There is a story about a father building his daughter a wheelchair from the ground up after she got paralyzed in a car crash. Her father was willing to do all the research and put all the time in to building a wheelchair for his daughter who he loved so much. I don’t think I would trust my dad to make me a wheelchair, but this father demonstrates the love he has for his daughter and the lengths he would go to to keep her safe. We are told in multiple different ways how deep the Father’s love is. As the song goes, “Why should I gain from His reward I cannot give an answer.” I want to share just three points with you tonight why we gained from his reward.

The first one is that His love is so deep that He created us. Genesis 1:27 says that God created man in His image. Since we are made in God’s image, we are His special creation. In return for Him to love us so much we need to love Him and obey Him.

Then when we messed up God loved us so much that He gave His only Son for our sins (John 3:16). He was willing to do anything for us as His children. I know this is a point that is used a lot. Would you give your son? Not just your son, but your only son. Now I don’t have children but I’m sure that if I did that I would not be willing to do that. If you go on to verse 17 it says that He did it so that we might be saved. If we do what is commanded here on earth we will have an eternal home.

The third point we gained from his reward was because he loved us so much that He wanted us to have an eternal home with Him. Go back to John 3:16. It says that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Now going back to the example I gave just a moment ago. I don’t think I will ever love anyone enough to give my son. Now let’s back up for a minute and ask ourselves why do we not love each other that much? We are all God’s creation so we should love others like God tells us.

Thinking back to my childhood when my dad would get mad at me I failed to realize that he loved me enough to help me do right. God loves me enough to give me the opportunity to stand up here and give this devo. And God loves everyone of us enough to give His only Son for our foolishness.
And now our job is to love Him so much to obey his laws.

Kason Eubanks

When the storms of life descend on us, sometimes our faith turns to doubting. When all looks dark and without hope, what do we hold on to? The apostle Paul went through storms in his life, not only mental and emotional but physical ones as well.

In Acts 27 we have one of the most detailed accounts of a storm at sea from the first century. Historians such as William Ramsey have pointed out the authenticity of what Luke recorded.

“Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. ‘For the last fourteen days,’ he said, ‘you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food – you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.’ After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. Altogether there were 276 of us on board. When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.” (Acts 27:33-38)

Can you imagine being in a storm at sea for two weeks? Having crossed the ocean twice on ocean liners when I was a child, my family and I experienced storms at sea. I can still remember the queasy feeling and the seasickness that came as a result when the ship we were on was being tossed this way and that. You didn’t feel like eating anything. It was such a relief when the storm was gone the next day!

Paul and those with him were on a much smaller ship and the storm lasted for two weeks. No wonder he had to urge them to eat – I’m sure they hadn’t felt like eating with the ship being tossed about by the storm.

Notice Paul’s faith and hope in all of this. “Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head” he told them – but they needed the strength to survive. Where did Paul get this calm assurance to face this storm and to encourage others?

His faith and assurance was because of his trust in God. Earlier he had encouraged them to keep up their courage.

“But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” (Acts 27:22-25)

You might point out that we aren’t the apostle Paul and should not expect an angel to arrive to give us courage – and that is true. But I would suggest it wasn’t the angel as much as God’s word that gave him courage: he had been told that he would stand trial in Rome before Caesar; for that to happen he had to survive.

We have assurances as well. Remember what Jesus told the apostles before he ascended back to the Father? “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). The first part of that verse emphasized that they were to teach those they immersed to obey what Jesus had taught the apostles. That would include the teaching that Jesus will be with us no matter what we go through.

Jesus will always be with us. We should not lose heart but continue to be strong and faithful – even courageous – and be an encouragement to those around us when they are going through their storms of life.

Jon Galloway

There is a growing trend among religious people that is troubling. The common belief is that a person can have God, Jesus, and salvation without ever attending church. For some reason, people have grown to see church attendance as something that is unnecessary. So, I wanted to write a brief article and simply let the Bible speak to this question. Consider the following passages:

·     1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:33 — we assemble to share in the Lord’s Supper together. The Bible describes the Lord’s Supper as a memorial meal where Christians share in the body and blood of Jesus. If someone is not assembling with Christians, they can’t share in the memorial with the rest of the church.

·     1 Corinthians 14:26 — we assemble for the purpose of edification (building each other up). If one does not assemble, they can’t build up nor be built up.

·     Ephesians 4:11-16 — the church is designed to be self sufficient. God designed the church in such a way that each member contributes according to their gifts, for the purpose of building a solid foundation for the church to grow from. The result of this is a group of mature Christians that will not be shaken from their faith. If someone neglects to invest in the local church, they neglect this building up towards maturity, not only for themselves but also for the rest of the church.

·     Ephesians 5:19 ; Colossians 3:16 — we assemble to sing to each other. The Bible describes singing as two-directional. We sing to God, and we sing to each other. While someone can sing to God from home, they can’t sing to other Christians from home. If a person is not assembling with Christians, that person is not singing to others nor being sung to.

·     Hebrews 10:24-25 — we assemble to encourage each other towards love and good deeds. When Christians do not assemble together, they are not able to stir up love and good deeds within each other. When one neglects to assemble with Christians, they neglect to build up Christians and be built up by Christians.

There are a number of passages that bring out the necessity of assembling together. Not only does it violate God’s instructions to not assemble with Christians, it takes away a persons opportunity to benefit from the mutual building up provided by God’s people. Lack of church attendance is detrimental to a person’s faith. A Christian that is never around other Christians, is a Christian that won’t stay faithful long.

It must also be noted that in the age of “online church” a serious problem emerges for these commands. You can’t share in a memorial meal, build up someone, sing to each other, use your gifts to build up the church, or encourage each other by watching other people assemble online. While there are benefits of watching a sermon online, online church does not satisfy the commands of God to carry out these things in our assemblies. The bottom line is, Christians need other Christians if they’re gong to stay faithful. God designed the church this way for our sake, and we have grown to neglect it.

Perhaps you’re reading this and you haven’t attended services in some time. I want to encourage you to come back. You will be surprised at the love shown to you, the encouragement given to you, and the excitement of others to have you back. You will be built up because God designed it that way.

Kolton Balance

Are there sinful habits you’d like to break? Here are seven Bible-based techniques for breaking sinful habits:

Technique #1: Pray  Don’t overlook the power of prayer. James tells us that the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (Jas 5:16). The word “effectual” comes from the word “energeo” from which we get the word “energy.” James is telling us to pray actively and with energy. The first and perhaps most potent technique for overcoming sinful habits is to ask God for help.

Technique #2: Overcome Evil with Good  Paul says in Romans 12:21 to “overcome evil with good. “When you feel the urge to give in to an evil habit, do something good instead. Write a letter of hope to a friend, call and encourage a brother, or visit someone who is sick. In other words, replace your sinful habit with a good work.

Technique #3: Surround Yourself with Good People  We’re told “bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33). The opposite is also true: “good company corrects bad morals. If you have a sinful habit you’re trying to break, then seek out the company of good people. Let their “goodness” rub off on you.

Technique #4: Confess Your Faults  James 5:15 says “confess your sins to one another.” Admittedly, confessing your faults and sinful habits will be difficult. You may be embarrassed by the prospect of others “finding out” about your weakness. But when you confess your failings to others, then they can help look out for you. They can counsel and comfort you as you work to overcome your bad habit.

Technique #5: Make Habits Impossible  You may fall back into your sinful habit simply because sin is so accessible! Overcome sinful habits by eliminating or reducing your access to sin. Matthew 18:9 says, “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee…” If you’ve got a bad habit, make it harder to feed the habit! Look for ways to make sinning inconvenient rather than easy.

Technique #6: Think Good Thoughts  The urge to feed a bad habit starts in the mind. Fill your mind with righteous thoughts and you’ll reduce the chance that evil thoughts will blossom into sin. Follow Paul’s advice: “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).

Technique #7: Take One Day at a Time  It takes only two weeks to develop a habit, but it takes months to break one. Don’t despair! Rather than thinking how long it will take and how hard it will be to break the habit, learn to take one day at a time. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Work to stop your bad habit today for “each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt. 6:34).

– by Matt Hennecke

1. The wandering Albatross is the biggest flying creature on earth today.
2. It’s lifespan can be over 60 years.
3. They can go years without ever touching the ground.

Did you know? 

Many people today haven’t decided that God is the answer to the void we have in our lives. For this reason, James will give us the following instructions to help us in our prayer lives.

He writes,

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1.6 

God wants His children to trust Him, and He is ready to reward the evidence of our trust in Him.

The Evidence 

We show God our faith in Him in two major ways based on this verse and its original context.

1. God’s where we go when we need wisdom (verse 5).
2. We’ve decided and are convinced that God is the answer by praying to Him without doubting His ability to aid us.

Unlike the albatross that wanders for years without touching the ground, we’re not commanded to drift through the air without landing. We’re expected seek out the truth, land, and stay there.

Maybe you’ve wandered off and you’re starting to see the signs. Signs like constant panic, unrest, anxiety, and feeling a loss of control. These can all point to a spiritual problem that you’re no longer grounded.

God is always the answer and we can prove to Him that we believe this truth by letting Him take the lead.

Dale Pollard

Conclave

The Roman Catholic Pope has died. We sincerely offer condolences to his devoted followers as they mourn his death. However, more than a week later, the pope remains sealed in his tomb, while the tomb of Jesus remains empty. We rejoice that Jesus, the head of the New Testament church, is alive and sitting at the right hand of God (Acts 2:23). No papacy mentioned, or needed.

A conclave is to be held in Rome to fill a position that is not open and to give authority that they do not have.  Jesus remains the “head of the body, the church…that in everything He might be preeminent” (Col 1:18), as He alone has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18). Christ’s position is neither vacant nor up for a vote.

Jesus promised, “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18).  That promise was kept after His resurrection in AD33, on the Day of Pentecost, in the city of Jerusalem, at 9 am on a Sunday morning, when all the apostles spoke as” tongues of fire” sat upon each of them (Acts 2:1-4). No conclave was needed as the church of Christ followed in the “apostles’ doctrine, and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

-Dennis Doughty

Around our house, my wife has pictures with different sayings, like – “In this kitchen we lick the spoon”, “Blessed”, “Gather”, and “Give Thanks”. As much as I make fun of these light-hearted sayings, one of them caught my attention this week. It says:

“In this house we – say please and thank you, never give up, love one another, show respect, think good thoughts, say I’m sorry, give second chances, sing out loud, try to do better, give hugs, are a family.”

I couldn’t help but think about how this not only applies to my personal family, but to my church family as well. Obviously we could take each one of these phrases and spend time comparing them to our church family, but I want to spend time on just a few.

#1: Love one another and show respect.

John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Loving one another is a command from God and acts as a type of evangelism to the world. We should love in this family.

#2: Say I’m sorry and give second chances.

In Luke 15:20-24, we read about this happening in between the prodigal son and his father. In verse 21 it says, “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”

Not only did the father forgive his son, but he gave him a second chance. Verse 24 says, “For this my son was dead, and now is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to celebrate.”

The church family should be one where we feel comfortable enough to say we are sorry and humble enough to give second chances.

#3: We are a family.

Acts 2:44-47 gives a perfect picture of what the New Testament church family should look like. These new Christians were helping each other, spending time together, and praising God with one another. They were a family, just like we are today.

If you aren’t apart of this family yet, now is the time!

Nick Dubree

Great Truths About Life That Little Children Have Learned (author unknown)

* No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize cats.

* When your Mom is mad at your dad, don’t let her brush your hair.

* If your sister hits you, don’t hit her back.  They always catch the second person.

* Never ask your 3-year-old brother to hold a tomato.

* You can’t trust dogs to watch your food.

* Reading what people write on desks can teach you a lot.

* Don’t sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.

* Puppies still have bad breath, even after eating a tic tac.

* Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time.

* School lunches stick to the wall.

* You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

* Don’t wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.    No matter how cute the underwear is.

* The best place to be when you are sad is in Mommy’s or Daddy’s lap.

Pretty good advice, huh?  For a child, there is no place for comfort that compares with the lap of a parent.  But what about when you grow older and no longer fit in their lap?

“There is no one like the God of Israel, who rides through the skies to help you, who rides on the clouds in his majesty.  The everlasting God is your place of safety, and his arms will hold you up forever.” (Deut. 32:25-26a).

The best place for a Christian to be when he is sad is in his Father’s arms.  May those of you who are hurting and sad this day take comfort there.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

We will not take the time to talk further about the four keys to interpreting Revelation; I invite you to listen to the first lesson on Revelation, on our website or YouTube page. Let’s get into the study itself…

THE BEAST ARISING OUT OF THE SEA – 13:1-10:

What if…” The federal government decided under the auspices of “civil rights” to require doctors and nurses to perform gender reassignment surgery (or feminizing hormone therapy or abortion) or assist in them, or at least sign a statement saying they would if the hospital administration required them to. Imagine… That the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department wrote a letter to our local hospitals (Hurley, McLaren, and Genesys) and informed them if that they did not require all their doctors and nurses on staff to sign a statement to that effect, the federal government would cut off all Medicare and Medicaid funds to that hospital? What would our Christian doctors and nurses do? What if…?

Who is this beast that John sees coming up out of the abyss?

Notice that this beast looks very similar to the devil himself from 12:3 – seven heads and ten horns. Since these horns have diadems, we except them to refer to some kind of civil authority. In other words, this beast symbolizes the state, the government. But not a government as Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 that exists to make sure Christians can live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Rather, this is the type of government, like the one Daniel lived under, which wants to persecute the people of God. In John’s case, we’re talking about Christians.

Satan’s “kingdom” is also as universal as Christ’s kingdom – he has authority over every tribe, people, and tongue and nation. There is no nation on earth that is more godly than the United States of America – as wicked as we are becoming. There is no nation where Christians will escape persecution by Satan and his beasts. Notice in verse 8: “All who dwell on the earth worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”

THE BEAST COMING OUT OF THE EARTH – 13:11-18:

I remind you that one of the key messages that the letters include that are found in chapters 2-3 is that the Church must not compromise the truth of the gospel. Jesus criticizes several of those congregations because they were compromising the truth of the gospel. But we will overcome if we do not compromise the truth of the gospel!

Notice that this beast has some characteristics like the picture of Jesus, the Lamb, in the book of Revelation. This beast has the appearance of a lamb. But he spoke as a dragon – Satan. He has the authority of the first beast. In fact, he makes the earth to worship the first beast. In the first and second centuries, this religious beast would be the Roman pagan religions but also the perversions of Christianity evident among those churches of Christ that had compromised with their culture. There can be no compromise with people who pervert the gospel of Christ. We are not going the same direction. You have to be faithful to all of the teachings of Christ or you are not faithful to Christ (Acts 20:27).

In an imitation of God the Creator who breathed the spirit into the nostrils of Adam, here this beast breathes life into the image of the beast. Through his efforts, those who do not worship the image of the first beast are killed. God might not protect us from the physical harm of our faithfulness to Him but He will protect us from the spiritual harm which it could bring.

In Revelation 19:20, John sees yet another vision and this time, the two beasts are thrown into hell – the eternal lake of fire. Yes, if we stay faithful to Christ, we will win!

Christians will be victorious over the beast (the secular government) and the false prophet (false religion, including perverted Christianity) if we stay faithful to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Paul Holland

A friend of mine once told the story of the first overseas mission trip he ever took. It was to the Caribbean island of Trinidad. The team’s objective was to establish a church in the mountains outside the capital city, Port of Spain. One afternoon he and his companions took a break and went to a movie, an old Randolph Scott western. However, they found themselves spending more time watching the people instead of the movie. What struck them the most about that experience was that everyone laughed at the wrong things! They roared with laughter when the “good guy” got shot! In one scene a woman was slapped and the crowd erupted with laughter, clapping, whistling and cheers! As good, Christian, southerly gentlemen, you can imagine this was a very strange scenario indeed.

What you laugh at is very revealing! It speaks to what your heart truly feels and what your deepest convictions are. The things that make you laugh will tell those around you something about your true inner self. Perhaps you have never taken the time to ponder this, but I promise you it is true. And there are consequences which come along with our laughter.

For one, you cannot rebuke or condemn something you have laughed at. Outwardly expressing amusement at an action or statement is going to be equated as approval in the eyes of those who witnessed your laughter. Romans 1:32 reminds us, “Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” One does not have to practice or perform a sinful activity to bear a measure of guilt associated with it. Giving hearty approval of (being entertained by) that sin is just as wrong.

Note also that laughing at the wrong things inflicts pain upon our Lord. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 17:5, “Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.” It does matter to God what entertains us.

As men and women seeking to live pure, holy lives before our Maker and Savior, let us make sure that joy and humor are not found in the improper things which displease His.

Cory Waddell

— I have been a member of the Church for over seventy years. Here is why I love the Body of Christ.

1. She Feeds My Soul. A politician sees me as a vote. The store sees me as a customer. But who cares for my spirit? The Church does. Among Christians we are not a thing—noticed for what benefit we contribute.
2. She Reminds Me Who I Am. Once I was an enemy of God. Now He is my friend. I go to worship to be reminded of who I was and who I have become. The Church keeps me grounded.
3. She Tells Me Where To Find Forgiveness. Two men were talking. One of them said, “I love my family. I love my neighbor. That is my religion.” The other man asked, “What does your religion do when you fail to love?” The Church shows me how I can be forgiven.
4. She Holds Me Responsible. The world is filled with selfish people. What they get is what they keep. The Church is different. She says, “We are what we owe.” She leads me to share.
5. She Is The People Of God. It is often said, “I believe in God but not in the Church!” But the Church belongs to God. How can we love the one and hate the other? His Church is His people.
6. She Teaches Truth. Folks want their religion to be neutral. Yet the Church stands for what is right. Is His truth negotiable? Are the commands of heaven to be added to or taken from? The Church teaches the will of God—no more and no less.
7. She Knows The Lord. The Church is a group of people who believe “Jesus is Lord.” Therefore, she obeys His word. She does what He says. The Bride of Christ is the place to be if one wants to know the Savior.
8. She Labors For Eternity. We invest our time and give our money to the Church. Why? The Church is permanent. I will die. She will live. My contributions to the Body of Believers will make a lasting difference.

I marvel at those who are not part of the church because of a bad experience. Do they stop eating because they have had a bad meal? Of course not! Why, then, stop loving the Church?

BY ED MATHEWS

In June of 2006, Warren Buffet announced that he would donate 85% of his 44 billion dollar fortune to five charitable foundations. In response to questions about his generosity, Buffet said: “There is more than one way to get to heaven, but this is a great way.” Unfortunately, Mr. Buffett is not the first to presume there are many paths to an eternal reward with our Heavenly Father. However, the Bible is quite clear that there is only one Way.

In John 14:6, while trying to comfort His disciples, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” That final phrase “through me” is significant. Throughout John’s gospel he noted the importance of “through Jesus.” The little Greek preposition is sometimes translated with other English words. Still, “through Jesus” is vital because:

1. Creation was through Him (1:3, 10, 14).
2. Grace and truth came through Him (1:17).
3. People believed through (because of) His word (4:41).
4. We can believe through (because of) His works (14:11).
5. Salvation comes through Him (3:17).
6. We can live through (because of) Him (6:57).
7. We find protection, salvation, and nutrition through (by) Him (10:1-2, 9).

John was not alone in his teaching the importance of the Way. The New Testament that peace (Acts 10:36), forgiveness (Acts 13:38), salvation (Acts 15:11), righteousness (Rom. 3:22), justification (Rom. 3:24), eternal life (Rom. 5:21), victory (I Cor. 15:57), redemption (Eph. 1:7), acceptance (I Pet. 2:5), and a host of other great blessings come only through Jesus!

There are many paths by which man will claim we can make it to eternal life. Jesus and the inspired writers of the New Testament assure us there is only one Way:” Jesus. We must go through Him. Galatians 3:36-27 and Romans 6:3-4 tell us how to get into Him. Jesus doesn’t just show us the way, He is the way! So come to Him, follow Him, and go through Him today!

Corey Sawyers

John, in penning his final inspired letter, wrote to the seven churches of Asia concerning the impending persecution from the Romans and God’s victory through the tumultuous oppression. The terminal letter of John is one that is intrinsically spiritual while also remaining carnal practicality. The revelation was to remind the Christians that their spiritual endurance contains the ability to prevail over the physical death of this world.

In the opening verses of this letter, John rapidly reminds the Christians of their status with God. Notice the reminders these faithful Christians needed to hear according to Rev. 1:5,6

1. Jesus Loves You (1:5) — Perhaps this statement in and of itself has lost its gravity over time; not because the reality of Jesus’ love has shifted, but because we have misplaced its power. Jesus, the “faithful witness, firstborn from the dead, and ruler of kings on earth” loves you. The greatest being who will ever exist has sought the unlovable and made us His own. I recall the imperfections in my life, the sins I’ve committed, the shortcomings I’ve crafted, and the goodness I’ve neglected, and yet Jesus’ love has never departed from me. When the world seems entirely against you, the sustainer of the universe embraces you for all that you are. We NEED that reminder.
2. Jesus Freed You (1:5) — Sin is what revoked our privilege of Eden. Iniquity is what pushes God out of our life. Rebellion from God is what entangles us, causing us to drift from the very roots of our origin. We become slaves to this wickedness, imprisoned by its constant bait. Jesus, through His love, took the sin of the world upon Himself as the perfect sacrifice and loosed us from that captivity of sin. Our savior gave us an opportunity to be runaways from death.
3. Jesus Made You a Kingdom (1:6) — Kingdoms of the world are arbitrary. Individuals have their own kingdoms, nations claim royalty, and earthly ideologies broadcast power. There is only but one kingdom that matters, and that’s the principality of Jesus. Daniel prophesied this kingdom to be the only one that would remain eternal, while every other power would fall victim to the follies and ruins of this world (Daniel 2:44,45).
4. Jesus Made You Holy (1:6) — Priesthood is something that is objectively foreign to the Western mind. It’s difficult to wrap our culture-saturated minds around the idea of becoming “spiritual set-apart” entities, but this is what Jesus had in mind when pulling you from death. The expectation that you would no longer by wholly devoted to the world, but be holy loyal to Him. Peter would explain this priesthood as something that pushes us to “proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9).

Few introductions are nearly as powerful as the one found in John’s final letter. It is here where we can find a place to focus our mind, identity, and spiritual status with God. We may never face the type of persecution the church saw in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Centuries but we can find the same level of encouragement they received from the loyal Apostles.

Tyler King

Below are excerpts reported to be from U.S. and British officer performance reviews:

Actual (?) lines out of U.S. Military OERs (Officer Efficiency Report):

— Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

— Got into the gene pool while the lifeguard wasn’t watching.

— A room temperature IQ.

— Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thingy to hold it all together.

— Bright as Alaska in December.

— Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn’t coming.

— So dense, light bends around him.

— If brains were taxed, he’d get a rebate.

— If he were any more stupid, he’d have to be watered twice a week.

— Was left on the Tilt-A-Whirl a bit too long as a baby.

— Wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead.

Actual (?) excerpts from Royal Navy and Marines officer fitness reports:

— His men would follow him anywhere, but only out of curiosity.

— I would not breed from this officer.

— He has carried out each and every one of his duties to his entire     satisfaction.

— He would be out of his depth in a car park puddle.

— This young lady has delusions of adequacy.

— Since my last report he has reached rock bottom, and has started to dig.

— She sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve     them.

— He has the wisdom of youth, and the energy of old age.

— Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a    trap.

— This man is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.

It may be that the comments above are an indication of the intelligence of the men involved.  But I suspect rather that they reflect the attitude of those men.  You see, whether we want to admit it or not, the attitude that we have in the workplace makes an impression on others.  And if we give only a half-hearted effort, or show disrespect for those in authority over us, then it not only leaves a negative impression of us, but of the Christianity we claim to believe and live.

Paul speaks in Colossians 3 to slaves of the first century, but his words apply to all Christians in the workplace:

“Slaves, obey your masters in all things.  Do not obey just when they are watching you, to gain their favor, but serve them honestly, because you respect the Lord.  In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.” (Col. 3:22-24)

In all that you do at work, it should be the very best you have to offer!  May that be the motto of every Christian in the workplace.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

When one becomes a Christian, it is not an unusual thing that, at any given moment, we might experience envy for something that we have given up, that our non-Christian friends have not.

Perhaps we see them enjoying some activity on a Wednesday night; or, perhaps we, too, would like to “take the edge off” after a long week of work. But (hopefully) we quickly jolt back to reality and remember that our envy is unfounded and unwise.

As a minister, I have experienced similar envy – not just of the world, but even of my own brothers and sisters in Christ. For example, I wouldn’t mind having the “weekend” off, too. I would like the opportunity to put in more effort and time to get overtime pay, or work so that I can earn a promotion, like some of my friends, and as I did before I began ministry. Why wouldn’t I? I’m human.

But some years back I was reading the Bible and something occurred to me that has helped me in ministry, and I think is also helpful for all Christians to remember when they experience some “worldly envy.”

Under the rule of Moses and Joshua, Israel’s tribes were allotted the portions of the land God promised to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). Moses announced the fulfillment of this in Deuteronomy, and Joshua administers the survey by which the property lines would be drawn for each tribe.

But not all tribes received allotments of land. One tribe received no land inheritance at all: Levi (Deut. 18:2). It was from this tribe that the priesthood was called upon to serve God. Moses wrote:

At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to serve Him and to bless in His name until this day. Therefore, Levi does not have a portion or inheritance, just as the Lord your God spoke to him (Deut. 10:8-9, NASB).

The tribe of Levi was to take on the role of mediator – the “priesthood.” They were to bear the ark of the covenant when the tabernacle was moved about. They were to “stand before the Lord,” i.e., to serve Him and bless in His name continually. They were to do so in perpetuity, until Jesus fulfilled all those roles in himself.

This inheritance was far better than the other tribes’ inheritance of sod and stone. But I’ve often wondered if any of the Levites ever felt the same human emotions we might feel when our friends of the world are enjoying something we have given up. I wonder if they ever felt left out or let down because they had no land to pass down or redeem for their children.

This privilege of serving as God’s ministers of the tabernacle served a significant role in the divine economy: as mediators, the priesthood interceded and petitioned for perpetual mercy on behalf of themselves and others. In short, they kept the wrath of God at bay until Jesus (Messiah) came.

So what does that have to do with Christians today? First, as a minister, my inherited role is not like that even of my Christian brothers and sisters. I am not “off the clock” on Sunday as many are; rather, that is my most significant day of the work week (serving priests didn’t get to Sabbath as everyone else, either). I usually take Monday or Tuesday off to be with my family (it still  feels unusual to me to take these days off, even though I have worked 10 times as long in ministry as I did in secular work). But I try always to appreciate the role I have accepted. It is its own reward. The inheritance of heaven is easily worth far more than a Sunday off, or a promotion.

But more broadly, as Christians, none of us possess the same inheritance as our brothers and sisters of the world. What is there to envy? Long weekends on the lake? Sleeping in on Sundays? (I have to admit, there are some Sundays I wouldn’t mind sleeping-in!) Throw back a few adult beverages heading into the weekend, or to take the edge off during the week?

In the end, are those kinds of things really that enviable? Only momentarily.

But to paint it with a wider brush stroke, at the end of the day, the true “inheritance” of a worldly life is to live as if nothing ultimately matters. The ways in which that attitude is manifested in any individual life varies greatly. The attitude is: “as long as I’m not hurting anyone, it should be fine!”
The problem (well, there are many…) is this is an incomparably dry well when it comes to slaking the thirst of existential questions that, irrespective of the amount of alcohol or entertainment we might consume, never really go away. What is my purpose for existing? And, What happens when I die?

If an inheritance is really only as good as its value, what good does inheriting this old world give me in the end?

Nothing!

Or, paraphrasing Jesus: what does a man profit if he gains (perhaps we could insert, inherits) the whole world, but loses his soul? Or, what “thing” of the world – the most valuable earthly thing we can imagine possessing – can be traded in for heaven?

Christians, remember: you do not possess a portion or inheritance with the world.

The Lord is your inheritance.

You are the priesthood of the Great High Priest.

It has been given to you to mediate on behalf of this world, to stand before the Lord, to serve and bless in His name.

by Rick Kelley

Sometimes I think there must be a target on the back of churches and their leaders. Whenever I see someone take a shot at the church in conversation, or on Facebook, or over dinner, I want to look at the back of church leaders’ shirts to see if there is the old familiar target everyone is shooting at.

The burden of elders and preachers and congregations, too, is they must be right one hundred percent of the time else people begin to take aim. Not only must they always be perfect, but they must be perfect with the right attitude. They can’t be smug or judgmental or harsh. And if they fail on any point, at any time, the command rings out: “Fire at will! Any church, any church leader, just take your free shots!”

In the back of the critic’s mind, of course, is the fact that in his day Jesus took on religious hypocrisy too.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others” (Matthew 23:23).

The great thing about finding a hypocrite in the church is that this discovery frees one from carrying out any of his own responsibilities! As we all know, two wrongs make a right!

In a congregation of, let’s say, two hundred, what are the chances of finding one, just one hypocrite in the church? And when he is found, you have the wonderfully freeing “Aha! Gotcha!” moment. “Brother Smith, that’s why I don’t go to church – there are hypocrites in that church!” “Brother Jones, did you know that I was sick, and not one person sent me a note!”

Can I make an observation with fear and trembling? Is it possible that some of the “hypocrites” we spot in churches are actually human beings trying hard to live right and slipping up once in a while? Rather than our hyped up and over the top outrage at the supposed hypocrite we just found, perhaps we could exhibit some compassion and understanding towards our erring brother?

If you really want to worry about a hypocrite, perhaps you should look in the mirror. The person you see there is the only one you can change, and for what it’s worth, the only one God has demanded that you change!

Stan Mitchell

“But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please” (Galatians 5:16-17, NASB).

During the first half of the twentieth century mankind suffered through two great “world wars.” Greatly advanced technology enabled levels of destruction never before experienced. Almost since the end of World War II there has been the threat of an even greater and more destructive war — “World War III” — which might (or almost certainly would) involve the use of nuclear weapons. Many fear that any such war would irrevocably damage or completely destroy the earth, and humanity with it.

Not all wars are fought by nations, nor are they all fought with military hardware. There is already a war which is truly worldwide, involving every responsible human being. It is the war described in Galatians 5:16-26, which is spiritual in nature and is waged within the souls and bodies of every person. The spirit battles against the flesh (body) and the flesh against the spirit.

Paul described that war in a very personal and vivid manner in Romans 7:14-25, part of which reads:

“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. … For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want . … Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?”

The war between our spiritual and fleshly natures can be devastating. Paul’s description of the sinful nature of mankind as “wretched” is all too factual. We seek what we do not have, neglect the things of true value, and find ourselves alone and alienated from those whom we once loved.

James described this situation:

“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have. So you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:1-3).

Every responsible person is engaged in this war. We all have conflicts between what we should do and what we should not. We battle the physical appetites and pleasures of our physical nature, and seek to obtain the blessings of a more spiritual existence. Like Paul, we want to do the right thing, but often fail to do it. We try to avoid harmful and destructive actions or attitudes, but often give in to them. The war within us continues to rage.

What is the answer? Paul states it: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25). Jesus provides the strength we need to overcome physical temptations and to resist the evils of selfishness, greed, and instant gratification.

One key to achieving that success is to “set one’s mind upon the Spirit” (Romans 8:6). Three applications of that principle are:

1. Follow the teachings of the Spirit of God given in the Bible.
2. Strengthen the spiritual side of our natures so that they predominate in the battle against the flesh (body).
3. Seek spiritual goals rather than physical as the aim of life.

We are and always will be in a war. With God’s help through Jesus his son we will be victorious.

by Michael Brooks

Have you ever felt like everything is going downhill in this country? In many cases, I feel like the church members think this way. We are dealing with the western, woke, post-modern, anti-church culture. The pro-sin agendas of our culture are progressing, and it seems that the forces are gathering around the church. Sometimes these thoughts can be defeating. Like Elijah, we think we are the last remaining beam of light in an increasingly dark world.

Do you ever ask the question, why do these guys hate the church so much? Why does it feel that our government is actively trying to push out religion? The answer is It doesn’t matter. What!? How can we say that?! Of course, it matters! Everything is going terribly, and the righteous will be persecuted and eradicated soon!

That is not what God says in Psalm 2. Davids asks the same question.

Why are the nations in an uproar

And the peoples devising a vain thing?

The kings of the earth take their stand

And the rulers take counsel together

Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,

“Let us tear their fetters apart

And cast away their cords from us!”

Unlike our question, David is asking his question rhetorically. David wants to know why people would try to go against God in vain. He goes on to say:

He who sits in the heavens laughs,

The Lord scoffs at them.

Then He will speak to them in His anger

And terrify them in His fury, saying,

“But as for Me, I have installed My King

Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

See, despite our concern, God is still in control. In our context, the king installed is Jesus. Praise God the King reigns!

Because we know that Jesus is king, we should be able to let go of our anxieties about the world situation. I know firsthand that watching the news or reading about current events is a quick way to get tense. Knowing that God is truly in control of the situation should bring us great comfort.

In addition to receiving comfort, however, recognizing Jesus is king demands a response. David finishes his psalm with

Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;

Take warning, O judges of the earth.

Worship the Lord with reverence

And rejoice with trembling.

Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,

For His wrath may soon be kindled.

How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

By understanding who rules, we also understand who needs to be served. We need to heed the warning and worship God with reverence. So the next time you think the world is going downhill, remember who is in control and who we need to worship and serve. Then you can take refuge in him and find blessing.

Brian Ketchem

We tend to protect our valuable stuff. When my wife leaves her purse in the car, she locks the car. Most people keep their money in a bank. Those with influence or fame are often guarded closely while in public. If it has value or potential risk, it is locked up or otherwise guarded. We understand this concept.

The New Testament talks about guarded stuff quite a bit. What follows is an abridged list of ways τηρεω (tereo) is translated, in a very informal word study format. Specific definitions come from BDAG (a fantastic lexicon).

1. Prisoner/Person in Custody – It is used of Jesus (Matt. 27.36ff), Paul and Silas (Acts 16.23), Angels Who Sinned (II Peter 2.4), and Peter (Acts 12.5).
2. To Preserve or Hold Someone or Something – It is used of the “good wine that was kept until after the bad wine was consumed” (John 2). It is used to describe our inheritance, which is being held and is waiting for those who die in Christ (I Peter 2.4). It is used to describe the universe and the earth, which is being preserved because its destruction will be caused by God at the end of time (II Peter 3.7; Cf. Romans 8.22-24). For the Christian, this seems to resolve the climate change issue since God is keeping the earth intact until the last day.
3. To Not Give Up Something – Paul uses it urging Christians to persist in being united (Eph. 4.3). He also used it to tell Timothy that he had held onto his faith, even up to his imminent death (II Timothy 4.7). John uses it to describe our spiritual protection from being lost if we’re trying to live faithfully (I John 5.8).

For the sake of brevity, we’ll stop there. How cool is that our eternal home is being held by God, or that our record is kept clean by Jesus, if we’re trying to be faithful? The two most important assets a Christian has are their eternal home and spiritual state. The first can never be taken away, and the second can only be lost if we give it up willingly and intentionally. God is good.