Fire; 15. and if anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire. (Revelation 20:13-15 [RSV])     When this great day happens, we shall be resurrected into a new body like our Lord’s: “Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2 [RSV]). Yes, this a very frightening proposition to those who in their rebellion remain separated from their Creator, but not to those of us who are a part of His body: “Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18 [RSV]).     It's my hope and prayer that if you have not made the decision to make the Lord your own you will do so today!

- 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