Ah yes, life’s unexpected surprises. Just when you feel like you’ve just about seen it all, life pops up and slaps you in the face with an octopus. Or at least, that’s what happened to one particular kayaker from New Zealand. He and some friends were on the water watching some playful seals darting around their kayaks. Out of nowhere, one particular seal swam up to the kayaker, popped out of the water holding an octopus and proceeded to whip the eight-limbed creature around, planting one of those octopus arms straight into his face (Watch It Here).

Life just doesn’t prepare you for a seal slapping you in the face with an octopus. But perhaps that’s kind of the point. Life is unexpected. Even in all of our planning, our routines, our habits, and our practices, surprises turn up and throw all of our preparations out the window.

In James 4, a similar discussion is taking place about the unexpected. James gives an illustration of some businessmen who seem to have it all figured out. They are arrogantly planning to go to a city, do business for a year there, and make a profit (vs. 13). However, there is one major factor they have left out–God. In all of their planning, in reality, they have no idea what the future may hold (vs. 14).

There is no possible way we can prepare for every possible situation and scenario. Nor should we even try. The righteous person is one who plans while understanding the shortness of life, while respecting that God may have other plans, and while ensuring the Lord is involved throughout the process (vs. 14-15).

We don’t know what’s around the corner. We never really know what’s lurking in the seal’s mouth beneath the water. We don’t know what the Lord’s will is for us tomorrow. But that’s ok. Let’s work hard for His name. Let’s prepare for the future. But let’s keep the phrase, “If the Lord wills,” continually in our words, our prayers, and our plans (vs. 15).

Brett Petrillo

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

With all your mind

The lawyers of Jesus day, men trained in the text of the Old Testament, sent one of their own to ask the Lord that very question. Opinions differed. Some thought sacrifice was the most important of God’s commandments. Others thought there were so many commandments it was impossible to determine which was most important.

Jesus said, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength (Mark 12:30).

Let’s focus on just one of those phrases: “with all your mind.” How do I love God with my mind?  The Lord Jesus included this as a part of what he knew to be the “greatest commandment.” Since it held such an important place in the Lord Jesus’ thoughts it ought to hold a similarly great place in ours, shouldn’t it?

If we are to love God with all of our minds, how can we allow other things to take precedence? Yet, every day there are rather mundane things that attempt to displace God from the position of significance he should have. God must be uppermost in our minds or we cannot love him as we are commanded.

Additionally, do we love God with all of our minds and yet refuse to study God’s word? King David wrote by the inspiration of God, “O how I love your law! All day long I meditate on it (Psalm 119:98 NET). The king also wrote, “whenever I remember you on my bed, and think about you during the nighttime hours,” (Psalm 63:6 NET). David thought about God all day each day.

Can the same be said of you? Or does the world force God from your mind with its constant diversions and problems?

Do you really love God with all your mind?

John Henson

Have you ever noticed when there are a group of geese feeding or resting, a few are not resting? These are the sentinels or guards. They are always alert for danger listening and watching, ready to give the warning.

They have an incredible sense of sight and hearing and issue out a very loud warning honk in the event of danger. Also, wherever geese congregate other birds will visit the pond, lake or field to take advantage of this early warning system.

While it is true, there can be safety in numbers; it is only true when the threat or danger is known. Everyday life can be like that. Our trust many times is in others, that we believe to know the truth, and have our best interest at heart.

 In the church, the ones that are on guard for our souls are the elders.

     Hebrews 13:17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this were unprofitable for you.”

     Acts 20:28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

It is true, the elders do many things, and we could make a list, but of all the things they do guarding our soul is what it is all about. The elders ensure the teaching and preaching is correct, and establish training programs that each of us may be better equipped to serve.

Of course, they carry out the work through others that they have ensured are qualified to serve in an assigned area. We all know that not any one person can do everything. But again, skilled is the keyword. Remember we are the sheep and elders are the shepherds, they watch on behalf of our soul.

When you consider the one guarding the flock of geese, when it is said and done, so a goose dies. So what. But as a child of God, it is a big deal. No one wants to be lost, and that is where the elders, the shepherds, the guardians of our souls come in. They are watching for every danger, dangers that may come from the outside and dangers that might arise from within the flock.

Every soul that is struggling is a particular concern of the elders. They don’t want any to be lost. As noted in Heb. 13:17, “They shall give account. ”  So as you live the Christian life day-by-day know you are not alone.

Remember too, just as the geese have other birds around them because of the safety the flock affords them, there will be those around us because of the safety of our lifestyle. In those cases take the opportunity to teach them. They need to be a true part of the flock.

You Are Never Alone-Our Elders Care

Dick Brant

Remember

“And when he had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24).

If we could put God and man in one, stark contrast, it might be this; God remembers, and humans forget.

Even as the flames crackled and burned at the bush, one of the Lord’s great characteristics was expressed: “So God heard their groaning; and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (Exodus 2:24).

God remembered his covenant. Humans constantly forget their responsibilities.

As my granddad used to say, “I have a good forgetter.” In Scripture, human beings are always being urged, it seems, to remember something. So why is it that we forget so often?

God calls on Israel to “remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). It seems some remembered that it was Saturday, but had failed to honor that day as holy. When it came to their treatment of other people, they were to recall their own hard times:  “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt …” (Deuteronomy 5:15). Forgetting their own trials, you see, would lead to their shabby treatment of others. He who humiliates another has forgotten the times when he was humiliated.

The Wise man urges us to “remember our creator” in the “days of our youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1), as if he was aware that in the rush of youthful activities we might forget God. In the same way, when the Lord’s Supper was instituted, the Lord declares how we are to partake of the emblems: “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:25).

When we forget the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross, it’s not so much a failure of memory, but a failure of gratitude. We suffer from spiritual Alzheimer’s. When a teenager “forgets” what his curfew time was when he’s having fun, is the problem really his memory, or something else? When a husband forgets his anniversary, is the problem really his memory, or is it something else? When a Christian forgets that it’s Wednesday night and he should be in Bible study, did he really forget, or is the problem something else? When a Christian walks away from God and church, is it really a failure of memory, or a failure to be serious about his commitments?

On Sunday morning, gather round the table, and remember.

Stan Mitchell

Have you ever had a problem with someone, or known of a problem between two friends? What should our perspective be in that situation? The book of Philemon is a letter that shows us the perspectives of three people involved in a problem. Onesimus was a slave who ran away from his master, Philemon. He was eventually imprisoned, where he met Paul. The apostle taught the runaway slave the Gospel. Once he obeyed, he knew he had to go back to Philemon. Paul writes this letter to Philemon to help smooth things out between two brothers in Christ. Note three perspectives of a problematic situation.

First, there is Paul’s perspective. He didn’t owe anything to either of them. Philemon owed Paul (vs. 19). Onesimus owed Paul for the same reason. When Onesimus came to him, Paul could have told the runaway to deal with it himself. Paul could have thought, “Mind your own business.” He could have reminded Onesimus of his problems. Though Paul had nothing to do with the situation, he helped his brothers. He did what he needed to do to make things right. He was even willing to take on the debt of Onesimus (vs. 18).

Second, there is Onesimus’ perspective. He was a runaway slave though we don’t know why he left. He was taught the gospel and obeyed. He realized he had a debt to pay and must go back. However, he was afraid of what might happen. A runaway slave’s uncertain future might include being killed or having to serve a longer sentence. He could have kept running and ignored what he needed to do. He could have not cared about anyone but himself. Instead, he went to someone for advice and tried his best to make things right.

Third, there is Philemon’s perspective. He was a master who was wronged. He was hurt because of someone whom he knew personally. He was looking for Onesimus. He could have hunted the runaway down. He could have killed him after Onesimus returned. Philemon could have been brutal. We don’t know what happened, but Paul trusted Philemon would do right (vs. 21).

No matter who you are, you are in one of these situations. You are Onesimus. You have done wrong towards someone and don’t know what to do to restore the relationship. Go to someone for advice and figure out how to make amends. You are Philemon. You’ve had someone wrong you. You hesitate to forgive and restore the friendship because you don’t want to get hurt again. Forgive and help restore the relationship to what it was. You are Paul. You know people who aren’t getting along. Maybe you don’t know what to do. Maybe you’re afraid to help. Start by praying for them (vv. 4).

There are relevant lessons we can learn from the book of Philemon If we take the time to apply them to our individual lives and relationships!

Garrett Sawyers

“Life Is Tough and Then You Die,” was the opening line from the old TV series, Makepeace, and Dempsey. It was only on for two seasons, 1985-1986 and here it is over thirty years later, and the words still come to my mind from time to time.

Of course, you know it is true, life can be difficult. Every family, every person, regardless of where they live, and regardless of their situation in life, there are problems. It could be related to work, personal interactions with others, or it might be financial. It could be a health issue, either your own, a family member, or a friend. I think you can see my point; we all must deal with difficulties each day.

As a Bible reader, most people, if not all, know the story of Job and the difficulties he faced. Of course, there is Lot. Life was so difficult where he lived, that he was  to leave the city where he and his family were living. Then remember King David and all the problems he had. He had, as you know, difficulties with Saul, with governmental things, and family issues, just to mention a few.

Then as you read the New Testament, there are many issues that faced the Christians of the day as they lived their daily life. There were basic needs that were met by the collective support of other Christians. There was also, persecution from both the government and, religious leaders of the day. There was even imprisonment and death just for following Jesus.

     Now, let me say, too, that it doesn’t matter if you are a Christian or not  everyone has problems and difficulties from time to time.

But here is good news, as a Christian, a child of God, you are never alone, and never without help. Note just a few passages from God’s Word that provide us with words of encouragement.

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your  God.”

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Matthew 28:20 “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Romans 13:5 “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Matthew 19:29 ” And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”

Romans 8:35-39 “35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake,we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

No doubt you can think of other passages that make the same point, that we are never alone regardless of the difficulties we are facing. So as it is stated in the opening line of the old TV show, “Life Is Tough, and Then You Die” But the good news is that God is always by our side and knows precisely the struggles we are facing, and at the end of this life there is eternal life.

Remember God knows and is always there to help as are your brothers and sisters. 

Dick Brant

Almost no one ever looks at ‘waiting’ in a positive light. Patience is rare and it’s seldom enjoyed. Perhaps the reason is because one would rather come to a conclusion than wait for a better outcome. If you’re anything like me, then you were the kid who snuck to the Christmas tree days before Christmas to take a “peek” at the presents. It goes to say that even from a very young age, we naturally gravitate toward the fastest route to achieve a specific goal. Meanwhile, the best result typically comes with waiting.

A story is told about a young boy who woke to his parents sitting next to him on his bed. His first sight was the bright smile and cheerful eyes of his mom and dad. In their hands held tickets to the infamous Disney World. The amount of happiness paired with the abrupt awakening had the boy at a loss of words. Months later, they finally arrived at the amusement park. As the boy looked around he saw flashing lights, heard wonderful music, smelled delicious pastries, and felt the energy produced by such an atmosphere. What he didn’t realize is they were still standing in the concessions line; things got much more vivacious when he got to the other side.

So often, we settle for much less than what God has in store when we try and jump to our own conclusions. Various psalmists record their experience in waiting for the Lord. From observing the wisdom found within the Psalms, I believe we can move our disposition of waiting from a negative to positive.

1. Have confidence in your waiting – David knows those who wait on God won’t be put to shame (Ps. 25:3). He also recognizes God is the only source of true hope (Ps. 39:7; 62:5; 130:5). Confidence dwindles when we look only to ourselves. By waiting, we shift the burden from us to Him. “none who wait for the Lord shall be put to shame”
2. Have communion in your waiting – Communion is not a word that only describes the Lord’s Supper. It is a time where two come together to share mentally or spiritually. Just because you have to wait does not mean God forgot you. Seize on the opportunity of idleness in order to strengthen your relationship with Him. Chances are, whatever it is you’re waiting on, it will bring a new responsibility once you have it. Furthermore, that means you are currently void of the responsibility until possession. That creates an opportunity to walk with God more diligently (Ps. 25:5; 37:7; 37:34). “Be still for the Lord and wait patiently for Him”  
3. Have comfort in your waiting – God does NOT work strictly on your time table. And you had better be thankful for that. One thing we can know for sure, is God inclines His ear to the righteous (Ps. 40:1). Whatever it is that you’re waiting for, God is working on it and He’s waiting for the right time to present it to you. He Hears, He knows, and He blesses (Ps. 38:15). “I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry”

   Tyler King

Talk about a quarantine. According to the title, Psalm 142 was written at a time when David found himself all alone (perhaps this reflects I Samuel 22). If it was Adullam (or even En Gedi), David would have been surrounded by Saul and his supporters, knowing if he left the cave, he could potentially lose his life.  Though the Psalm does not tell us which cave David was in, it does tell us that in this time that David was alone, he was not alone. He recognized that God was with him, and so it was to the Almighty that the psalmist turned. Notice how he prayed during his cave quarantine.

His Cry (1-2).

David cried out, and the word used is one that means to call out loudly in anguish. In so doing, he is begging the Lord to take pity and be gracious to him. When he says his complaint is poured out, it does not mean he is complaining to God. Instead, the word here is a lament of anguish. He is just honest with the Lord about how he feels in his present situation. I love the way the psalmists are so sincere and candid with their feelings as they pray. In fact, “poured out” implies the idea of completely emptying his feelings before God. He is telling all his troubles to the Lord’s face (“before Him”).

His Condition (3-4).

He is so discouraged his spirit is without strength. And while he is buckling under the despair, David is confident God knows his way. This is more than just knowing the path David is taking. The Hebrew word means to have experiential knowledge, meaning the Lord is there with him on that path. Saul and the adversaries have a trap laid for him, and he has no one on his right, the side where strength would typically be found. Not only is no one there, David feels as if no one cares about his desperate situation.

His Confidence (5-7).

It is because of his current condition that David again cries to the Lord. The Almighty is his place of shelter, not the cave. It is not true that he has no help. The Lord is his portion (all he needs) while he is alive. So he prays that the Lord would answer his cry. While he had cried to Him in verses 1, 2, and 5, this is a different word. This one is a shout of pleading that carries the idea of rejoicing. Only the Lord can turn pain into praise. He alone can deliver David from this situation from which he cannot deliver himself. The cave in which he has been “quarantined” is to him a prison. However, when the Lord delivers him from it to be again with the righteous, David will praise God in thanksgiving.

Point To Ponder – Desperate time call for desperate prayers. In a time of economic hardship, physical sickness, and worldwide pandemic, where could we go but to the Lord? What better time than this in which we are alone at home (with more time on our hands) to pour out our requests and feelings to the Almighty?

Point Of Action: Today, take the time to rewrite Psalm 142 in your own words. Be sure to include your feelings – all of them. Are you sad, worried, distressed, afraid, bored, or experiencing cabin fever? Tell the Almighty. Are you thankful for more time at home, with your spouse, with your children, with fewer distractions? Thank the Lord! Are your thoughts on sickness, the economy, your family’s health, or having needed supplies? Ask for God’s help. Once you write out Psalm 142 in your own words, pray that prayer! Spend some time each day in specific, completely honest prayer. Cast your cares and burdens on Him, for He cares for you! In so doing, be reminded that while you may be quarantined, with God, you are never alone!

–Corey Sawyers

We often don’t realize what damage we do when we argue. What we say can damage people and even damage those not part of the argument but are just listening to the exchange. Three times in a few verses Paul reminded Timothy that how we use our words can harm people.

“Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen” (2 Timothy 2:14 CSB).

Arguing over words. It is so easy to get drawn into arguments and sometimes over what a word means or what word should be used. Paul wrote to Timothy that this was pointless. The only thing it accomplishes is to ruin those who hear us. After all, if we are arguing over something of no value, who will listen to us when we talk about spiritual matters of great value?

“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly” (2 Timothy 2:16).

Godless chatter – talking about things that really do not matter and that have nothing to do with who we are as God’s people. This would undoubtedly include talking about sinful things, as Paul said that those who indulge in this become more and more ungodly themselves. How many times do we get pulled into worldly conversations that are not building us up but tearing us (and perhaps others) down. This just leads us away from Jesus.

“Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:22-26).

How many arguments do we get into that are just foolish because they are about things we do not and often cannot know? Positions get taken, people become entrenched, and long quarrels begin. This is the opposite of what we are to be as a servant of Jesus! Our society seems to live on quarrels and tearing people down, which leads to animosity, even between Christian brothers and sisters.

Instead, we need to be gentle and patient. Yes we instruct, we teach, but we do it with gentleness. We aren’t trying to win a fight. We are trying to get people to come to the truth and follow God.

We must not use the truth to club someone over the head so that we can show how knowledgeable we are or to show how wrong they are. We must learn to gently teach so that they will accept what we say – not because we are saying it, but because it is the truth, the word of God.

In this way, we will be helping those who hear us and lead them to live godly lives.

If Christians could look at what they are doing from an eternal perspective we might be more effective in reaching the world for Jesus.

Jon Galloway

Room to turn around

“Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears” (Hebrews 12:16-17 NKJV).

While looking for a place to eat lunch in Dhaka we found ourselves on a divided boulevard with concrete barriers separating the north and southbound lanes. When we reached the restaurant we had chosen we could not turn in because there was no break in the barriers. We had to drive a considerable distance past it, then turn and come back. Since we had already driven more than six hours to get to Dhaka, then another hour plus of city traffic jams, we were not pleased at the extra time and distance.

Life often presents us with situations from which it is difficult to retreat. The result is regret, guilt, and problems in our relationships. The late Marshall Keeble, in speaking of resolving personal differences, compared saying “I’m sorry” to the reverse gear (he called it “the back-up gear”) in an automobile. Keeble stated, “I wouldn’t own a car without a back-up gear in it.” Most of us would readily agree with him, yet find it very hard to admit fault and ask for forgiveness, even when we really know that we have done wrong.

The Hebrew writer used Esau as an example of one who could not find a place for repentance. Note that the problem was not his father’s willingness to forgive. If you look at the original story in Genesis 25 and 27 it is obvious that Isaac was as eager to bless Esau as the son was to receive the blessing. But the primary blessing had already been bestowed, to Jacob, and could not be retrieved.

Some in New Testament times were very complacent about sin, thinking that since grace is abundant, sin is easy to be forgiven (Romans 6:1). Even if that was true (and Paul corrects their error beginning in verse 2), it would not remove the physical consequences of sin. A drunkard may repent and change, but harm done to his health will almost always remain and cause suffering, not to mention the reputation he has acquired and the relationships that may have been destroyed. Similarly, a thief may reimburse his victim, but how can a murderer restore the life he has taken?

I have learned that while driving in cities it is wise to plot one’s route so as to allow for turning around. The same lesson pertains to our lives. Always be willing to recognize a wrong path, an incorrect turn, and change directions while there is time and place. James points out the way: “Confess your sins one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16).

The apostle John reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). But we must act while there is time, or room.

Finally, Jesus gave two illustrations of timely repentance: “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny” (Matthew 5:23-26).

Michael Brooks

How well can you do on this brief, five-question quiz?

• Who was rebuked by Jesus for caring more about temporal things than eternal things?
• To whom did Jesus offer “living water” that would cause one to never again thirst?
• Which disciple was given a second chance to follow Jesus after denying him?
• Who postponed obedience to Christ by procrastinating for a “more convenient season?”
• Who was the captive who gained his freedom in exchange for Jesus’ death?

If your answers were (Martha, the Samaritan woman, Peter, Felix, and Barabbas), give yourself partial credit. But none of those answers are what I was looking for. However, if you answered each question with your own name, then give yourself full credit!

Okay, so the quiz is a “trick,” but if you go back and re-read all the questions, you’ll see that your name is a perfect answer to every question. The purpose of this little quiz is just to remind you to internalize the Scriptures. The Bible is a great book, but if we don’t make personal application of its truths, it will do us no good. Give it some thought.

by Steve Higginbotham

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21 NKJV).

As the world’s population increases and manufacture of goods continues to rise, the problem of where we put the garbage becomes a most pressing issue. The environment cannot continue to absorb millions of tons of waste annually without harm. Something major is going to have to be done, or else the earth will perish.

Long ago God perceived a similar problem in the spiritual realm. The sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden led to a universal fall as every human who has lived since them has also sinned (Romans 5:12-14). Sin is everywhere; it is a burden borne by everyone (Romans 3:23). And it too has devastating results: “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Not only will every person die, but they will also face judgment under condemnation of spiritual death (Revelation 20:11-15). Just like dealing with material trash, something major is going to have to be done, or else all will perish.

In the spiritual realm, we are not talking about garbage that will decompose. Sin is the issue, and it is incredibly abundant.

“There is none righteous, no not one; . . . There is none that does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:10, 12b-18).

Sin is also eternal. Once we have rebelled against God we cannot escape our guilt. Good works do not make up for evil. Only God can forgive sins, and he can do so only in ways consistent with his own nature, that is with his justice. That is what made it necessary for Jesus to come to the earth and become the perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 2:10-14).

Once we have obeyed the Gospel of Christ, however, we must then begin to deal with the garbage that threatens our salvation. We must resist temptation and “abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Or, as James put it, “lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness.”

Sin is universal; we all violate God’s will. But while it is inevitable that we do sin (1 John 1:8, 10), it is not true that we are helpless against temptation. We can resist, flee, and fight against Satan’s attempts to defeat us. God will forgive those sins we commit, if we are in Christ (Romans 8;1) and truly repent of each sin, confessing them and asking forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

Most of us will not willingly live in a house with an accumulation of molding, rotting, stinking garbage. We take out the trash regularly that we might have a cleaner, more healthy environment. We should adopt the same practice spiritually. Let us remove bad habits of speech, attitude, and practice. It’s time to take out the trash.

Michael Brooks

We live in a world where it is an unforgivable sin to be intolerant of others. Those same people who are quick to point out that someone is “intolerant” are themselves incredibly intolerant of others. They seem to be tolerant of almost anything except Christian values. As soon as someone says they are a Christian or they attend church, there instantly labeled as intolerant.

I think we need to define this word “tolerance.” The worldly definition of tolerance seems to be “accepting all views as true.” [1] Whereas, Oxford’s dictionary says “showing tolerance (of a plant, animal, or machine), able to endure specified conditions or treatment.” [2]

Is tolerance really about just accepting their views as correct? Does God really expect me to just accept someone’s view as true, just because it’s someone’s view? Truthfully, I can hold to all kinds of ideas about all kinds of things, but just because they are my views does not make them right. Obviously if I hold a certain view I believe it to be right, but am I really correct?

I think this gets to the real problem most have with tolerance.. We live in a world that does not want anyone to tell them they are wrong. Friends, the Bible I read says that I cannot just accept everything as true. God expects His followers to question all things (1 Thess. 5:21) and hold to the good. The very words good and bad imply that something’s are right and others wrong. To make matters worse, the world’s use of tolerance violates a simple law of logic. The law states that if we have two contradictory statements there are only three viable options. One is right and the other is wrong or both statements are wrong. We cannot have all contradictory views being correct. If Jesus is not the only way to heaven (John 14:6) then what is the right way?

So are you intolerant of another’s belief simply because they differ from yours? Excuse me but I thought we lived in a country where having an opinion was OK or even desirable. The Bible is very clear on this. I must differentiate between what is good and what is bad. But in the process I cannot forget that the same Bible tells me to treat people fairly, to love them, and to try to help them find the truth about God and salvation.

True tolerance does not require you to be ignorant and blind to the truth.

Footnotes:
[1] Ted Cabal, Chad Owen Brand, E. Ray Clendenen, Paul
Copan, J.P. Moreland and Doug Powell, The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight
Answers, Stronger Faith (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007). 1882.

[2] Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11th ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).

– Jeff Arnette

Spiritual inertia

The one talent man did not commit adultery, embezzle or murder. All he did was to bury his talent (Matthew 24:25).

It was the easy thing to do.

God’s call is not to rest, retire or retreat; it is to resist and to grow, to fight on, to overcome obstacles. Significantly the Christian life is compared to a long distance race (Hebrews 12:1-3), and spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-12). I don’t know of a Christian retirement plan. Oh, of course there’s our hope of heaven, but when do we retire from serving God in this life? I am fascinated by those who say, “The time of my teaching or serving is over.” Just about the time a saint has learned the hard lessons of life he decides to hang up his spiritual spurs?

“Inertia” is defined as the tendency to do nothing, or remain unchanged.

Forgive me for saying so, but that definition describes a whole throng of church attendees!

It’s easy to hold a grudge; it’s hard to forgive. It’s easy to remain the same; it’s hard to grow. It’s easy to enjoy the benefits of church membership; it’s hard to contribute our time and effort. It’s easy to stay home; it’s hard to go take the Gospel to other nations.

God calls on us to repent, grow and go (Luke 13:3; 2 Peter 3:18; Matthew 28:19,20). He never calls on us to jog in place, to tread water. An object that is inert is usually mistaken for dead.

And there, beloved, lies the deadly danger. If we don’t grow, we die.

Stan Mitchell

People keep saying it, but it just is not accurate. It is expressed in a variety of ways. “The church isn’t meeting right now.” “We aren’t having worship services.” “We aren’t assembling right now, but we hope to get to again soon.” The idea being expressed is that the quarantines and stay-at-home orders have suddenly brought a halt to the church’s assembling for worship. Nothing could be further from the truth.

There is nothing wrong with a building and we have examples of the First Century Church meeting at buildings outside of their home. Nevertheless, you will also note that they quite often worshiped in other places. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were headed to “the place of prayer” (16). Where they were heading was Lydia’s house (15). In someone’s home, worship was planned to take place.

As you keep reading, you see that Paul and Silas were eventually arrested, beaten, and put into jail. There, “quarantine” might not be the right term, but they were undoubtedly put under a “shelter in place” order and not allowed to leave. Note what they did under these far worse circumstances than ours. They worshiped. They were praying and singing hymns to God (25). The result was that those around them heard, and at least one man and his family came to Jesus (27-34).

Think about the possible results of families choosing to worship at home on their own. Husbands, fathers, and sons will have to prepare a lesson, lead in prayers, in communion, and in singing – many of them for the first time, perhaps. How much personal growth will come from that? In homes where there are no men, ladies will prepare lessons. Families will not be sitting across a gymnasium-sized room from each other. Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on the couch, children will hear their mother sing hymns, their daddy word prayers, and see their brothers pass the emblems. Think about how special those intimate worship services shared among only a few will bring them together. Think of the influence on our neighbors when they see and hear of our doing such.

Please do not misunderstand me. I miss getting to go and see those I love as I choose. I miss getting to see all my brothers and sisters in Christ on a routine basis at the building. Yet, this time in which we should be staying at home is also a blessing in so many ways. It is only so if we choose to use it as such. I love getting to worship the Lord in the quietness of our home surrounded by the family with which He has blessed me. Make no mistake about it. The church is meeting, assembling, and worshiping. We are just doing it temporarily as so many others have in the last 2000 years: daily from house to house.

Today of all days, we remember that the Lord is not dead. Neither is His church. The world, Satan, nor Covid-19, can not stop her from assembling in small groups and homes to worship our God!

Point To Ponder: Read back through Acts 16. Make a list of all the reasons for which Paul and Silas had to worship God in their situation this chapter details.

Point Of Action: Now, make a list (individually or as a family) of all the reasons you have to praise God on this Lord’s Day, no matter where you might be.

Corey Sawyers

BLESSING OR BAD LUCK?

The story is told of a man who was walking across the road when he was hit by a car.  The impact knocked him on his head which caused him to be in a coma for two days before he finally regained consciousness.

When he opened his eyes, his loving wife was there beside his bed.  He held her hand and said to her:

“You know, Judy, you’ve always been right by my side.  When I was a struggling college student, I failed again and again.  But you were always there with me, encouraging me to go on trying.”

She squeezed his hands as he continued:  “And when I got out of school and went for all of my interviews and failed to get any of the jobs, you stayed right there with me, cutting out more classifieds for me to check on…”

“Then I started work at this little firm and finally got the chance to handle a big contract.  But I blew it because of one little mistake, and yet you were there beside me all the way.  Then I finally got another job after being laid off for sometime.  But I never seemed to be promoted and my hard work was never recognized.  And so, I remained in the same position from the day I joined the company until now… And, through it all, you were right there by my side.”

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she listened to her husband:  “And now I’ve been in this accident and when I woke up, you’re the first person I see. There’s something I’d really like to say to you….”

She flung herself on the bed to hug her husband, sobbing with emotion.

He said, “Judy, I think you’re just plain bad luck!”

Our attitude makes a big difference in how we see things, doesn’t it?  As the saying goes, we can either see the glass as half full or half empty.  We can either appreciate the good during our times of adversity (the faithfulness of God, greater opportunities to develop our faith, the blessing of good friends to see us through it) or we can moan and complain about our “bad luck.”

The apostle Paul is a great example of someone with a marvelous attitude. Through all of his trials, God had been right there by his side.  But never once did he blame God for his misfortune.  Instead, listen to the positive attitude in Paul’s words as he sat imprisoned for preaching the gospel:

“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.” (Phil. 1:12)

No moaning, no complaining.  Just a marvelous attitude that brought joy to his life.  May it serve as an example to you today.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

To see our faults

One of the most common problems people have is an inability to see their own faults.

It’s just like the man who always met the preacher at the back of the church on Sunday and said, “You really told ‘em good, preacher!” This went on several Sundays until one day in February when a deep snow fell and the only one in church was that man. The preacher thought, “Well, now’s my chance!” After a lesson designed to point out the man’s faults, the man met the preacher at the back of the church and said, “If they had all been here, you would have really told ‘em good, preacher!”

The Pharisees were great at demanding others obey the law, but not themselves. They expected God to pardon their “minor” faults, but condemned what they saw as grievous sin in others. Jesus told them, “go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13 NKJV). The Pharisees knew what Jesus meant when he told them to “go and learn.” Each of them used that same phrase when correcting their students.

These teachers of the Law of Moses, however, refused to see themselves as having any need to repent because they thought they were not sinners. Near the end of the Lord’s human life, Jesus pronounced a woe on these same men, saying they had “neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23). Jesus said the Pharisees were very good at straining to magnify the small sin of others while they ignored their own (Matthew 23:24).

Like the man who met the preacher at the back of the church, we humans sometimes are not very honest with ourselves. It is easy indeed to look into the mirror of our souls and see what we want to see instead of what is really there.

John Henson

Objections overturned

Critics have discounted the Bible’s historical reliability at a number of points. Additional discoveries, however, continue to discredit their nay-saying. Here are a few well known examples where everyone agrees the critics were wrong, as well as a challenge or two toward current conventional incredulity.

At one time critics denounced the Bible’s historicity claiming that the Bible had invited the Hittites. This ended when the Hittite capitol in Turkey was unearthed. We now know that their powerful empire rivaled that of ancient Egypt.

Much more recently, some have claimed king David never existed. Furthermore, it was asserted that if any Israelite identity did exist in Jerusalem at that time, it was nothing more than a local tribal chieftain with minor influence.

Then the Tel Dan Stele, buried in secondary usage beneath an 8 century B.C. stone wall, was unearthed containing Hazael’s boast about defeating the “house of David.” It also contains the phrase “the king of Israel.”

Furthermore, using Biblical descriptions as her guide, archaeologist Eilat Elazar began digging in Jerusalem’s City of David where she understood the text to identify the location of David’s palace. She has since uncovered the remains of massive 10th century B.C. stone walls befitting a palace for a substantial kingdom. These are not the buildings belonging to a mere tribal chieftain.

Because an archaeologist did not find the expected Cypriot pottery in ancient Jericho corroborating its destruction with a biblical chronology, she shifted Jericho’s destruction 150 years later to fit the evidence she possessed. This new date also amended the date when Israel would have invaded the rest of Canaan.

It continues to be common for critics to claim that the biblical chronology is inaccurate for the Exodus, Jericho’s destruction and the conquest of Canaan’s cities, such as Ai which was burned. Furthermore, an explosion in the number of permanent dwellings from 1200 to 1000 B.C. within the hill country would seem to support this redating of Canaan’s conquest to the 1200’s. The resulting popular conclusion is that the biblical chronology is inaccurate and the Bible’s story regarding Ai’s destruction is wrong.

Yet, a subsequent archaeologist did find Cypriot pottery among artifacts collected from Jericho indicating that the fiery destruction of Jericho IV does correspond with the biblical timeline. Additional details, such as storage jars full of charred grain indicating a recent harvest and the quick fall of the city since the inhabitants did not have time to eat the food supply during a long siege, further corroborate the biblical account.

The site of Ai is uncertain. While, Et-Tell is commonly associated with Ai, it neither contains a burn destruction layer nor does some of its topography fit the biblical description. However, another nearby site (Khirbet el-Maqatir) was burned at a time congruent with the biblical timeline for Joshua’s conquest of Canaan and does fit all of the biblical topography.

In addition to Khirbet el-Maqatir containing pottery fragments dating to the traditional date of Canaan’s conquest, an Egyptian scarab belonging to the time of Amenohotep II (1455-1415 B.C.) has also been uncovered. Since the Bible records only three cities being burned by Israel and since the date of this scarab would suggest this city was destroyed a little after Amenotep II, these details converge suggesting this is the ancient site of Ai and its destruction corresponds with the biblical chronology.

As is true for all data, the appearance of an increase in stone dwellings must be interpreted within a framework. While it is possible to interpret the appearance of these buildings as indicating Israel appeared in the land corresponding to the revised chronology, it is also possible to interpret this explosion of permanent housing as being compatible with a conservative biblical chronology.

Scripture records God’s promise that the Israelites would occupy the houses of the nations before them. This suggests a time interval would pass before any material evidence of their own construction would appear. How long would it take for them to outgrow the available extant housing?

On the other hand, the Bible indicates that after Canaan’s conquest, Israel and other peoples in the land continued to live in tents (Joshua 22:8; Judges 4:17; 7:8; 8:11; 20:8; 1 Samuel 13:2; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16; 1 Chronicles 4:41; 5:7). How long did it take for larger numbers of Israel to switch to stone dwellings? The appearance of increased stone dwellings from 1200 to 1000 B.C. can be interpreted as being compatible with both chronological timelines. The conservative timeline remains viable.

This tends to be the track record of criticisms against the Bible’s historicity. Time reveals it is best to not bet against scripture.

Barry Newton

I once read an imaginary story about Pilate in his old age. He was now retired and congratulating himself on the apparent success of his political career. As the story unfolds, Pilate is visiting with some of his guests, and one of them asks the former governor about an itinerant preacher by the name of Jesus, who many years previous had caused a considerable amount of commotion in the city of Jerusalem. The guest specifically asks Pilate if he could tell them something about this ‘Jesus of Galilee.’ Pilate supposedly leaned back and quietly mused, and then said: “Jesus! Jesus? No, I don’t remember.”

Legends and fables often distort the facts for various reasons. Rather than present an accurate picture of how things really are, the story is embellished and exaggerated. The imaginary story makes for interesting reading, but in such cases, history tells a different story. Pilate did not retire with honors. He was deposed by Lucius Vitellius and was sent to Rome less than a decade after his conviction of Jesus and died shortly thereafter around 39 A.D. On a side note, archaeologists uncovered a ring bearing the name of Pontus Pilate in the 1960. But it was not until recently (2018) that researchers, analyzing those objects with advanced photography, were able to decipher the ring’s inscription. It reads “of Pilates,” in Greek letters set around a picture of a wine vessel known as a krater and is said by archaeologists to be only the second artifact from his time ever found with his name.

Pilate is probably best known for his involvement in the trial of Jesus, which trial ended in the Lord’s crucifixion. When Pilate realized that he could not pacify the crowd’s demand for Jesus’ crucifixion, he “took water, and washed his hands” (Matt. 27:24). That act was a symbolic gesture by which Pilate thought he could exonerate himself from his pathetic behavior and judicial indecision. He thought that he could simply be indifferent toward Jesus and thereby sooth his conscience. In this, he made a fatal blunder.

No man can ignore the Christ, for in so doing, he makes the same fatal mistake that Pilate made. It is not a question of whether men are ignoring Christ, but whether they can ignore Him without serious repercussion. Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other” (Matt. 6:24). The Lord was not giving men a choice void of serious consequences. When a man rejects Christ the spiritual void in his life will be filled with something, for no man can live in a vacuum. Pilate was granted his position by the grace of God (John 19:11). With that blessing came the responsibility to render fair and equitable justice. Evidently, Pilate thought he could rid himself of giving answer to the Almighty by merely washing his hands in water. Pilate may have cleared his conscience by rubbing his hands under water, but what he failed to understand is that the conscience is not properly cleansed unless it is properly regulated by the divine will. When one grasps that truth, he will treasure a good conscience above all the promises that might come with compromise. History is replete with examples of those who so treasured their conscience, and who would be willing to die rather than “wash their hands in water.” Here are some examples of such godly men.

“Racoon” John Smith was one of the giants in the restoration movement of the 17th and 18th centuries. When he learned the truth, he made a clean break from Calvinism. His friends told him that he would lose his farm and go hungry. Smith replied: “Conscience is an article that I have not brought into the market; but if I should offer it for sale, Montgomery County with all its lands and houses would not be enough to buy it, much less that farm of one hundred acres.”

Barton Stone was another pioneer preacher who would not sell out his conscience. Though some of his close associates left the restoration movement to go back into denominationalism, Stone maintained his integrity and loyalty to the truth. He refused to “wash his hands” in order to maintain favor in the sight of God.

Moses Lard is said to have been in financial straits most of his life. He once refused to write for an annual fee of $5,000 because it would call him away from his work as a preacher.

T.B. Larimore once said about his former teacher, Tolbert Fanning, “He preached as if he believed the temporal and eternal salvation of the whole human race and all the holy angels depended upon the discourse as then and there delivered.”

Abraham Lincoln is credited with having expressed his sentiments like this: “I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have.” Don’t you wish politicians today had the same convictions as Mr. Lincoln? How sad that so many government leaders in this 21st century have “washed their hands” at the fountain of compromise and worldly lusts, thinking that they, like Pilate, could excuse themselves from their great responsibility by simply running a little water over their hands.

I will close this article with the following quote attributed to the late T.B. Larimore: “Some sweet day I will breath my last. When you tell the world I am gone, please tell them I was ready, willing, and anxious to go; that I dreaded not death; that I fought and fell believing I was on my journey to the best and brightest place. My conscience is clear always – never an exception. While I have often come short of duty’s demands, and frequently gone beyond the limits of right, I have never done so intentionally. I have never done what I believed to be wrong, never refused to do what I believe duty demanded. Without a clean conscience I could not endure to live, and I could not dare to die” (as quoted by Bobby Key, Four State Gospel News, August 1995).

All such noble men have one thing in common. They refused to wash their hands at the fountain of compromise and cowardliness.

By Tom Wacaster