What is your name? Is it meaningful? Perhaps you are named after a family member or a beloved friend. Perhaps your name comes from the Bible (as is the case with my three sons, Jeremiah, Micah, and Noah). Regardless of the origins of your name, it has meaning because it is the name your parents chose for you.

In scripture there are several terms or phrases to describe those who submit to Jesus Christ.

A “disciple” is a learner or follower. This term is used heavily in the gospels by Jesus as well as in the Acts of the Apostles. A disciple is one who is under his teacher, and strives to be like his teacher (Luke 6:40). While we think primarily of disciples as followers of Jesus, John and the Pharisees had disciples (Luke 5:33), and the Pharisees claimed to be disciples of Moses (John 9:28).

“Saints,” “believers,” “brothers and sisters,” “children of God,” followers of “the Way,” and others may be used to refer to those who are walking with Jesus. But one term has been used almost to the exclusion of others in modern society.

The term, “Christian,” is used only three times in the New Testament, once by an inspired apostle (1 Peter 4:16), once by a detractor (Acts 26:28), and once descriptively by the inspired author, Luke (Acts 11:26).

What biblical significance is there to this name? The world calls anyone with a passing fondness for Jesus a Christian. The United States has erroneously been hailed a “Christian Nation,” while universities are referred to as “Christian Colleges.”

Certainly this name has been watered down by the world. But should that influence our legitimate use of the term? Should we cease to use it in place of other biblical terms? It would be helpful to examine the meaning and use of “Christian.”

“Christian” has been defined as “one who is associated with Christ,”/1 and “one who is a believer in and follower of Christ.”/2

How the Bible uses the term is significant. Acts 11:26 states that the disciples were “called” Christians. Who called them that and why? It was in Antioch that Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians first worshiped together in one body. The plan for the two groups to be one found its fulfillment first in Antioch.

Many claim that “Christian” was used in a derogatory sense by those of the world./3 A study of the term “called,” demonstrates that it was not the world, nor yet the disciples themselves, who coined this term, but God himself. The nine times this word is used reveals that it is a Divine calling (see Matthew 2:12, 22; Luke 2:26; Acts 10:22; Romans 7:3; Hebrews 8:5; 11:7; 12:25).

If our heavenly Father, is the one who bestowed the name then we should wear it proudly!

The apostle Peter wrote to those who would undergo “fiery trials” for their faith. He encouraged them, “if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name” (1 Peter 4:16).

Do not let others’ misuse of “Christian,” nor their abuse of you, cause you to shy away from wearing the name. Rather, glorify God in that name!

1/ William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 1090.

2/ Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 126.

3/ Horst Robert Balz and Gerhard Schneider, Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–), 478.

by Lee Parish

Abigail Van Buren, best known for her famous “Dear Abby” column, was once the queen of witty advice.  On one particular occasion, she said something especially thought-provoking: “People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes.”

While it is true firefighters have often used fire to help limit the damage of a forest fire, the end result is always the same — more ashes. Outside the forest, our culture has become a place blazing with some of the hottest and ugliest “fires.” Politics. Racism. Religion. Our world has become an extremely heated and angry place.

To make matters worse, too many in our world are choosing to fight these firey situations with more fire. In other words, they respond to hotheaded people and heated situations by doing the exact same thing. People are slandering, insulting, yelling, rioting, looting, hurting, and seeking revenge on others. It’s fighting fire with fire. And the end result has simply produced more and more ashes.

It’s no surprise that God has the solution, “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9). A nice cold bucket of love, forgiveness, and kindness would do wonders for hot situations like these.

Returning evil for evil will always add to the overall damage.  Using God’s problem-solving techniques will always better than our own. Let’s put out the fires and commit to being a part of the solution in the way God has instructed.

Brett Petrillo

Several years ago, a young teenage girl in the congregation where I was preaching was feeling a lot of pressure to join in with her peers. Her eighth grade class was planning a project that she did not feel she could participate in as a Christian. She told her teacher that she would not be able to participate. Some of her peers thought she was a spoil-sport who didn’t want to have any fun and would ruin it for everyone else, too. The things that were said to her were painful. The victory she won by holding to her principles was a painful one and she was very discouraged. It struck me at the time that Matthew 5:10-12 was an appropriate passage to share with her: Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

      Jesus says, in effect, when people say those kinds of things to you because of your faith, you are in good company. The young lady I described was encouraged by God’s Word and received the grace she needed to help her in her time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Christians are assailed from every direction today, including from within the church herself. We want to offer encouragement; a reason to hope and to feel that we are on the winning side of the Good Fight, and not on the losing side.

The apostle Paul asked, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) That’s a question every Christian should consider. His point in asking was to say, “No one can overcome us, if we remain faithful to Him!” Paul went on to say, “In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer!” (Romans 8:37) Notice what “things” from verse 35: Neither tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword can separate us from the love of Christ. In verses 38, 39 he says that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing can separate us from the love of God. Know this: God knows you and He knows how to rescue the godly from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Peter 2:9).

Donnie Bates

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 NASB).

Community is a powerful word. It pictures a group that are together in harmony and agreement. That is what God’s people need to be. Jesus said the love His disciples have for one another is what proclaims that they truly are His. Without that mutual love, there is no community, only divisions.
The first letter to the Corinthian church points out their lack of community. They were divided as to whom they followed, they were divided by class, and they certainly were divided over spiritual gifts. Paul said they ought to be one “so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another” (I Corinthians 12:25).

We see a great sense of community in Acts 2:43-47. Because the members demonstrated love for one another, many joined their community. They spent as much time as possible with each other. Two powerful reasons given for us to come together is to encourage each other in faithfulness and to stimulate each other to good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Jesus tells us that if our becoming His disciples costs us our physical family, we will gain much more in our spiritual family (Mark 10:29-30).

The world is full of temptations trying to draw us away from Jesus. Satan is also active in trying to get us to give up. That is why we need to be a community. It is tough to go it alone. Therefore, be an active part of the community of God’s family.

– Ed Wittlif

In Genesis 24, we meet a man who only identifies as “Abraham’s servant” (v. 34). This unnamed servant is most likely Eliezer, Abraham’s household servant, whom he expected to be his heir (Genesis 15.2). Jewish tradition is in favor of this. However, because the chapter fails to identify him, we will also refrain from doing so. Hence, this unnamed servant teaches us three things as he obeys his master’s will to obtain a wife for his son from among his relatives in modern-day Iraq.

The unnamed servant teaches us humility. The fact that the unnamed servant only refers to himself as a servant of his master says a lot. He considers his identity to be secondary to his position in his master’s household. Our Great Example was similarly humble, much like this servant. We can see that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the most humble person of all when he took on human form and died for the salvation of mankind (Philippians 2:5–10).

Humility is an essential virtue. Humility, according to the Bible, is necessary for Christians to cultivate. For example, the book of James says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NASB 1995) Thus, Christians are to approach God with modesty, acknowledging their shortcomings.

But we should not confuse humility with self-deprecation. God’s word doesn’t tell us to belittle ourselves or our accomplishments. Instead, humility involves acknowledging that all good things come from God, upon Whom we depend for our success (James 1.17). Humility also requires service. The Bible calls us to be the servants of others, just as Jesus modeled servant leadership (John 13.14-16). Humility consists in putting the needs of others ahead of our desires and ambitions.

And God doesn’t overlook this service. Instead, humility is a key to spiritual growth, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. In the book of Matthew, Jesus says, “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23.12 NASB1995). James reminds us: “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (James 4.10 NASB1995)

Therefore, when Christians talk about humility, they stress the importance of knowing our limits and weaknesses, helping others, and coming to God with a humble heart.

The unnamed servant teaches us to trust in God’s Providence. The nameless servant believed that God’s providence would help him succeed in his task. So likewise, God’s word instructs us to trust in God’s providence throughout the Bible, which means we accept that God is in charge of everything and has a plan for our lives. “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29.11 NASB1995). I would be amiss if I did not point out that this is not a personal promise to us, as it was spoken to the Israelites on the verge of Babylonian captivity. However, we can accept that it means that God has plans for His people.

Thus, God urges us to trust that His purpose for our lives is beneficial, even if it may not seem logical or beneficial. This trust is part of submitting ourselves to God’s will. Surrendering to God’s will is part of trusting in providence. Christians are urged to pray for God’s direction and guidance and believe that God’s plan for their lives is what is best for them. “I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps,” Jeremiah says again (Jeremiah 10.23 NASB 1995).

The Bible teaches us to trust in God’s provision, which implies that we believe that God will provide for our necessities (Matthew 6.33). Even in challenging circumstances, we know God will provide for our needs. So, the Christian doctrine of trust in providence stresses the importance of believing in God’s plan for each person’s life, submitting to His will, and trusting in His provision.

The unnamed servant teaches us to be shrewd. The servant who put Rebecca through the “camel test” was astute. Have you ever thought how this man must have appeared to the young Rebecca? The unnamed servant was a physically fit man. In addition, he needs other strong men to travel with him and a caravan of ten camels. Why, then, would he need a woman to bring him water and tend to his livestock?

What could this servant learn from administering the “camel test”? Rebecca’s response suggested much about her character. For example, what concern would she have for her family if she returned the water she had given a stranger to drink? Did she have the servant’s heart to recognize and want to meet a need when it was within her power? Did she consider others first? Finally, Rebecca had to demonstrate her worth to Isaac and, eventually, to Abraham, his master.

Jesus told his disciples to “be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10.16 NASB 1995). In other words, Jesus tells us to be wise and intelligent when we talk to other people but also to be kind and safe. The term “wise as serpents” might be understood to suggest that the disciples should be as intelligent and crafty as snakes in their relationships with others. But it’s important to remember that Jesus didn’t want his followers to lie or trick people. Instead, he wanted them to be honest and wise in their relationships with others. Likewise, “harmless as doves” alludes to the doves’ gentleness and lack of aggression. Even in challenging or hostile circumstances, Jesus pushes his followers to remain calm and non-threatening in their relationships with others.

Jesus asked his followers to be intelligent and astute in their interactions while being mild and non-threatening. We should apply this advice and use it when applicable.

The unnamed servant in Genesis 24 teaches essential lessons about humility, faith in providence, and shrewdness. His humble demeanor reminds us of the importance of admitting our flaws and prioritizing the needs of others. Trusting in God’s providence entails believing that God has a plan for our lives and that everything will work out for the best. Finally, being shrewd implies being wise and intelligent in our interactions with others while maintaining our integrity. As Christians, we can learn from the example of the unnamed servant and strive to live a life that honors God. The unnamed servant in Genesis 24 teaches essential lessons about humility, faith in providence, and shrewdness. His humble demeanor reminds us of the importance of admitting our flaws and prioritizing the needs of others. Trusting in God’s providence entails believing that God has a plan for our lives and that everything will work out for the best. Finally, being shrewd implies being wise and intelligent in our interactions with others while maintaining our integrity. As Christians, we can learn from the example of the unnamed servant and strive to live a life that honors God.

Brent Pollard

“After these things I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a vast throng in heaven, saying, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, because his judgments are true and just. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and has avenged the blood of his servants poured out by her own hands!’” (Revelation 19:1-2 NET).

As we mentioned in our previous article, John’s Revelation is not the easiest to understand. There are many explanations and interpretations, but there are also eternal truths in the word-pictures that John used to paint a picture for us.

In this picture, John saw the people of God celebrating. Why? Because God had come in judgment. Whatever our interpretation of the “great prostitute” we can see that when God comes in judgment, it is not biased. God’s “judgments are true and just.”

Isn’t this the type of God that we want to serve? Not one who is influenced by a person’s position or who they are, but one who is just. People long today for justice – but sadly they often don’t find it. With God, we know that his judgments are the correct ones. This should cause us, as God’s people, to rejoice.

“Then a second time the crowd shouted, ‘Hallelujah!’ The smoke rises from her forever and ever. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne, saying: ‘Amen! Hallelujah!’ Then a voice came from the throne, saying: ‘Praise our God all you his servants, and all you who fear him, both the small and the great!’” (Revelation 19:3-5).

Although judgment is coming, we don’t rejoice that there will be those who are lost. We, like God himself, want all to be saved, to have an eternity with Jesus forever. But sadly, we realize that not everyone will turn to God and obey his word. To be ready for judgment we must belong to God – we must be his people.

“Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a vast throng, like the roar of many waters and like loud crashes of thunder. They were shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the All-Powerful, reigns! Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen’ (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints)” (Revelation 19:6-8).

Throughout the writings of the apostle, the “bride” of the Lamb is God’s people, the ekklesia, the Christian community. Our obedience, our “righteous deeds” provide the bride with her bright, clean, white dress because we are God’s people. Notice that the bride was ready for her groom and the wedding celebration.

The question for us is simply this: are we ready? Are we one of God’s people? Are we providing the “righteous deeds” needed for the bride? Or do we live for ourselves and have only God’s judgment to expect?

You see, the choice is ours. Our lives on earth will one day end. Are we ready to face God’s judgment and eternity? If we are faithful to him we have nothing to fear, because God’s judgments are true and just!

Are we ready?

Jon Galloway

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith – to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen” (Romans 16:25-27 NKJV).

A doxology is a statement of praise and honor towards and / or about God. The word derives from the Greek word “doxa” meaning “brightness, splendor, and radiance.” In its verbal form it is often rendered “to praise, honor, magnify, or glorify.”

Casual readers of the Bible may be unaware of the many doxologies which are part of its text such as that which is cited at the beginning of this article. These are formal statements of praise containing many doctrinal and theological themes which add significantly to our understanding of the nature and identity of God.

When one takes the gospel of Jesus Christ into cultures based on other religions with other gods or pantheons of divinity, the question of our God’s identity becomes critical. Just as Paul struggled to distinguish between his “unknown God” before the very religious, but pagan, Greeks (Acts 17:22-34), we also must make clear to our audiences that it is not enough to simply believe that gods exist, or to add another name to a long list of beings to worship.

The God whom we worship demands our exclusive allegiance and seeks to be known by us in all of his wisdom, might, and glory. Reading these doxologies carefully helps our understanding. I invite you to consider the following characteristics of God which are given in Romans 16:25-27.

1. He is the Redeemer (25a). Paul states that God is “able to establish you.” In this context “establish” is equivalent to “redeem” or “save.” In Romans the apostle has already shown that all accountable humans are estranged from God through sin (Romans 3:23). We all are fallen, without hope, and under condemnation. But God can change that. Most importantly, only God can change that.
2. He is the keeper of mystery (25b). God knew from before creation what mankind would need, and what he himself would do to meet that need. His knowledge is complete and perfect. There is nothing that he does not know.
3. He is the revealer of secrets (26). God is not selfish with his knowledge or inordinately proud and jealous of it as was charged by the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-5). God began to announce his intentions hundreds of years before his son Jesus came into the world, revealing them through prophets whom he inspired.
4. He is everlasting (26b). God has always been and will always be. He is “The Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, . . . who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). It is a truism that “the only thing constant is change.” God is the exception to that rule. He never changes and never ceases to be other than he has always been.
5. He is the only source of true wisdom (27). As ancient Solomon wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). Again, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). Jesus taught “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Paul simply affirms, “to God, alone wise” (Romans 16:27).

Classic scholars describing the attributes or characteristics of God included his perfect wisdom by the word “omniscient.” It is typically defined as “all-knowing” but includes more than simply the total awareness of facts or truth. God’s wisdom is practically applied. He not only knows all things but understands them and applies them perfectly to any and all situations.

A human scholar might be able to describe all the chemical and botanical characteristics of the coffee bean, but not know how to brew a cup of coffee. That is never the case which God. He knows the answers to all of the major questions — “What? When? Who? How? Why?” Because of his wisdom he solves every problem troubling the human race. We can trust his knowledge.

Of course there are many other attributes of God not considered in this text. He is also all-powerful, all-loving, and all-present. These qualities give us confidence that he knows what to do, is able to do it, and is willing to act on mankind’s behalf. Our faith is well-founded if placed in the only “true and living God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9).

Michael Brooks

A popular scooter for children warns: “This product moves when used.”

A label on an electric hand blender using for “blending, whipping, chopping and dicing,” warns: “Never remove food or other items from the blades while the product is operating.”

A label on a baby stroller warns: “Remove child before folding.”

A brass fishing lure with a three-pronged hook on the end warns: “Harmful if swallowed.”

A household iron warns users: “Never iron clothes while they are being worn.”

A label on a hair dryer reads, “Never use hair dryer while sleeping.”

A warning on an electric drill made for carpenters cautions: “This product not intended for use as a dental drill.”

The label on a bottle of drain cleaner warns: “If you do not understand, or cannot read, all directions, cautions and warnings, do not use this product.”

A can of self-defense pepper spray warns users: “May irritate eyes.”

A cardboard car sunshield that keeps sun off the dashboard warns, “Do not drive with sunshield in place.”

On a hotel-provided shower cap in a box: “Fits one head.”

Some of those warning labels conjure up some humorous images. Like the last one — can you imagine trying to fit a shower cap onto two heads at once? Ridiculous, huh?

Almost as ridiculous as taking the body of Christ and suggesting it has more than one head. There is one body (Eph. 4:4), and it has only one head. Fortunately, that head is no earthly person or group of people. It is none other than the Son of God himself.

“And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18)

Alan Smith

Oscar Lynagh has found a way to make his mark in the world.  A video was carried in a story last week by United Press International that shows how he did it.  With the help of a young lady his head was covered with a large amount of shaving cream.  He then took a bowl filled with ping pong balls, bounced them one at a time off the wall, and then caught them in the shaving cream on his head.  In 30 seconds he caught 12 balls, setting a new Guinness World Record.

When I saw the video, I thought to myself, “What?!  Does this fellow have nothing better to do?”  I can only imagine the pride (?) he will feel when he shows it to his grandchildren years from now to show how he made his mark in the world.

I don’t mean to be unkind to Oscar; there are many, many others in our world who seek out similar ways to be included in that world record lineup.  Most of them are similarly impractical, such as the man who set a record for pullups (32 in one minute) while hanging from an airborne helicopter, another who set a record for shooting (backward) and scoring with a basketball from 85 feet away, the most consecutive hours tattooing people (64 tattooed in 91 hours), etc.

It’s not wrong to want to make a mark in this world.  The principle we’re referring to is “meaning in life”.  When I reach the end of my journey, will my life have had meaning?

Jesus provided a better and practical answer to that question, and it’s found in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  A victim of a violent robbery was left lying in the ditch, and others ignored him as they walked by.  One man, a Samaritan, didn’t ignore him, but took time to tend to his wounds, take him to an inn, and provided for whatever needs the man might have.  That story, recorded in Luke 10:30-37, ends with Jesus’ words, “Go and do likewise.”

Someone might object by pointing to the fact that Jesus never gave the name of the Samaritan.  That’s true, no name is found in that passage.  Here’s a truth that must not be overlooked, however, stated in Hebrews 6:10: “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”  Which is more lasting: To make our mark with the world (which will soon forget our records), or with God?

Making a mark doesn’t require large expenditures of time, money, or energy, according to Jesus: “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42).  Simple gifts are often what are needed.

Someone has stated it well: “To the world you may just be one person, but to one person you may be the world.”  Your love and compassion may have a domino effect, and start a “pay it forward” type of reaction.  One small act of kindness, like one snowflake, can soon become an avalanche of change.

Yes, you can make a mark on this world without ever putting shaving cream on your head.  Start by putting on Jesus Christ (see Galatians 3:26,27).  No one ever made a greater mark than Him!

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Copyright, 2023, Timothy D. Hall

“And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him” (Genesis 4:3-8)

This is the first recorded murder in the Bible and even worse, it was between two brothers. Cain killed his brother because of his jealousy over God accepting Abel’s offering, but not his own. Notice the question that God asked Cain. “And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. 4:9).

That’s an excellent question to ask ourselves today: Are we our brother’s keeper? Do we have a responsibility to love and care for one another?

As we study the Bible, it becomes very clear that the answer is “yes.” In fact, there are many passages which emphasize our responsibility to one another.

The Old Testament teaches the principle of being a “watchman” in several places. In Ezekiel 17:3, God appointed Ezekiel a watchman over Israel. “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” In general, the watchman was to look after the well-being of others.

The Bible teaches us that we are to love one another. In fact, Jesus Himself commands it in John 13:34 & 35: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Now, think about how deep a love this is. Jesus wants us to love one another as He loved us, and we all know what He did for us, even though we didn’t deserve it. When we love each other like we’re supposed to, it makes Christianity very attractive to the sinner.

Notice what Paul has to say about this in Romans 13:8: “Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Also in I Thess. 4:9: “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”

Peter also has some instructions for us regarding love. He writes in I Peter 1:22: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently…”

This word “fervently” means “intensely” and suggests that we should love one another with our whole heart. The apostle John, who has been called the apostle of love, writes, “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous” (I Jn. 3:11 & 12).

You see, if Cain had possessed the kind of love that we are to have for one another, he would’ve never even considered killing his brother. Instead he would’ve been happy for him that God accepted his offering. This is the kind of thing that happens when we start replacing love with jealousy, rage, or bitterness toward our brother or sister in Christ. Now, we may not get to the point of killing someone, but we can certainly find ourselves thinking evil of them, which will lead us to sin. John says in I Jn. 4:11: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

Dear Reader, we are our brother’s keeper and we must love one another. Think about it this week.

By R.W. McAlister

Recently I was on “A Bible Answer,” a Bible question-and-answer program broadcast regionally in the Mid-South and on the Gospel Broadcasting Network. One of the questions I was assigned to answer was twofold. “How were the books of the Bible selected and compiled, and how were the decisions made as to what would be distributed as the Word of God?”

These are a few of the questions we deal with when we look at the Canon of Scripture. “What books belong in the Bible?” “How do we know?” “Who decided, and when did they decide?” “Can we know that we have the right ones?” When we are talking about the “canon,” we are talking about a transliteration of the Greek word, which means “a rule or a standard.” So, we are asking, “Is there a divine standard to which the 66 books in the Bible have met? After all, many claim other books should have been included. Some doubt the validity of the ones that were.

How did we get those 66 books? There is a Biblical principle that guided people in the days of old and should guide us today. In Exodus 24:4-7, it says, “And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. … Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” Why would the people accept what Moses wrote as the words of the Lord? It is because of the principle mentioned above. Moses was recognized as a prophet of God because of the many things he had done, which could only be done through the power of God. When one who was accepted as a prophet wrote, what he wrote was immediately acknowledged as the word of God. This principle is repeated throughout the Old Testament.

• Josh 24:26
  • “And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. …”
• I Sam 10:25
  • “Then Samuel … wrote them in a book and laid it up before the LORD.”

Joshua and Samuel proved to be prophets of God by the deeds God did through them. When they wrote, their writings were immediately accepted as the word of God. Daniel 9:2 is especially insightful along these lines. “(I)n the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.” Daniel (who was a contemporary of Ezekiel and Jeremiah) immediately accepted what Jeremiah wrote as the word of God. During Old Testament times, every time a man identified as a prophet wrote, his writings were accepted immediately as the word of God. No councils and no voting was necessary.

Then, we have the intertestamental period in which there are no prophets. Nevertheless, we do have writings from that time. I Maccabees 4:46 says they were waiting for a prophet. In 9:27, it says there was great tribulation like there was in the times that prophets had appeared to them. In 14:41, it says they appoint Simon as their leader until a faithful prophet should arise.

Josephus said their history had been written but was not worthy of equal credit because of a lack of an “exact succession of the prophets.” He also wrote about accredited books. When you examine them, you find they are the same 39 Old Testament books we have today.

The same principle used to accept books of the Old Testament is the same used for the New Testament writings. Note Matthew 16:19; 18:18; John 14:26; 16:13; Acts 2:42; 2 Pet. 3:2; I John 4:6; II Thes 2:15; and Col. 4:16.

For example, in I Timothy 5:18, Paul says, “For the scripture saith,…” and then quotes Luke 10:7. Luke was written about ten to fifteen years before I Timothy. Yet, it was automatically accepted as “scripture.” In II Peter 3, he is writing about the epistles of Paul. Peter lists those in with “the other scriptures.” Both Paul and Luke were affirmed as prophets of God. So, their writings were accepted as scripture.

Despite the evidence, there are still those who try to plant disbelief by discrediting scripture. Yet, when we dig deeper, we find that God’s people have always known what was and was not His word. When we recognize that, we realize it must be believed and obeyed!

Corey Sawyers

Throughout human history nations have used hard power to take lands or to influence behavior. We’ve all seen the horror of the war in Ukraine. By engaging in hostilities, Russia is using hard power in an attempt to accomplish certain goals.

Hard power can be brutally effective for achieving political or military objectives. Victors of wars claim lands, and those with power subdue the actions of people.

Scripture details the efficacious use of hard power. God used hard power to free his people from Egyptian captivity. His plagues were designed to coerce the actions of Pharaoh and were, of course, successful. The conquest of Canaan was a master class in hard power. The Israelites did not spend decades changing the culture, they used force to displace the inhabitants in short order.

The judges used hard power to free the Israelites from subjugation, but some judges also influenced the actions of the Israelites through their power and position.

Hezekiah and Josiah, both good kings, used their position to destroy the high places, to punish idolaters, and to encourage people to obey God.

The Assyrians and Babylonians used military force to conquer lands, inflate their power, extend their influence, and enrich their coffers. God used both nations to punish his people when they turned completely away from him.

While hard power may be used to satisfy certain objectives, it has limits.

God didn’t change the heart of Pharaoh. After acquiescing to God’s demands, the Egyptian leader reconsidered. He sent his army after God’s people, and perished in the doing.

The judges didn’t change the minds of the Philistines or the Moabites. Neither did they truly change the hearts of the people. After Gideon’s death, the Bible says, “As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. And the people of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side” (Judges 8:33, 34 ESV).

Josiah led the people in a great restoration. He read the “Book of the Covenant” before all the people, and led them in making a covenant with Jehovah (2 Kings 22:2, 3). He did so “with all his heart and all his soul” and he “made all who were present” join in it (2 Chronicles 34:31, 32). Outside of Hezekiah, Josiah’s work was unprecedented:

“Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him” (2 Kings 23:25).

His power and influence positively impacted the actions of the people, “All his days they did not turn away from following the LORD, the God of their fathers” (2 Chronicles 34:33). But did they do so with all their heart? Jeremiah spoke the words of God to this people, promising that God would allow them to stay in the land, “if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another…” (Jeremiah 7:5-7).

Josiah truly followed God, but he couldn’t force the people to do so.

Hard power has limits. It does not and cannot touch the heart; it does not move the soul. As we’ve seen with the conflict in Ukraine, the Russian autocracy may — through brutality — subdue a country, but they will not win the hearts of the people.

While we are not in control of armies, and cannot exert coercive military or economic power, there are some thoughts that bear upon our daily life.

While force can control people’s actions, it cannot change their hearts. Only love can do that. Parents can make their children obey them outwardly, but they cannot force their children to love them. Parents can make their children do what God says, but they cannot enforce spiritual fidelity.

Discipline must be born out of love. The motivation must be to cultivate the heart not merely control the action.

Jesus expects his disciples to make disciples (Matthew 28:19, 20). We do that, not by political force, but through teaching people about Jesus, and showing what a Christ-led life looks like.

Get the heart and the rest will follow.

by Lee Parish

The following story is reported to be true, but cannot be verified:

After the “Cold War” was over, a squadron of Russian pilots was invited to participate in tactical war games at a U.S. Air Force base.

A gala dinner was planned by the Base Commander.  Thinking to relax the guests, he offered a WW II toast to open the meal.  Smiling, he lifted his glass and said, in Russian, “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you may die.”

The Russian pilots became very quiet and they hardly ate; most left quite early.  Thinking they didn’t care for the food, the Commander asked a Russian pilot what went wrong.

“Well, comrade commander,” he said, “I thought it was going well until your toast.  I don’t know what you were meaning to say, but what came out was ‘Feast, drink and make happy, for tomorrow we will kill you’.”

No matter how you translate it, it doesn’t make for good advice to live by, though it certainly fits in with our culture’s view of the purpose of life. “Live it up!  We’re all going to die soon, and you can’t enjoy anything beyond the grave, so just focus on bringing yourself pleasure without regard to what is right or wrong.”

It sounds very modern, but it’s been around a long, long time.  In fact, Paul said it was a philosophy that might make sense if there was no hope of a resurrection for us.

“If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!'” (I Cor. 15:32b)

But knowing that there will be a resurrection and a judgment and an eternity to follow, we know that there has to be more to guide our lives than just the satisfaction of personal pleasure.

So go ahead and eat and drink (and even make merry), but be careful not to take God out of the picture, for tomorrow you may die.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

A study was conducted by Psychology Today where they asked 1000 people how many lies they’ve told in the last 24 hours. The average answer was two lies, but 75 percent of men said they would lie if they were talking about their social status. 80 percent of women said they have lied about their weight.

The average person we come in contact with has no problem lying to us. Whether it’s at work, in school or to friends and family, the majority of people feel that it’s morally okay to lie.

Ephesians 4:25 says, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.”

“Therefore” is a grammatical tie to previous verses. Each time we read this word we should see it as a finger pointing up to the previous verses. Contextually Paul is saying, “Therefore, since we have put on the new self, lay aside falsehood.”

If you’re a Christian reading this verse, you have put on the new self. So we are commanded to stop lying and be truthful in our interactions with others.

Paul commands us to tell the truth. This seems like a simple command, yet sadly we get caught up in telling lies. We want what’s easiest. Many are tempted to take what seems to be the easy way out.

But there is something to keep in mind the next time we are tempted to lie:

Our reputation is ruined by dishonesty. If people catch us lying, why would they believe us at all? The boy who cried wolf is a prime example of this very fact. We all know how this story goes, and the bottom line is we lose our credibility if we lie. When we are honest and choose to tell the truth, people will trust us, and God’s Word has a better chance of reaching the lost.

When it comes to our Christianity, we want people to trust us. When we lie we lose our credibility and our ability to proclaim the gospel is harmed. Telling the truth in every situation is an attribute we are to have in our new walk with Christ. Plus, nobody wants to be friends with a liar.

Carl Pollard

Over the past few months, our church building has been targeted.

We’re unsure who is doing it. Perhaps it’s some person from the surrounding neighborhood. Perhaps it’s just a random person who drives by. It could also just be a teenager from the High School down the street.

We’re unsure what the motivation might be. This person might be angry at God. This person might have been slighted by a religious institution. This person might not have any motivation other than “fun” at our expense.

What we do know is glass shards have flown. On at least four occasions this person has driven by the building and fired BB’s at our glass door. One time it left the doors shattered, sending shards down a hallway some 30 yards away. Even now the door sits with 8 shatter marks from BB’s.

As I have contemplated this issue and this person, several lessons have come to mind:

1)    God sees and knows (Hebrews 4:13). While we have involved the police and have security cameras up and running, we’ve yet to identify our shooter. However, even if we never catch this person, he/she has never been hidden from God’s sight. God knows exactly who this person is and every inner detail. And, unless this person repents, God will bring vengeance for such actions (Romans 12:19).

2)    Souls are involved (Matthew 28:19-20). One point we’ve considered is, “Will we do if we catch this person?” Will we press charges? What if this is some teenager? Do we want this to become part of a permanent record? No matter what the future course is, we are acutely aware that we are dealing with a soul. It’s possible that forgiveness from us could display the love of Christ and lead this person to Him. While we don’t know what we will do if we catch this person, we do know that we care much more about the person’s eternal soul than we would ever care about the broken door.

3)    It’s just stuff (2 Peter 3:10). The glass can be replaced. The door can be repaired. At the end of the day, our building is just a structure, and this structure will be a part of the great bonfire on judgment day. Thus far all of our people are safe and that is what truly matters.

One way or another, this issue will be resolved. In the meantime, please be praying for this situation. Be praying for wisdom. Above all, be praying for this person’s soul.

Brett Petrillo

I remember the darkest day of my preaching life.  And frankly, I don’t want to dwell on it.  Still, there may be some benefit in remembering the time when I most needed encouragement and remembering the fact that I got through it, through no fault of my own, except that I put my trust in the only place left…my Friend Who laid down His life for me.

Without revealing too much, let me just say that I had never in my life seen Christians attack one another the way I did that day.  I was one of those attacked, but that did not happen until I tried to interject some calm reasoning into what I perceived was a situation getting out of hand.  I loved them and hurt for them and tried my best to help ease the pain and bring Christian brethren closer to God.  What I accomplished was to merely refocus the attack on myself.  I understand the noble concept of self-sacrifice and in some situations would gladly offer myself, but that was not my intention that day.

All of us have been in frustrating situations.  I had been before that day, but never had I been so shocked by the behavior of men who called themselves Christians.  Nor have I since, “by the help of the good Lord” (as my dear departed friend and brother Aubrey Chalmers used to say).  For the first (and only) time in my preaching career, when Sunday morning came around, I wanted to find a hole, climb in, and pull it in after myself.  I did not want to go to church.  I did not want to preach.  How could I preach?  How could I stand in front of those same people?  Every ounce of credibility I thought I had before, had been destroyed, it seemed to me.  Honestly, the only reason I went to church that day and preached the sermon I had prepared before this incident took place was because I could not think of a way not to.  It was not courage that took me to church that day.  It was surrender.  I had reached the end of my ability to handle the situation.  I was out of answers.  The only thing I could do was place myself in the hands of God, take a deep breath and preach.

Some might ask why I would describe such a painful episode in my life in an article that is supposed to be about encouragement.  Well, I’ll tell you.  It is hard for me to imagine than any one of you has been through anything as bad as my worst nightmare.  By the same token, you probably do not think mine is as bad as your worst experience.  Regardless of whether or not you or I have suffered as much as the other, God takes care of us.  I am so very glad verses like Psalm 139:11, 12 are in my Bible:  If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,” even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day.  Darkness and light are alike to You.  God saw me in my darkest hour.  When I had no more answers, He was just starting.  He was in control all along.  He was faithful not to allow me to endure more temptation than I was able to endure (1 Corinthians 10:13).  You had better believe that I was tempted to cut and run.  I don’t mean move to another congregation; I mean cut and run that day.  But I didn’t.  I dejectedly surrendered myself to the will of God and preached the Gospel.  As it turns out, that was just what I was supposed to do.

I still, from time to time, get myself into trouble.  Sometimes (usually, it seems) it is my own fault; other times it’s not.  In any case, my Heavenly Father is always there for me.  There is nowhere I can go where He is not.  You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it (Psalm 139:5, 6).

Do you ever find yourself facing a situation you simply cannot see how to overcome?  There is just no way out.  You cannot go forward; you cannot go back.  There is just no hope of winning this one.  Thanks be to God, there is a way out.  It will not look like a way out, perhaps, but God’s way is a way out!  School yourself to remember Psalm 139.  Train yourself to look for God’s way out.  Know that God is with you and will not forsake you.

Donnie Bates

1. Do to others as you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12).
   

2. Do the will of the Father who is in heaven (Matthew 7:21-27).
   

3. Do this (eat the Lord’s Supper) in remembrance of Christ (I Corinthians 11:23-26).
   

4. Do good to all men, especially to those of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10).
   

5. Do all things without murmuring and disputing (Philippians 2:14).

6. Do the one thing that will enable you to move forward in life with confidence (Philippians 3:12-14).

7. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord (by His authority and to His glory) (Colossians 3:17).
   

8. Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men (Colossians 3:23).
   

9. Do not forget to do good and to share (Hebrews 13:16).
   

10. Be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22).
    

11. Do those things that will enable you to have an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:5-11, note verse 10).

12. Do the commandments of God (Revelation 22:14).

In the event that you have never been saved from your sins and become a Christian ask yourself, “What shall I do?” and do what the Bible says in answer to that question (Acts 2:37-38; cf. Acts 10:1-6, 48; Acts 22:10-16).

As long as you have life it is never too late to do the right thing, but one day it will be too late.

Hugh Fulford

The typical response when first hearing of tragedy or hard times is, “oh no. I’ll be sure and pray for you.” I have been on the receiving end of that response, but have also been on the offering side of it as well. Truth be told, I’m sure I have let down a lot of people when it comes to my prayer life.

Prayer is such a divine privilege and often gets taken for granted. Before Christ, going before God was done through a priest. Even kings couldn’t do such a task without a priest; consider the pride and fall of king Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:18). There have also been times in the Old Testament scriptures where God has told individuals, “do not lift up a prayer for this people” (Jeremiah 7:16). God wanted to hear prayers of only the contrite and faithful. The same theology can be found in the New Testament as well (John 9:31). Luckily for us, we have Jesus who takes the spot as High Priest and allows us to go before the throne despite our flaws (Heb. 4:14-16).

Personally, I’m trying to do better about flippantly saying, “I’ll be sure and pray for you.” That kind of statement ought to carry a great deal of weight between the three involved parties; the receiver, the requester, and the listener. There are few more comforting thoughts in this world than to know that someone is kneeling before God’s mighty throne, having a divine conversation with my name included in the dialogue. That type of action is a responsibility that I, as a Christian, am obligated to do for others.

The problem comes down to a finite memory and simply remembering those who need prayers. You’ll find your prayer life becoming more consistent when praying for others instead of self constantly. Here are some practical ways to help our weak minds remember those in need:

1. Prayer Journal – Among the other ways to keep track of prayers, this is my favorite method. Perhaps the coolest aspect of a journal is the ability to look back through time and become a witness of how God works through prayer. Find a journal no larger than your cell phone or wallet in order to keep it on you.
2. The Echo Prayer App – If you have a smart phone, put it to use. There’s a handy app called “Echo Prayer” which utilizes your phone to create a prayer journal. I’ve used it before and have enjoyed my experience with it.
3. Good old fashioned bulletin – maybe it’s a product of being a “secretaries kid,” but I find the Sunday bulletin to be an invaluable method of keeping people in your prayers. This can also be found in digital form in your email.
4. Simply mean it. When you tell someone you’re going to pray for them, consider it an eternal reliance on you. You’ve got a job to do, so do it. You’ll find yourself growing closer to God and His people with each prayer.

   Tyler King

Two men were talking about marriage. The first one said, “Every time we get into an argument, my wife gets historical.”

The second man said, “I think you mean she gets ‘hysterical'”.

“No,” said the first, “I mean she gets historical. She dredges up every mistake I’ve ever made in the past.”

As a long-time marriage counselor, I can testify that both men and women can be guilty of becoming too “historical.” There’s a reason why, when Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 is describing the nature of love, he says that love “keeps no record of wrongs” (verse 5). When husbands and wives constantly dwell on their partner’s past faults, it not only makes their attitude sour, but creates a negative “filter” that prevents them from seeing the good in their mate.

Simon Peter, who knew a thing or two about making mistakes, gives this excellent advice:  “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

Dan Williams

“Overtime” can be one of the most exciting moments for your favorite sports team. As is the case with many activities, overtime is when sudden-death becomes implemented; meaning, whichever team scores first is the team that gains the victory. The moments of overtime have kept viewers and fans on the edge of their seats for decades. However, not nearly the amount of enthusiasm is gleaned when a church service runs overtime. You’d almost think it was sudden-death for the member attending the assembly when worship exceeds five minutes of overtime.

Trust me, I’ve been there. Whether the song leader decided to sing every verse of every song or the preacher didn’t know how to land the plane and gives several false conclusions. There comes a time when you try to nonchalantly look down at your watch to see how many minutes have gone beyond the designated 11:00am mark. Irritation and grumbling can then become bi-products of church overtime. Tensions rise and people begin to check-out, whether it’s mentally or physically.

However, every time I find myself in the position of overtime grumbling, I have to realize that Matthew 6:33 is a verse that is far from me. In reality, 6:33 should be very near to us, especially since our Lord told us to seek the Kingdom as a top priority. To be a part of the true assembly of God is a blessing far beyond our knowledge. It is a designated time for us to step away from the world and the worries of it, and fellowship with common souls who have a common God.

To the Jews of Jesus’ time, “church” was a pretty foreign concept. While attendees of synagogues would gather together, there was a large concept of community missing. People went on with their lives, letting the world distract them from the family of God. When Jesus started teaching about this Kingdom, it was different than what they were used to. This was the beginning of a time where a new relationship would form between God and man (Jer. 31:31). He was going to be the King, and His followers would be the kinsmen. Involvement, gathering, fellowship, friendships, and common bonds would hold this family tighter than any other organization in the world (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:14-47).

Here’s the deal. It’s usually the secular priorities that create my grumblings when worship runs long. Don’t let the outside world distract you from the church. Let the church distract you from the outside world. How many times throughout the week have you thought, “man, I really can’t wait for worship on Sunday?” Probably not a whole lot. Yet, how many times during Sunday service have you thought, “good grief, this worship has gone on forever. I really need to get to such and such place?”

Obviously there needs to be some rationality in how we go about worship. The services shouldn’t be aimlessly long without a purpose. Rather, they should be filled with purpose and no time restraint should ever handicap that very purpose. So the Lord’s Supper went a bit longer – do you think our Savior minds that? Maybe we sang a couple extra songs or verses – do you think the Father is upset with that sound? Perhaps there were some responses to the sermon – do you think those people could use your time and attention?  We ought to be a respecter of time – Respect the day that God has blessed you with by detaching from the world and enjoying the haven of the church. Don’t let the secular voices drown out the harmony of Christians gathering together.

Tyler King