Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. 

Matt. 26:14-16 (ESV)

It is the most egregious betrayal of all time. Judas, one of the most trusted followers of rabbi Jesus, the Son of God, sells off his Master to the religious establishment who will do whatever it takes to kill him. The betrayal is bad enough. However, a closer look at one detail just adds injury to insult: the thirty pieces of silver.

At first blush readers may not think much about it, but Jewish readers probably would have picked up on the significance rather quickly. In Exodus 21:32, God spoke the following law through Moses. “If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.” Do you see it? Under Mosaic Law, the restitution rate for a slave was thirty pieces of silver. Judas betrayed the King of Kings, the Son of God, for the price of an ordinary slave! I have to believe the priests were smiling as they though to themselves, “We’re getting great deal here!” As for Judas, he was so blinded by his greed that he was willing to give up an invaluable relationship to satisfy a temporary craving. And what did he get for it? Grief, regret, depression, and suicide. What was a great deal for the priests cost Judas everything.

It is easy for us to wag our heads and shake fingers at Judas. He is, in many ways, the ultimate villain. Yet, maybe Judas’ tale should also serve as a warning for you and me in those times we consider turning our backs on Jesus. Those times when sin is beckoning to us to give in and sell out. The computer in the bedroom. The TV show when no one else is home. The bar night when you are traveling. Lying to avoid getting in trouble or having a necessary confrontation. The list could go on.

When we give in to such temptations, we are more like Judas than we might want to admit. We betray our loyalty to Jesus for Satan’s “dark money.” Think of what it says about our view of Christ. That he is less valuable than what? A few minutes of satisfaction? How long will that pleasure last you before you need to find something else? Furthermore, in these moments we are so blinded by our desire that we jeopardize that which is priceless. Is your pleasure worth your marriage? Is the lie worth losing your trustworthiness? Is the betrayal worth endangering your relationship with Christ? In such times, I have to believe the Devil is looking on with a wicked grin, thinking, “Boy, I’m getting a great deal here!” What costs Satan so little could cost us everything.

Jesus calls us to absolute loyalty, but our weak flesh puts that to the test regularly. Every day we must choose to stay true to him or betray him. To choose betrayal always costs something, but that deal is never as good as it seems in the moment. However, remaining at the side of the Master is always worth the cost. The end is grace, fulfillment, and eternal life. And that is a great deal!

Cory Waddell

It was a fabulous little 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe. My friend’s father was a retired Ford employee and a Mustang guy. He would find a car, spend the next year or so restoring it, then sell it at his cost to family and friends. The next one was mine! But there was this girl… She was also fabulous. She was so fabulous, that I was concerned that if I didn’t get an engagement ring on her finger, I might miss out. On the same day, I called the Mustang guy to cancel the purchase and called another friend who happened to own a jewelry store. Never having been accused of being overly bright, this was an extremely bright thing for me to do! We have now been happily married for almost 33 years. By the way, we still call the ring “The Mustang”.

Setting priorities is a constant exercise in our lives. We find ourselves pressed on all sides by a myriad of opportunities. Whether school, work, church, family or hobbies, there is no way to fit everything or everyone in! Deadlines, requests, perceived emergencies, and responsibilities jockey for our attention. We seem to live in a perpetual state of guilt, rarely having been able to satisfy the demands of the day and the people in our lives.

In light of those realities, I recently had breakfast with a friend who reminded both of us about the importance of setting priorities based on God’s perspective. Our discussion centered around Romans chapter 12. The words of that letter encourage a number of things. First, we should live sacrificially (it’s not always about us). Second, we should stop measuring our lives using a barometer of superficial values and worldly customs; and think differently. We should mature to the point that our lives focus on Godly values and priorities. Third, we should humbly use the unique abilities we have been given by God to benefit one another. Last, we should be devoted to one another with a genuine and active brotherly love. Our approach should be one that prefers one another! We should look out for one another, share the good and bad with one another, and we should live together in peace.

So, how do we prioritize one another? Do we see our responsibility to our brothers and sisters in an equal or greater way to all of the other demands we have in our lives? Do we make the effort to leverage our abilities to help one another? Do we intentionally give of ourselves to each other, even when it isn’t convenient or when it is hard? How do we view each other in the pecking order of our lives?

Here are a few ways we might be able to “prefer one another” more today and tomorrow than yesterday:

·      Schedule the time. Pick specific windows that will be dedicated to growing a relationship with a brother or sister.

·     Be open. Other brothers and sisters might reach out to you. Be ready to spend time with them.

·     Be honest. There might be real reasons you can’t make a request work, so suggest an alternative.

·     Be realistic. We are family. Family can be challenging. (Don’t kid yourself, you can be pretty tough to live with too!)

·     See each other through God’s eyes. God sees us as cherished family. He wants us to see each other that way too.

Dean Murphy

One of my preaching mentors was Jack Reed who preached in Manchester, Tennessee for several years. He and his wife, Sue, had a nice bit of banter before arriving at a worship service or a revival. She would say, “What will you preach on?” He would answer, “Sin.” She would ask, “For it, or against it?” He’d always answer, “Against it!”

The inspired Psalmist declared where God stood on the subject of sin. It is plain and simple. The psalmist wrote,

“The Lord pays attention to the godly and hears their cry for help. But the Lord opposes evildoers and wipes out all memory of them from the earth,” (Psalm 34:15-16 NET).

Isaiah 59:2 teaches that it is the sinfulness of human beings that separates them from God. Since God is complete righteousness, he is opposed to sinful conduct. Those who think a relationship with God is possible while not abandoning sin are mistaken. If they die in that condition, they will be eternally sorry.

A relationship with God is possible but first one must learn to oppose sin as much as God does. If your hands are stained with blood and your fingers with sin as Isaiah described, God will reject you from any relationship with him (Isaiah 59:3).

In Romans 6:3 the apostle Paul asked, “How can we who died to sin still live in it?” Though this question still lives in holy writing, its force is denied by people who believe they can claim membership in a church and yet never give up the practice of sin. Evidently, they haven’t realized such is not possible.

God loves everyone but he won’t have a relationship with those engaged in a life of sin. The writer of Hebrews demonstrated this truth when he wrote, “we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely,” (Hebrews 12:2 NET).

Obey the gospel today and have a close relationship with God by ending the practice of sin.

by John Henson

Many emotions run through different individuals when faced with the loss of a loved one or dealing with intense pain. These emotions can present themselves as questions:

• Confusion: “Why did this happen?”
• Sadness: “How will I go on?”
• Anger: “Who allowed this to happen?”

Who can answer these questions?

Who can provide comfort?

Who can guide your heart through the heartbreaking moments in life?

Is it not the Creator?

Here’s a quick reminder to help give those who are dealing with loss and tragedy some perspective.

Though “end” is a very human term,

100 years from now I’ll be alive and so will you. 150, 200 years from now I’ll be alive and so will you.

Since we are made in the image of God, that means…

1. When God breathed into you the breath of life He gave you a piece of Himself called the soul which will live forever…somewhere.
2. When God created you in a more intimate way unlike the beasts of the field and the birds of the air He gave you free choice.
3. He gave you the ability to reason.
4. He gave you the ability to contact Him and be contacted by him.

How sad and how tragic it would be to live your life with no hope. God offers wonderful and comforting news even at times where such news seems to be missing.

God loves you more than anyone can.

God loves you more than you can comprehend.

Though many cry for and with you when you hurt, that love falls short of the one who expresses His love in a way that’s perfect and unfailing.

You will and perhaps you currently experience feelings you can’t put into words, but God feels them and understands them.

God can walk you through the hurts. Life doesn’t have to be impossibly tragic and void of purpose.

God created the heart. He can heal yours. God created the mind. He can sort yours out. God made the soul. He can save yours. God created the body. He can give you rest. God created the eyes. He can wipe your tears away. God created the shoulder, but His are the only shoulders capable of bearing the weight of all those who lean on them.

Dale Pollard

Horst Schulze, former president of the Ritz Carlton Hotels company, is known for his masterful ability to create a culture of first-class service. Under his leadership, his companies have received some of the highest awards their industry gives. When asked, “How did you build this culture,” Horst can literally give you hours of discussion on the things that shape an environment of friendly, helpful service.

Part of establishing that culture involves teaching every employee that it is “your responsibility” to take care of needs, questions, and concerns customers bring to you. Shulze describes this like going to your mother’s house. When you visit momma’s house, she wants to take care of everything. In one interview, Shulze mused, “Mom never called the manager when there was a problem. She said, ‘Come here, I’m here for you.’” In his experience, a top-notch service culture is created when every employee purposefully takes the time to handle any problem and see its solution all the way to the end.

Christians can learn a lot from this philosophy. A lot of Christians have developed a habit of passing on struggles that brothers and sisters share with them. We say, “Well, maybe you need to talk to the preacher or the elders.” Don’t get me wrong. There is certainly a time and place for that. Yet, some do it as our default response to practically every burden shared. Consider God’s encouragement on this matter…

• 1 Thess. 5:14 – And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
• 6:2 – Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
• 15:1 – We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

No doubt, it takes a very focused effort to change a habit of “passing-on” burdens. It requires that we focus on learning how to address burdens. Much of that training, though, comes through the experience of being there for people. We need to learn to say, “I’m here for you,” instead of, “Let me find the manager.” If Horst Schulze can do it with a company like Ritz Carlton, certainly we can do it as the family of God.

Cory Waddell

“God said to Jacob, ‘Arise and go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.’ So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, ‘Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel’” (Genesis 35:1-3, ESV).

Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel, had a history with the place called Bethel. It was there, on his way to Padan-Aram to seek a wife and to escape from the vengeful Esau, that he slept using a stone for a pillow. During the night he saw a vision of a ladder or stair case going into heaven, with angels ascending and descending and God at the top. When he awoke he declared the place to be “the House of God” (Genesis 28:16) and named it accordingly. In Hebrew the name was “Bethel” whose meaning is “House of God.”

In Padan-Aram Jacob married the daughters of Laban (Leah and Rachel, and also their servants Zilpah and Bilhah) and they bore to him twelve sons and one daughter. Twenty years after his departure from Canaan Jacob returned with his family, servants, and possessions. It was then that God called him to revisit Bethel and worship him.

There are conditions to be met if one desires to come into the presence of God. John states, “God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:5-6). Many hundreds of years before John’s time, Jacob understood those conditions. When he was called to God’s House he gave three commands to his family and servants.

First, “Put away [your] foreign gods.” The patriarch anticipated the lessons of Jesus with this command. The Lord taught, “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:34). On his previous stay in Bethel twenty years earlier Jacob had vowed, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God” (Genesis 28:20-21). At the time of the story in Genesis 35 God had kept his word; now it was time for Jacob to hold up his part of the covenant. God, the Lord, the God of Abraham and Isaac, was to be Jacob’s (Israel’s) God exclusively, with no idols or false gods to be tolerated.

Christians today trust in one Lord, one Spirit, and one God (Ephesians 4:4-6), rejecting all other gods (1 Thessalonians 1:9). In order to come into God’s House, the Church (1 Timothy 3:15) genuine faith in God (Hebrews 11:6), and his Son as Lord (Romans 10:9) is required. Idolatry in any form is sin and separates such worshippers from the living and true God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Second, Jacob commanded his family to “purify yourselves.” In everyday activities there is much which will defile and stain, rendering fellowship with God impossible. Some 400 years later Jacob’s descendants would receive the Law of God delivered through Moses. That law contained specific rituals designed to purify the children of Israel so that their worship would be acceptable.

Today, under the law of Christ, Christians receive purification through the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:10) and through baptism (Acts 22:16), repentance, and prayer (1 John 1:8-10). Only Jesus can take away those things that defile us (Romans 7:24-25; 8:1). To enter into God’s spiritual house we also must purify ourselves.

Finally Jacob instructed his family to “Change your garments.” Under the Law of Moses, those who entered the Tabernacle (the “House of God” at that time) were required to take off their normal clothing, wash themselves, then to put on the special attire of the priesthood (Exodus 40:12-15). Those articles of clothing were to be worn only in the tabernacle and for the purpose of their priestly ministry.

Why Jacob wanted his people to change clothing is not revealed, nor the nature of the clothes they took off or of those they put on. It is significant however that Jacob made this demand. Approaching God requires careful preparation. Some things in our lives and in our outward or physical aspects are not appropriate for divine communion. Even Adam and Eve, after gaining the knowledge of good and evil, recognized the need to change or conceal their appearance when meeting their creator (Genesis 3:7, 10).

New Testament writers impose a “dress standard” not of physical clothing, but of character and good works (1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-6). One who would draw near to God must be adorned with modesty, humility, and “a gentle and quiet spirit” among many other characteristics. One who has come to God in faith and obedience to the Gospel cannot live as he or she did in the past nor as people of the world live, but must be transformed (Romans 12:2) and live a life that is righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24).

Just as Jacob recognized the importance of faith in God alone, purity, and appropriate appearance, so we today must prepare ourselves to remain continually in fellowship with our heavenly Father. We also must put away all that competes for our allegiance, must be cleansed from our sins, and must live outwardly in a manner acceptable to God.

Michael Brooks

When I was in elementary school, we had a teacher who taught us how to properly write a letter. Miss Crews, my fourth grade teacher, told us it included the heading, greeting, body, complimentary closing, and signature. Isn’t it interesting what we retain (or fail to retain) from childhood?

Applying that basic analysis to the New Testament epistles, we are greatly helped. In addition to reading who the epistle of 1 Corinthians is from (1:1) and who it is to (1:2), we have a heading (helped by the information in verse 2), greeting (1:3), body (1:4-16:18), complimentary closing (16:19-20, 22-24), and signature (16:21). It is also in this first section of the letter (1:1-17) that we find the purpose of the letter. Notice some key aspects of these first several verses.

PAUL REMINDS THEM OF WHO THEY ARE (1:2-3)

In the daily grind, I can be apt to forget exactly who I am and who God has called me to be. It seems this had happened to the entire congregation at Corinth. Paul starts out this letter by reminding them they belong to God, set apart, and recipients of grace and peace.

PAUL TELLS THEM WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR THEM (1:4-9)

Except for Galatians, Paul begins with a prayer, blessing, or thanksgiving. Here, Paul reminds them of how blessed they are–with grace (1:4), riches (1:5), confirmation (1:6), various blessings (1:7), hope (1:8), and fellowship with the Father and Son (1:9). I don’t know about you, but I often need to be reminded of how mindful the Lord has been of me. I need to reflect on my blessings so I won’t obsess over my problems. Paul is going to be addressing a serious problem in their lives, but he starts by centering their focus on their spiritual treasures.

PAUL URGES SOMETHING OF THEM (1:10-17)

One of the ways a New Testament writer indicated the purpose of his writing is through petition verbs. While Paul actually uses a petition verb three times in this letter (1:10, 4:16, and 16:15), there’s no doubt that his first one sets the tone for the rest of the letter. They have a big problem at Corinth: division. We can see this in greater detail as we walk through the letter, but their division was seen in their allegiance to men instead of Christ, in their worship services, in their exercise of spiritual gifts, in their exercise of their Christian liberties, in their view on various sins, and more. So, Paul brings them into focus here.

• He urges them to be complete, by being of the same mind and judgment (1:10).
• He urges them to see the true nature of Christ (1:11-13).
• He urges them to focus on the gospel and the cross (1:14-17).

Keep in mind, as you read through this entire letter, that God had something He wanted Corinth and all subsequent churches and Christians facing the same general struggle to understand. It requires us to keep sight of our identity, blessings, and purpose. Otherwise, we open the door to division which can be the gateway to “disorder and every evil thing” (Jas. 3:16).

Neal Pollard

When we think seriously about our roles, we realize that we have very little time with our kids before they leave home. The time we spend together as a family is but a passing vapor.

They will be gone before you know it.

DADS, WALK WISELY – 5:15:

We must have God’s wisdom if we want to lead our families to heaven; otherwise, they will self-destruct in a heartbeat. In an airport terminal, you can have one plane that is heading north to Detroit while another plane is flying west to San Francisco. The waiting areas might be right next to each other, but their destinations are thousands of miles apart.

Unfortunately, most people don’t stop to evaluate where their wisdom is leading them, but God’s word tells us: Proverbs 14:12.

DADS, MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME – 5:16:

Americans have been busier than ever nowadays. We live in the information age but having a computer in the form of a phone has made us busier than ever.

Look up the words to the song “In Pictures” by the country music group Alabama.

Of course, how we use our time is impacted by our priorities. Dads, make the most of your time, because they will be gone before you know it.

DADS, THE DAYS ARE EVIL – 5:16:

The church of Christ grew and thrived during the decline of the Roman Empire because the church in the 2nd-4th centuries lived the Gospel in their lives. While the Romans were suffering from a high rate of divorce and immorality and adultery and abortion and a lack of respect and appreciation for children, the church grew. When the Roman Empire collapsed, the church grew and thrived and still exists today.

And our society is reverting back to what the Roman Empire was during the days of the apostle Paul.

DADS, UNDERSTAND THE WILL OF THE LORD – 5:17:

Paul clearly teaches here that we can understand the will of God. When you read the Word of God, as the Holy Spirit directs your heart toward God, you should ask from a text: Is there a command to obey? Is there an attitude to show? Is there a promise to embrace? Is there a sin to avoid?

Rachel and I were visiting with my younger brother and his wife and children recently  along with our sister who came up from Florida for my niece’s high school graduation. My brother plays some golf and one of his daughters played golf in high school and a boy friend of another daughter plays some golf. I was almost locked entirely out of that discussion! But, one thing my brother pointed out is that you always have to focus on the next shot, regardless of what happened with your last shot.

You and I can get so hung up on what has happened in the past, what sins we have committed or what silly or stupid decisions we have made in the past, that we forget to live in the present and concentrate on what good we can do right now.

If we want to leave a spiritual legacy of core spiritual values in our children’s lives, we have to understand the will of the Lord and live the will of the Lord in our lives each day. Because we only get one shot; they’ll be gone before we know it!

Walk wisely; make the most of your time; the days are evil; walk in the will of Jesus Christ

Paul Holland

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We all struggle with aspects of prayer in our lives at times. Sometimes we aren’t sure how to pray or what to pray for. Sometimes we feel guilty that we just don’t pray enough. It seems that we are not alone in the struggle. The disciples saw Jesus praying and asked Him to teach them how to pray ( Luke 11:1). Jesus gave them a model to follow (Luke 11:2-4). It is not that we are to simply say these exact words, but what Jesus taught them can and should guide our prayer life as well.

Father – We need to approach God as a child would approach a loving father. We should talk to Him as His son or daughter and share our needs, wants, hopes, and trust.

Hallowed be your name – God’s name should be holy (set apart) in the lives of His children. He is the head of the family. We aren’t asking for His name to be hallowed. It is whether we submit to it or not! We are asking for His name to be holy in our lives! We are to pray that His name is holy TO US and that we live in a manner that shows His name is hallowed in our lives.

Your Kingdom come – This is not an allusion to the future coming of the church (see Luke 11:20), but rather we are to ask God to reign in our lives. We are to pray for His kingdom to come into our lives. Matthew’s account clarifies what Jesus said by including, “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10). When we pray for His Kingdom to come, we are praying for His will to be done on the earth. More directly – that His will would be done in OUR lives. We spend an awful lot of time building our own kingdoms in our lives. We have to seek His kingdom (Luke 12:31), pray for it to come into our lives, and then allow Him to reign.

Give us this day our daily bread – We need to ask God for what we need. He gives good gifts to those who ask (Luke 11:9-12). Do we trust that in our lives? Do we ask God to provide the things we need? If we do, then why do we worry about them (Luke 12:13-29)? We can trust that if we hallow His name in our lives and subject ourselves to His Kingdom (reign) as a loving father, He will give us what we need. We need to live our lives trusting in that – depending on God rather than ourselves to provide what we truly need (Luke 12:22-30).

Forgive us our sins – We need to ask God to forgive us knowing that He will if we repent (Luke 11:32). We are indebted to the Lord. We were dead in our transgressions and sins, but Jesus made us alive by canceling the “certificate of debt” (our sins) having nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14). If we will hallow His name in our lives and seek His kingdom – He will forgive us. And because we are forgiven, we should be those that forgive others as well – “For we ourselves also forgive everyone indebted to us” (Luke 11:4). We cannot ask God to forgive us and not be forgiving to others – that does not hallow His name. That is not submitting to His kingdom in our lives.

And lead us not into temptation – the actual wording here would be more “let us not be led into temptation. We aren’t praying that God wouldn’t lead us into temptation as much as we would not be led by anyone (including ourselves) into temptation. Read Luke 11-12 and see all the temptations the people of Jesus’ day had fallen into; dividing God’s house (11:17), refusing to repent at the preaching of the kingdom (11:27-28), making it about themselves rather than God (11:43). Just to name a few. We should pray that we will not fall prey to the same temptations that have ensnared so many in the world.

So what is the point: We need to pray that we would hallow God’s name in our lives – that His name would reign above all names in our lives. WE need to ask Him to bring His Kingdom to us as humble subjects willing to seek His reign and rule in our lives. If we will do that – we can ask Him for the things we need and trust He will provide them. He will meet our physical needs (daily bread) as well as our spiritual needs (forgiveness and protection from temptation). If we put this model prayer into practice in our lives, our prayer life can be transformed, but more importantly, our lives can be transformed as well.

Michael Hite

My wife, Julia, dropped this little piece of wisdom on me the other day, “Diamonds don’t do dishes.”

I was doing the dishes at the time and stopped to chew on the value of her statement. Diamonds are not this girl’s best friend, a husband who helps is!

We like stuff. It’s neat, especially when it is new. You can get a dopamine rush when shopping for or receiving something. Have you ever viewed an “unboxing video”? They are everywhere. We like to share in the excitement even when it is not truly our own.

Stuff can be good, even necessary, but service is invaluable.

“Through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13a).

Husbands, serve your wives. Wives, serve your husbands. Christians, serve your brothers and sisters, and your community. Small acts of kindness go a long way.

Husbands are to dwell with their wives in an understanding way (1 Peter 3:7). Men must make an effort to understand what their wives need. In like fashion, Christians are to consider one another (Hebrews 10:24), that is we must give thought to how we can help stir each other up to love and good works. We consider each other when we weep and rejoice together (Romans 12:15), when we please not ourselves but our neighbor (Romans 15:1-2), when we help those who are caught in sin (Galatians 6:1), when we bear burdens that seem overwhelming (Galatians 6:2), and when we encourage each other and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Diamonds might sparkle and money might spend, but what service have you offered to another? Diamonds are not forever. They will outlast you, but one day all things will be dissolved (2 Peter 3:10-11). Serving others in the name of Christ is a currency that will not depreciate.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

The value we place on what we give and receive reveals the dwelling place of our hearts. If my heart is consumed by the physical, I am trusting in the transient.  By turning my gaze heavenward (Colossians 3:1ff), my life on earth produces real and lasting value.

The next time you are scrubbing the bathroom, folding laundry, calling a sick friend, cleaning the gutters, or getting your hands wet in the kitchen sink, remember that diamonds don’t do dishes, but servants do.

Lee Parish

Several years ago, one my of young kiddos started getting fussy. I took him out into the foyer and eventually had to step outside because the Lord’s Supper was being held in the foyer on this particular Sunday. As I stood outside, I realized that I had never been outside of the building when worship was taking place. It was a very unique experience.

First, I was able to hear beautiful singing. Even though I wasn’t inside, I could hear voices harmonizing together and the wonderful melody pouring out of the open windows. I was even able to pick out certain voices because of the conversations and fellowship I’ve had with these individuals.

Second, I noticed several distractions outside. The street was busy with passing cars and people traveling to one destination or another. My son (who loves cars) watched every vehicle until it was out of sight. Every time a car passed by, the singing was drowned out by the road noise. These distractions quickly cut off any connection I had with the worship inside.

Third, I saw the faces of the people in the cars. Even though worship was taking place and there was beautiful singing to be heard, not one person looked over at the building or heard the praises being sung. Car after car simply drove on by, ignorant of this place of worship. The faces I saw told of people who were focused on their lives, their plans, and their destinations. These people were locked away in their cars, blocked out from God, and likely engulfed by the world. It was sad to see people so near to a place that teaches the truth about God and yet seemingly so far from accepting that truth. While it’s entirely possible not all the people I saw were lost souls, their actions and attitudes certainly pointed in that direction.

Seeing all of this outside brought me to this conclusion: It is a tremendous blessing to be able to worship with the saints. We have no fear of persecution or punishment for our actions. We can open the windows and let our singing be heard by all. Anyone can find where we will be and the exact times we will be there. Also, there are tremendous bonds and connections with those we worship with. When we worship, we can shut ourselves out from the world and surround ourselves in worship (Romans 12:2).  While worshipping, we can put all distractions aside and focus on the Lord (Luke 10:38-42).

Worshipping the Lord is so wonderful! This is why it’s so disheartening to see people pass by who don’t know about this blessing. This is also why it is so horrifying to think of those who DO know of this privilege yet choose to skip out anyway.

Hebrews 10 summarizes this thought incredibly well: “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus…let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith…Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (19, 22-25).

When the next appointed worship time comes, let’s make sure we are there and invite others to come share in this privilege.

Brett Petrillo

The other day, my friend told me a story about a time his wife (who happens to be afraid of spiders) saw a spider up on their bedroom wall while getting ready for bed. Upon seeing the spider she proceeded to announce that she would be sleeping on the downstairs couch for the evening. That same woman, my friend tells me, was staying at a friend’s house another night and woke up at 3 in the morning to see a spider running across the floor. She immediately got out of bed, got in the car, and drove an hour and a half home because she couldn’t bear the thought of a spider being in the same room as her while she was sleeping.

Fear is a very powerful thing. It can greatly influence the decisions we make in our life for good and for bad. It can also be the driving force behind us making decisions we would have never made otherwise. Hearing these stories got me thinking. What should we fear more: Spiders or God? And more importantly, does our life reflect that?

There are many biblical stories that show us we should definitely fear God:

• Uzzah (2 Samuel 6) was killed for touching the Ark of the Covenant to stop it from falling when he was told not to.
• Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) lied about how much offering they gave and were struck dead.
• Lot’s wife (Genesis 19:26) became a pillar of salt for looking back at Sodom and Gomorrah.

Along with these stories, the Bible also tells us explicitly to fear God.

• Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction”
• Matthew 10:28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
• Ecclesiastes 12:13 “The conclusion, when all has been heard is fear God and keep His commandments because this applies to every person.”

So the question is…

Why will we not sleep in our bed out of fear of a spider but not change aspects of our life that need changing out of a fear of God?

I’m not suggesting we’re all “off the deep end.” Most reading this are Christians who have obeyed His gospel. But what in aspects of our life do we demonstrate less of a “fear in God” than others? What movies or music do we still allow ourselves to listen to even though they are unsavory? What gossip do we partake in with our coworkers or family members? What language do we use when we’re not around our Christian brethren? How much time a week do we spend focusing and meditating on Him? Should we fear more about missing a TV show we like or not getting in His word?

Let’s not forget that our God, although loving, should absolutely be feared. Let’s use this fear to help steer ourselves towards being a better Christian every day.

Jeff Wiant

Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy fine-dining. However, there are those nights where nothing can beat a nice cold bowl of cereal. You’ve seen it on Instagram and Facebook; those aesthetically pleasing healthy bowls of cereal with oats and fruit all tidied up in a minimalistic bowl. While that’s all good and fine, it’s not what I like. Give me the fruity pebbles, cocoa puffs, and cookie crisp.

I’ve gotten a lot of flak for my taste in childish cereal over the years. My inventory of cereal is typically displayed on top of my fridge and is one of the first things you see when entering my kitchen. Friends of all backgrounds have blatantly pointed out my “flaw” of cereal variety, accusing me of having “unhealthy” eating habits. To end the dispute, I purchased a box of, supposedly healthy, Frosted Mini Wheats and compared them with my trusty Fruity Dyno Bites.

The Fruity Dyno Bites (which also don’t contain artificial flavors or sweeteners) include 160 calories, 1g of fat, 220mg of sodium, 36g of carbs, and 18g of sugar. IN CONTRAST, the Frosted Mini Wheats contain 210 calories, 3g of fat, 50mg of sodium, 48g of carbs, and 16g of sugar. I understand that Frosted Mini Wheats aren’t the healthiest choice either, but I’ve never heard of anyone catching flak for eating them, especially when they are comparable to Fruity Dyno Bites.

So what’s my point? Sometimes fake news originates from our very own minds. While I’m no dietician, the labels on the backs of these cereals tell a similar story to each other. I’m also mindful that the children’s cereal includes 4 sets of vitamins that are not included in the adult cereal, such as vitamin B12, B6, A, and D. It really goes back to judging a book by its cover, or in this case, a cereal by its box. *I’d love for a proper dietician to confirm or deny my rationale in this – I’m certainly speaking in an area that is out of my expertise.

The wise man in Proverbs instructs his listener to “lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Of course, that statement comes after “trust in the Lord with all your heart.” In simple terms, we can get ourselves into a whole lot of trouble with doctrinal truths if we start making assumptions and failing to fact-check those ideas. Along with that, Paul encouraged the readers of 1 Thessalonians to “test everything and hold fast what is good” in regard to prophecy and revelation (5:21). It is our duty as Christians to test our own beliefs, reject the errors, and embrace the truths. While something may look right/wrong at first glance, we must do our part in testing it.

The main lesson for these passages must be applied spiritually first. With that said, it seems that this can also be a relevant lesson for the media that is being broadcasted our way on a minute-by-minute basis. With election season right around the corner, there will be a lot of false statements floating around, accompanied with a lot of truthful statements. I’d encourage you check them with reputable sources instead of believing everything that is headlined on the phone/computer screen. There is great reward in having a confirmed truth, for it allows us to process the next steps needed in our own lives.

Tyler King

In 2015 Disney released a really neat movie called Inside Out. The movie depicted the emotions (Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness) of a young girl dealing with many changes in life.

Unlike young people, who most often have no filter between what is inside their head and what they show on the outside, adults often look much differently on the outside.

The Pharisees wanted people to see one thing, but inwardly they were something different altogether.

Jesus said that they cleansed “the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside [they were] full of greed and wickedness” (Luke 11:39).

They wanted people to see their righteousness. What they failed to realize was that the inside was important as well. In fact, the inside should have held priority.

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others” (Luke 11:42).

Jesus does not dismiss the importance of the outward, but he emphasizes the inward, calling justice, mercy, and faithfulness the “weightier matters of the law” (Matthew 23:23).

When educating children, we do not give equal time to all subjects, for not all subjects are of the same weight. All of God’s law is important, but it is not all equal in weight. Not everything can come at once. A house must begin with a foundation.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls people to look inwardly. Sin and righteousness are both born in the heart and manifest themselves outwardly.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’  (Matthew 5:21, 22)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  (Matthew 5:27, 28)

When the outside and the inside are at odds, the result is often hypocrisy. A hypocrite is a man pretending to be something he is not (see Matthew 6:2, 5; Mark 7:6).

However, it is possible for us to look better on the outside than we do on the inside and not be guilty of hypocrisy. As we struggle to develop holiness, to be devoted to justice, to bestow mercy, and to live faithfully, we may have moments of turmoil inwardly.

Do not be satisfied with the appearance of goodness. Do not be satisfied with what others can see. Allow the words of the Spirit to shape your inner being.

It is also possible for us to have outward moments that are not reflective of our inward nature. As we struggle to be shaped into the image of the man of heaven, the image of the man of dust is not easily dismissed. Do not give up when your outward form fails to live up to the inner ideal.

Start on the inside, give proper weight to things, and be amazed what your outward life looks like.

Lee Parish

We would all like to improve in many ways, but many of us are also well aware of the flaws we feel are holding us back. Those shortcomings tend to get in the way, slow us down, or even prevent us from achieving the quality of life that we desire. While there is plenty of room for improvement in my life, I have found that there is a simple way to clearly envision where I am currently, and also plan for where I would like to be in the future.

It’s true that our burdens often come from our blessings. For example, the blessing of having a car may result in the burden of expensive bills that follow a mechanical issue.

I believe that there are five major buckets of blessings that we all must give our time and attention to. They are the five categories that, if purposefully tended, help our lives to be wonderful. On the other hand, if neglected, we find ourselves in a head-spinning spiral of worry and anxiety.

These buckets are:

1. Faith
2. Mental maturity
3. Physical health
4. Relationships
5. Work

If one of those buckets isn’t filled with the proper content, the effects, I’m sure you’re aware, are negative. If these crucial categories are filled correctly, our quality of life will only improve.

God is the Creator of life itself which makes Him the leading authority on the subject. Consider how He can help you in each of the five areas listed here.

Faith

By denying self, our focus is diverted away from our negative self absorption. Putting God and others first can give you a better, fresh, and positive perspective.

Acts 20:35

Mental maturity

When we seek to understand our own minds and what makes us tick, we’ll be able to identify where these negative thoughts and reactions originate.

Philippians 4:8

Physical health 

Poor health habits like fast-food diets, lack of physical exercise, and sleep deprivation only make dealing with stress all the more difficult. God designed your body to function properly when properly taken care of.

Luke 1:37

Relationships 

Every relationship, whether in marriage, friendship, family, coworkers, or the church, all have one thing in common—they were made by God. Thankfully, God wrote a book to help us understand who we are to be to each individual that make up those groups.

Romans 12:16

Work

God built us to work— He expects us to. Some choose to be lazy, and they suffer. Others choose to constantly work to the neglect of the four other areas mentioned. There must be a balance, and God knows that.

Psalm 128:2

While there’s a lot more to be said concerning these five categories, I hope this simplifies things and helps refocus on what really matters.

Hopefully, looking at life through His divine lens is a reminder of Who we should turn to for everything. He has given us the ultimate assurance— and He is willing to give us the ultimate assistance.

Dale Pollard

A few weeks ago, I had lunch at the Village Inn. Now regardless of when I go to Village Inn, I have breakfast. So, I ordered the 2-2-2, that’s two eggs, two strips of bacon and two pancakes with sugar-free syrup.

In just a few minutes my order arrived with the syrup, and it was labeled Smuckers sugar-free Breakfast Syrup. Making a little joke with the young waitress, I said, “This is Breakfast syrup, is it ok to have it with Lunch?  “Well, looking at the bottle, then looking at me, and a bit confused she said, “I think so.” It would be interesting to hear her tell the story; “I had this old guy the other day that said ———,”

It is true syrup is syrup, and it doesn’t matter, it is the same breakfast, lunch or dinner, even though the label clearly said Breakfast.

So, what is the point? You would be right to think, it is not, a lesson on syrup. It is a lesson on the use of the word, Breakfast. Even though the word, “Breakfast” is used on the label, it is meant to include all meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, even though each word means something different.

Of course, the word usage doesn’t matter in dealing with a meal, but that is not always the case. Note with me the subject of baptism, and some word usage, thoughts, and ideas.

Some religious groups pour water on a person as a method of baptism. If this were the method, Jesus had intended He would have used the Greek word, βάλλει, (the English spelling is ballei) and in the English language, the word means to pour. As in John 13:5, “He poured water into a basin.” This is not the word Jesus used when he spoke of baptism.

It is also true that some religious groups sprinkle water on a person as a method of baptism. Again, if this were the method Jesus had intended, in this case, He would have used the Greek ραντιζω, (the English spelling is rhantizo) and in the English language means to sprinkle. As noted in Hebrews 10:22, “having been sprinkled clean.” This too is not the word Jesus used when he spoke of baptism.

In regards to the words of Jesus, He states clearly in Mark 16:16, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” This Greek word is, βαφτιστεί, (the English spelling is Baptizo)  but in this case, the word is not translated only given an English spelling. This is the same situation every time a form of this Greek word is used,  it is not translated, just given an English spelling. You will hear that this word has been transliterated, meaning to give it an English spelling. Can you imagine if of all of the Greek words were only transliterated? The reader would not understand anything unless they know the Greek language of course.

From Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance you find the following definition. From a derivative of bapto; to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. Fully wet); used only (in the New Testament).

Let me note a few places the word is used.

NASB                           Greek                  Word   Strong’s                 Origin   

Baptized MK.16:16        βαφτιστεί            907: to dip, sink                   baptó

Baptized Act 2:38          βαφτιστεί            907: to dip, sink                   baptó

Baptized Act 22:16        βαφτιστεί            907: to dip, sink                   baptó

Baptism  Rom. 6:4        βάπτισμα             908: Dipping/sinking             baptó

Now while it is true, because of the context, the Greek form of the word hasa different spelling, (ending) it is also obvious there is no mention of these Greek words meaning Sprinkling or Pouring. I think if translators, translated the Greek words rather than only giving them an English spelling there would be a better understanding by many.

So, it is not like Breakfast syrup good at any meal; the word is baptize means to fully immerse, submerge. Nothing less will do.

What’s in a word?  In this case, God’s forgiveness.           

Dick Brant

A minister considers a move to a new congregation and says, “I know the congregation has problems but I really think that once I move there things will get better. It has great potential”

A young man interviews with a company in a major city. He says, “They offered me the job. I am very dissatisfied with the salary but it will all work itself out. After all, this company has potential.”

A single woman is dating a guy and is getting serious. She says, “He is a great guy. He doesn’t go to church. He is not exactly the spiritual leader I had hoped but it will all work out. He is going to change some things once we get married. He has great potential.”

I have had conversations with a variety of people in each one of these situations before they made the decision. Unfortunately, I have also had conversations with many of these people who were later frustrated with the decision they made.

“I can’t believe we moved here to work with this congregation. We can barely pay our bills. What a mistake! What was I thinking?”

“Yea, I took that job and within two weeks, I knew I had made a mistake. What was I thinking?”

“I finally married him. Time passed and he never really made the changes I had hoped. We had children. Yet, to this day, the children and I got to church each week by ourselves. I am the only one that provides any sense of spiritual leadership for our family. What was I thinking?”

You are not alone. Many of us have made decisions that we later regretted.

What happened?

1. We rationalized and justified a decision that we wanted to make. We looked for friends or anyone who would in some way affirm the decision that we wanted to make in the first place.
2. We got emotionally involved and we begin to bond emotionally with the object of our decision. I have seen ministers do this with congregations where they were interviewing. Before they even learned very much about the congregation, they decided that this was the place they wanted to move to. A person can do the same when interviewing with a company. Maybe this person has always wanted to work for such a company and so agreed to accept an offer, knowing it was too low.

A man can marry a woman rationalizing that everything is going to eventually fall into place. Right now, he rationalizes, she is the way she is but that will change. He is convinced that eventually she will change. Of course, if the couple is having a sexual relationship, the emotional bond is even more intense which can make it even easier to rationalize and not make the wisest decision.

Bottom line:

1. Godly discernment is critical. Pray for the long term. If this situation remains just as it is (this church, this job, this young woman you are serious about), what does this say about your future? What will your future look like in five or ten years if nothing changes? Can you live with this?
2. Beware when you are keeping critical information from those who love you most. You may be a minister who is considering moving to serve a new congregation. Yet as you talk about this offer to your closest friends, you are leaving out significant information. Could it be they might say something you don’t want to hear? Could this be a red flag?
3. Don’t make a commitment to something knowing that you will only be content if this situation or this person changes. Commit to what you have right in front of you — not to perceived potential.

Jim Martin

God’s prophets to Israel and Judah had a difficult task. Their message was not a popular one and many refused to believe them. There were also competing messages from some who called themselves God’s prophets. No wonder the people were confused!

As the nation of Judah headed towards eventual exile in Babylon, God had his prophet Jeremiah enact what was going to happen. Early in King Zedekiah’s reign God told Jeremiah to make a yoke, like oxen would use to pull plows and wagons (many would more likely use horses today). The yoke forced the animal to serve its owner by pulling.

Jeremiah was to wear this yoke to symbolize that Judah would submit to the “yoke of servitude” of the king of Babylon and he was to announce that Judah would have to submit to Babylon (Jeremiah 27:1-11). Later that year Jeremiah ran into opposition from another prophet. 

“The prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, spoke to Jeremiah in the Lord’s temple in the presence of the priests and all the people: ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says, “I will break the yoke of servitude to the king of Babylon. Before two years are over, I will bring back to this place everything that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took from it and carried away to Babylon. I will also bring back to this place Jehoiakim’s son King Jeconiah of Judah and all the exiles who were taken to Babylon.” Indeed, the Lord affirms, “I will break the yoke of servitude to the king of Babylon.”’” (Jeremiah 28:1-4 NET)

There were now two messages being proclaimed by two prophets, both claiming that their message was from God. This would have been confusing to the people who heard them. How could they tell who was telling the truth and what the message from God really was? Notice Jeremiah’s wise counsel.

“Amen! May the Lord do all this! May the Lord make your prophecy come true! May he bring back to this place from Babylon all the valuable articles taken from the Lord’s temple and the people who were carried into exile. But listen to what I say to you and to all these people. From earliest times, the prophets who preceded you and me invariably prophesied war, disaster, and plagues against many countries and great kingdoms. So if a prophet prophesied peace and prosperity, it was only known that the Lord truly sent him when what he prophesied came true.” (Jeremiah 28:6-9)

How could people tell who was God’s real prophet? It was the one whose prophecy came true. It really was quite simple.

So often people seem to think that ‘might makes right’ – and Hananiah seems to have been such a person. He didn’t like Jeremiah’s response so he took the yoke Jeremiah was wearing and broke it, saying the Lord would break the yoke of servitude to Babylon in the same way.

Jeremiah’s response to Hannah was short and to the point: “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord did not send you! You are making these people trust in a lie. So the Lord says, ‘I will most assuredly remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this very year because you have counseled rebellion against the Lord’” (Jeremiah 28:15-16).

So who was the true prophet of God? When Hananiah died two months later (Jeremiah 28:17), Jeremiah was shown to be God’s true prophet.

This isn’t too different from situations in which we may find ourselves. There are those who proclaim a different message. How do people tell the difference?

Today we have God’s word in written form. So the question is: which message can be backed up by what God says? The people of Berea were commended for “examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Can anything less be expected of us?

by Jon Galloway