Everyone likes to receive credit when they do something special. We all like recognition, but is that a scriptural aspiration? Let me explain what I mean.

I know a man; someone I have known for many years. He is a good man, a Christian, and also generous. The problem with this man is that he craves recognition. If he gives money, he wants everyone to know that he gave and gave a large amount. If he does a favor for someone, he often reminds them of it. His employees work hard for him, but he doesn’t recognize or reward them. He reminds me of the man Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-2 KJV3). In verse 21, Jesus says it is the man who does the will of the Father that will be rewarded. I do not believe that seeking recognition is the will of the Father.

I believe there is a lesson to be learned from not being recognized for things we do. Recognition seems to make one crave more. It creates a feeling of, “Look what I did”, with the emphasis on “I.” The lessons of humility Jesus taught would seem to fit this way of thinking.

Think about the number of times God delivered the people of Israel from destruction. It wasn’t usually great numbers of men, horses, chariots, and weapons. Often it was something simple, like in the case of Gideon. For him, it was 300 men, some lanterns, trumpets, and torches. In the case of Samson, it was the jawbone of a donkey. For Jael, it was a tent stake. With Shamgar, it was an oxgoad. We have no record that any of these received recognition, other than a casual mention of their obedience. The victory belonged to the Lord, not to a man or a woman.

We do have instances where the battle belonged to the Lord, and man took the credit. King David was the recipient of much recognition. He accepted the praise of the people for killing more than King Saul. He often referenced God as the one to whom honor was due, but he also did some things that made him seem responsible for success. He wanted to number his men. He wanted to know how many valiant men he had, how many horsemen, how many with bow and arrows, and how many with spears. That was a mistake. Battles were not won or lost because of numbers but rather God’s support or lack of it.

Nebuchadnezzar took the credit for building the great nation of Assyria. You remember, of course, that God put him in a field to graze with the animals. He learned the hard way that he would have nothing without God.

The disciples experienced this same need for recognition. James and John wanted special places in the kingdom. Jesus quickly asked them if they could endure what He would have to endure, even dying the way He would die. They responded that they could, though they had no idea what they were saying. They and their mother wanted honor and recognition for themselves.

The disciples asked Jesus on another occasion, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1). Jesus told them that the greatest is the one who humbles himself, the one who is child-like in his attitude.

When we seek recognition, we are not obeying the command to be humble. When we give, we must give cheerfully and out of love. When we bring someone to Christ, we must give the praise and glory to God. After all, He gives the increase (First Corinthians 3:6).

Whether it is the defeat of a nation, a promotion, an honor for service, or the conversion of a soul, the honor belongs to the Lord. Our lives are a battle; and should we win the battle, the victory belongs to the Lord.

What the Lord wants is for us to show our faith in Him. Faith outweighs numbers. That is why we pray. We have faith that God will answer our prayers and that He will give us the results that are best for us and for His will to be fulfilled.

So, the next time you or I are feeling like we need a little recognition for a success, we need to place the victory where it belongs—on the Lord.

Sandra Oliver

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12.1-2

You cannot hit a target without taking aim. How often does a hunter miss his prey because he takes his eyes off the target! It is essential that he keep his eye focused on where he is aiming.

You have to focus on Jesus, the source of faith, which comes through the knowledge that you have of him, Romans 10.17. He is the pioneer that cleared the path enabling you to return to God, Hebrews 12.2. Jesus makes salvation possible.

Jesus was able to accomplish what he did because he knew himself. He knew where he had come from. He knew who he was. He knew where he was going. He was able to serve others without losing his identity, John 13.2-5. So many people have forgotten, if they ever really knew, who they were, who they are, and where they want to go.

The decision to follow Jesus is one that you must make daily, Luke 9.23. You will endure hardship in this life. However, instead of letting it discourage you, consider it as discipline knowing that God disciplines you because he loves you, Hebrews 12.7. Just as you discipline your child because you love him, God disciplines us.

Where is your focus? For what are you aiming?

by Vicki Matheny

In the fall, Bob and I travelled to West Virginia to be a part of the West Virginia School of Preaching Lectureship. It was a rewarding week of study in the book of Psalms. Each day the ladies of the Hillview Terrace church of Christ prepared lunch for us. These kind ladies cooked, served, and cleaned up with such joy that it made you look forward to seeing them each day.

I didn’t notice the first day or two, but there was a little girl about eight years old that helped the ladies in the kitchen. One day she poured drinks, and the other days she picked up plates. She happily went about her tasks with a smile on her face, eager to be of service.

On the last day, I went up to her to thank her for being such a good hostess. She seemed to not know how to take the compliment. She was so engrossed in her tasks that it never occurred to her that she would be thanked. After I talked with her, one of the ladies complimented her on the cookies she had made for lunch that day. She said, “thank you” and went on about her chores. I mentioned to one of the ladies how helpful this little girl had been, and she told me she had been doing that since she was very small.

What a joy this sweet little girl was to all of us that week. I told her that being a servant is something she would be doing the rest of her life. She seemed to not understand that, and I told her that is one of the blessings of being a Christian woman. How I hope she will continue in her service.

Though I know Martha often gets a lot of criticism for her “much serving” and little listening, she was trying to be a good hostess. She just needed a little priority adjustment. We could use more women who understand the joy of serving over leading.

We need to think about this little girl the next time we are preparing a fellowship meal or having guests in our homes. We need to include our children and let them learn the valuable lesson of hospitality.

I often think of the women who followed Jesus and the disciples and cared for their needs. That would have been a tremendous job to feed the disciples and Jesus, keep their clothes clean, and maybe prepare food for their travels. Though they did not see and hear everything, they served in the way they could.

Sandra Oliver

“Can a horrible person who has done horrible things be saved?” The short answer is, “Yes.” Both the Old and New testaments record the lives of many such people.

How can this be? Again, the short answer is, “Jesus Christ.” When Jesus died on the cross, He died for the sins of the whole world throughout the ages of planet earth! Colossians 1:21-23 speaks directly to this biblical fact. “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and irreproachable in His sight – if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I Paul, became a minister” (NKJV).

King Manasseh of Judah has been described as the prodigal king of the Old Testament, who seemed to have been a man of policy. He had a policy of idolatry, immorality, persecution and destruction. The introduction to Manasseh in 2 Kings 21:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-2 are virtually identical, the exception being his mother’s name is mentioned in the Kings account. “Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. But he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.”

God had told the children of Israel through the prophets, Moses being the first, that they needed to understand why these nations were being cast out. Moses told them in Deuteronomy 9:5-6, “It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore, understand that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.” King Manasseh was without question one of the most stubborn and rebellious kings that Judah ever produced! He did not walk in the steps of his father Hezekiah, who was a faithful and an obedient king during his entire 29-year reign (2 Kings 18-2 Kings 20).

The account in 2 Kings 21:1-18 covers the reign and death of Manasseh. The account in 2 Chronicles 33:1-20 covers his reign, his captivity, his repentance and restoration, and his death. Both accounts are virtually identical covering Manasseh’s reign in Judah. The major difference comes in God’s pronouncement of doom upon Jerusalem in 2 Kings 21:10-15.

And the LORD spoke by His servants the prophets, saying, “Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, he has acted more wickedly than all the Amorites who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols… Behold, I am bringing such calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it both his ears will tingle. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab; I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish wiping it and turning it upside down.”

The accounts in 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 33 in the first several verses catalog the horror that Manasseh brought into Jerusalem. God had told David and Solomon that they had to be careful to do all that He had commanded them, according to the whole law – the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses. Manasseh outrightly rejected all of God’s commandments, statutes and ordinances! Second Kings 21:16 concludes by describing the vileness of this man. “Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin with which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD.” The concluding verse of his abominable behavior in 2 Chronicles 33:9 records, “So Manasseh seduced Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.”

Second Chronicles 33:10-13 records Manasseh’s captivity and repentance.

And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen. Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon. Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him, and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

The repentance of Manasseh is noteworthy! It is a striking example of harsh stubbornness, formidable pride and ugly arrogance being stripped away during God’s reckoning with evil! When we continue in persistent unfaithfulness, God will stretch out His hand against it! Psalm 119:67, 71 say it best. “Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.”

Manasseh spent the remainder of his life mending his past actions. Second Chronicles 33:14-16 records his restoration efforts.

After this he built a wall outside the City of David on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate; and it enclosed Ophel, and he raised it to a very great height. Then he put military captains in all the fortified cities of Judah. He took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem; and he cast them out of the city. He also repaired the altar of the Lord, sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.

Can a horrible person who has done horrible things be saved? Yes!

I conducted a study on the New Testament books that call sin by its various names. From Matthew to Revelation, 13 of the 27 books have actual listings in certain chapters, literal types or categories of sins. For this writing, I will cite only Romans 1:18-32. Anyone who really wants to know how God sees sin will read every word of those 15 verses. They will come away with the realization that what we may think is okay is an abomination in God’s sight! Any of us reading this list will find ourselves repeatedly. For my sons, it was the “disobedient to parents,” that was the most jaw dropping! God is and will continue to be God. He wants us to know Him as He has been revealed.

Can a person who has lived a horrible life doing horrible things be saved? Yes! How? Through obedience to the Gospel message. The Gospel is the good news about how Christ came into the world to save sinners, which indicts all of us! To become a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords one must:

• Hear the truth of the Gospel – “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans10:17).
• Believe that Jesus died for your sins – “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24).
• Repent of all your sins – “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
• Confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God – “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).
• Be baptized into Christ – “There is also an antitype which now saves us – baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).

Before Christ, we had a horrible past, but now we have a great present because of Christ, and we look to Christ for a wonderful, eternal future!

Marilyn LaStrape

The holidays are fast approaching

with joy and happiness displayed everywhere.

As we get to the end of this old year,

we can turn everyday to God in prayer

that He will bless us continually

throughout all of this next year,

that we can be more at peace each day

and no longer be filled with unrest and fear.

For there is always hope for tomorrow

as long as we have the Lord by our side,

until the end of our days.

And someday we will be reunited

with our loved ones who have gone on before.

What a glorious day that will be

to live in heaven forevermore.

Josh. 1:9 – Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Debora Robbins 

Have you ever known anyone that was blind? I once met a lady that was deaf, dumb, and blind. She was an incredible woman who faithfully attended worship, signed with her hands, and smiled as though she was a normal individual.

I can’t imagine what it would be like to live like that. I appreciate the ability to hear, see, and speak, as I am sure all who have those abilities do. I wonder, however, how well we use those gifts. Do we use them to their best advantages? I wonder if we don’t misuse any or all of these more than using them for the purpose God intended. Notice that God gave us two ears, two eyes, and just one mouth. I think that fact speaks for itself.

As we begin a new year, I want us to think particularly about our eyes and what we will see in 2022. It really depends on us to determine what will catch our attention in the year ahead. We will certainly continue to see people in masks, failed businesses, homeless men and women begging on street corners, and many other signs of the ongoing pandemic. We can easily see that our world has been forever changed. We can, however, just as easily see the good things; and that is what I want us to see.

In the book of First Corinthians, Paul was writing to fellow Christians about collecting money to send to the church in Jerusalem. The churches in Galatia were doing the same thing, taking up money to support the less fortunate. Paul says that he will accompany those whom they, the church in Corinth, select to carry these funds to their fellow Christians. He promises to visit with the Christians at Corinth after making a trip through Macedonia. He says he plans to stay through the winter with them so they can encourage him on his journey. Then Paul says something that gives me the basis for saying that our eyes are for seeing. He says, “But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (First Corinthians 16:8-9 ESV).

Paul was looking forward to visiting Corinth, taking their contributions to Jerusalem, and visiting with the Christians in the City of David. His plans were temporarily changed because he “saw” an opportunity. A door was opened, and he saw that there were adversaries in the way of the opportunity. So, he stayed where he could do the most good.

I suggest that we all miss opportunities. We miss them either because we don’t recognize them, or we simply ignore them. I think we ignore them because we see adversaries; and we either don’t want to deal with them or don’t know how.

We need to look for opportunities to share the gospel, opportunities to serve, opportunities to be kind. All of these represent an opportunity to show our Christianity to those with whom we come in contact.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked about our example to the world. He said, “You are the light of thee world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

As we begin the new year, may we choose as our primary resolution to open our eyes and see opportunities to be a light to others. After all, Jesus commanded it.

Sandra Oliver

Most of my life, I’ve heard that I should be memorizing Scripture. From Bible class teachers, parents, college professors, and more. Some Scriptures you hear and read so much, you don’t have to work to memorize it. You already know it. It’s already written on your heart. And if you’ve used the same Bible for years, you can probably even find exactly which verse you’re looking for not by the book name or chapter, but by the location on the page. There are many places in Scripture that we can find the author encouraging the reader to memorize Scripture. But why?

“Why is it so important to memorize Scripture if I have access to the Bible at all times?”

Well, there’s actually more than one answer to that question…

1. Because God said so. This is one of those answers we probably heard as children. And the principle remains, God is our Father and we must do what He says. Thankfully, the things He says are out of love and give us many blessings. His commands are a blessing!

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

2. Because of others’ examples:

-Jesus memorized Scripture

Matthew 21:42- Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

-David memorized Scripture

Psalm 119:11- “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

3. We don’t know that we will always have easy access to the Bible. 

What if in our lifetime, having a Bible wasn’t legal anymore? Sounds dramatic and probably a little conspiracy theory-ish, but when I was a kid, had you told me that one day, God would be taken out of schools and our country would be run by people who wanted this, I wouldn’t have believed you. But we are living in a world where that is unfortunately becoming the norm. If there is a chance that we could have our Bibles taken and wouldn’t be able to remember what they say without them right in front of us, shouldn’t we be memorizing everything they say and writing them on our hearts so we can always have them as guidance, even if not as physical guides?

4. That we may not sin against God.

Psalm 37:31 says, “The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.” And in chapter 119:11, the psalmist writes, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” We should meditate on and memorize Scripture so that we won’t sin against God. If His Word is what we think about more often that what we see on TV or on our phones, we will be a lot more aware of our behaviors and our speech, and our character will be more like God’s.

But how??

Most people say that are not good at memorization. But I bet you would be surprised at how good you could be if you just stuck with it! Here are a few ways you can try for yourself:

1. Just the first letters

Something that has worked for me is just writing the first letter of each word.

For example: Using the verse listed above, Ps. 119:11, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you,” we will just take out the first letter of each word:

IHSUYWIMH,TIMNSAY

P119:11

That way, you can have a little help without seeing the whole word! You can write these letters on post-it notes throughout your house and every time you see them, you must recite the verse out loud. I have even written the letters on my hand before so I can practice throughout the day when not at home.

2. Bible Memory Apps (just search for this and you will find several options!)
3. Spiral Index Card Notebook– writing is a great way to learn a verse- and you can quiz yourself with this format!
4. Dry Erase Board– write the verse out and erase one word at a time, seeing how many times you can recite it, as you take away more and more words.

Scripture Memorization doesn’t have to be dull! There are many ways to commit the Bible to memory and you will be blessed for writing it on your heart!

Share with us what methods you have used to memorize Scripture!

By Janelle Pollard

Discontentment keeps us from being satisfied.

• The job you were thankful to land is no longer good enough.
• Stay-at-home moms resent being stuck at home.
• Moms who work outside the home grumble about never having enough time to get things done at home.
• Preachers’ wives and elders’ wives resent the demands on their time or the time their husband gives to others.
• Bible class teachers resent being stuck in the same classroom for years.

What once were viewed as blessings or opportunities to serve can become sources of disgruntlement!  Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we are God’s people and that should satisfy us (Psa. 65:4; Prov. 19:23).

Discontentment blinds us to the blessings found in Christ.

• Hope and glory (Eph. 1:18)
• Grace (2 Cor. 9:8)
• Strength (Eph. 3:16)
• Love and fullness (Eph. 3:17-19)
• Might (Eph. 1:19)
• Peace (Phil. 4:7)

Those who are focused on self find the flaws and see only inadequacies.  Even these blessings are no longer good enough.  Contentment reflects a heart that focuses on God’s blessings and trusts Him with the rest.

Discontentment is a sign of a weakened spiritual state.  In the passages that command us to be content, we see a direct correlation between our level of contentment and our relationship with God.

• Heb. 13:5- Make sure your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He himself has said, “I will never desert you nor will I forsake you.”  Contentment is based on God’s promise to be with us.  He will never turn His back on us, and that should be enough.
• Phil. 4:11- I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  How could Paul do that?  By relying on Christ’s strength (v. 13).  Discontentment happens when we try to rely on our own strength.
• 1 Tim. 6:6ff- Godliness with contentment is great gain…If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.  Paul goes on to write that those who long for more have wandered away from the faith.

Be content.  Who are you most drawn to…those who find fault and are never satisfied or those who are grateful and content?  When we choose to be content, we lift up the cross and draw others to Christ (John 12:32).  When we give in to discontentment, we keep the world from seeing the blessings of being in Christ (Rom. 10:12).

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities

Who heals all your diseases

Who redeems your life from destruction

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies

Who satisfies you with good things.

–Psalm 103:2-5

Suggestions for the Week:

1.  List the blessings found in these verses:  Rom. 15:13; Eph. 1:7,8; 2:7; 3:20; Psa. 119:165
2.  If discontentment has taken root in your heart, determine the cause.  Have you become self-absorbed?  Have you allowed bitterness to color your thinking?  Are you caught up in the world’s mindset of always wanting more?
3.  Read Rom. 12:2.  How is this verse tied to contentment?
4.  As a parent or grandparent, focus this week on teaching contentment.  Be mindful of ways you might be inadvertently encouraging discontentment.

   Kathy Pollard

But since they found no way to carry him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on the stretcher through the roof tiles right in front of Jesus. Luke 5.19

What is your level of determination? Do you carry things through to the end even though it costs you more time and effort than you anticipated? Or do you lose interest when the going gets difficult and challenging?

Jesus had returned to Capernaum. When the news spread that he was at home, so many people gathered there that there was no longer any room, not even by the door, Mark 2.1-2. He was teaching those who were present.

by Vicki Matheny