God’s law

God sent his law to the patriarchs and to the Jews not to demonstrate a minimum acceptable requirement, but to help them remain holy. The law was given as the way to live before God.

Mankind promptly made a mess of God’s law. An example of how the Jews of Jesus’ day were so pitiful with their idea of the law is the definition of the word, “neighbor,” in Luke chapter 10.

A lawyer asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. “How do you read the law?” Jesus asked. The man quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, known by the Jews as the “Shema.” It was the first commandment to love God with every fiber of being. Verse 29 is important. This expert in the law asked Jesus, “And, who is my neighbor?” He asked this, the Bible tells us, to make himself look righteous.

It wasn’t enough for the lawyer to go and do what Jesus said. The term “neighbor” had to be defined. There had to be a minimum and a maximum allowable obedience to the law, the lawyer thought.

We treat our laws the same way. People are supposed to stop at those red, octagonal signs, but they’ve decided that slowing down is good enough. People are supposed to obey the speed laws, but they’ve decided driving five-miles-per-hour or more is acceptable. Laws have become guidelines that humans may themselves determine. The laws, therefore, are not matters of objective truth but are matters of personal opinion. There is no wonder why we have so many traffic fatalities.

God gave us a law so that if we tried to obey it we could not only have happier lives on earth but also we would learn to live eternally with him. Man made the law a series of requirements to be met. Jesus taught the law was a manner of life to which man should aspire. God always knew we could become better people. He knew we always had the potential to become more than what we are.

The answer to the lawyer was the well-known “Parable of the Good Samaritan.” Of the priest, the Levite and the Samaritan who was the wounded man’s neighbor? Simply, it was the Samaritan who helped him. The application of the parable to the lawyer was also simple: “Go and do likewise.”

I wonder if the lawyer did.

John Henson

The young man in his mid-20s worked behind the counter of the bread store on the plaza next to my office. He served up coffee, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and bread toasted on the grill. His conversation centered on the weekend. He labored five or more days a week, but lived to party on Friday and Saturday nights. His weekdays were nothing more than a countdown to living it up in noise, drink, and carousing.

He worked a dead-end job with a dead-end life.

Most people are just like him. They may live in mansions and fly executive jets. They may travel around the world and vacation on cruise ships up and down the coast. They may shake the hands of power, and the halls of politics may open to them. Their names may be mouthed on the lips of fans. But, like the young man, they live for reasons too small for hearts the size of eternity. Power, wealth, fame, or pleasure all come up short.

What we all search for is love that lasts beyond death.

We really are looking for it in all the wrong places.

With the presence of the Eternal One as our all-consuming goal, we find meaning in every moment, purpose in every task, progress in every day. Because the Invisible determines our every move, we establish well-defined habits that propel us through time toward the Timeless.

• So we not only meet with saints every Sunday, but we develop a sincere love for them and devote ourselves to their welfare with encouragement and actions consistent with the Father’s concern.
• We not only pick up the Bible to read, but we scour its pages and impress its truths upon our minds, knowing that it is God’s word of power to save.
• We not only send a prayer upward, but we make fervent supplication, without ceasing, seeking the power of God’s Holy Spirit and the blessing of his hand.
• We not only speak a good word for Jesus to those in darkness, but his mercy salts our tongues with the marvelous hope of salvation.
• We not only want our friends and family members to confess Christ as Lord, but we pray the Lord of harvest to send out reapers into the fields and seek opportunities to help them do that.
• We not only understand the difference between those in and outside of Christ, but we separate ourselves from evil influences and associations, to keep from being drawn back into a world that lives for self and exalts all that is against the holiness of God.

We do all this, and more, because we refuse to live for the pleasures of a weekend. We decline the successes of this world as our motive for being. We have been granted a better Way. And we will follow it to the very gates of Heaven.

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each

J. Randal Matheny

Recalibrating ourselves

Self-centeredness, rudeness and keeping a list of failures might be expected from a dog-eat-dog world. However, what happens when those who profess Christ and have made a commitment to “do unto others what you would have them do unto you” repeatedly treat us in unloving ways? The disappointment and frustration can be even greater.

Thoughts like, “they know better” and “they should not be so unkind,” can eat away at our peace releasing anger and bitterness. What can we do?

We might need to recalibrate our thinking. Before taking any action, the need exists to have the proper goals in mind. Remembering the following truths could assist in a spiritual realignment.

• We cannot make another person be considerate, even if they know they should. They must choose to love.
• Expecting people to treat us as they ought creates a prescription for resentment.
• Focusing on how others behave can sidetrack our service to God.
• Remembering those times when we failed to seek another’s well-being can empower forgiving others.
• Since we can only control what we do, what matters is our motivation and behavior.

While we won’t always be able to inspire or lead others toward greater demonstrations of love, we can always stop the spread of unkindness by refusing to reciprocate or pass it on. We can always make a difference.

Barry Newton

My oldest son, Garrett, is fifteen, and soon to be sixteen. As such, he is learning to drive. This process began years ago as he manned tractors and trucks around our small farm. When he turned fifteen and legally could, it made its way to the roads of Tennessee which had few drivers in our rural setting. As is generally the case with small-town America, those drivers were typically friendly and laidback. Things dramatically changed when we moved to Denver. As I have coached Garrett in navigating six very full lanes of traffic in the fast-paced hustle and bustle of a big city, I find myself amazed at the type of driver he is. He is KIND. He lets people in and over who are trying to merge. He slows down to let people pass him. He is KIND! He shows more KINDNESS than most any other driver I see on Wadsworth (including me!). Just the other day as this was dawning on me, I thought to myself how unusual it must seem to other drivers.

Please do not misunderstand. None of my sons, including Garrett, are perfect. No preacher’s child is because no one’s child is. Still, in this particular area at least, he is an excellent example to other drivers and has even taught his driving teacher daddy a thing or two. It is a lesson we need to learn as preachers, as teachers, and as Christians. We need to be more KIND.

Galatians 5:22 tells us that one aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit is KINDNESS. He goes on to say that because we belong to Christ, we should no longer be so full of ourselves that we are picking fights with others. We should be KIND! The woman of Proverbs 31 is said to have the teaching of KINDNESS on her tongue (verse 26). Earlier in that book of wisdom, we are told not to let KINDNESS depart from us (3:3). It is coupled with truth in that verse. It is a false dichotomy to say we can be KIND or we can stand for truth. We must have both truth and KINDNESS (Eph. 4:15). In fact, KINDNESS is an attribute that is required of children of God (Col. 3:12).

Once, at a dinner party famed American novelist William Faulkner was attending, a polite man pulled a dining chair out for one of the women, who, busy talking with other guests, was unaware that he had done so. She fell to the floor, surprised and chagrined. Reportedly. Faulkner sat down on the floor with her. The gesture – noble, tender, humane – was much in his character. Faulkner could not abide harm or diminishment. He preferred to get on the floor with the fallen.

Just like Faulkner, what an example we can be for Christ when we are willing to get on the floor with others who have fallen. Just like my teenage driver, what a difference we can make when we stand out in an unkind world by being KIND. It is not only a good idea, but it is also what God expects of us. “And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love KINDNESS, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

Corey Sawyers

When turmoil afflicts our relationships, we might blame others. Yet, sometimes the source for the discord might lie within us. In other words, we might be creating our own discontent.

The list of unfulfilled high expectations is long. “If he really loves me, he would _______.” “I thought I would receive some  recognition for my effort.” “I thought you would _______.” “Our son should have called us by now.” “How could anybody forget this?” “I can’t believe he/she did that. Do you know how this makes me look?” “I thought a friend would do more for me.”

Unfulfilled expectations will release negative emotions. The stronger the thought and the greater the offended value, the more powerful the feelings. Feelings might range from disappointment, sadness or hurt to anger or bitterness. Standing right along side of unfulfilled expectations in wrecking our peace is our own misinterpretations.

Perhaps the greatest difficulty with misinterpretations is nobody believes that his or her own interpretation of an event is wrong. Confident that “my understanding is right,” harsh judgments like, “He intended to do that” or “She is so selfish,” attack the other’s motivations. Once again, negative emotions are unleashed destroying our inner peace.

Once these strong feelings have taken root, the natural tendency is to allow our feelings to drive how we will continue to interpret the perceived offender. In other words, we can become the source of our own downward spiral as the language of absolutes begins to creep into our thinking. Nothing the other person does is right. Everything that he or she does is for the wrong reason. I can only expect the worse from that person. And if contrary evidence does appear, it can be dismissed with a sarcastic, “Right” or “I know what is really going on.” This thinking only fuels stronger convictions and feelings about that person. Sound familiar?

What can rescue us from such storms robbing our peace? Love and grace.

Rather than focusing upon how we expect others to treat us, love centers upon being a blessing to others. We are not in control of what others might do. We can only control what we choose to do. We can choose to extend grace, because we need it also. We will not live up to everyone else’s expectations, nor will they fulfill all of ours.

When we are convinced others have acted spitefully, we might feel like they don’t deserve love. Yet we are in control of what we do and we can choose to seek their well being because we serve Christ. Love will listen to explanations before speaking because we hope for the best. Seeking their well being involves being open to the possibility our understanding was wrong. And if we discover that we were wrong, the appropriate response is, “I am sorry I misjudged you. Please forgive me.”

Up to this point my focus has been upon misinterpretations and high expectations. Unfortunately, people can also act in malicious ways and can deliberately seek to violate even basic expectations of decency. Their intentions might seek to harm our lives in some way.

If we wish to squelch their evil, if we desire to refuse them the power of robbing our peace, we must give them what they do not deserve. We must seek to forgive them as the Lord profusely forgives us of every wrong. To paraphrase Jesus and Paul, we need to overcome evil with good by loving even our enemies. Once again, the answer is grace and love.

Barry Newton

Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart” (Ephesians 5:19).

The phrase “making melody” in this verse is rich with implications for our worship in song. It means to “pluck the strings of,” in the sense of a harp, perhaps, or a lyre. But this emphatically does not mean that we are to play a cold, mechanical instrument in worship. Note that the instrument whose strings we pluck is the human heart!

When I lived in the Tehachapi Mountains, I grew to anticipate their annual show of California poppies in the spring. After the freezing winter rains, the hills were covered in millions of the butter-yellow flowers, transforming the dusty hillsides to a golden glow. When we took our infant daughter to the roadside to take pictures, however, we noticed that not all the flowers were in their prime. Some were not yet open, while others were past their best, wilted and drooping. Only a few would have looked good solo, in a vase, on a coffee table, but the combined effect of these flowers, millions of them on the mountainside – was spectacular.

Congregational singing is a little like that. Some worshipers might be good enough to be solo voices, but most of us are like the poppies in the field; some the thin voices of the aged, others the vibrant voices of youth, some better known for our zeal than skill, but consider the effect of God’s people, engaged in congregational singing, in God’s honor.

Carnegie Hall concerts cannot compare.

“Concert music calls attention to itself,” Jack Boyd once declared, “True religious music is aimed away from itself” (Leading the Lord’s Worship, 32).

The most beautiful musical instrument ever made was the human voice, and when voice and heart are in harmony, it is a duet worthy of a great God. And when it is a symphony of God’s people, blending voices, hearts and harmony in worship, words are inadequate to describe what takes place.

God gave us the gift of song. Singing is not an activity we need to be apologetic about, for it reflects the vibrancy of the people of God! Armies march in time to their songs, and Christian soldiers sing.

This Sunday, when you sing the words, reach deep into your heart, the very core of your being, and express those words from your very soul.

Stan Mitchell

Picking Fights

When I was a boy growing up, my mom and dad taught me not to fight. For the most part, I lived in harmony with those instructions, however, I had a neighbor who was always doing “mean” things to me. Yet, because of my teaching, I endured his behavior.  Well, one day, my mom happened to be looking out the window when this boy was tormenting me, so later that day, she had a talk with me. She told me that while I was not to “pick fights” with other boys, I did need to stand up for myself. Well, that’s all I needed to hear. I promptly went outside and “beat up” my neighbor.

I don’t think I understood exactly what my mom was telling me.  Defending myself was one thing, going off, looking for a fight was quite another.

In a similar vein, did you know that God authorizes us to “fight” (1 Timothy 6:12), “wage war” (1 Timothy 1:18), “contend” (Jude 3), and “wrestle” (Ephesians 6:12) for truth’s sake? However, just like the instruction from my mom, God’s instruction is not to be understood as permission to pick a fight and quarrel with others (2 Timothy 2:23-24. Romans 12:18).

The next time you’re tempted to get into a spat with someone, ask yourself if you’re defending the faith or picking a fight. There’s a difference. One is honorable, the other is shameful.

“It is honorable for a man to stop striving since any fool can start a quarrel” (Proverbs 20:3).

by Steve Higginbotham

“For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth (2 Peter 1:12).’”

In the early years of this nation a group of Quakers formed what they called “The Society of Friends” who pledged to “disown any member who owned, bought or sold a slave.”(1) But the Friends went even further and called for a boycott of any goods that had been produced by slave labor. By 1804 the society was defunct and a former member attributed their demise to allowing slaveholders to join. Their compromise killed their cause.

Such killer compromises are not uncommon to any group. Many conservative political groups cite O’ Sullivan’s law which states that institution that is not explicitly right wing will become left wing in time. Many Ivy League schools, such as Harvard, Princeton, and Yale began with the conviction that there is no true knowledge or wisdom apart from Jesus are now hostile to campus groups that maintain their institutions original charters. Just consider the devolution of the Boy Scouts political compromises over the last two decades to see how quickly such long standing organizations can lose their objective and be transformed by others who do not share their purposes.

Of course, such killer compromises are not unknown to God’s people. The nation of Judah was led by the godly king Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:3-4) while their northern kindred had grown apostate and were ruled by the wicked king Ahab (1 Kings 21:25). Through the marriage of their children the two kings became allies (2 Kings 8:17-18, 2 Chronicles 18:1). For this reason, Jehu the prophet of God upbraided Jehoshaphat, saying, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Therefore the wrath of the LORD is upon you (2 Chronicles 19:2).” Not only did this daughter of Ahab corrupt Jehoshaphat’s son, the entire nation suffered and she murdered all but one of Jehoshaphat’s heirs (2 Kings 11:1-2). Jehoshaphat’s agreement to serve with the idolatrous King Ahab was literally a killer compromise that nearly ruined his nation and almost eradicated his royal line.

After returning from captivity a remnant of Jews returned to Jerusalem to being to rebuild city’s walls and temple. Having been persecuted strongly in their efforts a group of Samaritans approached them and asked to assist them, asserting that they served the same God (Ezra 4:1-4). On the surface this seems like a harmless request but Zerubbabel knew that the Samaritans worship of Jehovah had been corrupted by the introduction of idols so he refused allow them to collaborate in the Jewish mission to rebuild the city and her temple. As the governor of the people he stayed on mission and rejected their offer of a killer compromise.

More than anytime, time since perhaps her infancy, the church is being pressed to compromise with this world on many fronts and some are all too eager to bend to these pressures. Whether it be in organization, worship, or doctrine Christians are being tempted to make killer compromises with the world’s ways. As Paul would ask, “What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:15)?”

Unfortunately, doctrine is becoming a dirty word among some Christians but it should not be. Biblical instruction acts as an inoculation against the deadly compromises with the world (Romans 12:2). Doctrine is as much a part of church’s charter in the Great Commission as making disciples and baptizing them (Matthew 28:18-20). Christ’s teachings cannot be compromised (2 John 9). Teaching these critical truths to the church in new effective ways is not in itself compromise and it essential if we are to truly remain the “called out.”

“But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).”Billy Alexander

1. Crothers, A. G. 2005. “Quaker Merchants and Slavery in Early National Alexandria, Virginia: The Ordeal of William Hartshorne.” Journal of the Early Republic 25 (1): 47-77. http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/docview/220964217?accountid=3783.

a.. I Go To Every Service Of The Church Because I Am Made Stronger. Power is given in worship to live a nobler life (Acts 20:32). There is the sweetest fellowship on earth. Why should I want to miss ANY service?

b.. I Go To Every Service Of The Church Because God Wants The Church To Grow (cf. Acts 2:47; 4:4). The church always grows when members put God first by loyal attendance. Here is a way all can help in the finest work on earth.

c.. I Go To Every Service Of The Church To Set A Good Example. Many look my way and follow in my steps (Matthew 5:14-16). Influence is either good or bad. Any hour the church meets, my influence is with or against Christ.

d.. I Go To Every Service Of The Church To Prove My Love And Gratitude. One who truly loves God does not ask if he must attend all services. His love compels him to! If I show love to God by attendance, I show lack of love by absence (Matthew 22:37-39).

e.. I Go To Every Service Of The Church To Obey God. The Bible says, “forsake not the assembling of yourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25). Any service where the Bible is taught, prayer is made, and God is worshipped, is good, and “to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not to him it is sin” (James 4:17). If it is good to be present for all services, it is bad to be absent from any.

f.. I Go To Every Service Of The Church To Put First Things First. “Seek ye FIRST his kingdom” (Matthew 6:33). Jesus said the church must be first to the Christian, even before seeking food, clothing or drink.

g.. I Go To Every Service Of The Church Because It Is Safe To Do So. All who forsake an assembly wonder if they sin, but I know I am safe in attending EVERY service (Romans 14:21-23).

h.. I Go To Every Service Of The Church To Abound In The Lord’s Work (1 Corinthians 15:58). A true Christian wants to do ALL he can and not as LITTLE as he can. Since the assemblies of the church are vital, I must abound in attendance.

– selected

The problem with criticism is that the victim simply cannot win. A critic does not feel the need to be consistent, or fair, simply critical. He is condemned if he does, and condemned if he does not.

But note that the standard that will be used to judge me will be the standard with which I judge others (Matthew 7:12). Is that a comforting thought? When you think of God using this criteria to judge you, do you sigh with relief or shake in fear?

Were you hasty in your judgment? Did you collect all the facts before speaking? You were merciful in your evaluation, right? And naturally, you considered his best interest when you passed on your criticism to others.

In that case, you have nothing to worry about. God will treat you with the same measure of mercy and kindness as you did your brother.

So why is it wrong to judge and criticize others?

• We Can’t See All the Facts: We are limited human beings. That means that we don’t always have the right information. God, on the other hand, sees everything (Psalm 139:1-10; 1 Corinthians 4:5). God knows the motives of our hearts.

There was a dog and a boy who disappeared. That night when the dog returned alone, there was blood on his fur. The father took the dog outside and shot him. The boy’s body was found the next morning hiding in the rocks with a dead lion beside him. Check all the facts, and even then be very careful before you shoot the dog!

• We Can’t Be Completely Impartial: We are the product of a lifetime of education (Acts 10:34,35; 1 Peter 1:17). We are taught to be repelled by caterpillars and termites, yet the African people eat them as delicacies.

We need to draw the distinction between someone who acts differently from me and someone who is wrong. We will have to avoid thinking there are only two ways to do a thing – “my way,” and “the wrong way.”

• It’s Not Our Place: Only the faultless can find fault (John 8:1-11; Acts 17:31) The Lord, the righteous judge alone can judge. Every time we have said why we should not criticize and judge we have contrasted this with the truth that God can judge.

Let’s be candid. This is a “saint’s sin.” We don’t murder, commit adultery, all those “terrible” sins. We just rip each other to pieces for minor infractions, we hand out sentences of death on the gallows for “J” walking. That’s what most gossip and criticism amounts to.

It is interesting how very hurt we become when we are the subject of criticism, and how quickly we develop amnesia when we are the critics.

Some believe that we can speak against others if it is true. “But what I said was true,” we protest (James 4:11,12). James simply says not to speak against our brethren. Period. “Dumping” on the church of Christ has become a cottage industry in some circles. Trashing one’s own local fellowship of the church has, too. I am fascinated by the personal pronouns people use with respect to their own church. “They aren’t friendly at this church.” “They don’t have a quality education program.” They aren’t evangelistic there.” My friends, if you are a Christian and you worship here, then the proper pronoun is “we.”

Stan Mitchell

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2, NKJV).

Few activities are more common to mankind than what we often call “the blame game.” Whatever problem I may face, it is never my fault. My difficulties are either caused by or should have been prevented by someone else. If “the devil did not make me do it” then “the government should do something about it.” Rarely do we hear, “I guess I need to make some changes.”

In ancient Israel many Jews were apparently blaming God for their sinful condition. Perhaps they were making the same claim we sometimes hear today: “If God was really a loving God he would not let this kind of thing happen.”

In response the prophet insisted that God’s hand is not weak nor is his ear dim that he cannot hear or act on the people’s needs. The problem was not in heaven. It was right there in Israel, where the sinful rebellion of the people had separated them from their God.

Later in the chapter Isaiah made it explicit.

“For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them; in transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood” (Isaiah 59:12-13).

When sin overtakes us and our lives turn downward into regret, unhappiness, and the miserable consequences of unrighteousness, it is easy to blame our problems on other people, adverse circumstances, or God’s failure to do for us all that we think he should do. Even if we don’t think his arm is too short to reach us, we may feel that he is not as responsive as he should be.

But the prophet of old tells a completely different story.

“Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was not justice. He saw that there was not man, and wondered that there was not intercessor; therefore his own arm brought salvation for him; and his own righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak” (Isaiah 59:15-17).

God not only heard man’s pleas for help, but has intervened personally by sending an intercessor to provide salvation. That savior is Jesus, and he came not only for ancient Israel, but for all mankind. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Michael Brooks

“Bear one another burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 NKJV).

Some jobs are difficult if not impossible to do alone. Loading bundles of roofing tin and steel pieces intended for framing into a truck is one of those, at least if it is to be done by man-power alone. Things for which one is not strong enough can be easily managed by two or more working together.

Not all burdens are material in nature. Often our heaviest loads are intangibles like guilt, regret, worry, fear or shame. Many of our burdens fall into the category of sin. Paul speaks of those in Galatians 6 and instructs Christians to be ready to help others when they are overcome. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).

Following that admonition is the basic principle, “Bear one another’s burdens.” One of, if not the primary reason, for the establishment of the Church is that people need help with their problems. And what better source of help than the fellowship provided by other believers? Christians are united by a common faith and by a common love. Those compel us to care for one another and to assist one another in difficult tasks. That is a basic precept of the law of Christ.

In his instructions, Paul notes four components of effective burden-bearing. First, it is timely. “If”, or perhaps he could have said “when” one is overtaken in a trespass, someone needs to be ready to help. The need is urgent. Leaving a brother to struggle with guilt and shame for days, weeks or months is almost guaranteed to result in much increased difficulty for him. When sin strikes, Christians must act.

Secondly, the need calls for those who are spiritually mature to respond. Though a novice may have a good and willing heart, his lack of experience and spiritual knowledge limit his ability to help appropriately. When someone sins, there is great potential for offense and outrage. The love of a mature Christian is required to offer firm yet empathetic correction.

Third, bearing another’s burdens requires gentleness, or as some translations put it, meekness. Only the humble should attempt to correct another’s wrong-doing. The proud or self-righteous will harshly condemn the sinner, confident that “good Christians just don’t do that kind of thing.” The humble man realizes, “There too, but for the grace of God, I could go.”

Finally, Paul concluded, “For each one shall bear his own burden.” Our need for help from others does not mean that we have no responsibility for dealing with our own sins. No one can argue in judgment, “I would have repented but no one came from the Church to ask me to.” There must be willingness and desire to put sin away and turn to righteousness. We will need the support of other Christians, but we must also “confess our sins” (1 John 1:9) that God may forgive them.

Michael Brooks

So many people treat the precious, blood-bought church like a cheap discount store. “The church’s job is to serve me, and if it doesn’t, well, we’re out of here.” How often have I heard someone say, “That congregation did nothing for me.”

This attitude is the absolute opposite of the Lord’s will. He calls on us to serve, not be served:

“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 26:26-28).

“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:13,14).

The very ethos of Christianity is not to be served, but to serve. If one were to declare that it was the responsibility of others to serve him, note well, he did not miss the main point of serving God, he missed serving God entirely!

To be Christian is to serve; not to serve is to fail to be Christian. There is no third choice!

Are you an integral part of a congregation of God’s people? I am not asking necessarily if you are delivering sermons or leading songs, but I am asking, do you make a difference in your congregation, consistently regularly, definitely?

Churches do not make a difference in their community by accident. Churches do not help the poor and hurting by accident; Churches do not raise faithful children by accident.

Someone, somewhere, must serve!

We serve the weak, the sinner, the little child, the poor, the missionary, the elderly; we serve, or we’re not living the life for which Christ called us!

The church is the vehicle through which we serve the world. When we serve as members of a church, Christ gets the credit, not us; when we serve as members of the church, the Lord is given the glory, not us (Matthew 5:16).

So I ask it again, beloved: Are you a church member, or a church customer?

Stan Mitchell

In Eccl. 11:1-6, Solomon advises us to diversify our portfolio. That is, “cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days” (vs 1). We should recognize that bad days will come (vss 2-3) and we need to be prepared for them. From a financial perspective, it is wise to begin an emergency fund to handle immediate emergencies. Dave Ramsey suggests setting aside$1,000 as quickly as possible. When you are able, it is wise to build up such a fund to handle somewhere between three and six months of your living expenses. Be prepared for emergencies so your family does not have to suffer.

Don’t be lazy either. Don’t fret over the wind and the clouds (vs 4) to the degree that you don’t accomplish anything. My dad use to warn me that I was afraid of the “boogey-man” behind the bush when I didn’t even know if there was a “boogey-man” behind the bush! Solomon’s point here is to simply trust God since we do not know the future (vss 5-6).

Know that bad days will come and know that good days will come, too (vss 7-8). Rejoice in the good days, in the days of your youth. Carpe Diem – just don’t sin when you seize the day! Solomon’s warning of judgment in verse 9 is the second of three (3:17; 12:14) explicit references to judgment.

So, it is good to keep the Creator in mind (12:1) when one is young and you find no pleasure in the days of life. Dedicate your life to Christ in youth and life will, generally speaking, be easier to handle.

Old age is a part of life, as is death (12:2-7). None of us will escape life without passing through death nor without getting old. Despite how healthy we might be at 25, 35; 55, 75 and 85 will be here before we know it and our bodies will wear out. The physical will return to its source of origin and the spirit will return to its source of origin (12:7).

At the end of his cogitations on the meaning of life, Solomon writes that he has sought out wisdom, taught people, written proverbs, and written books (12:9-10). Yet, in the multitude of books, there can be a “wearying to the body” (vs 12). Not all wisdom is contained in books nor are healthy relationships found with people contained in books. Be warned.

Thus Solomon brings us around to the conclusion of all that has been said: Fear God and keep His commands. This is not the first time Solomon has warned the audience in Ecclesiastes of this fact. Here, he says this is man’s “all.” This is what man was created to do – respect God, keep His commands, and we will enjoy His good things at judgment (12:13-14).

Paul Holland

The chance of an asteroid or comet of any significant size hitting the earth in a single year is something like 1 in 300,000. Of course there are some astronomers who speak of a massive asteroid now on a collision course with earth, but they readily admit that the possibility of that “doomsday catastrophe” occurring is still pretty slim. After all, it is most difficult to be precise when said asteroid is not expected to arrive here until the year 2132. For the most part, scientists admit that this universe is very stable. So stable, in fact, that we still have to adjust our watches and chronometers every so often to bring man made time mechanisms into line with the universe. Until the Lord comes back to take us home and judge the world in righteousness, we can lay our head to rest each evening with the full assurance that tomorrow morning the sun will rise as normal, that the heavenly bodies will continue their orbits around the sun, and that winter, summer, fall, and spring will continue to come and go, all according to the divine laws that God set in motion more than 6,000 years ago. The ancients had the same confidence in a stable universe, so much so that if they wanted something that was sure and stable, they would look to the hills, or the mountains for that strength. This brings us to an interesting statement made by the Lord in Matthew 24:35: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Let an ordinary man make such a declaration and we might question his sanity. Nonetheless, there have been, and will continue to be those who have an exaggerated estimation of themselves, and they wear their pride like an ornament about their neck. The German philosopher Nietzsche was just such a man. He actually declared that he had given the deepest book to mankind and that he was the most independent spirit in Europe. I understand that Nietzsche ended his days in a mental asylum. Thomas Pain was so bold as to declare that his book, Age of Reason, would replace the Bible. Both of these men, and others like them, are nothing more than shooting stars that, for a brief moment, light up the dark skies of human philosophy, only to burn out as quickly as they come on the scene. In the end the only thing they achieve is to leave the masses questioning their sanity.

But Jesus of Nazareth? When we think of Jesus we think of the prophet’s declaration that “He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street” (Isa. 42:2). Jesus was not some kind of street barker, mounting the proverbial soap box to advance some social cause, or to right some injustice perpetrated on the masses by corrupt and carless politicians. It was not His assertiveness, but His quietness that caused even His enemies to declare, “Never man so spake” (John 7:46). He went forth preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and that message, which was given so quietly in a little out-of-the-way province of the Roman Empire, is still being preached in spite of all the efforts to still the pen and silence the voices of His followers. Every imaginable attempt has been made to destroy the word of God, but without success. The only kingdom that has weathered every attack, and repelled every attempt to breach its glorious gates, is the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Men have gathered their Goliaths, unsheathed their weapons, and with all the power they could muster in both word and deed, they have attacked the bulwarks of the faith, only to be defeated by the word of God – that same word that Jesus promised would last as long as this world would stand, and yea beyond that, into eternity itself. A.Z Conrad must have had the words of our Lord in mind when he penned the following:

There It Stands

Century follows century – There it stands.
Empires rise and fall and are forgotten – There it stands.
Dynasty succeeds dynasty—There it stands.
Kings are crowned and uncrowned—There it stands.
Emperors decree its extermination – There it stands.
Despised and torn to pieces – There it stands.
Storms of hate swirl about it – There it stands.
Atheists rail against it – There it stands.
Agnostics smile cynically—There it stands.
Profane prayerless punsters caricature it – There it stands.
Unbelief abandons it—There it stands.
Higher critics deny its claim to inspiration – There it stands.
Thunderbolts of wrath smite it – There it stands.
An anvil that has broken a million hammers -There it stands.
The flames are kindled about it-There it stands.
The arrows of hate are discharged against it -There it stands.
Radicalism rants and raves about it – There it stands.
Fogs of sophistry conceal it temporarily – There it stands.
The tooth of time gnaws but makes no dent in it – There it stands.
Infidels predict its abandonment – There it stands.
Modernism tries to explain it away – There it stands.
Laughed at by sycophants and scorned by scoffers – There it stands.
Free thinkers deride it -There it stands.
Devotees of folly denounce it – There it stands.
When childhood needs a standard of truth – There it stands.
Youth calls for a beacon light—There it stands.
Sorrow cries for consolation—There it stands.
Weakness searches for the sources of power—There it stands.
Old age calls for an upholding staff—There it stands.
The weary seek refuge and rest—There it stands.
The hungry soul calls for bread—There it stands.
The thirsty pilgrim yearns for refreshing water—There it stands.
Do the overwhelmed cry for relief?—There it stands.
Do the lost seek salvation?—There it stands.

Every child of God can take comfort in the promise of our Lord as recorded in Matthew 24:35. Let us never forget that the “word of God liveth and abideth forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower faileth; but the word of the Lord abideth forever” (1 Pet. 1:23-25).

By Tom Wacaster

David’s last words

A person’s last words seem to be significant to people. The last words of Leonardo Da Vinci were reported to be: “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.” Groucho Marx gave one last witty remark: “This is no way to live!” And the last words reported to have been spoken by Winston Churchill were: “I’m bored with it all” – and nine days late he died at the age of 90.

Contrast those last words with those of King David, as recorded in 2 Samuel 23

“The Lord’s Spirit spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the protector of Israel spoke to me. The one who rules fairly among men, the one who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of morning when the sun comes up, a morning in which there are no clouds. He is like the brightness after rain that produces grass from the earth. My dynasty is approved by God, for he has made a perpetual covenant with me, arranged in all its particulars and secured. He always delivers me, and brings all I desire to fruition. But evil people are like thorns – all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand. The one who touches them must use an iron instrument or the wooden shaft of a spear. They are completely burned up right where they lie!” (2 Samuel 23:2-7 NET).

As David left this world, two thoughts were foremost in his mind: his God and his dynasty. These two were so intertwined that David could speak of them together. And it shouldn’t surprise us that it was Hebrew poetry – he was, after all, “Israel’s beloved singer of songs” (2 Samuel 23:1).

Although David’s reign was not perfect, he knew what a good ruler needed to be. First and foremost he needed to “rule in the fear of God.” Without his reign grounded in God, he could not have been a good ruler. Perhaps he was thinking about his son Solomon who would succeed him. As Solomon began his reign, these words are echoed in his request of God for wisdom.

Notice how David described a fair ruler: he is like the first rays of light on a clear morning and like the brightness after rain. Someone who is fair brings light to those who are around him, a beautiful light, something that is refreshing.

Contrast this with David’s description of those who are evil: they are like thorns. Have you ever tried to grasp a rose bush or a thorny branch? You can’t do it! The pain is too great as the thorns pierce your hand. This, David said, is what evil people are like. Their only use: to be “completely burned up right where they lie.”

David was very aware of his relationship with God. He knew his dynasty had God’s approval because God and made a perpetual covenant with him. Although David did not understand the particulars, he knew that God had everything taken care of. And one thousand years later his descendant who would ruler an eternal kingdom was born in the city of David, Bethlehem.

Although David couldn’t see the details of the Messiah who was his ultimate descendant, he was confident that God could bring it about because “He always delivers me, and brings all I desire to fruition.”

What wonderful last words! Confidence in God and confidence in God’s promises.

May we have the same confidence that God will always do what he says. May we live a life that is refreshing to those around us.

Jon Galloway

I’ve made up my mind! I am determined to be happy!! Enough of this sadness. Away with all this discouragement. I’m finished with dejection, depression, and despondency. No more gloom and doom. I WILL be happy!

Now, what do I need to achieve my goal? If I am to be truly happy, I’ll need:

a.. Money – and plenty of it.
b.. And I must have friends – the kind that never fail, and always act just like I want.
c.. Of course, success is important; I will need to have unlimited success in every endeavor that I undertake to do.
d.. My family will have to behave perfectly, and respond immediately to my every whim.

Surely, with all of this, I can be happy. Right? WRONG!

The wise, powerful, famous, and wealthy king Solomon sought after happiness through every avenue known to man. The end result was “…vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.” (Eccl. 2:11).

Contrast Solomon with Paul, who lost his wealth, gave up his fame and power, and ultimately suffered extreme persecution and imprisonment. Yet he could write, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Phil. 4:11). How could this be? Verse 13 explains; “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”.

It is on this basis that Paul instructs us: “Rejoice, in the Lord alway” (vs. 4). True happiness is not found in external “things”. It comes only from faithfully serving God (Eccl. 12:13, 14). Are you happy?

– by Greg Gwin

“You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous” (Deuteronomy 16:19 NKJV).

On a rural road in South Asia, our van was stopped by an elephant and its “mahout” (trainer/driver), and a toll was demanded of us. Toll roads and bridges are not uncommon there but they are normally collected by people with official authorization operating from booths. This was obviously private enterprise. It was also obvious that the business had some significant support from influential people. No common person could maintain that process without such backing.

We often use the phrase, “the elephant in the room” to mean a subject which is obvious but is overlooked or ignored by those present. Perhaps no such matter better fits that description than public corruption in our societies. Such corruption is no doubt more prevalent in some places than others, but nowhere is it absent entirely. And it is always more common in cultures of toleration. When people are willing to accept dishonesty and pay the demanded bribes, corruption thrives. And the honest and non-powerful always suffer.

Biblical morality is marked by its absolute intolerance of corruption. Bribery, theft, cheating of all kinds, and all lying are frequently and emphatically condemned. Isaiah pled with ancient Israel: “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good. Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:16-17). Another prophet, Amos, condemned those who “sell the righteous for silver and the poor for a pair of sandals. They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor and pervert the way of the humble” (Amos 2:6-7).

In the New Testament Paul taught, “Therefore, putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor . . . Let him who stole steal no more . . . Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth” (Ephesians 4:25-29). Among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God are thieves and extortioners (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Perhaps it is because widespread corruption is empowered by tolerance that God is so emphatically against those who “call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20). In his description of the utter depravity of the world, Paul concluded with the charge that “knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:32).

God’s people are urged to shine light upon a darkened world, that is, to expose sin and uphold righteousness. When they do that, the oppressed are freed, the dishonest are restrained, and God is glorified.

Michael Brooks

I was getting ready to go have lunch the other day and was quite proud of myself. I had a productive morning of Bible study, lesson preparation, had worked on the church bulletin, and had accomplished a few other things. Then I thought about it a second and realized that I had not taken time to pray. My pride suddenly took a steep nose dive!

Sometimes we get busy, even with good and wholesome things, and we forget to pray. When this occurs, in a sense we are saying: “I don’t have time to pray.” But this is far from the truth. The truth is, we don’t have time not to pray. Prayer is simply too important… far more important than so many things that we busy ourselves with each day of our lives.

There are several reasons that we do have time to pray. First, we have time to pray because each morning dawns only because our God permits it to be so. If God gives us breath, we have time to pray.

Secondly, we have time to pray because we do not know what the day may bring (James 4:13-17). Today, some people will starve to death. Today, some will lose someone that is very precious to them. Today, many are in danger of losing their souls. The truth is, we don’t know what we may have to endure today!

Thirdly, each day God provides us with so many blessings. Is it too much for us to give thanks? (Eph. 5:20).

We may be busy people, perhaps too busy, but we simply do not have time not to pray. The apostle Paul says, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17).

Daren Schroeder

They did what was right in their own eyes

“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 ESV).

This statement introduces an episode concerning a Levite from Bethlehem who was looking for a different place to live. He ended up in the hill country of Ephraim, just north of Bethlehem. There a man named Micah hired him to be his own personal priest. This man had made an idol and his own shrine for worship. Originally one of his sons served as his priest but when he had the opportunity to have a Levite as his own personal priest he jumped at the chance (see Judges 17).

In the next chapter, we find the tribe of Dan looking for a place to settle. When the land was divided by Joshua, this tribe was given coastal land on the Mediterranean Sea. Unfortunately for them, this land was occupied by the Philistines and they were unable (and possibly unwilling) to conquer their allocated territory, even though God had said that he would be with his people and drive out those who lived there. (This places this incident earlier in the history that is recorded in this book.)

The tribe sent five men to explore the land. As they went through the hill country of Ephraim they happened on Micah’s home and recognized the young Levite. After discovering that he had been hired as a priest, they asked him to inquire of God whether their journey would be successful. The priest told them that they were under God’s eye.

After exploring the country all the way to the far north, they reported that they had found an ideal place to conquer. It was at Laish – the land was good and the inhabitants were unsuspecting.

An army of 600 was sent to conquer the land. Their journey took them by Micah’s house. They took Micah’s idols and household gods and made an offer to the Levite: “Come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?” (Judges 18:19 ESV).

The young man was overjoyed. What an opportunity! He could not only be a priest but he would be the priest for an entire tribe. So he traveled with them to the north, where the inhabitants were conquered and a new settlement of Dan was built.

The sad part of this incident is that idolatry was introduced to an entire tribe. At the end of the story, we find out more about this “young Levite”. “And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land” (Judges 18:30 ESV).

Why was this young man, a grandson of Moses, so willing to forsake God to serve idols? At least part of the reason seems to be wanting something that he could not have. He wanted to be a priest, someone who would be looked on as important and spiritual. But, not being a descendant of Aaron, this was denied to him. So he did what he wanted, what was right in his own eyes.

How often are we like this? We know what God’s word says, yet we want something different. So we forsake God’s word and convince ourselves that we are still following God. We do what is right in our own eyes.

What is sad about this incident is that it seems to have influenced this tribe for generations. May we realize that what we do now can have a lasting impact, either good or bad, for generations to come.

Jon Galloway