By Brian Mitchell The following story was
run a number of years ago in the Fort Worth, Texas Star Telegram. “The man who
spotted targets for American bombers over Hiroshima in August 1945 has been
laid to rest in Texas soil after searching the last 33 years for some peace in
his life. Claude Robert Earthley was a 24 Year Air Force pilot who picked out Hiroshima
through a hole in the clouds and radioed the Enola Gay to bomb her primary
targets. He died this past Saturday from cancer in the Veterans Administration Hospital
in Houston. He had been discharged
from the service in 1947 following numerous psychiatric tests that indicated
severe neurosis and guilt complex. Doctors said that he told him that he felt personally
responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Japanese. In 1960, after
a series of small time burglaries, the Van Alstyne, Texas, native told
reporters that he had not had any sleep in 15 years. There is no peace, he
said.” One of the primary
definitions for the word peace was an “inner calm or tranquility.” Inner peace
is something that all men search for, and yet for various reasons, few ever
really find it. There are many people in the world and some in the Lord’s Church
as well that struggle, as Mr. Earthley did, with their own personal demons and
thus they never really enjoy the peace the God intends for all of our lives—Jn.14:1-3,
Jn.14:27, Jn.16:33. If God intended for us
to have peace in our lives and Jesus says repeatedly that it is peace that we
have in Him; why do so many people live lives characterized by anything but
peace? Some people don’t have peace in their lives because they have never come
to the only real source of peace in our lives and that is God. In fact, there
is no peace in life a part from God, and if you are here today and have never
obeyed the Gospel you should not have peace in your life. |
- 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  |
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Peace In Your Personal Life
Jonah And The Love Of God
|
Before you criticize Jonah too severely, put yourself in his place. God
commanded him to preach to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire. Assyria
was a fierce and dreaded enemy of Israel. I could make you nauseous with
details of the Assyrians’ cruelty to their enemies. The worse the pain they
could inflict and the longer they could make it last, the better they liked it.
No doubt Jonah would have been happy for God to wipe them from the face of the
earth. Good riddance!
How would you react if God told you to go preach to Pyongyang (North
Korea, ruled by Kim Jong-un)? Or to Kabul (Afghanistan, ruled by the Taliban)?
Or to ISIS in parts of Syria? Jonah’s assignment had much in common with those.
Jonah was wrong to disobey God. Let there be no doubt about that!
Jonah’s nationalism kept him from understanding God’s love for even the worst
of sinners. God’s nature doesn’t change. Today He isn’t willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9); that was true in
Jonah’s day too. The sheer ignorance of the Assyrians didn’t excuse their
hideous abuses, but it did result in the Lord being longsuffering with them
even as He was with Israel and still is with us.
Can you love people who hate you and would be all too happy to kill you
if they could? Jesus prayed for the very people who were mocking and murdering
Him. A few weeks later His blood cleansed some of them from their sins!
God loves the good and the evil, the just and the unjust, His love is
perfect (complete, mature, Matthew 5:43-48). It’s nothing special to love those
who love you (v. 46). But loving your enemies makes you 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 |
One Nation Under God
|
What if you could live in a nation whose
foundation was built upon God? What if you could live in a nation whose primary
leader was completely submissive to God? What if you could live in a nation
whose laws were always truly good and right? What if you could live in a nation
whose justice system was entirely upright? What if you could live in a nation
whose good citizens always looked to God? A nation whose education system relied
on the Bible? A nation where life was sacred? A nation where the leaders truly
sought the best for the citizens? A nation that cared most about things
Biblical, instead of things political? As much as this may seem like a fantasy,
it is actually a reality. Peter
wrote these words to members of the body of Christ: "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an
holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Figuratively,
the Lord's church is a nation, which must shine as a light to all physical
nations. Paul said, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That
ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians
2:14–15). The
Psalmist proclaimed, "Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah, The people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance" (Psalm
33:12, ASV). In
his first epistle, Peter said it this way, concerning the church, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you"
(1:3–4). If you are in Christ's kingdom (Acts
2:37–47; Colossians 1:13)—an holy nation—you are in: (1) A nation whose
foundation is built upon God! (2) A nation whose primary leader is completely
submissive to God (Jesus)! (3) A nation whose laws are always truly good and right!
(4) A nation whose justice system is entirely upright! (5) A nation whose good
citizens always look to God! (6) A nation whose education system relies on the
Bible! (7) A nation where life is sacred! (8) A nation where the leaders truly
seek the best for the citizens! (9) A nation that cares most about things
Biblical, instead of things political! Are
you in the church that belongs to Christ—the one nation that is willingly under
God? Our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20). |
- 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/ |
Are You Intolerant?
By Jeff Arnette We live in a world where it is an unforgivable
sin is to be intolerant of others. What is often shocking is that those same
people who are quick to point out that someone is being “intolerant” are
themselves incredibly intolerant of others. They seem to be tolerant of almost
anything except Christian values or someone who disagrees with them. As soon as
someone disagrees with their opinions or says they are a Christian they’re
instantly labeled as intolerant, bigoted, racist, or legalistic. I think we need to define this word
tolerance. The worldly definition of tolerance seems to be “accepting all views
as true.”[i] Whereas, Oxford’s dictionary says “showing tolerance (of a plant,
animal, or machine), able to endure specified conditions or treatment.”[ii]
Webster’s defines tolerance as “tolerating or being tolerant, especially of the
beliefs and customs of others, even though these are not like your own.”
Therefore, to tolerate means to allow, permit, or recognize and respect others’
beliefs and customs without sharing them.[iii] Is tolerance really about just accepting
all viewpoints as correct? Does God really expect me to just accept someone’s
view as true, just because they believe it to be true? Honestly, I can hold to
all kinds of ideas about all kinds of things, but just because they are my
views does not make them right. Obviously if I hold a certain view, I believe
it to be right but am I really, correct? I think this gets to the real problem most
have with tolerance. We live in a world that does not want anyone to tell them
they are wrong. Friends, the Bible I read says that I cannot just accept
everything as true. God expects His followers to question all things (1 Thess.
5:21) and hold to the good. The very words good and bad or right and wrong
imply that some things are right and others wrong. To make matters worse, the way most people
throw around the accusation of intolerance violates a simple principle of
logic. The principle states that if you are presented with two contradictory
statements there can only be three logical options. One is right and the other
is wrong or both statements are wrong. We cannot accept that all contradictory
views are correct. We can speculate all day about what we think or even what we
want to be true but there is only one truth. For example, if Jesus is not the
only way to heaven (John 14:6) then what is the right way? So, are you intolerant of other’s beliefs
simply because they differ from yours? I don’t think so. Excuse me but I
thought we lived in a country where having an opinion was ok or even desirable.
I’m afraid we’re inching closer and closer to a society where the majority
rules and if you disagree you will be censored, silenced, or discredited until
no one listens to you any longer. For the Christian, the Bible is very clear
on this. I must differentiate between what is good and what is bad. But in the
process, I cannot forget that the same Bible tells me to treat people fairly,
to love them, and to try to help them find the truth about God and salvation.
True tolerance does not require you to be ignorant and blind to the truth. [i]
Ted Cabal, Chad Owen Brand, E. Ray Clendenen, Paul Copan, J.P. Moreland and
Doug Powell, The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers,
Stronger Faith (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007). 1882. [ii]
Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11th
ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004). [iii]
Hindson, E., & Caner, E. (2008). The popular encyclopedia of apologetics: surveying
the evidence for the truth of christianity. Harvest House Publishers. |
- Jeff Arnette preaches for
the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/ |
Sunday, January 15, 2023
Introduction to 3 John
By Jeff Arnette At just 219 words, 3
John is the shortest book in the entire Bible. The size and them of 3 John is
like 2 John. Both letters were written by the apostle John who is called “the
elder” (v. 3). The sense of appreciation for their “children walking in truth”
(vv. 3-4) also resonates in both letters. And, of course, both letters include
warnings against church leaders who would deceive and abuse the church members. Just like 2 John, this
letter has all the attributes of a typical letter of its time. It is very
personal in its tone and feel, yet it challenges its readers to stand up for
the truth and follow the example of those who are exemplifying Christlikeness.
The problem the church is dealing with was leaders who are using the church to
gain power and control over others. The purpose of 3 John is
clearly to advise a dear friend and fellow Christian leader about how to deal
with a troublemaker named “Diotrephes.” He was trying to gain and retrain power
over the church by limiting their expose to other preachers and teachers. 3 John was written to
man named “Gaius” and dealt with the specific problems in the church. The date
for the letter seems to be like 2 John which is around AD 90. At its heart, 3
John gives us a contrast between two church leaders and their hearts. The first
is “Gaius” (vv. 1-8), who is the main recipient of the letter. In 3 John, John
elevates the leadership and ministry of Gaius as faithful. He even said that
Gaius was deserving of a good reputation in the church. The other leader
“Diotrephes”, who longed for first place in the church, was standing against
him and his ministry. Instead of welcoming traveling preachers and supporting
them in their work he wanted to isolate the church members from anyone who
would teach them something else. He worked against Gaius but also anyone in the
church who tried to do what was right. John insinuated that he would deal with
Diotrephes personally if and when he came to visit them. Two themes stand out in
3 John. First is the lesson on practicing hospitality to those doing the Lord’s
word. The two men stand in contrast here set an example of what to do and what
to avoid. Gaius made it a habit of welcoming these people and meeting theirs
needs. Diotrephes, on the other hand, worked against them and anyone who wanted
to support and encourage them. In his misguided attempts to gain power and
influence, John rebukes his actions and warns him of coming judgment. Second, John points out
the example of Gaius as a true leader worthy of being followed while Diotrephes
was to be avoided. Interestingly, John praises both men for their service in
the church. This echoes the lessons Jesus taught about true greatness was found
in humility and service to others. Let me encourage you to
read this great little book again and consider for yourself how it applies to
your life. |
- Jeff Arnette preaches for
the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/ |
Second Chances
By David
A. Sargent I have known and respected Neal Pollard
since we were classmates at Faulkner University in the 1980s. I did not know until recently of what he
calls his “second chance.” Here is part
of his story: We were living in Cairo, Georgia, and I was
in the third grade. It was during a game
of kickball on the playground and I was the "pitcher." A kid kicked it hard and I caught it. As the ball hit me in the gut, I felt a sharp
pain. Something wasn't right. My parents took me that week to see the local
doctor. He thought it might be a
hernia. Exploratory surgery in
Thomasville instead revealed a tumor on my liver. My parents and I flew to Atlanta, Georgia,
where I was checked into Egleston Children's Hospital. Extensive testing there and in Emory
Hospital, the general campus for Egleston, led my team of doctors to the same
conclusion: it was cancerous. They tried
to prepare my parents for how slim my chance of survival was. Even if their diagnosis was wrong, surgery
and attending blood loss may well be more than I could stand. My parents maintained great faith, and my dad
solicited prayers from congregations all over the place. [After the surgery], Dr. Gerald Zwiren, who
led a team of highly-skilled doctors, brought the news to my parents that I
survived the surgery and later shared the oncology report that my tumor was
benign. That was close to 40 years ago
and to this point I have never had further complications. I certainly received a second chance. Periodically, I ponder at length what I
have done with that second chance. The
scar I bear from that surgery has long since become invisible to my daily
view. I suffer no lingering
consequences. That event is certainly
not why I chose to become a preacher, as if to try and pay a debt to God for
saving me. Sadly, despite His mercy in
sparing me, I have sinned in ways great and small that reveal, in addition to
all else, a failure to appreciate that blessing. Spiritually, whether as a preacher, husband,
father, or Christian, I am saddled with the realization of how far I have to
go. With the help of His Word, His
providence, and His strength, I continue to try to make the most of this extra
time He gave me back in 1979. * Consider a similarity from Neal’s
experience to our own condition… Because
of our sins, we find ourselves lost and doomed to destruction. As Neal writes, “By all human calculations
and efforts, nothing could be done to save us.” But God loves us so much that He gave His
Son Jesus to die for us so that we might have the forgiveness of our sins and
receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). Although
we are lost due to our sins, God gives us “a second chance.” 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 sins (Acts
2:38). The redeeming blood that Jesus
shed on the cross will continue to cleanse those who continue to walk in the
light of His Word (1 John 1:7). God is the God of second chances. Take Neal’s words to heart: “You may have
messed things up badly in your life. You
may feel that it is impossible for God to love and forgive you. [But] God is the God of the second chance! His diagnosis is perfect, and His is the only
one that counts! Trust in the Great
Physician. He has never lost a patient
who followed His prescription!” Won’t YOU trust and obey the Great
Physician and make the most of the “second chance” that He provides in Christ? |
- 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 |
Believe
|
“With God, all things are possible”
(Matthew 19:26). However, there is at least one thing that Scripture points out
is impossible with God (Note: This is no contradiction; Jesus’ statement must
be considered contextually). “Without faith it is impossible to please him: for
he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Yes, the impossibility here falls
on the burden of the human being. Grammatically, we can change it to say: “It
is impossible for God to be pleased with one who is without faith.” Why do I need faith? First, it’s impossible
to please God without it. Second, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). How do I obtain faith? “Faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Does this mean in
order to have Biblical faith, all I have to do is audibly acknowledge God’s
Word? Does it mean that I do not have to actually do anything? James says,
“Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20, 26). “Show me thy faith without thy
works, and I will show thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18). But Paul said
all I have to do is hear God’s Word? Yes. Is this a contradiction? No. We can see that it is not a contradiction
by properly understanding what it means to hear. When a mother says to her
daughter: “Go clean your room.” The daughter stays put. And her mom asks, “Did you
hear me?” Can the daughter then just say, “Yes, I heard you,” and rightfully
continuing doing something other than cleaning her room? Or would her mother
discipline her for not really listening? The fact is, we know that “hearing” in
that context also requires action. And the same is required in the Romans 10:17
instruction. Therefore, believing Biblically is not
merely a mental acknowledge of something but acting upon it according to God’s
standards. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth
not shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Some have asked, “Why Jesus did not say,
‘he that believeth not and is baptized not shall be condemned’?” The answer is
found in the definition of belief that we have just discussed. If one does not
believe, there is no need for the actions that emanate from belief. A
grammatical consideration of Mark 16:16 solidifies its meaning and denies all
contradictions. Consider: “He that eats and digests his food will live; he that
eats not will die.” If one does not eat, there is no need for digestion. If one
does not believe, there is no need for baptism. However, if one believes Jesus,
then he will know that he cannot be saved before baptism. |
- 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/ |