History tells us the great philosopher Socrates was arrested and tried for denying the Athenian gods and for corrupting young people. Some writers suppose Socrates was arrested and tried because he criticized politicians and disliked the election system.

The real reason why Socrates was arrested, tried and executed was that the people of Athens (including the politicians) didn’t like the method of cross-examination he used. Socrates revealed their poor reasoning and foolish assumptions. He challenged them to explain and define what it was they believed.

Jesus died at the hands of the Jewish leaders and the Romans, but for a completely different reason. The Scribes and the Pharisees hated him for no reason at all. The hatred of Jesus was foretold in Psalms 69:4.

Jesus traveled Palestine curing people of their diseases and helping them. He never told anyone to oppose the government. The Lord never incited anyone to rebel against the Romans. He never violated one single law even though he stood accused by the ones that hated him.

And then they nailed him to a cross even though the Roman governor could find no fault with him (Luke 23:4).

Isn’t it odd that people still try to find fault with Jesus? They doubt he ever lived although Roman historians wrote he did. They deny he is the son of God although everything he did testified to the truth of his deity.

Isn’t it interesting that of all the people who have ever lived in the history of the world, the name of Jesus still drives people’s minds?

What do you think of him? Find out more about him in the pages of the New Testament. You can also read about him in the Old Testament. Learn more about him, and you’ll find he loves you very much and he wants you to live eternally.

John Henson

When I needed some work done on my furnace a few months ago, I ask a member at Bear Valley who he would recommend. Now, I must say, I could not have asked for a better man. Not only did this man do the work quickly, but it was also very inexpensive. Instead of charging me the $168.00 for the part I needed he said get it online, so I did. The cost was only $28.36.  Can you believe that!!!

Well, when he finished up, he gave me his business card. His name was  Lamb. His slogan on his business card read, “When you Need Help, Call the Lamb: Don’t Get Taken By The Wolfs.” I thought, now, isn’t that catchy?

Over the months I have considered that thought many times. Then recently watching the political adds, the one that really caught my eye was the one about the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Of course, from the thoughts above; you can’t help but think of the scripture where Jesus teaches us to beware of the very same thing. Note a few passages with me.

Matthew 7:15,  “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?”

Again in Matthew 24, in verse 11 and verse 24, note the words of Jesus as He warns us about false teachers. V11, “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.” V24-25 “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 “Behold, I have told you in advance.”

We, too, are warned about our teaching. Note, l Timothy 4:16,”Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” Being sincere is not enough, you must teach the truth or you will be lost, and the ones that hear you must hear the truth or they will be lost.

For sure, there were, there are, and there will be false teachers. As you read Jude, he puts it this way, “They creep in,” “They are like hidden reefs,” “Without fear caring only for themselves.”

Well, the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, does care for you, for your soul. But we must do our part by being a good student of God’s Word.

Paul said, “When you read what I have written you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.” (Eph.3:3-4) Of course, you must read His word to know His Word.

Yes, there will be wolves in sheep’s clothing. False teachers will always be among us, but you can KNOW the difference. He has given us His Word.

Be a daily reader and call on the Lamb, He will hear your call.

Dick Brant

There was once a man who decided that he wanted to lose weight. To that end, he weighed himself on his bathroom scale and determined that he weighed 250 pounds. For the entire next week, he exercised and tried to cut back on what he ate. At the end of the week, he got on the scale and determined that he weighed 260 pounds. He was so angry at what the bathroom scale told him that he took the scale into the garage, got a sledge hammer and beat it to smithereens.

The next day he determined that there had to be something wrong with the scale. So he drives to Wal-Mart and purchases a brand new one. He returned home, made sure that it was properly calibrated, and stepped on to ascertain his weight. The scale revealed that he weighed 262 pounds. It was not what he expected, but he accepted that as a good starting point for his newly renewed attempt at weight loss. For the next week he exercised and watched his food intake (to some extent).

After the week was over, he got back on the brand new, recently calibrated scale and determined that he weighed 272 pounds. Once again in a state of rage, he takes the scale into his garage, obtains a sledge hammer, and beats the scale until it is little more than springs, dials, and twisted metal.

Afterward, he travels to “Bed, Bath, and Beyond” to purchase a brand new state of the art scale. This time he is convinced he will get the results he wants.  He comes home with his new treasure, but this time he tries a new method of calibration. Instead of setting it to reflect zero with no weight on the device, he sets it to 42 pounds off of zero. Thus it was really set at negative 42 pounds every time he or any other person stepped on the bathroom scale.

After one week of exercise and very little monitoring of food intake, he stepped on the scale and weighed 240 pounds. He was very excited that he had lost ten pounds in about a three week period of time! In actuality, he weighed 282 pounds! By his own actions, devoid of an accurate graduate of weight (an authority), he invented his own truth.

Regardless of how many scales this man destroyed, manipulated, or changed, the truth remained that he was gaining weight instead of losing it. Many people seem to believe that they have arrived at the truth when they have invented it to suit their needs, wants, and desires. Sadly, this is the way many people treat God’s truth, the Bible.

Some people seek to destroy the truth. King Jehoiakim took out his pen knife cut God’s word into pieces and burned it in a fire.

“And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he [Jehoiakim] cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.”  Jeremiah 36:23-24.

The truth can be destroyed in various ways.

Some people attack God’s word by saying that it is not accurate, reliable, or trustworthy in regards to the way it was recorded and transmitted. The truth of the matter is that the history, archeology, geography, and terminology of the Bible is extremely accurate. The Bible has the greatest attestation of any book from antiquity. It is beyond compare in regards to criticisms that have been leveled and defeated by scholarly examination.

Over the centuries many have sought to manipulate the truth to suit their own needs. The Sanhedrin produced false witnesses that lied about Christ’s comments regarding His earthly tabernacle.

“And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together.” Mark 14:55-59

Their lie composed portion of the prevarications that nailed our Savior to the cross. Lies have consequences even for those who are not guilty of having told them.

Finally, some have boldly lied about God’s word and sought to change it to their own perverse ends. Sadly, there are people in the religious world who are guilty of this very thing. Balaam was courted by Balak for the purpose of bringing a curse upon the people.

“And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.” Numbers 22:16-17.

As a result of Balaam’s compliance in the whole affair, God showed His anger.

Notice how Balaam’s intentions are characterized by the angel of the Lord.

“And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine donkey these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: And the donkey saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.” Numbers 22:32-33

Balaam was running headlong into doing the very thing that displeased God. Balaam did not do it out of ignorance—he did it in spite of what he knew to be true.

Unlike Balaam, sometimes people do things through ignorance. Peter believed that there were individuals who were ignorant about the true identity of Jesus. He says, in Acts 3:14-15, 17,

“But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses… And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.”

Sadly ignorance will not be an excuse on the Day of Judgment (Luke 12.48).

The truth is a very precious thing, and it should never be taken for granted! John 8:31-32 says,

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Any honest, objective treatment of God’s truth will set one free from sin and death.

By Johnny O. Trail

Like others looking back, I can remember when gas was twenty cents; and bread was fifteen cents a loaf or less. You could ride the bus for six cents and go to the movie for thirty-five cents, and that included popcorn and a drink. I also remember Deanna’s dad telling me he had bought their house for only six hundred dollars.

We all have memories of how things used to be. I remember buying my first car, a 1950 Mercury. At the time the classified section of the newspaper was filled with hundreds of cars for sale for, you guessed it for $99.99.  At the time the car was seven years old, and I paid the $99.99.

Now in 2006, I bought another Mercury, again seven years old, the difference was this time I paid $13,000. So why the big difference?

I think we both know the answer to this question. That’s right; things were different, wages were much LOWER, a lot lower. At the time when I bought the 1950 Mercury, I was earning seventy-five cents an hour. Of course, when I purchased the 1999 Mercury, my salary was quite a bit more, as you would imagine.

Yes, things have changed, but as others have said, “as wages go up, prices go up.” Then because prices have gone up, wages go up, and the cycle starts again.

But here is some good news in our relationship with God, nothing changes. As I have mentioned other times, before the foundation of the world God had a plan.

From Eph. 1:3. “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”

As you read through the Old Testament, you will find 355 Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ starting with Gen. 3:15 and ending with Mal. 4:6 You can check it out yourself online at:

www.accordingtothescriptures.org/prophecy/353prophecies.html

In the New Testament, of course, you will find the fulfillment of each of the 355 prophecies. Also, 101 Scientific Facts & Foreknowledge can be found online at

http://www.eternal-productions.org/101science.html

As you read and study His Word, it becomes increasingly more evident that God’s plan for our salvation included and was centered around the death of His Son.

It is God that paid the price of our forgiveness, and He had planned it from the beginning. I can’t imagine in God’s mind and heart the anguish and sorrow He suffered knowing that at the right time or fullness of time as expressed in Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.”

Again, God knew the price that would be paid for my forgiveness, for your forgiveness, for the world: and as we know Christ died. Nothing less would meet the need.

So, while all of us can look back and see the cost of many, many things have changed, even in our lifetime, the price of our forgiveness remained the same.

All that remains is for you to be a follower unto death, to receive the crown of life as Paul expressed it. Now you must be one added to the number of the saved to start. Note with me Acts 2:47, “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

The question then becomes how we are saved? That, too, is very simple as we read Mark 16:16, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved, but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

       The Price Has Been Paid — But You Must Act. Have You?

Dick Brant

Prayer is one of the great privileges of God’s children. The Lord has an open-door policy. We may approach his throne at any time. We may ask anything of him, according to his will. We may express any sentiment from the heart. He hears and answers our prayers.

Besides being a great privilege, prayer is also a great duty of the Christian. It is required in order to maintain and strengthen our relationship with God. It is a must for advancing the gospel in the world. Brotherly love requires that we pray often for the family of faith.

One small indication of the duty of prayer comes from the Lord Jesus, as Luke introduces one of his parables.

“Then Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart” Luke 18.1.

The verb “should” comes from the Greek term dei. Danker’s revision of Bauer’s lexicon says that in this text it refers to “that which one should do …: one ought or should …” The versions usually translate it as ought, should, or must.

Though his teaching on salvation goes awry, R. C. Sproul has this right:

“… we need to establish that it is the sovereign God who not only invites us but commands us to pray. Prayer is a duty, and as we perform that duty, one thing for sure is going to be changed, and that is us. To live a life of prayer is to live a life of obedience to God.”

More than one’s own life will be changed. As prayer is focused toward the mission of God and the salvation of others, many will be saved.

This commandment to prayer, this duty of the Christian to pray without ceasing is not a heavy or burdensome thing, when he considers what powers it opens to him, what blessings come from it, and what omissions occur in his life when he refrains from it.

One teacher, never one to oversimplify or exaggerate, attempted to help his hearers understand the power of prayer by saying that prayer is the way to get things from God. He was not being materialistic. He sought to urge all disciples to pray at all times because it brings all the spiritual blessings in Christ to bear in his life. It also blesses others.

If Jesus needed prayer for himself, and if he saw the importance of praying for others, John 17; Luke 22.31-32, must not we require it as well?

Prayer, then, is an absolute must. We cannot survive without it. We cannot work successfully when we forget it or allow Satan to keep us from it. We cannot love properly when we neglect it.

Have you done your duty today?

J. Randal Matheny

Early on, as Jesus chose His apostles, taught truth, and worked miracles, His “mother and brothers” (Mark 3:31) were very concerned: “But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind” (3:21).

Why might they have thought that Jesus, as the New American Standard says, had “lost His senses”? Some possible ideas might be…

1. He had left His home, His business and any income.
2. He was on a collision course with the religious elite.
3. He had attracted a varied, strange group of followers.
4. He had started forgiving the sins of other people.

But these things, instead of making us think Jesus was crazy, lead us to appreciate Him all the more. Using the same four points we say…

1. He was willing to dismiss His own earthly security.
2. He was willing to set aside His own personal safety.
3. He was willing to live beyond the verdict of society.
4. In forgiving, He showed Himself to be God’s Son.

He was not crazy, beside Himself, or out of His senses. He knew what He was doing every step of the way. He was showing who He was.  And by example He was showing us how to live today!

– by Robert Hines

At his coming

“And now, little children, abide in him, that when he appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 2:28, NKJV).

I grew up singing old songs like “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain When She Comes,” and “If I Knew You Were Coming I’d of Baked a Cake.” These played on the anticipation of welcome visitors, and of the need and desire for preparation in light of that coming. When someone drops in unannounced we are often somewhat embarrassed because we cannot treat them the way we would like to, or because they may have caught us at a bad moment in terms of cleanliness or some other vital factor.

The Apostle John wrote of an expected visitor who has still not come, but whose arrival is promised and may be at any moment. He was speaking of Jesus, whose return to this earth to receive his people and bring judgement to those who have rejected him is promised repeatedly in the New Testament (John 14:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12). He is coming, but since no one knows when, many will be unprepared (2 Peter 3:10). The consequences of failing to be ready will be banishment and everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

For those who watch carefully for Jesus and abide in him (that is, believe in and trust him, following his commandments), his second coming will be a time of great joy. They will not be ashamed or embarrassed because they are not prepared to receive him. They will not look up to the skies in fear when he appears. There will be no dread of him. Rather they will greet him confidently as one who has been expected and whose appearance is welcome.

The verses of the song I remember from childhood focus on what one will see and do when “she comes around the mountain.” She will drive a carriage with six white horses, and her hosts will all be there with a warm welcome and a feast prepared. It will be a joyous occasion for all involved.

But all of our earthly experiences will pale beside the glorious appearing of the returning Savior. He will come with a shout and the blasts of trumpets, accompanied by angels. His coming will occasion the resurrection of the dead, and the ascension of the faithful to meet him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). None will fail to see him, or to be acutely aware of his presence. Rather it will be

“That every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).

The other childhood song told of what would have been done, “If I knew you were coming.” With regard to Jesus, we have that knowledge. We have no excuse to be unprepared. He warns us, “Watch therefore, for you know not the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13).

Michael Brooks

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 6:1).

Followers of Christ are forbidden from blasting our horns – doing our good works to be seen of men (Matthew 6:1).

Yet, Jesus also encouraged his disciples to illuminate the world, “that they may see your good works” (Matthew 5:16). Is this a contradiction?

Apparent contradictions are just that, apparent. Further thought and study reveals that there is no contradiction here.

In one breath, Jesus enjoins our participation in the world. Jesus himself attended festivals and weddings, attended synagogue, met with people in their homes and in town.

We are not to live as ascetics. Our participation in the world is visible. We embrace such and seek to enhance the experience of our fellow-man by bearing Christ everywhere we go. Our co-workers, our family, our neighbors, our friends, see Christ living in us. They often develop their impression of Christ – like it or not, justified or not – from us.

We must resist the urge to only turn inward to the comfort of like-minded saints. One day, such comforts will be ours. Until then, we are in the world and must bring Christ to it. As long as we are in the world, we are his light-bearers (Matthew 5:16). Being like him will be plenty noticeable.

Yet, in another breath, Jesus warns that such participation in the world must not be for its own sake. If doing any good – contributing to charity, visiting the sick, providing spontaneous gifts or acts of kindness – becomes an end in itself, a source of self-promotion and validation, we forfeit our Father’s reward.

Saints do not self-promote, either in person or on social media. They do not even own a horn, much less toot it. Such trumpeting is not only awkward but self-righteous. Self-righteousness and self-promotion do not draw men’s eyes upward to the Father, who will glorify and reward us in his good time (Matthew 5:16).

Rick Kelley

A man’s house was burning. At the first sign of smoke he had rushed out to buy a fire extinguisher. Before he returned, the roof and walls had collapsed, destroying all his furnishings.

A man’s doctor warned him of a bad heart condition. From the doctor’s office he went immediately to the insurance salesman, but he was refused in his attempts to provide financial protection for his wife and children.

A man was endowed by God with a strong, healthy body. Because his appetite was stronger than his moral convictions, he squandered his powers until dissipation brought him to weakness. Then disease struck and without a normal reserve of strength, he could not be cured by the surgeon of what would ordinarily have been a minor ailment.

A man had a Bible, knew the church was interested in him, had friends who regularly encouraged him to live more with God. With consistency, he made reasons not to, while his conscience grew fainter, and the black wrong and white right faded into medium gray. When the critical temptation came, he was only faintly aware of it, and certainly he had no moral reserve to resist it.

David said it this way: “For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him” (Psalm f2:6). Jesus said the same thing in describing the five foolish virgins (Matt. 25:1-1f).

When the operation begins, it is too late to take vitamin pills. When the battle begins, it’s too late to train the troops. When the flood waters rise, it’s too late to find a rock foundation. When Satan attacks, they can only resist who have put on their armor.

Memorize that verse now; when you need it, you won’t have time. Worship God this Lord’s Day; when you need that strength, you won’t have time. Repent of that sin now; when Christ comes, you won’t have time.  Renew your broken connection with the Lord now; at your funeral, you won’t have time. Become a Christian now; in the judgment day you won’t have time. Don’t be almost persuaded, but lost — obey the Lord and be saved!

– by James Cooper

According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the people of the United States spent $3.5 trillion, or 18 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product on healthcare.

Satan made a similar observation when talking to God about his servant Job when he said, “Skin for skin! Indeed, a man will give up all that he has to save his life” (Job 2:4 NET). Many people have done just that.

Jesus, however, said a person who truly loves his life would “destroy it” (John 12:25 NET). Guy N. Woods wrote, “… the Lord’s statement is paradoxical and means simply that he who appears to be little concerned about the preservation of his earthly life is really guaranteeing the permanence of his life in heaven.”/1

Many of Christ’s disciples lost their lives because they sincerely believed the truth of the gospel they obeyed. Many were tortured and suffered cruel deaths with a hymn of praise on their lips and prayer in their hearts because they knew the truth of the Son of God’s words in John chapter 12.

Did Jesus want to die? Of course not. No sane person wants to die. But Jesus knew he must die if others were to have the opportunity to obey the gospel and find salvation. Indeed, all who have obeyed the gospel since Jesus’ death on the cross have him to thank for his grace, mercy, and love in giving himself.

Jesus used the figure of the grain of wheat that can’t do any good at all until it enters the ground, dies and then becomes the seed that creates a plant that can bear hundreds of identical kernels.

Jesus knew the pain involved in his coming death. He wasn’t looking forward to it. But he knew the beautiful future he would bring to millions of people who would die to sin and live for God through his death, burial, and resurrection.

Have you thought about the possibility you might bring to the glory of God as a seed in the kingdom? Are you ready to take your place there at Jesus’ side?

1/ “Commentary on John, by Guy N. Woods, 1989 Gospel Advocate Company.

by John Henson

I’m sharing something a little different today.  Instead of a humorous story, my thoughts are based on a humorous picture.  Unfortunately, you can’t see the picture and will need to use your imagination:

The picture shows a Volkswagen Jetta that was photographed in November of 2000 in Waldorf, Maryland by a Transportation Supervisor for a company that delivers building materials.  When he saw this car in a parking lot, he went and bought a camera to take pictures.

The car was loaded both inside and on top with enough building supplies to build a small house!  In the back seat were 10 bags of concrete, each weighing 80 lbs. On the roof were a large number of 2X4s, 4X4s and plywood sheets.  Police estimated the load weight at 3000 lbs!  The weight of this load, however, had an effect.  Both back tires were trashed and the back shocks were driven up through the floorboard.

The driver of the car said he was headed to Annapolis.  It’s obvious, though, that he couldn’t have made it out of the parking lot, much less 40 miles up the road!

The picture is symbolic of many people in their relationship with God.  They carry a tremendous burden around with them.  There’s the burden of sin, the burden of guilt and shame, the burden of life’s trials, and the burden of trying to meet the expectations of others.

Sometimes people will turn to religion for relief, only to find that an even heavier burden is placed on them — the burden of keeping a long list of man-made rules and regulations.  As Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You load men with burdens hard to bear.” (Luke 11:46)  Eventually, your spiritual life can begin to resemble the automobile described above.  It’s hard to think about any long-range goals.  You feel like you’re doing well just to carry the load for one more day.

There is a solution, though.  Jesus Christ came into this world to bring relief.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30)

The choice is yours — to try to carry an unbearable burden, or to come to the One who can lighten that load.  May you find the relief in Him that you desperately seek!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Covid-19  (Thoughts About Returning To ‘Normal’)

Serious talk. Guys, I’m a little bit scared. When my elders announced we would be resuming class at the church building on Wednesdays, of course I was excited. BUT—and here’s what I debated sharing publicly because I’m embarrassed—there was a part of me that was disappointed about “having” to be at the building Wednesday again.

Disappointed.    Why? Because it’s been over 3 months since the church met together for Bible study. I’ve grown accustomed to coming home from work, eating dinner with the family, and then relaxing in the living room watching some sort of canned Bible study on my TV (with my family). I’ve officially gotten out of the habit of the family getting ready for Bible class and driving to the church building on Wednesdays. So there was a part of my heart that was actually disappointed—bummed—over the “burden” of going back to Bible study – and that scares me.

Of course I’m taking my family back. That’s not a question. I’m excited!  There’s no danger of me or my wife “falling away.”  I’ve just gotten out of the habit. And psychologically, my mind has grown accustomed to it. I don’t like this about my heart. And in my prayers, I ask God to rid my heart of sinful desires like this (like the desire to stay home when I can assemble, which is a heart problem).

Here are some other scary thoughts to me:

• What if I was 18? That time was an impressionable time for me. I look back, and I sometimes think I could have gone one way or another with my faith. I would have been vulnerable to this if this happened to me then. I NEEDED the assembly—every assembly.
• What if I was 5? Or 10? Or 13? Kids that are that age are going to remember this. And we have deprived them of assembling with the saints in some major, important ways.
• What if I was a new Christian? What if I was a weak Christian?

If I felt disappointment in my heart, think what others may be feeling at the thought of “going back to church.”

I still think the churches, collectively, did the right thing in postponing their assemblies for a number of weeks. But elders did this to better assess the situation. At first, because of the unknowns, the virus was a major concern. And it still is a concern. But over 3 months later, at what cost?

This virus isn’t going away any time soon. At some point, we need to think, “What is the end game?” Am I willing to be absent from the assembly of my church family for another month? Three more months? Six? 2021?  (Why even go to church anymore? Let’s sell the building and do everything online! Is that what some of us are good with??)

At some point, we have to ask: what’s a greater threat to the church: a virus? Or the effects “scattering” is having on the church after months of isolation?

I don’t want to oversimplify things. But if your conscience isn’t as burdened over this anymore, then—I say this kindly but bluntly as your brother in Christ—you have a heart problem. The virus is no longer the biggest danger in your life.

God designed His church to be an ASSEMBLING church. Online “worship,” while I’ve been thankful for it, will never be a substitute. His people need to be willing to take a little bit of RISK to follow His plan and ideal. We need to have a little bit of FAITH—not that God will miraculously protect us from getting the virus—but that assembling with His people is more pleasing to Him than cutting ourselves off from the church.

Let’s take safety measures. But I need “church.” I need to be in relatively close proximity to my brethren. I need the friendships. I need the encouragement. I need the congregational singing. I need the classes. I need the accountability. I need to hear YOU—in person—push me to keep going, “and all the more as we see the Day drawing near.”

Let’s not give Satan one more inch.

– by Ben Giselbach

A young man approached the foreman of a logging crew and asked for a job. “That depends,” replied the foreman. “Let’s see you fell this tree.” The young man stepped forward and skillfully felled a great tree.  Impressed, the foreman exclaimed, “You can start Monday!”

Several days rolled by. On Thursday afternoon the foreman approached the young man and said, “You can pick up your paycheck on the way out today.” Startled, he replied, “I thought you paid on Friday.”  “Normally we do,” answered the foreman, “but we’re letting you go today because you’ve fallen behind. Our daily felling charts show that you’ve dropped from first place on Monday to last on Wednesday.”

“But I’m a hard worker,” the young man objected. “I arrive first, leave last, and even have worked through my coffee breaks!” The foreman, sensing the boy’s integrity, thought for a minute and then asked, “Have you been sharpening your axe?” The young man replied, “I’ve been working too hard to take the time” (William D. Boyd, Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome).

There is great value in keeping our tools sharp. In his wisdom, Solomon talked about the futility of working with a dulled tool: “If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success” (Ecclesiastes 10:10).

At some point, we need to take time for ourselves to sharpen, strengthen, and improve. Sometimes in the church, we can get so focused on just being busy, that we’ve forgotten to keep ourselves sharp. We do many things, but few make a significant impact. Let’s not forget to take time to continue to learn, read, listen, and soak in spiritual knowledge.

It’s so important to sharpen our spiritual axes. The impact will always be greater than before.

Brett Petrillo

To Christians who were beginning to drift away, the writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:35, 36) The Christian life has been compared to a long distance race (Hebrews 12:1, 2). Because this race is for a lifetime we must “. . ..run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

There are some Christians who seem to think this marathon run is a one hundred meter sprint. They are active, zealous and energetic in the service of the Lord for just a short period of time. When it becomes difficult to remain in the Christian race, these sprinters fall out. They are like the rocky soil in the parable of the seed (Luke 8:13). The roots of truth and dedication did not run deep enough, which left the plant susceptible to destruction when conditions worsened. Christians have been prepared to run the race even when things become difficult. We must understand that being a Christian will not always be easy. We must be ready to push on no matter what may come our way.

Other Christians seem to have forgotten that this Christian race is a marathon race to the end of life, also. While they don’t see it as a sprint, they view it as a middle distance race. Maybe they think the race is only 1600 meters when in reality it is twenty-seven miles. It is easy for Christians to begin dropping out of the race when life becomes too busy. It is easy for Christians to begin to huff and puff and struggle when they begin to devote themselves to the riches and pleasures of life. These Christians are like the seed that had good, strong roots, but were choked out by the thorns (Luke 8:14). These thorns are the “cares, riches, and pleasures of life.” (Luke 8:14)

The Christians addressed by the book of Hebrews were those who had shown themselves to be very strong and dedicated at one point in their lives (Hebrews 10:32-34). However, time had taken its toll upon the church and Christians began to slip away (Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:13). They were not prepared for a long distance run. They had not dedicated themselves to run the race throughout the rest of their lives no matter how long and how difficult the race might have become. The writer of Hebrews, acting like their coach, told them about men and women in the past who had run long distances for the Lord despite much difficulties (Hebrews 11). Those who had run the race in the past are now figuratively cheering Christians on as we run the race (Hebrews 12:1).

I hope you are in the race to win. I hope you are in the race to complete the distance. If you don’t complete the distance you may as well have never started. When your spiritual legs are weary, when your spiritual heart is aching, when your spiritual lungs are heaving, and when your spiritual feet are tired, keep running. Don’t look back. Just keep running. Don’t give up. Just keep running. “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:36)

By Kevin V. Rutherford

James’s three-pronged advice appears, at first glance, to help improve human relationships. It certainly would improve them, were we to apply it to how we deal with others. Not a few sermons and classes take this approach. But attention to context places us on a different plane.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; James 1.19.

In the previous verse, James focused on God’s word of truth as the means by which we were given spiritual life. The new birth comes by his word, the gospel, 1 Peter 1.23; see Ephesians 5.26. He comes back to that word in verse 21, as the instrument of God’s salvation. So the context establishes that James does not have in mind human relationships, but God’s work to save us.

So James wants us to know what we should do with God’s word.

First, we must hear it, and that right speedily.

Hearing means heeding and obeying God’s word. From the beginning of time, the Lord has sent his servants to tell people to pay attention to what he says. James wrote to saints. While we tell non-Christians that the first step to salvation is to hear the Word, James is telling us that Christians ought to hear it as well. Listening to God is as much a condition to salvation for disciples as it is for those outside of Christ.

We must continue to be guided by God’s word, transformed by it, enlivened by it. If salvation is past, present, and future, the Word, as his instrument to save, must be ever welcomed in our hearts and practiced in our bodies, v. 21.

Second, we must be slow to speak it.

If the Christians’ task is to proclaim the word of God, why must we be slow to speak it? After all, we must “always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about” our hope, 1 Peter 3.15.

James is all about practicing our faith. Before we open our mouths, we ought to be sure that our lives are demonstrating the Good News and that no inconsistency appears to those who hear.

We ought to not only know what we’re talking about, 2 Timothy 2.15, but be sure we are living the truth and showing the love of God. The imitation of Christ serves as a powerful illustration of the necessary words of salvation.

Third, we must not let our self-righteous ego crowd it out of our lives.

Anger expresses the human ego’s disappointments, frustrations, resentments, and bitterness. When anger explodes in the heart, it reduces God’s word to shattered fragments that can no longer effect the transformation he desires.

Because of that, his righteousness cannot be produced in us, nor will it be extended to others. From the angry heart come angry words, and not words of salvation. Anger is a killer, not a giver of life. Thus, it has no place in a disciple’s soul.

These are actions we should know about and put into place. They will ensure that we continue to be enlivened by God’s Spirit and saved by his Word.

J. Randal Matheny

    The movie War Room came out in 2015. Movie critics did not like it but it ended up grossing $74 million worldwide, including $67.8 million domestically. The movie revolves around a couple, Tony and Elizabeth, who have a daughter named Danielle. Tony is a pharmaceutical salesman, a high pressure job that keeps him away from home, his wife, and his daughter. He is verbally abusive and is thinking about cheating on his wife.

    Elizabeth is a realtor who comes under the influence of a Miss Clara, an elderly woman who believes in the power of prayer. Miss Clara encourages Elizabeth to fight for their marriage by praying for Tony. Miss Clara has a special “inner room,” a closet which she dedicates to prayer – it is her “war room.”

    Miss Clara states: “in order to stand up and fight the enemy, you need to get on your knees and pray.”

    The movie ends with Tony giving Elizabeth her favorite dessert while he gives her a foot massage and Miss Clara now lives with her son, praying in the still of the night.

    Giving to the poor. Praying. Fasting. Tonight, we’re going to spend time with Jesus’ instructions from the sermon on the mount relative to these three spiritual disciplines. Let’s turn to Matthew 6.

RIGHTEOUSNESS TO BE NOTICED – 6:1:

    Jesus had just said in Matt 5:14-16 that we are to allow our lights to shine on a hill, allow our lights to be visible, so that others may see our good works, and glorify the Father in heaven. So, what is the difference?

    The difference is found in the motivation between the two texts. In Matt 5:16, the motivation is to bring glory to God, to draw people’s attention to Jehovah God. But the motivation in this passage is to be noticed by men.

    This human urge to be praised by men, or at least accepted by men, is a very strong urge and it is universal. Paul wrote in Galatians 1:10: “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

GIVING IN SECRET – 6:2-4:

    “Give to the poor…” is all one word in the original language. It is from the same word family as the word “mercy.” Notice its use in Acts 3:6; 9:36; and 10:2, 4, 31.

    So God expects us to give charitably to others, not necessarily so no one sees us but our motivation should be to bring glory to God. Jesus says these are hypocrites, that is, they are insincere. They have deceived themselves into believing that if they give liberally and get praised by men, then God is also pleased with their behavior.

PRAYING IN THE INNER ROOM – 6:5-8:

    First, Jesus is not condemning public prayer. Nor is He condemning audible prayers in public. Jesus and the church both prayed publicly and prayed audibly. But, again, the challenge is to pray not to be seen of men. Even when we pray publicly, we don’t need to pray in such a way as to encourage people to be impressed with our Christianity, with our theological depth, or our biblical knowledge. Prayer is us talking to God and if we are talking to God, we have no basis for praying in a “showy” way. God cannot be impressed with us and we should not try to impress Him or to impress others. 

    The fact of the matter is, our words themselves will not compel God to respond to our prayers nor is it our body posture that can compel God to respond to our prayers. It is our relationship to God through Jesus Christ and God’s perfect love for us and perfect knowledge of what is best for us that compels God’s response to our prayers.

FASTING UNOBSERVED – 6:16-18:

    Jesus, other than during the temptation, never fasted. The Pharisees criticized Jesus for not fasting in Matt 9:14-15 and in that context, Jesus suggests His disciples will fast, at least during the few days Jesus was dead. In OT times, of course, the Jews would put on sackcloth and sit in ashes. 

    But Christ’s disciples, if they fast, need to anoint their head and wash their face: clean the body, so that no one will notice they are fasting.

    Let us make sure that the good works we do are done to honor our Savior, and not to draw attention to ourselves.

Paul Holland

Two older gentleman were talking and one said to the other, “You’re having an anniversary soon, right?”

The other replied, “Yup, a big one… 20 years.”

“Wow,” said the other, “what are you going to get your wife for your anniversary?”

The other replied, “I’m giving her a trip to Australia.”

“Wow, Australia, that’s some gift!” said the other man.  “That’s going to be hard to beat.  What are you going to do for your 25th anniversary?”

“Go back and get her.”

My 20th anniversary has already passed, but maybe I can keep this mind as I celebrate my 28th in a few months.  🙂

Truly, those of us who are married know that God has given us such a beautiful blessing.  My wife has been by my side through good times and bad.  She has been my confidante, my sounding board, my support, my closest friend for over two decades.  She deserves a medal of some sort for all that I have put her through, despite the fact that I often fail to live up to the standard that has been set forth for me. What is that standard?

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.” (Eph. 5:25)

What a lofty goal for those of us who are husbands!

Christ, thank you for the love you have shown those of us who are a part of your church, and please help me to show that same level of love and sacrifice to the one who is so dear to my heart.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird’s chest.

After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, “I’m sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away.”

The distressed woman wailed, “Are you sure?” “Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead,” replied the vet..

“How can you be so sure?” she protested. “I mean you haven’t done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something.”

The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.

The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.

The vet looked at the woman and said, “I’m sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck.”

The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman. The duck’s owner, still in shock, took the bill. “$150!” she cried, “$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!”

The vet shrugged, “I’m sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it’s now $150.”

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A $20 bill turned into $150. She should have left well enough alone. Have you ever felt like you should have left well enough alone?

The writer of Ecclesiastes tells of a situation similar to this:

“Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22  For many times, also, your own heart has known That even you have cursed others. ” (Ecclesiastes 7:21-22)

Why does he make this strange statement? Why would you not want to know if you servant has cursed you. He indicates the answer in verse 22, “Even you have cursed others.”

It reminds us of what Jesus said about seeing the fault of others and not your own. Luke 6:41-42  And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

There is another reason we might not need to know that someone has cursed us. We may act rashly and do something we regret later. The one cursing us might have done so and regretted it later just as you might have done in the past. It would have been best to leave well enough alone.

May we be careful about thinking we need to do something when it is better left alone.

– Larry Pasley

    There is a joyous note throughout the Bible. For example, Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 126:5-6; Galatians 5:22. “Praise the Lord” is on the lips of all the saints. Although a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief, Jesus, nevertheless, experienced an unspeakable joy, for example (Johan 15:11). Now let us consider four points on this subject.

THE JOY OF JESUS:

    The middle ages may have been responsible for the sad-looking pictures which aver to portray His likeness. But it is unthinkable that He would be different from the attitude which He taught His disciples to maintain (Matt. 5:10-12).

    You may ask in what did the joy of Jesus consist? In at least three things:

    (1) The joy of perfect obedience (John 5:30; 8:29).

    (2) The joy of intimate fellowship with the Father (John 14:8-9).

    (3) The joy of a redemptive ministry (Luke 15:3-7; 19:10).

CHRISTIANITY IS A JOYFUL RELIGION:

    It is obvious, in the light of both the Scriptures and human experience, that the nonjoyous disciple is lacking in something (Acts 16:25; 2 Corinthians 7:4; Phil. 2:17-18).

IN WHAT DOES THE JOY OF THE CHRISTIAN CONSIST?

    First of all, spiritual joy arises from within the soul, and does not depend on the outward circumstances of life. Since the Christian is a follower of Christ, his joy should be like that of his Master (John 17:13). Therefore, in seeking the joy of Jesus, he will strive to be more like Him, rather than ask if he may do this or that and still please Him (Rom. 8:9).

THE CHRISTIAN’S HIGHEST JOY:

    There is no joy that is comparable with that which issues from Christ-like ministrations. However, it seems that but few church members really experience such joy today.

    For the sake of emphasis, let us consider some of the great joys which are common to humanity, quite apart from Christianity.

    The joy of achievement – for example, Lindbergh’s flight to Paris, the Columbia and Discovery space shuttles. Paul had a hard time learning to ride his bike. Timothy has just learned how to tie his shoes [here, Dad refers to me, in kindergarten, and my younger brother, ph].

    The joy of discovery – Christopher Columbus, penicillin, the polio vaccines and other drugs are examples.

    The joy of relieving those who are in great distress, the affirmation of anyone who ministers to human sufferings.

    The highest joy of the Christian is experienced as he becomes a co-laborer with Jesus in the redemption of mankind from the bondage of sin.

    The greatest effort that any Christian can make is to help save souls, both his own and those of others. And he can have no greater joy than that which grows out of this endeavor (Matt. 16:25-26; Prov. 11:30; Dan. 12:3; James 5:19-20).

If just one soul were saved to him, just one,
By any effort I have made, or work have done:
That’s worth a life of earnest toil or sorrow,
To waken to the gladsome light of such a morrow.

If just one soul were saved to Christ from evil’s blight,
And that soul leading to the light still other souls;
Father, Mother, children win each to the end of time —
Leading souls to him —
It makes one’s heart to yearn and eyes grow dim
To think of saving just one soul to him.

Anonymous
The late Wayne Holland

Who was the U.S. President that was shot on March 31, 1981? Surely, most people reading this would be able to correctly respond, “Ronald Reagan.” But what if I were to ask for the name of the Washington D.C. police officer who stepped in front of President Reagan and took a bullet that was intended for the President?  Could you tell me his name?  I’m guessing that most people would not be able to recall his name.

This is just one example of countless individuals who have made notable differences in the world, but who have all but been forgotten by history. The Bible records one such example in Acts 9:23-25. The Jews in Damascus were so angry with Paul, they plotted to kill him (Acts 9:23). The Jews had all the exits to the city watched, day and night, to catch Paul. But learning of the plot, some nameless brethren let Paul down through the city wall in a large basket (Acts 9:25). Had these nameless brethren not been willing to hold the ropes for Paul, his ministry may have been snuffed out before it even started.

Then there’s your story. You may never be in the limelight. Your name may never become a household name, but you can make an eternal difference in the lives of countless people. You may not be the next “apostle Paul,” but you can hold the rope, can’t you? May I encourage you to stop focusing on what you can’t do and your limitations, and look around you and “grab a rope!”

by Steve Higginbotham