The apostle John said, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 Jn. 2:15-17).

The greatest danger we face in life is love or desire for worldliness or sin. Sin is the only thing that can separate a man from God (Ps. 59:1-2; 1 Jn. 3:4). Sin often brings heartache to our lives and can bring eternal separation from God (see Rom. 6:23).

The Solution is love or desire for the Father and His Word. A proper, submissive (obedient) love for the Lord keeps us from sin, and also steadies our thoughts on the eternal reward of our gracious God.

The world is passing away. Those who do God’s will, will abide forever (see also 1 Pt. 1:23). Which do you choose?

Daren Schroeder

Little, But Powerful

 The news seems to be filled with people whose tongues are out of control. Bad language and hurtful words are the rule of the day. God’s people must refrain from joining in, because he tells us about the power of that little member of the body.

 A rider is able to control a horse by using a bridle in its mouth. Huge ships are turned with a small rudder. A little match can set a massive forest on fire. The tongue is small like a bridle, rudder or match, but it is able to do great things, good or bad. We need to keep control of our mouths lest they damage others or commit us to sinful ways (James 3:3-5; Psalm 39:1).

 An uncontrolled tongue is totally wicked and devastating (Proverbs 16:27; 26:18-28). It stains the whole life in its sinfulness. It can set the stage for what emotions lead us to do. Hitler’s tongue led the whole world to war. The tongue’s fire is so destructive it can only be set on fire by hell, the place God prepared for the devil and his angels (James 3:6; Matthew 25:41).

 Men use the tongue to praise God (Ephesians 5:19; Hebrews 13:15; Romans 10:9-10). Yet, the same tongue is used to pronounce curses on men, effectively praying to God to cause evil to fall down on them. The one who loves God must show it through his display of love for his fellow man, who is made in the image of God (James 3:9; 1 John 4:20-21; Matthew 25:31-46; Genesis 1:26).

 Praising God and cursing man with the same tongue is as contradictory as a fountain giving sweet and bitter water at the same time. It is as absurd as a fig tree bearing olives, a vine producing figs or a fountain producing fresh and salt water (James 3:10-12).

 Our mouths tell others what is in our hearts (Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 15:18). Getting our hearts right with God will result in good words coming from our lips to or about our fellow man.

 Gary C. Hampton

It is altogether fitting that the last word on righteousness comes from the last chapter of the last book of the Bible. The old apostle John, last of his tribe, writes what are probably his last words to a cowed and persecuted church.

As he wraps up the series of apocalyptic visions showing the grand victory of Christ and his followers, he makes what at first glance appears to be a strange statement.

Let those who do wrong keep doing what is wrong. Let the filthy still be filthy. Let those who are righteous keep doing what is right. Let those who are holy still be holy (Revelation 22:11 CEB).

Why would John not want the wrongdoers and morally filthy to be converted? Has the apostle of love gone sour in his old age? Has he lost his evangelistic spirit and hardened the lines between the lost and the saved, along with his arteries?

There is no pride in knowing who does wrong and who does right. Arrogance has no place in righteous perseverance. Righteousness and holiness are divine gifts which, of course, must be cherished and maintained, but continuing in these does not allow for self-congratulation, since God’s power keeps them intact. But we know whose we are, and what we are, and, like our wise Lord, where we are going (vv. 12-15). These things are open for anyone to observe; it is not hard to assign each to his place (v. 10).

John’s statement is an end-time truth. “The time is near” (v. 10). At the end of all things, truth becomes sharper and clearer. Old people have blurred vision and vague memories, but the aging of truth makes the lines between good and evil stand out. It grows in strength and rises in power.

At the coming of Jesus, there will be no shake-ups in the two sides. No last-minute conversions. What you have been in life is what you will be in eternity. Forget Purgatory. Forget second chances. Forget death-bed confessions. You are setting in concrete your destiny today.

At the same time, here is a last, rousing call to examine one’s decision. Jesus throws out a warning. We all are daily deciders as to what direction we choose. So he encourages the righteous and holy ones and sends up a flare to the wrongdoers.

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say: “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge (v. 17).

As the revealing Lord said in the Sermon on the Mount, righteousness is about doing what is right. Holiness is about demonstrating the nature of God in our daily walk. They both may be state and process, but neither of these exists without the other. To give up on the process is to abandon the state.

Life is hard, and the daily grind doesn’t get easier. Someone said that the golden years are not so golden. Each phase of life has its challenges, each stage comes with its hardships. We can complain and find reason to back off from faith. We can whine about criticism and persecution. But let the righteous keep on in righteousness and the holy revel in holiness.

Let us be faithful to the point of dying for our faith, if need be (Revelation 2:10). Some have done that. Some today are in this position. Our turn might be next. But let us never fear the evil of this present world; rather, let us fear and tremble before him who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28).

Yesterday’s righteousness will not carry us through. Just as each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34), and as God sent just enough manna from heaven for each day’s supply, so righteousness finds its sufficiency in the present. Whatever the Preacher meant by his admonition not to be too righteous (Ecclesiastes 7:16), we can never have enough today to last through tomorrow.

So let us as God’s righteous people continue to listen to his Word and eschew anger (James 1:19-21), to act in love and compassion (James 2:24), to pray unceasingly for the salvation of our fellow man (James 5:16). In these is our righteousness.

A. Neale

Kingdom future

Jesus, his apostles, as well as the early church proclaimed a message revolving around the good news of the kingdom. After Jesus’ death and ascension, preaching shifted to Christ and the kingdom.

This kingdom proclamation contained a message for the present. Through Christ, God’s power was overcoming all the binding weapons of evil to usher in a new manifestation of God’s rule. Christ brought release. People were to live with kingdom values and behaviors. Upon Jesus’ resurrection, he was exalted as Lord.

However, their proclamation also included a message regarding the future. At the end of time, some would inherit the kingdom while others would not.

How does today’s preaching compare with their message?

Both Jesus and the New Testament writers announced that current behavior will influence future reward. The repetitive nature of this message reveals its critical importance for our understand today. To summarize this aspect of their kingdom message, we learn that:

• How people respond today to the message about the kingdom determines their future reality (Luke 14:15-24). Some will understand the kingdom’s value and respond appropriately (Matthew 13:44-46), while others will allow various life experiences and situations to override and squelch its transforming impact upon their lives (Matthew 13:18-22);
• When the Son returns unexpectedly, the kingdom will be comprised of some who have wisely prepared for his return, while other citizens will discover they are woefully unprepared (Matthew 25:1-13).

In light of the events that will transpire with the kingdom at the end, how are people to prepare?

• Preparation involves being faithful in handling their “nobleman’s” business. This will determine whether one will be blessed or lose everything/ be cast out. Furthermore, those who reject the nobleman-turned-king will be slaughtered (Luke 19:11-27; Matthew 25:14-31).
• Citizens of the kingdom prepare for the future by showing compassion during their lifetime. This results in storing up treasure for themselves in heaven. Accordingly, they will inherit eternal life in the kingdom. On the other hand, those who fail to demonstrate love toward others will be sent to the eternal fire prepared for the devil (Luke 12:32-34; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Matthew 25:31-46).
• By pursuing godly virtues and works of faith, God’s people can make certain their calling.  Thus they can anticipate their entrance into the eternal kingdom (2 Peter 1:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12; 1 Thessalonians 2:12).

Part of the good news is that when citizens of the kingdom faithfully live for God obeying him, they can look forward to belonging to God and being under God’s reign at the end of time. However, we are also told that some people at the judgment will be lost because they chose to reject Christ and the gospel. Furthermore, some who professed Christ will be lost because they failed to obey God’s will or to pursue righteousness (Matthew 13:36-43; 13:47-50; 5:15-23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:21; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12).

In the end, death itself will be placed in submission to the Son. At that time the Son will hand over the kingdom to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). God’s reign will be absolute.

To be sure, more can be written about the future kingdom. Nevertheless, the fact that current behavior impacts our future reality is certainly one central and significant message about the kingdom.

If this emphasis by Jesus and the New Testament authors upon doing makes us nervous, we need to remember this is what they taught and what they wrote. How then do we reconcile such a message with the call to rely upon Christ for salvation?

For starters, let’s remember that both Jesus’ teaching ministry as well as the New Testament letters were directed to those whom God had already claimed as citizens of his kingdom by covenant (Exodus 19:4-6; Colossians 1:12-14; Hebrews 8:6f.; Ephesians 2:12,13,19). Accordingly this was/is the encouraging message God desires his people to hear from his inspired communicators, in order that his people might fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. It also simultaneously warned them and warns us to not fall off the wagon. These were not teachings to pagans informing them how to either become a part of God’s covenant people and thus members of his kingdom, nor how such individuals could save themselves based upon their own actions.

Barry Newton

More than 30 years ago, we wrote an evangelistic study which we still use today, among others. In that study, the very first text we teach others is Genesis 1.1-3. A main point of this reading emphasizes God’s power as he created the universe with a word. His power is unlimited. He is more powerful than any other. He is omnipotent.

His power overcomes all others. This is what Paul affirms in a prayer in Colossians 1:  “who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;” (v. 13 WEB).

Most modern versions, even supposedly literal ones like the NASB, make this verse into an independent clause. That’s fine and good. But it’s actually part of Paul’s prayer for his readers. It serves as one of the bases for his and their thanksgiving. Read the whole prayer here:

9 For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; 13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love; 14 in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins; 15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, WEB

1. Such a rescue from the control of darkness provides a powerful motive for thanksgiving! Let us never lose sight of this truth. We ought to rise from our beds every single day giving thanks to God for such a deliverance.

This change of location into Christ’s Kingdom is one of several phrases that causes a saint’s gratitude to break forth. God’s power, for the one who decides to submit, does not inspire cringing fear or cries of terror, but gladness, rejoicing, and celebration, because by this translation God becomes Father and we his inheriting children, v. 12. We have not jumped out of the frying pan into the fire, but have allowed ourselves to be rescued from the deepest depths of perdition and welcomed into the warm climate of original communion with God.

2. This deliverance is a done deal for Christians. It has already happened. Brethren rightly use this verse to show the folly of premillennialism. Our transference into the Christ’s Kingdom has already been accomplished. The verb is in the past tense.

Besides showing how this damaging doctrine is false, it also opens the door to the nearness of the eternal Kingdom. We are but a step away from heaven. Our hope focuses on the imminent coming of Christ. When he comes at that unknown hour, he will usher us past the judgment bar into the wide-open doors of our eternal rooms. In this Kingdom the Lord Jesus Christ now reins.

Its major feature is love. For love we were created and all mankind seeks it, in one form or another.

3. The saving power of God wrenches us from the dark domain. Behind the word “power” in v. 13 lies the surprising Greek word, exousia, often translated “authority.” This Greek word means “the power which decides” (TDNT II: 566). The dark master has decided our fate. He destined us for destruction. But that decision has been removed from his hands. The overwhelming power of God has changed our destiny.

Some versions translate this word here as “tyranny,” “dominion,” “domain,” “control,” and even “kingdom.” (See the various translations here.) The dark lord stole our ability to decide our future. God has restored it. The choice is now ours. We may now allow God to remove us from his “sphere of power” (TDNT II: 567).

God exercises all power. His power is benevolent. He desires our salvation. Let everyone trust in him and place our lives in his hands. He will care for us and rescue us.

J. Randal Matheny

Some of the biggest mistakes people make come from assumptions.

The people of Nazareth made assumptions about Jesus that were very wrong. When he visited his hometown, Nazareth, Jesus attended the synagogue and taught there. It was an opportunity to tell people the truth about himself and God.

As Jesus taught the hometown folks, many of them became indignant (Matthew 13:54). One said, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” That was an assumption. These people had seen Jesus all his life. They figured they knew who he was. But, oh, how little they did know!

Jesus is not the carpenter’s son. He is the son of God. The miracles the Lord performed before their eyes and his teachings proved this. But they had assumed because the young Jesus was with Joseph that he was Jesus’ father. They embraced the assumption while they rejected what their eyes and ears told them.

Then they asked, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these powers?” There is another assumption. “Where did this man…” Jesus wasn’t just a man. He is Immanuel or “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

Humans make many assumptions. Some assume evolution is true, but when people honestly study the evidence of God’s word, it is shown to be false. Some of the established religions in the world would appear correct. Then, when the fruit of sexual misconduct and hypocrisy are apparent, they are proved to be false.

Isn’t it time to stop looking at the Bible through the doctrines and “confessions” of faith that are popular in some religious bodies? Isn’t it time to find out for yourself that the Bible alone is true?

John Henson

I suppose one’s response to their baptism is a personal thing. Sometimes there are tears. Often there are smiles and sighs of relief. It’s fun to think back to that moment when you knew God’s grace had cleansed your soul. What about this question: “What was life like for you in the six months after your baptism?” Were you on fire for God, talking to as many people as you could about what He had done for you? Or did you go about life the same as if nothing was different? Did your reputation as a believer change in your circles, or did your reputation stay the same? It’s just a guess, but I suspect many Christians have very little recollection about the weeks and months after we climbed out of the baptistry.

One of the great stories of the New Testament is that of the Thessalonian Christians. These Grecian converts joyously accepted the gospel from Paul and immediately let that message change their lives in very visible ways. The apostle’s letter to them was probably written a matter of weeks or months after he was run out of town. Notice what he says about their new-found faith.

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10 (ESV)

What inspires me from this text is the fact that these brand-new believers were so on fire for God that their reputation moved throughout the whole province. Their faith served as an example to be emulated by others who would here the good news of Jesus’ grace.

Go back to your own conversion. While it would be interesting to know what kind of fire we demonstrated in the months following our baptism, let’s take this a step further. What kind of reputation do we have now? Is the fire still burning strong so that people would look to our faith as a Thessalonian-esque beacon? Or have we forgotten that fire and let it dwindle so that no one really knows about Christ’s ongoing work in us? If so, what can you do to restoke the flames of excitement and show others what God does for you daily?

Cory Waddell

It seems to me that the theme of this month is centered around the symbol of the promise that God made to mankind in a word to never flood the earth again. Obviously the rainbow is being misused and mistreated among those of various parties, but the account of Noah is one that I believe to be very relevant in today’s world. Noah was a man who spent his life preaching and living out the message for the coming destruction of the world (Gen. 6:22; 7:1). Despite his actions, no one around him bothered to listen and the sin of man remained rampant (Gen. 6:6). Why do we as followers of God preach messages if no one will bother to listen?

Perhaps there is no greater example outside the life of Jesus that demonstrates faithfulness to the message of God, despite harsh conditions, than that of Jeremiah. As we look through the book of Jeremiah, we find our value to preaching the Word to a world that doesn’t listen.

The World of Jeremiah

              Jeremiah’s life was one of constant struggle. We may think we have it bad with various outlets blasting the megaphones with the LGBTQ propaganda. However, I would argue Jeremiah had it worse. He was beaten and betrayed by religious leaders (Jer. 20:1). He was threatened by counts of death (Jer. 26:11). He was mistreated by political leaders (Jer. 36:23). He was abandoned in an empty cistern by his contemporaries (Jer. 38:6). Yet regardless of all these struggles, Jeremiah kept on preaching. He was faithful to the Word of God that had been entrusted to him (Jer. 1:1-10). 

The Word of Jeremiah

              As seen earlier, Jeremiah was not preaching a message of hate. He was seeking to save those around him, no matter how defiled by idolatry and injustice they were. Rather than keeping the message of salvation to himself, he agonized with those who needed it the most. The prophet was courageous and bold in presenting the Word of God to those who were constant in their sin (Jer. 7). He preached the transformative power of God’s new covenant (Jer. 30-33). He preached a message of salvation and hope, even in consideration of opposing powers (Jer. 50,51). Rather than mocking those who were engulfed with sin, he kept on preaching.

The Worth of Jeremiah

              Some might recognize Jeremiah as the weeping prophet – the one who preached and no one listened. Though in the grand scheme of history, he is one of great reputation especially in regard to his efforts in ministry. Some might look at his life as a futile effort to convert the lost, with a 0% effective rate. That is, until someone were to keep looking at the prophet’s words. Jeremiah is quoted over 30 times in the New Testament scriptures; a testimony to the value of his message. Jeremiah is directly quoted by the Son of God. His message is qualified as canonical scripture, being an inclusion in nearly all Bibles that contain the Old Testament writings. There’s no telling how many individuals have gained inspiration from the writings of Jeremiah. His words have even been transformed into songs of Christians (Lam. 3). I don’t know if Jeremiah truly recognized the worth of his ministry, but we can certainly pay respects to how impactful his life was.

Despite the harsh conditions the prophet faced, he managed to stay true to the message of God, preach it to sinners, and remain steadfast in his own faith. My life is remarkably easy in comparison to Jeremiah, yet I find myself struggling with my approach to sinful communities around me. I suppose one lesson from Jeremiah is to simply keep preaching, despite the circumstance, and let the Word of God rule in the land of creation. We may be surprised one day to see how our various ministries have impacted the lives of many. even if we regard our efforts as vain. There is truly no vain effort when an effort is put forth for the Word of God. It is encouraging and inspiring to read of an individual who lived in a sinful land who still cared for the souls around to undergo punishment and mistreatment, only to remain faithful to the Word of God.

Tyler King

“Now Jericho was shut tightly because of the Israelites. No one was allowed to leave or enter. The Lord told Joshua, ‘See, I am about to defeat Jericho for you, along with its king and its warriors. Have all the warriors march around the city one time; do this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. When you hear the signal from the ram’s horn, have the whole army give a loud battle cry. Then the city wall will collapse and the warriors should charge straight ahead’” (Joshua 6:1-5 NET).

The Israelite nation had crossed the Jordan River and were now in the Promised Land. God’s promise was being fulfilled! But…they were still living in tents and the land was full of hostile people. They still needed to conquer those living in the various towns and villages before they could settle down to a peaceful life.

The first town the Israelites came to was Jericho. It was a formidable, walled city. How could they ever dream of beginning their conquest here?

The strategy God revealed through Joshua had to have any trained warrior scratching his head. It did not include siege machines or even a siege! The armed men were to march around the walled town once each day, following the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, who were following seven other priests blowing rams’ horns. Then on the last day, after having done this for a week, they would march around the town seven times. When they completed this, the priests would blow a signal on their horns, the army would give a loud battle cry, and then the wall of the city would collapse and the armed men could go straight into the town and conquer it. As far as tactics go, this was not a strategy any army would have employed.

As the Israelites were approaching Canaan, God had made them a promise. “When you go to war against your enemies and see chariotry and troops who outnumber you, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, is with you. As you move forward for battle, the priest will approach and say to the soldiers,  ‘Listen, Israel! Today you are moving forward to do battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted. Do not fear and tremble or be terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you to fight on your behalf against your enemies to give you victory’” (Deuteronomy 20:1-4 NET)..

God promised to fight for his people. They had to trust that he would keep his promise. And he did!

Many reading the account of the fall of Jericho today might dismiss it as a “fantastic” story – surely it couldn’t have happened this way! But in the excavations that have been done in Jericho, what they have discovered is a town with multiple walls that fell outward (David Rhol’s Patterns of Evidence videos bring this out well).

There are two good lessons in this for us. The first is the need to trust in God, even when what he has asked might not make sense to us. The second is that we can trust the accuracy of the Bible. The details that can be confirmed check out.

We can trust God! We can place our confidence in God’s word!

Jon Galloway

Christians are not completely immune to anxiety. However, as followers of the will of God, we do have access to a  God who cares for us and who will help us cope with this human reality. Consider, for instance, some things that have been discovered about human anxiety. Objective studies indicate that the average person’s anxiety is focused on…

• 40% – things that will never happen.
• 30% – things about the past that can’t be changed.
• 12% – things about criticism by others, mostly untrue.
• 10% – about health, which gets worse with stress.
• 8% – about real problems that will be faced.

The greatest “real problem” is the reality of sin in the life and the consequences thereof. This is the heaviest burden one can bear. By  grace, God gave us Jesus Christ who pleads: “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy  and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

– Johnny Hester

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Mt. 10:34).

Almost any picture we paint of Jesus is lacking. It is especially true of the canvas, but also of the heart. Jesus is complex – infinitely so. When we think we have captured him, some other piece of him floats by and we must pour out all the other pieces and try to put them back together again. Haygood put it this way:

As to your conception of him and his teachings, this I am sure of: if you continue to study him and his words your best ideas now will, by and by, seem to you to be very unworthy.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Not only does the Bible teach it, but every year around this season the signage declares it. Entertainers sing it. Presents are wrapped in it. The unsuspecting child King was born to bring peace and goodwill to all.

But Jesus the man says, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth, but a sword.” It’s almost as if he heard those angels singing the night of his birth and never forgot it; it’s as if he wants to correct their mistake.

But he is not correcting a mistake.

He is flipping the coin.

Speaking of, someone might ask, What image is on a penny? “Abraham Lincoln.”

Correct.

Someone else says, “The Lincoln Monument.”

Also correct.

Did Jesus come to bring peace, or a sword?

Which is it?

Both.

The birth of Jesus was the announcement of peace for the world!

But does peace ever come at no cost? With no boundaries?

We might well ask, is there a one-sided coin?

The sword of Christ must be allowed to cut down the thickets of the heart, the kudzu of traditions, and fell the dense forest of interfering loyalties.

Endure the sword, and peace ensues.

As with the coin, we cannot have one side of Christ without the other.

–Rick Kelley

For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

What does Christianity have to say about death? Does the Bible have anything to say that will help us in this, the most characteristic human factor of all, our mortality.

Generation after generation has had to deal with the implications of death’s certainty. In Greek mythology the dead crossed the River Styx, a dreary, poisonous river that ran between the living and Hades. Whoever crossed had to pay Charon, a boatman who ferried people across.

It was, we must emphasize, a one-way ticket!

Remember the old Spiritual:

“I have one more river to cross.
My brother, my sister, my father, my mother
They’ll all be waiting, but they can’t help me across.”

Herein lies the fear beyond death; is death a transition, or a final statement? A period or a comma?

It was Woody Allen who said: “I don’t mind dying. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” What do we fear about death? We fear the loneliness, and we fear the unknown. We also fear being forgotten. You recall the king who ordered 100 people to be killed at his death, so there would be mourning in the kingdom.

But Jesus yanked the sting out of the scorpion of death. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).

So how does this Christian perspective affect the way we face death?

• It has an impact upon the way we grieve. Paul says that at the death of a loved one we should grieve, but “not as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).   

Please note: We can, and should grieve when a loved one dies. It would be unnatural not to. But we do not grieve with the hopeless abandon of those who do not have the hope we have.

It reminds us that Act II of God’s great drama still remains. The second act has already been written, it just waits to be performed. In our grief, we can remind ourselves that God will transform our bodies. The lame will walk, the blind will see, the victim of Alzheimer’s will remember again.

• It has an impact upon the way we live. We no longer lay up treasures for ourselves here, in the temporary and the flammable (Matthew 6:19,20).

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have something that we can be fully devoted to, something that will last to the other side of the grave. Money and property will be given to someone else when we die, but heavenly investments we can carry with us. Make no mistake, if we have invested spiritually, we can  “take it with” us!

Remember the Spiritual? The one that says that our father and mother will not be able to help us across?

“I have one more river to cross.
My brother, my sister, my father, my mother
They’ll all be waiting, but they can’t help me across.”

Well, it goes on to say:

“My Jesus will be waitin’ there, and he can help me across.”

And, mark this: in death, our greatest desire is accomplished. We can be with Christ.

Stan Mitchell

Driving one Sunday morning up US Highway 45 in Tennessee, on our way to report on our work to a congregation outside of the town of Dyersburg, we passed a denominational church building with a sign posted near the right-of-way. It was simple, with three words, one on top of the other: Scripture, Tradition, Reason.

In truth, in order to reflect that group’s positions, the order ought to be reversed: reason, tradition, scripture. The denomination could not exist were it not for human reasoning and religious tradition, because its name and its teachings do not appear in Scripture in any form.

Division among people who call themselves Christians is a serious problem. Religious leaders not only justify it, but promote it. They glory in human names and creeds. They impose their doctrines and, like the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, make their followers “twice as much a child of hell as” themselves, Matthew 23.15.

The apostle Paul thought division to be the destruction of the gospel of peace. When it occurred within the church in Corinth, he attacked it fiercely. Among the many problems there, it was the first to be addressed. He spent more space in his letter devoted to division than any other.

At one point in his several arguments to restore unity in Corinth, Paul appealed to a saying current among Christians. The saying was so widely used among them that he knew they would immediately recognize it and understand its application to their situation.

Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying: “Nothing beyond what is written.” The purpose is that none of you will be arrogant, favoring one person over another, 1 Corinthians 4.6 CSB.

Burton Coffman wrote,

Not to go beyond what is written … is in the Greek literally, “Not beyond what is written.”[21] “These words must be a sort of quotation, or in any case a standing expression,”[22] associated with the preaching of Paul and all the apostles. It has the effect of a universal proverb among Christians, “well known to the Corinthians, so that Paul could assume the words to be clear.”[23] Russell declared the meaning to be: “The things which are written … no special text, but the teaching of the scriptures as a whole, which no leader, however gifted, may supersede.”[24] “This was a catch-cry familiar to Paul and his readers directing attention to the need for conformity to scripture.”[25] There is no need to multiply scholarly support of the usual view of this place; no other explanation is tenable. [See the link, below, to the original post for references.]/1

Coffman rightly says that the compressed saying “has the effect of a universal proverb among Christians.”

• The point of the proverb: If it’s not in the Bible, don’t teach it, don’t practice it, don’t promote it; follow only what is written in Scripture.
• Paul’s application: Scripture says nothing about exalting human figures as a means of creating and pushing your party, so stop preferring one servant of God over another.
• Our implementation of it: Unity comes from requiring only what the Bible requires, teaching only what the Bible teaches, practicing only what the Bible enjoins.

In modern times, Christians have used other proverbial statements to capture the nature of faith.

• Speak where the Bible speaks, be silent when it is silent.
• Do Bible things in Bible ways; call Bible things by Bible names.
• No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible.
• In matters of faith, unity; in matters of opinion, liberty; in all things, love.

These are all good sayings, useful as jumping-off points for teaching about the gospel. Even better, however, are proverbs that rise from Scripture itself. And few are more useful and needed today than the ancient proverb: “Nothing beyond what is written.”

1/ James Burton Coffman. “Commentary on 1 Corinthians 4:4”. “Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament“. Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999. Accessed 2019-08-05.

J. Randal Matheny

There are several people in the Bible about whom we know next to nothing. Some we only have a name. Some we have them briefly mentioned in a few verses. However, if all scripture is profitable (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17), then there must be at least something to be learned from each. That is true with these “not-so-well-known” folks we read of in scripture.

Epaphras is only mentioned three times in the New Testament. All three are within 2 letters which were probably delivered at the same time – one to a congregation and one to an individual in that congregation. Within these three instances, there are a few details given that show us some insight into the caliber of man Epaphras was. They are worthy traits for us to model today.

The church at Colosse was being led astray – they needed “spiritual heroes” to emulate. The church today needs more men and women to step up and be “Epaphras Christians.” Epaphras was a man who, quite possibly, was a convert from the ministry of Paul. He was one that probably learned what it meant to be evangelistic from the apostle. He went back to his hometown of Colosse and was responsible for the evangelization of that city, as well as Laodicea (yes that Laodicea) and Hierapolis – two towns in the same valley. He was a co-worker of Paul’s. He was one who told Paul of what was going on in Colosse, prompting the inspired author to pen the letter of Colossians. He was one who was thought so highly of by Paul, that when he mentioned Epahpras, he used phrases like, “beloved fellow servant,” “faithful minister of Christ,” and a “servant of Christ” to describe him.

He first mentions him in Colossians 1:7-8. “Just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.” In these verses, we find out about Epaphras’s LABOR IN PURPOSE. The purpose of what he did was to win souls. That is why he was the one who brought the saving message he learned of back to those people in the Lyconian Valley. He wanted them to be saved. That is why he served faithfully on behalf of Paul, who was in prison. He understood the work must go on. Why? He knew souls were hanging in the balance. That is why he was building up the church by bragging on their love in the spirit. It was all about souls for Epaphras. That was the purpose of his labor!

He mentions him a second time in Colossians 4:12-13. “Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.” In these verses, we find out about Epaphras’s LABOR IN PRAYER. Part of his ministry was in praying for others. What a valuable ministry! This man of God approached God’s throne on behalf of others because of his care for them. Imagine, with all he is going through, and he is praying for others. In Philemon, we will see how he is in prison. Just picture him, while in a prison cell himself, kneeling in the dampness, filth, and disease, and praying for others!

The third mention is in the 23rd verse of Philemon. “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.” In this verse, we find out about Epahpras’s LABOR IN PRICE. Not only was he laboring to serve others, not only was he working in prayer for others, but he was also one who labored at high personal cost! He had given up his freedom to serve the Lord, serve His church, and serve his fellow-workers!

What happened to Epaphras as life went on, we do not know. We do not know when nor how he died. We do not know what else might have been true about his personal life, church work, or any other facts. What we do know is that the Holy Spirit of God inspired Paul to write about this servant of the Lord three times – forever to be remembered as an example of a faithful child of God.

The church needs you to be an Epaphras! The church is built on those who labor like him. They may not get the headlines. They may not have a lot spoken of them. However, they are the ones who are laboring in the trenches to further the cause of Christ! Are you ready to labor like Epaphras?

Corey Sawyers

Many years ago there was a newspaper, and I don’t remember the name of it, that had a column called “Bits and Pieces.”  It consisted of several short thoughts on various subjects, all of which were designed to cause people to think.  So, I “think” that’s how I’ll present our lesson today, in bits and pieces that will cause us to “think” spiritual things.

Bit #1.  All of us have friends, don’t we?  As we live our lives here on earth we get to know a lot of people.  And, we mostly refer to them as friends simply because they aren’t enemies.  But, that’s not “true friendship” is it?  Just knowing somebody by their first name doesn’t qualify as “true friendship.”

I once read that “true friends” recognize the hearts of their friends and not their faces.  I agree with that because I think that there is no “true friendship” where the heart is not involved which is evidenced by the things that friends “do” for each other.  In Proverbs 18:24 we read that we have “…a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”  And, you know what?  That “friend” did something for us even before we were “friends” and, if we want to be “true friends” with Him, we have to do something in return.  And that is, to give Him our “love, faith and devotion.”

Bit #2.  Do you remember back in January of 2009 when an extraordinary event occurred?  When a U.S. Airways flight, shortly after takeoff, had to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River?  It was a truly historic event.  They’ve even made a movie about the pilot’s courageous actions that saved everyone on board.  Here’s an interesting aside: passengers on ships and airliners are very fittingly referred to as “souls on board.”

Here’s what I found spiritually noteworthy about this occurrence.  It was reported that many of the passengers (the “souls”) were heard to be praying, repeatedly, “Lord, forgive me of my sins” and I immediately recalled a statement by Jesus, recorded in Matt. 7:21-22.  He said that on the occasion of “that day,” commonly referred to as the “day of reckoning,” that “many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not…”

The key “think” about this piece is for us to consider when our “day of reckoning” will come, as I’m sure the passengers on Flight 1549 thought was happening on that wintry day in 2009.  Here is what reality is: we don’t know when our personal “day of reckoning” will come, but if we’re not already forgiven of our sins, having been cleansed by the washing of the blood of Christ, (Rev. 1:5) it’ll be too late to start asking for salvation.

Bit #3 is sort of a tie-in to the previous one in that I’m going to mention something about “faith.”  Heb. 11:1 reads: “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”  (NLT)   This bit ties in with the former in this way: “faith” is what causes us to believe in and obey the Gospel, thus preparing our “souls” for our “day of reckoning.”

Bit #4.  Well we’re in another election season again.  Seems like they are not “seasons” anymore, they’re always going on, but with elections come the “polls.”  They take polls to ascertain what the popular way to go is with the idea that many will follow what is popular at the moment.  This thought on the purpose of polls reminded me of something God told Israel when He was giving them the “law.”  Recorded in Ex. 23:2, He said, “Do not follow a multitude to do evil.”

My thought: just because the popular “way” is broad and is going to be well-traveled by many people (Matt. 7:13), my point here is: the majority is not always right.  What we need to always remember is that “RIGHT IS RIGHT!”  Political polls seem to be trying to convince people that if they vote a certain way, metaphorically-speaking, they’ll get the best “bang for their buck.”  Well, scripturally-speaking, it’s on the less popular “way” that Christians should travel as it’s on this “way” that we’ll truly get more “bang for our buck.”

Bit #5.  A while back a movie came out entitled “The Bucket List.”  Some of you may have seen it.  In this movie, two old men are debating each other about many things of life and one of them mentioned “faith” as being one of those “things.”  The one old guy, who was playing sort of agnostic towards religion made the statement “I can’t get my head around it (faith).”  The other actor replied with a truly great statement.  He said: “Maybe your heads in the way.”

I consider that to be a very profound statement and I think that it’s probably the reason why many people do not have “faith.”  Their head gets in the way.  Recall in bit #3 we read Heb. 11:1 where it defined “faith” as being the “assurance of things we can’t see?”  Think about that a moment.  If they’re visible, can be seen, then it isn’t “faith,” is it?  It’s “sight” and that reminds us of what Paul tells Christians in 2Cor. 5:7 that they “walk (live) by faith and not by sight.”

And now, my final Bit, #6.  This bit is applicable to the condition of our “hearts.”  God, through Solomon, talks a lot about this aspect of human life.  About both the physical and the spiritual.  Solomon writes in Proverbs about how the condition of a person’s “heart” relates to how important it is to the “character” of a person’s life.  Simply said, the condition of our “spiritual heart” determines the “character” of the person we are.  I don’t know who penned the following words, but they apply to this thought here…

Watch your thoughts, they become words.

Watch your words, they become actions.

Watch your actions, they become habits.

Watch your habits, they become character.

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

(And Matthew 12:34-35 says that all of those things emanate from “the heart.”)

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey

Purity is about you

By Johnny O. Trail — As the temperature rises the hem lines go up and the neck lines tend to plunge.  While this is sometimes seen as a problem that is reflective in women’s fashion, it can also be a problem among men.  In addition to the cut of the hems and the depth of the neck lines, the messages written on shirts and pants can be immoral in nature.

One of my earliest memories involved a trip to Nashville to visit an uncle who was dying of cancer in the Veteran’s Hospital.  Since we were from Manchester, it was really easy for us to become lost as we navigated the large and confusing town of Nashville.  Somehow or another, we ended up on lower Broad Street.  In that day, prostitution was a problem in that area.  There, on a street corner, were two women who were dressed rather strangely.  From the back seat of our Chevrolet Impala I asked my parents, “Why are those women dressed that way?”

This trip to Nashville would have taken place in the mid to late seventies.  I will never forget the complete silence that prevailed in the car.  My mother and father did not know what to say, because the women standing on the corner were prostitutes.  How do you tell a small boy about such a profession?  Well, you do not, and they did not!

Nevertheless, that memory stands out in my mind to this very day.  If you were to take some of the “fashion” that people wear in our age and place it on a woman in the mid-seventies, it would be completely inappropriate to wear out in public.  Our morals have become greatly deficient over the last several decades.

We must endeavor to emphasize the proper aspects of our being.  Whatever we do in life should bring glory to God.  One who is beautiful on the inside will naturally be beautiful on the outside.

When Saul was selected to serve as a captain over the people and later a king, he was head and shoulders taller than the other people (I Samuel 9.2).  For better or worse, human beings tend to gravitate towards people who are outwardly attractive.

As Saul lost favor with God for making unauthorized sacrifices and for general disobedience to God’s commands (I Samuel 15.26-28), God told Samuel to travel to Bethlehem and the household of Jesse to anoint the next king of Israel.  Samuel did as he was commanded.

Upon reviewing all of the sons of Jesse, Samuel thought he found God’s anointed in Eliab.  He was evidently a tall, striking young man—kingly in nature and appearance.  Still, God was not interested in his appearance as much as he was interested in his character.  I Samuel 16.6-7 says,

“And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, surely the LORD’S anointed is before him.  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

These events should impress upon the reader one major point—God is interested in a person’s heart. We have emphasized the outward appearance of a person too much in our society.  Certain psychological disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are centered on an individual’s self-image.  While most of the world is worried about its next meal, some in our culture are starving themselves to look like a model that they see on the cover of a magazine or in a movie.

Moreover, body image is not just a problem with women.  Young men want to have a striking physical appearance, so they can impress their friends and potential dating partners.  To this end, they have endeavored to modify their appearance when no change was needed.  What kind of body image are we imposing upon our men and women when we underscore Hollywood as the normal standard?  Such concepts are not realistic, moral, or “normal.”

Still, what we are wearing (or not wearing) matters.  Clearly, Adam and Eve understood they were not dressed appropriately when their eyes were opened to good and evil.  Genesis 3.6-7 says,

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”

While God wants people to focus on what is inside of them, what we wear (or do not wear) tends to reflect something about us.  It is an external reflection of and internal conviction.  By and large, we dress in the manner in which we want to be treated.  We sometimes “dress for the occasion.”  One showing up for a job interview tends to wear his or her best clothing.  A person wearing revealing clothing gives off the wrong message to potential employers and people with worldly mindsets.

As children of God, we want our purity to be exhibited in our conduct and manner of dress. Philippians 4.8 says,

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Does it demonstrate purity for a person to wear clothes that have an impure message on them?  The fact of the matter is that Christians should refrain from wearing clothes that advertise things such as beer, tobacco, sexuality, profanity, or illicit drugs.

Purity is about you.  It is not necessarily about the other person.  God wants us to be pure in manner and dress for our own soul’s sake.  Over time, various caustic statements have been made to preachers who deliver sermons about dressing modestly.  One that has been echoed through the years by people who wear revealing clothing is “Well, they should not be looking!”  When one considers the logic of such a statement it is utterly incomprehensible that a reasonable person would make such an argument.  Does a person wear revealing clothing so the will not be noticed?!  In reality they want a person to look at them!

These things having been said, we need to be careful about where we allow our minds to wander.  Our thoughts matter!  Jesus said in Matthew 5.27-28,

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:  But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

While a man should not be looking upon a woman to “lust after her,” she should not be giving him the opportunity to look at her in a lustful sort of way.  The opposite might be said of a man as well—going shirtless, wearing pants so the underwear can be seen.  These practices can create inappropriate thoughts also.

The temple represented God’s presence with his people. This temple was designed by God himself, but built with human hands. Its sole purpose was to unite the one God with his people. It was here that the very presence of God would dwell (1 Kings 8:10-13).

But it would not always be so. The sins of the people separated themselves from God so that his glory left the temple (Ezekiel 10). Then, God orchestrated the destruction of the house built for him (2 Kings 25). While Nebuchadnezzar was the instrument of destruction, the plan and the power came from above (Jeremiah 7:14). The people had come to trust in the temple, in much the same way as they had trusted in the Ark of the Covenant years earlier (Jeremiah 7:4, 11, 12).

But God’s plan was not thwarted. A new house was built, humble at first (Haggai 2:3). While God’s presence would not dwell in this temple as in the first, better things awaited this building.

“For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:6-9).

What a thought! This house is bound for greater things. God will shake the heavens and the earth, he will shake all nations. This place will be a place of peace.

Malachi prophesied of God coming and filling the temple again:

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:1).

What a surprise then, when a humble babe, forty days old, entered the temple for the first time and began to fulfill prophecy (Luke 2:22-38). This was the true glory of God in human flesh. He was to be called Immanuel, for this was the true substance of God’s presence. As Zechariah prophesied, this God-man would bring light from on high and guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:78, 79).

A righteous man named Simeon had waited for the consolation of Israel (see Isaiah 40:1-5). He was told he would live to see the Christ (Luke 2:26). His inspired declaration was that he had viewed God’s salvation, he had seen the light (Luke 2:30-32).

The focus was never intended to be on the building but on the one who filled it. Just as the builder of the house has more honor than the house (Heb. 3:3), so God has much more glory than the house built for him. The temple was a shadow of the true substance. The true temple was Jesus (John 2:19).

The Jews trusted in what they could see. They trusted in the glory of the temple. We should learn from their mistakes.

Let us not glory in physical things. Let us not desperately pursue possessions that will leave us wanting. Let us not be awed by the things built by man’s hands. For, “I tell you, something greater than the temple is here” (Matthew 12:6).

by Lee Parish

Proclaiming Jesus

“When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him. Then he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I implore you by God – do not torment me!’ (For Jesus had said to him, ‘Come out of that man, you unclean spirit!’) Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘My name is Legion, for we are many’” (Mark 5:6-9 NET).

It isn’t strange to us that a man saw Jesus, ran up, and bowed down before him. We can read about this happening quite often while Jesus was teaching and healing. What makes this man different is that he was not in his right mind.

This is a man who had “an unclean spirit” (Mark 5:2) and is identified as a “demon-possessed man” (Mark 5:15). And it wasn’t just one demon but many had entered into him and possessed him.

Demon possession seems to have been quite prevalent at the time Jesus was on the earth and the years that followed. Although the reason for this is never given we can probably surmise that this had something to do with the devil and his trying to defeat Jesus. As followers of Jesus this is not something we need to worry about; remember that James wrote, “So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Jesus is greater than the devil or any demonic power.

The demons inhabiting this man had taken over his mind. He lived among the tombs (the other gospels record that he no longer wore clothing). He had extraordinary strength so that no one could bind him, even with a chain. He seems to have been in turmoil because “he would cry out and cut himself with stones” (Mark 5:1-5).

Jesus came to defeat the devil in any way possible. He ordered the unclean spirit to come out. That Jesus had power to do this was acknowledged by the unclean spirit. Not only did it bow down to Jesus, being in control of the man, but tried to plead with Jesus not to “send them out of the region” (Mark 5:10). Jesus permitted them to enter a large herd of pigs, resulting in the pigs, in essence, going crazy – they rushed down the steep slope into the lake and about 2,000 were drowned.

When the people received news of what had happened they came out to see Jesus. They saw the formerly demon-possessed man sitting fully clothed and in his right mind. Although the man must have frightened them while he was possessed, Mark recorded that when they saw him they were afraid. They asked Jesus to leave their region.

It would seem their concern was more about the loss of the pigs than a man who had been restored to his right mind. We might well ask, providing these were Jews (and there is nothing to indicate otherwise), why they were keeping pigs, an unclean animal at that! Perhaps the market among the Romans for pigs to eat was too much profit to pass by.

The formerly demon-possessed man became a proclaimer of Jesus. He wanted to go with Jesus when he left but Jesus told him to go home and tell everyone what had been done for him. “So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed” (Mark 5:20).

What is our reaction to Jesus? Do we accept him and tell others he has changed our lives? Or do we reject him, not wanting him to be part of what we do?

Following Jesus can’t be just one day a week – he must be part of our lives every day.

Jon Galloway

We live in a society that basically believes, “It’s all about me.” Almost every message that advertisers use promotes “me.” Check them out and see if I’m right. Pamper yourself. Please yourself. Protect yourself.

No wonder so many marriages are breaking up. No wonder so many people are having a difficult time at work. No wonder there’s so much crime and overcrowded prisons. No wonder there’s so much mud-slinging in politics. No wonder there’s so much road rage. No wonder children are so difficult to control. No wonder there are so many lawsuits. No wonder there are so many people crying that their rights have been violated. No wonder there are so many churches being split.

One of God’s irrefutable laws says that whatever you sow, you reap. We are seeing the vivid results of sowing the seeds of self-centeredness, and it’s not pretty.
However, God’s law of sowing and reaping works both ways. If we actively sow seeds of selflessness and service to others we will definitely reap a different harvest. What we see in Jesus, and what actually cost Him is life, is that God is not happy with self-centeredness in any realm of human existence: not in the home, not in the workplace, not in the church. So, Jesus repeatedly taught us that Christianity is not about “me,” it’s about others.

The greatest command is to love God (not self).  Mark 12:29-30

The greatest command is to love God (not self).  Mark 12:29-30

The next greatest is to love our neighbors (not self)   Mark 12:31

We are to die to ourselves Luke 9:23

We are to bless those who persecute us Romans 12:14

We are to do nothing out of selfish ambition    Philippians 2:3

We are to consider others better than ourselves Philippians 2:3

As much as we are bombarded by advertisers, politicians, educators, and even clergy to “look out for #1,” it will be difficult to believe and practice the teachings of Jesus that it’s “not about you.” But we must.

Yet, here’s the blessing. When we do things the way Jesus teaches, we learn that putting others first is the best thing we can do for ourselves!

– Joe Chesser

Opposition to the gospel

What is it about proclaiming Jesus that stirs up opposition? This isn’t unique to our times. As Paul and Barnabas were traveling on their first journey they were constantly encountering opposition. This came from the Jews. Initially they were curious and wanted to hear more. But as Paul began to attract large crowds the Jews became jealous. They were thrown out of Pisidia.

When they arrived in Iconium “the same thing happened” (Acts 14:1 NET). Here the Jews stirred up the Gentiles and wanted to stone Paul and Barnabas – they fled to Lystra.

“In Lystra sat a man who could not use his feet, lame from birth, who had never walked. This man was listening to Paul as he was speaking. When Paul stared intently at him and saw he had faith to be healed, he said with a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And the man leaped up and began walking.” (Acts 14:8-10)

This caught the attention of those who saw what happened. They had never seen anything like this. Coming from a pagan mythological background, they arrived at what they thought was a logical conclusion: “The gods have come down to us in human form!” (Acts 14:11). What else (in their minds) could explain what they had just seen?

Their conclusion was that Paul must be Hermes, the messenger god (since he was the main speaker) so Barnabas must be Zeus himself! And how convenient as Lystra had a temple to Zeus just outside the gates. Obviously they needed worship these gods come to visit them! They brought in bulls and garlands to offer sacrifices. The bulls were a white bull with pink tipped ears, a few of which can still be found.

“But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men, with human natures just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you, so that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them.’” (Acts 14:14-15)

Paul proceeded to tell them about the real god, not the “worthless” ones they were serving. Even after reassuring them that they were just humans, too, “they scarcely persuaded the crowds not to offer sacrifice to them” (Acts 14:18).

It is amazing how quickly people can change. One minute they are trying to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas as gods. Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and convinced the people that Paul should be stoned to death! “They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, presuming him to be dead” (Acts 14:19).

What happened to Paul? Some have suggested that he was, indeed, dead and that this is who he was referring to when he wrote “fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2). We are not given the details of precisely what happened, but it is obvious something miraculous happened because after he was stoned “he got up and went back into the city. On the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe” (Acts 14:20). Paul would have experienced serious injury if not death due to stoning.

Sometimes when we proclaim Jesus there is opposition. In most countries this doesn’t result in an attempt to kill us. But opposition is what we can expect from those who do not understand what it means to follow Jesus. When we meet opposition, take courage from those who lived long ago. Do not let opposition keep us from our mission of taking the good news of Jesus to all around us.

Jon Galloway