“What Would You Give?”

By Bill Brandstatter       Suppose someone were to tell you that if you cut off your little finger, you could have everything you could possibly want or need? If you need a new car, you could have it. If you need a new house, pick one, there is no price limit. Whatever you want in this world could be yours, if you just cut off your right finger. Would you do it? Suppose the offer was extended to include your right arm, your eyes and your ears, would you still do it? Many would say “no” at some point, yet there are many people that are giving up something more valuable for a whole lot less. Jesus poses this question: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26 NKJV)    Our soul is the most valuable item we possess. There is no price tag attached to it. It is valuable because it goes on beyond the grave. We cannot take our material possessions with us. (1 Tim. 6:7) We will take our souls with us. So, the value of it is far greater than anything this world has to offer. To lose our soul would be worse than losing our material possessions in a fire, earthquake, or storm.     Our soul is valuable because of its source. Man has given us many things; God has given us our soul. Ezekiel, acting as a spokesman for God stated, “Behold all souls are mine.” (Eze. 18:4) Our material possessions belong to us. Our souls belong to God. Paul adds to this by stating, “Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Cor. 6:20) God breathed life into man, and man became a living soul. (Gen. 1:27) Since that time every soul belongs to God.     Our soul is valuable because each of us are of the same value. Material possessions differ with the individual, but each of us has a soul. The value of each soul is the same. The value is not determined by gender, education, or ethnicity. Where we live makes no difference. In Christ, the soul of each person has the same value. (Gal. 3:26-29)     Let us consider how valuable we are to God, not man. Man’s value is based on looks, money, prestige, and class status. God’s value is placed on our soul’s relationship with Him. Let us make sure we have the right relationship with God, and the soul’s value will be clearly seen when Heaven is our home.

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

Repairs Needed

By David A. Sargent       Jim Corley met his friend, Alex, at the dealership where Alex worked.     “Jim, I feel like a hypocrite every time I go to church because I fail to live for Christ so often.”     “Alex, what do you call this part of the dealership?” Jim asked, nodding to the area outside his cubicle.     “You mean the showroom?”     “Yes. And what’s behind the showroom, past the parts counter?”     “The service department,” Alex said confidently.     “What if I told you I didn’t want to bring my car to the service department because it was running rough,” Jim asked.     “That would be crazy! That’s the whole point of service departments — to fix cars that aren’t running right.”     “You’re absolutely right,” Jim replied. “Now, let’s get back to our initial conversation. Instead of thinking of church as a showroom where image is everything, start thinking of it as God’s service department. Helping people get back in running order with God is what the church is all about.” *     We are all in need of repairs, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).     But God loves us and wants to “fix us” – from the inside out.  The finished product will resemble His glorious Son.  “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).     In order to cleanse us and make us whole, God sent His one and only Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).     God will cleanse, make whole, 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).     When we rise from the waters of baptism in the new birth, God adds us to the church, His family (Acts 2:41).  In God’s family, we find encouragement, correction, forgiveness, and other components of a needed support system to keep us “running” well.   “Bring Christ your broken life So marred by sin. He will create anew Make whole again.” -- Thomas O. Chisholm   Remember, the church is not a showroom; it’s God’s service department.  Come to Christ and into His church so that He can make you whole.

- 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   * Source: Choice Contemporary Stories and Illustrations For Preachers, Teachers, and Writers, Craig Brian Larson as quoted by www.ministry127.com.

A Strait Is Seldom Straight!

By Joe Slater       “Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14, KJV).     The expression “strait and narrow” has become proverbial in reference to careful compliance with the rules given by parents or by God. However, most mistakenly understand it as “straight and narrow.” The spelling difference is subtle, but the change in meaning is radical!     A “strait” (without the g-h) is seldom straight. Look at the Strait of Magellan or the Strait of Hormuz on a map. They’re anything but straight! Guiding a ship through those straits takes plenty of zigzagging along a difficult and narrow route! They’re called “straits” because they’re difficult, not because they go from point “a” to point “b” without deviation.     Many other Scriptures teach us not to deviate from God’s word, but “strait” in Matthew 7:14 isn’t making that point. The path to eternal life is narrow and difficult! By contrast, the way to destruction is wide and easy (7:13). Most people find wide and easy to be appealing. Comparatively few put forth the effort to travel the narrow, difficult path.     But wait! Doesn’t the majority rule? That sounds very American! How can the majority of people be wrong? Isn’t it arrogant to say that?     Well, we didn’t say it – Jesus did. A majority of Jesus’ own people (the Jews) rejected Him. Despite the thousands who became Christians in Acts, vastly more rejected the gospel. This is nothing new; God has always operated with a remnant.     Are you on that narrow way? It’s difficult, but the destination makes it more than worth the effort!

- Joe Slater serves as minister of the Church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com

The Consequences of Sin

By Andrew Beasley        I am sure that most can relate to the feeling in the pit of your stomach that arises when you are driving down the road and maybe you have not checked your speedometer or paid close enough attention to it, at least not until you zip past a police officer and see them pull out behind you a few moments later. There is a sense of unease as you look in your review mirror as you wait for those flashing blue and red lights to turn on. In the same moment you likely find yourself glancing to make sure your speed had dropped to where it always should have been.      Those feelings of anxiousness are likely undergirded by guilt, or potential guilt, at the fact that maybe you did break the law and are going to be facing the consequences of doing so. There is never anything pleasant about being disciplined or punished. In the case of speeding the end result may be a hefty fine depending on how fast one was going, and the annoyance of increased car insurance because of the mark against your record.      If only the world, and in many ways Christians, had the same fear of the consequences of sin. The truth of the matter is that with many crimes committed against human governments, the criminal can get away with their wrong doing if they are careful enough not to get caught. With spiritual crimes there is no escaping the governing authority that is God. There is nothing that escapes the view of a being so great that He is aware of even the number of hairs growing on each one of our heads (Luke 12:7).      As Christians we should always be working to make sure no one is facing the flashing lights of God’s judgment on that great day.

- 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/

The Lamb Of God

By Al Behel   “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14)     John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36). The book of Revelation tells us that the Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive honor and praise (Revelation 5:12). He is worthy because His blood cleanses us and makes us free from sin. He is worthy because He overcomes our enemies. He is worthy because He is “King of kings, and Lord of lords.”     As the church of our Lord we await His return as a bride waits for her wedding day. Therefore, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). Sometimes we lose heart. Sometimes we become discouraged and are impatient. But, the wedding is coming. The Lamb will return and He will be victorious over all the enemies. Our battle is not ours, but His. We win because He wins.     Although church bells had not been heard in the freedom-starved nation of Czechoslovakia in 45 years, at noon on November 27, 1989 every church bell in the country began to ring out as the atheistic and tyrannical governments of Eastern urope suddenly disintegrated. A sign placed on the front lawn of a church building in Prague said it all. It read simply, “The Lamb Wins.”     The gentleness and compassion of Jesus is portrayed as a Lamb. But, let us not forget that this same Lamb is Judge of all mankind. He is the ultimate conqueror of all who oppose Him. No enemy can stand before Him. Nations will rise and nations will fall, but the Kingdom of God stands forever. On the final day there will be no doubt. There will be no opposition. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.     God is not intimidated by emperors, kings or presidents. He is not the God of one nation, or one political party, or one ethnic group. He stands above the universe, over all, limitless, powerful. He is an awesome God, and He is our Father. And His Son, the Lamb without blemish, is our Redeemer!!

- Al Behel served the Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN, for many years prior to this death in April 2022. The congregation may be contacted through their website - https://gsmchurchofchrist.com/

The Lord's Supper

By Dan Bailey       It is good for us to study and meditate upon the memorial of the Lord's Supper. At one time in Corinth, the apostle Paul had to rebuke the brethren for intermingling the Lord's Supper with a common meal. God expects our worship to be according to His Word, and to be spiritual in nature. Paul wrote the church in Corinth saying: "When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not" (I Corinthians 11:20-22).     Paul was not condemning Christians for partaking of a common meal together, but he was condemning the intermingling of that meal with worship. Paul's purpose was to keep the common meal separate and distinct from the worship service. Sometimes Christians gather together for a common meal in a home, a restaurant, or somewhere on the church property. There is nothing at all sinful with this. However, it should be distinct from our worship services.     Paul went on to say, "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (I Corinthians 11:23-26).     When Jesus said of the bread, "Take eat: this is my body," He was not saying that the bread really, that is, literally, became His body. But rather that it was symbolic of His body, or represented or stood for, His body. The bread brings to our memory the precious body of our Lord that was suspended between heaven and earth upon the old rugged cross.     The cup mentioned in I Corinthians 11:25, meant the contents of the cup, or the fruit of the vine. There are some who believe that Christ meant for His disciples to use only one physical cup while partaking of the Lord's Supper. This is to confuse the container with that which is in the container. Whether we use one physical cup or many, does not effect the contents of the cup. Jesus said, "...This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me" (I Corinthians 11:25). The cup is not literally blood, but it represents, or is symbolic of the blood, of the Lamb of God. When Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, He said, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28).  When we partake of the Lord's Supper we do so in remembrance of His death. "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (I Corinthians 11:26).     To partake of the Lord's Supper "unworthily" has reference to the manner or disposition of heart while partaking of the supper. Each person is to "examine himself" and to "discern the Lord's body." To discern the Lord's body is to make the proper separation or distinction between the common meal, common things, and spiritual worship. If there is no separation of the two, then Christ is not properly set apart or honored in our hearts. Our worship needs to be as directed from God's Word.     The final thought from Albert Barnes enumerates reasons why one should examine himself before taking the Lord's Supper. -- "Because the observance of the Lord's Supper is a solemn act, and there will be fearful results if it is celebrated in an improper manner. Because self-examination supposes seriousness and calmness, and prevents precipitation and rashness - states of mind entirely unfavorable to a proper observance of the Lord's Supper. Because by self-examination one may search out and remove those things that are offensive to God, and the sins which so easily beset us may be known and abandoned. Because the approach to the table of the Lord is a solemn approach to the Lord himself; is a solemn profession of attachment to him; is an act of consecration to his service in the presence of angels and of people; and this should be done in a calm, deliberate and sincere manner; such a manner as may be the result of a prayerful and honest self-examination" (Albert Barnes Commentary on I Corinthians 11).

- 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

The Foolishness of God

By Brian Mitchell       Students in a psychology class at San Diego State College were asked to name their most valuable personal asset. 2 wrote down intelligence, both of them misspelled it. Winston Lord, former assistant Secretary of State and ambassador to China, told of a time when he and his wife were driving outside of Beijing. They came across a Buddhist temple and the head monk came out to greet him. His eyes lit up when he learned that Lord was an ambassador and that his wife Betty was a famous author. The monk then asked Lord if he would do this temple a great honor which would benefit future visitors, to guide and instruct them.     He then asked him to write something in English. Obviously, the ambassador and his wife were quite honored and the monk then handed them two wooden plaques and said, “Would you write in English on the plaque the word Ladies and on this plaque the word Gentlemen?” Many people like them think of themselves as being quite intelligent (and they are usually quite annoying to the few of us who are).     Many perceive themselves as quite intelligent and are often quite embarrassed to find out they either did not know as much as they thought they knew or that their perceived intelligence was not as important to others as it was to them. One of the greatest advantages of my studies is the fact that the more I learn the more I realize I have to learn.     The church at Corinth was undergoing a similar realization and they were having a difficult time coming to grips with this new reality. They, like many living in metropolitan areas of the 1st Century, prided themselves on their knowledge and felt as though they had everything figured out. Yet, here comes God in their lives and He is doing things in ways they just cannot comprehend. To them the ways of God are foolish because He was acting in ways that were contrary to what they believed to be the best of human wisdom.    Paul in this text demonstrates to them and us that there is nothing wrong with the wisdom of God, for it is infinite in nature. The problem is with man’s wisdom. Man and God think differently—Is.55:8-9. Thus, if man and God see things differently, the problem does not lie in the wisdom of doing things God’s way, it lies in our ability to understand the wisdom of doing things God’s way.     Paul concludes this passage by putting man in his proper place. How? By stating that even the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man and that the weakness of God is stronger than the strength of man. It does not matter how wise we become—God is wiser. It does not matter what man achieves in his own power—God is more powerful.     There is a day coming when those who have refused the wisdom of God will say, I should have chosen His way and not mine. I should have trusted His wisdom and not mine. The only question will be; what will you say?

- 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.netg