The shepherd had one hundred sheep,
But one had gone astray.
He left the ninety and nine alone
To search back along the way.

Back through the wilderness he searched.
He called for his sheep by name.
The sheep heard his master calling.
To the shepherd he came.

The shepherd was filled with joy.
Gently he picked up his sheep.
He laid it across his shoulders,
And carried it up the mountain steep.

As nearer and nearer home he came
He called his friends to gather round.
Back into the fold he put the sheep.
He cried, “Rejoice with me. My sheep I have found.”

The poem is about the lost sheep from the parable in Luke 15:3-7. There is joy in Heaven when those who have gone astray in the wilderness of sin, repent and enter into the fold again. The 23rd Psalm beautifully portrays the shepherd’s love and care for his sheep.

Mary Carr

Lighted by the Divine’s presence
It is a wonderful city of light
Where all fears and foes are gone
And there is no night.

There is the river of life
That runs in the street
Where the redeemed of all nations
On the shores shall meet.

The tree of life stands
On either side of the river
Bearing twelve manner of fruits
Yielding its fruit forever.

From the river of life
Comes the shining light
That shows the glory
Of the heavenly life.

It is beyond imagination to realize the grace and bliss that shall pervade the heavenly city.

Mary Carr

Recently I found myself surrounded by younger women and I kept hearing them say that they really want and desire the older women to teach them.  I thought back to when I was a young woman and all of the wonderful older women that have been in my life.  Women that shared tons of practical wisdom with me as I struggled to be a godly wife and mother.  I couldn’t remember if I went to them for advice or they just came to me. (No surprise on the failed memory.)  I tried hard to remember because I wouldn’t have made it by myself raising 5 children and a husband, and yes, I meant raising a husband, we were only children ourselves.  But I couldn’t remember.  I asked some other women my age and got a mixed response.  Some remembered being insulted by the “help” they were given, but soon learned that it was indeed, help.  Others remember going and asking, while in tears, of course, “What do I do?”

I also started asking women my age and older what they thought about teaching the younger women and how they handle it.  Again, I got a mix of answers.  Based on those answers I would like to share a series of articles with you “From the Heart of an Older Woman”.

“Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” Titus 2:4,5

I had one woman respond with, “I don’t think it’s our business.  I don’t want anyone thinking that I think I’m perfect.”  This is part of the problem in the church today.  It isn’t our business, it’s God’s business and He COMMANDS us, as older women, to train the younger women.  This is a topic that truly convicts me based on Titus 2:3-5.  The word “train” here actually means “to make of sound mind; to discipline or correct”.  Older women better be standing up and helping these younger women be the godly women they are supposed to be.  I can’t imagine how my marriage would have turned out or my children if the older women in my life had NOT been willing to “train” me.  I thank God for them all of the time!

I struggle with just how to go about teaching the younger women.  I don’t want to push them away or discourage them but I have to find a way to help them in their lives.  So this series will have a two-fold purpose.  Share with the younger women some practical advice and encourage the older women with ways to touch the hearts of younger women.  Have I got it all figured out?  No way!  But I’m hoping this will help both me and you!

Tami Roberts

It’s very painful when I frequently hear of young girls—girls who have become influential in lots of good ways for the kingdom—walking away from that influence, even reversing it, while stepping into the deathly entrapment of the devil. He (Satan) is so very good at what he does. He’s diligent and subversive; a master of deceit. In fact, he is the original ancestor of every lie. He makes girls question the validity of the things that have been diligently placed in their hearts from young ages. Then he loves to put into place, in new jobs, school situations, and friend groups, people who stroke the ego while presenting rebellion as deserved “self-awareness and authenticity.”  He makes the girls devalue or trivialize the soul and the eternal, instead placing an emphasis on their own intelligence and self fulfillment. While he is doing this in the mind, he is doing other things in the body—creating addictions to sex, to alcohol, to drugs, to gaming, to drugs, etc…. This replacement of the pure heavenward focus diminishes, often permanently, the propensity in the young life for spiritual recovery. The devil gets his hook in. Somewhere in the back of her mind, his victim thinks, “I can fix all this later. I’m so young and there is plenty of time. For now, I can feel secure in these decisions…. I feel loved by this guy…. I feel stabilized by this job…. I feel like I am finally doing something I want to do… I need to experience some normal things,” etc…etc…. So many Bible characters come to mind as I think about this mentality—Dinah (Genesis 34) , Samson , (Judges 14), the prodigal of Luke 15.

Recently Kelli came back from wondering outside the house of her Father.I’ve been praising God for this return. She’s in her mid-thirties now and she is a very faithful member of the kingdom. Recently, when I was asked to speak to teen girls about the sad journey many “princesses” are making away from the “palace” of God, I asked Kelli to write something to these girls; a letter that would make them know the seriousness of leaving and emphasize the difficult, but oh-so-blessed way back. I love Kelli for many things, I especially love her for the heart she has now for souls, and the gratitude she has to the Father for giving her time and grace to be back in the safe place that is His eternal kingdom. I love my Father for the long-suffering that waits (1 Peter 3:20).

Here’s her letter. Each time I read it, someone asks for a copy. I’m putting it here, so you can use it for any wandering prodigal you may know. Any one soul brought back is worth more than the whole entropic world and its temporal contents.

To my fellow princesses,

I am writing as one who has recently returned to the King’s palace after being gone far too long. I never planned to leave; I didn’t make one big decision and storm out dramatically.  Like many of you, I grew up in the church pew every time the doors were open. Church camp, Bible bowl trophies, Summer Youth Series, eventually a Christian college- I looked like a good princess safe in the palace. My guard was down because all these things came easily to me. I was good at being good.

When I got my first job as a teenager I started getting to know people who had never been to the palace that was so familiar to me. They didn’t understand some of my behaviors and I was curious about theirs. They were having fun doing things I had only heard about or seen in movies. It was exciting to rebel. One at a time I started replacing kingdom friends and activities with worldly friends and activities. A double life was forming. I’d still put on my princess crown on Sundays and Wednesdays but it got less enjoyable being in the palace. I was uncomfortable around others in the kingdom because I was hiding so much; I knew I didn’t belong to the King anymore.

Everything that started out fun and exciting became less so over the months and years. I had to keep going further from the palace to get that same feeling as in the beginning. I would still slide into the palace to make appearances and convince everyone I’m fine, but anything beyond one hour a week didn’t fit my new life. I had gone from being a princess to “I can’t be a good princess so I’ll just be a good person” to now “well, I’m not the worst person.”

Luckily my conscience had been trained before all this happened so I knew right from wrong and knew I was choosing wrong. It got hard to look people in the eye or look at myself in the mirror. Occasionally I would feel pricked in the heart and repent and try to return to the palace. It would last until I did one of the “big sins” and I’d be gone again, telling myself I don’t belong with the other princesses and certainly not with the King. The more this happened the harder it got to come back.

In 2023 I got sick and tired of living the double life. I had lost my identity, my true sense of who I was in the world; I didn’t respect who I saw or what I was doing. I knew deep down that my heart’s desire was to return to my Father’s table but I felt so far away and so unworthy, I didn’t know if that was possible. I didn’t want to try again just to fail again. I decided I’d start making small changes, baby steps back to the palace. I was ending bad friendships and breaking habits; I changed jobs and moved to the next town over for a fresh start. Things were looking up but I could not re-enter the palace yet. I still had one hurdle: I had to face my Father again after hiding for much of the last ten years. 

I’ll pause the story here and tell you the smartest thing I did while I was away from the kingdom was keeping in touch with a few kingdom friends. They were long distance and didn’t know what all was happening so that made it less intimidating to keep a casual friendship over time. They remained the link between the life I was living and the life I was called to live. My advice: find 2 kingdom friends: one who is roughly your age and can go through daily life with you, and one who is older and represents who you want to be in 10-20 years. You will always need someone walking beside you and someone walking ahead showing you the way.

One day in a rare moment of vulnerability, I told one of these friends I’m not doing so well spiritually and she told me she was going to pray for me. A few months went by while I still could not face my shame head-on. This was probably the loneliest time. I had a rearview mirror full of broken relationships and was inching toward the palace alone, knowing I want a seat at the table but knowing the Father owes me nothing. For about a month I threw myself into Psalm 51 and Luke 15. David’s confession and repentance became my daily prayer. The prodigal son’s welcome home from the Father transitioned from being a far-away dream to the belief that not only is it possible for me, but it’s the Father’s strongest desire for me. Every day, every year He had been watching, waiting for me to come home. This is the invitation He gives to you and me anytime we stray: Just come home.

Around this time, previously mentioned friend asked for an update. I reported that I wanted to make things right but I was too afraid of failing again. She told me, in essence, stop waiting and die trying. This was the nudge I needed. I thought of David and the prodigal, both pretty good at messing up but both willing to die trying. Both received back by a loving, compassionate father. Both forgiven and able to stand before the throne of God blameless. I went to the Father, repented and confessed all, and was graciously forgiven. I was restored to the local congregation and God restored unto me the joy of His salvation. I have a seat at His table again.

I wish I had never left the palace. I thought I was going out for a little fun and now I have memories I don’t want, stories I hope never resurface, and struggles I may not be free of in this lifetime. I hurt people who cared about me. I wasted years I should have been serving the King. I may have led others to believe it was okay to live with one foot in and one foot out. At any time I could have died outside the palace and been separated from my Father forever.

I hope you never leave. I hope you love God and stay by His side all of your days. But if you find yourself outside the palace, believe with your whole heart that God wants you back, no matter where you have been.  Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Kelli Gough

Galatians 5:9 – “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”

I sat outside, sipped my coffee, and watched the children play in the yard, oblivious that I was being attacked. But at bedtime, I found myself tossing and turning and finally realized I was itching. Reluctantly I arose, walked into the bathroom, and stood before the mirror. To my horror, I was covered in miserable red, whelps. The culprit was immediately recognizable: Chiggers!

Now if you are not from the south, you may be unaware of the chigger. In truth, we southerners don’t really know what a chigger is, because measuring in at 1/60th of an inch, these bugs are impossible to see. My family un-affectionately refers to them as “no-see-ums,” but never doubt, the result of their stealthy bites will torture you for days. If chiggers serve any positive purpose, it is to prove to the world the power of the small things.

Throughout scripture, small and insignificant acts changed outcomes. A simple basket-bed saved not only a slave baby, but an entire nation. A simple barley grain led Ruth to the field of her future husband, Boaz, who became the father of her child and placed her in the lineage of Jesus Christ. A small stone in a young boy’s sling brought down a nation.

But as with the chigger, the greatness of small things sometimes renders negative results. One simple question from a cunning serpent fractured Eve’s personal bond with her creator and changed forever God’s relationship with humanity. A lingering look from his rooftop led King David to adultery, murder, and a lifetime of unimaginable consequences. And a simple kiss from Judas led our Savior, Jesus Christ, to His death on the cross.

Just as a small amount of yeast leavens an entire bowl of dough (or the small no-see-um chigger brings misery to the masses), our actions, no matter how small, matter. So, if you seek to be significant in this world, take a lesson from the lowly chigger whose existence should never be doubted. You are not too small to make a difference. Your random acts of kindness will lighten burdens and redirect broken lives, my friend.

Father God, open our eyes to the many ways our small acts of kindness can bring others to You.  

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-45

I’m always thankful for the opportunity to speak at a Ladies’ Day or to write articles. They are humbling experiences for me. I hope and pray that readers get as much learning from Martha and Mary as I had in preparing this lesson. I have learned so much from these two sisters for my everyday life. I want to be as spiritual as I believe they were.

What herein is an article was first my presentation at a Ladies’ Day hosted by the Wildwood, Florida Church of Christ. I appreciate and love the ladies from the Wildwood congregation. They are a very special group of Christian workers for the Lord. From the first day Louis and I put our membership there, the church welcomed us as family and made us feel special.

Let’s make this lesson very personal. Only you can answer the questions I ask. Are you a Martha? Yes, ladies, I am Martha! I am a Martha in more than one way since my name is Martha. Sometimes, I am cumbered about with much service like Martha of old. Other times I work hard for the Lord as best I feel I can, as Mary did in our lesson today. I do believe that over the years Martha has gotten a bad rap. She really thought she was doing right, or she would not have gone to the Lord asking Him to tell Mary to come and help her. Let’s read Luke 10:38-42.

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (NKJV)

In this reading, we find Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. She was listening to every word He said. She worshipped our Lord, while Martha was in the kitchen preparing a meal. Martha wanted everything to be perfect for the Lord and her other guests. Is there anything wrong with wanting things to be done right and nice for company? I say, “No!” This is the way things should be. If something is worth doing, it is worth doing it right. This is the way I was raised by my mother and dad.

Martha wanted help getting things ready for all to eat. This was the Lord’s reply, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” This time Mary was the wiser of the two sisters. How often do we make the best and wisest choices? I am afraid, not as often as we should.

Was Martha sinning by preparing a meal for the Lord? Since she was doing the cooking, the cleaning up, maybe setting the table, etc., who would do this work if she or Mary weren’t making ready for the Lord? I doubt she had servants, or she would have been sitting at the feet of Jesus just like Mary. I am here to tell you she was not sinning with the work she was doing. Martha’s problem was, she was doing physical labor and not giving spiritual honor to Jesus at the time. She was not putting the Lord first.

Ladies, I am here to tell you Martha is not alone! I believe most women have this problem. This is not an excuse. This is letting the Devil have his way with us. When I was in 7th grade English, my teacher Mrs. Wheeler said, “An excuse is a made up lie we tell ourselves or someone else.” I do not remember a lot from her class, but this is one thing that has stuck with me for over 60 years. What an impression she made on me. I do not agree that every excuse is a lie! I believe it is telling ourselves that what I want to do is more important or what I think needs to be done. This is letting the Devil have his way with us.

I know I am a Martha. Sometimes, I get busy and involved with doing chores around the house, doing errands, doctor appointments, etc. and by bedtime I am exhausted and can hardly keep my eyes open. Have I studied God’s Word? No, and if I try to read, I fall asleep with my Bible in my hands. If I do get my reading done, I probably do not remember what I just read. Therefore, I have been a Martha, Martha, and my priorities were not in place where they should have been.

Maybe some of you ladies work out of the home. Then, you have double duty as a housewife and mother. Can you come home from work and just sit, read and study when there is a husband and children you want to care for, children have homework to be done, sports practice or games to attend or whatever else your evening entails? If you and your husband do not take care of these things together, I ask you, “Who will?” Of course, a lot depends on the age of the children and how much help you get from them. Then, when it is time for bed, you are so tired you can hardly keep your eyes open to study Gods Word. You want to study, but you are just too tired. We take our nightly shower and fall into bed and collapse.

Ladies, sometimes the dishes may have to sit in the sink, or the laundry goes unfolded or whatever else is waiting to be done. It may have to wait until a later time. Of course, our house is not in perfect shape, but our spiritual life and the spiritual welfare of our family is intact. Don’t forget to spend time in Bible study and prayer with your children daily. We all need to learn to make the time to study more. We need to be a Mary and put the Lord first, setting the right example for our family. They are our first and primary ones to bring to the Lord. If our children see us putting the Lord first, they will also do this when they are older. In our busy world this is much easier said than done.

I have a Christian friend my home congregation whose practice is especially praiseworthy. I am sure there are others from the Lord’s church who do this very thing, also. Every morning, she starts her day with a cup of coffee and her Bible. She gets her reading and prayer done. She is ready for whatever or whoever (Satan) meets her in the day. She is a Mary. She is ready for this confrontation. Satan appears in 2 Peter 5:8 as a fiend who goes about seeking whom he may devour. He doesn’t pounce on us like a lion does his prey, but he sneaks upon us as a sly, sneaky fox.

Remember the biblical account of King Balak and the prophet Balaam. The prophet turned to God before responding to the king and concluded, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord, to do good or bad of my own will. What the Lord says, that I must speak” (Numbers 24:13 NKJV). Likewise, I am sure sister in Christ I cited is not the only lady in my congregation or elsewhere who turns to God’s Word first and at the beginning of one’s day. What a wonderful habit to do daily.

Two things that we as women don’t generally do is (1) take time for studying God’s Word and (2) take time for ourselves. We can do both at the same time. We can find a nice quiet place with a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, a glass of water or a glass of soda and sit to study God’s Word. It doesn’t have to be a long time but enough time to spend in study and prayer.

From John 11:1-54, we can learn how to balance our time as did Martha. We read of Martha, Mary and the death of their brother, Lazarus. In this period of Martha’s life, she is the one showing how much faith she has in Jesus. This is not to take away from Mary. These two sisters loved and believed in Jesus very much, as did Lazarus. Do we love and believe in Jesus as much as they did?

Wisdom is a hard-to-get quality that we admire in other people but find hard to develop in ourselves. God tells us in His Word that if we ask sincerely and do our part, we will get the wisdom we want. Please don’t forget the secret of receiving is to ask, seek and knock. Matthew 7:7-8 reads, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” God is willing for us to have spiritual wisdom, and He wants to give it, but we must do our part. In 2 Timothy 2:15 we read, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

John 11:1-45 is about Mary, Martha and Lazarus –two sisters and their brother Lazarus who died. Jesus was called from Bethany to come heal Lazarus because he was sick unto death. Jesus did not go immediately. He waited two more days. In talking with the disciples, Jesus said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). Jesus told the disciples that Lazarus was dead, and He was glad that He was not with him. This way they would believe.

When Jesus and the disciples were on their way to the home of Mary and Martha, friends had already come to comfort them at the death of their brother. As soon as Martha heard Jesus was nearing, she went to meet Jesus. She proclaimed how much faith she had in Jesus by telling Him, ‘Lazarus would not have died if You had been here.’ She also knew that whatever she asked of God, God would give it.

In their conversation, Jesus told her Lazarus would rise again. She knew of the resurrection, but Jesus was not talking of a future time. He was talking of right then. “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world’” (John 11:25-27).

Then Martha went to get Mary. She told her “the Teacher” is calling for you. She arose and those with her went quickly to go see Jesus. Jesus knew he could raise Lazarus from the dead. His tears were because of the sadness of His friends and those with them. Evidently, many loved Lazarus. Jesus saw how sad they were concerning the death of Lazarus, and He grieved and cried with them. Those with them saw how much Jesus loved Lazarus by His tears. John 11:35, “Jesus wept,” is probably one of the most quoted Scriptures because it is the shortest verse in the English Bible.

They wondered if Jesus could heal the blind, why could He not raise Lazarus from the dead. This was not a question in the mind of Jesus. At the tomb of Lazarus, Martha told Jesus that he had already been dead four days, and he stunk.

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. (John 11:40-45)

If Jesus had not called Lazarus by name, all of the dead would have risen and come forth. As you can see, Martha did not always put other things before the Lord. She was human, but that is not an excuse. We should not use our human frailties as excuses. By doing that, we play right into what the Devil wants us to do. We need to be responsible for our actions. We need to put our Lord first, and by this, we put first things first. We find in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” What things will be added? The things our Lord knows we need come after one’s devotion to Him. Following is a poem about Martha.

Martha Lynn Rushmore

Recently during worship, our grandson, Ellis, who has just turned four, was singing “Our God, He is Alive”. Looking up to his mama he asked , “Mama, what does survive mean?”

His mama quietly answered “It means that we are able to keep being alive.”

Ellis urgently responded “I don’t want to just survive. I want to live!”

Me, too, Ellis. Me, too!

And Jesus said he came to earth so that we could do just that.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep ( John 10:10,11).

Don’t just survive life in this old sinful world. I’d love to study with you about the abundant life. I have no personal handle on it. But my Lord is the one Who came and gave me access. He gave His life for me. Don’t let the greatest gift be wasted on you!

by Cindy Colley

When one young couple decided to make a commitment to each other, and to God, they selected their wedding rings and had them engraved. The message inside read, “Together for HIM,” plus the date they were to make their vows.

What did all that mean? It meant that they were committing their lives to each other and to God for His work. The rings were a testimony of their intentions. The young man had long wanted to preach the Gospel, and the girl had dreamed of being a preacher’s wife. Goals had been set; plans were being made. Each had adjustments to make in order to meet expectations. They knew there would be hardships, but they were willing to face those obstacles together. They knew there would be criticism (though they had no idea how much!), but they were willing to face that, too. As a preacher’s family, they knew they would live in the proverbial “glass house,” but they knew the rewards would far outweigh the temporary, earthly sadness. When they considered what was really important in life, they wanted to be pleasing to the Lord by reaching out to His other disciples and to the lost, but they also had to keep the success of their own marriage in mind. What would God have them do that would enable them to keep their eyes on the mark He had set for them?

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain” (1 Corinthians 9:24 KJV). Everyone who determines to “run the race” must resolve to “stick with it.” They must see and understand the steps necessary to reach the goal. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Whether it is new Christians or a newly married couple, they must keep their eyes on the mark that will give them the prize. They must work toward having a marriage that will not only glorify God but also fulfill their own expectations.

Their goal would help them be victorious in bringing many souls to salvation. The goal this young couple had in mind was to do whatever they did in word or deed all in His name and for His sake. They understood that Christians are to serve the Lord by learning to love the brethren. Being in the position they had chosen would give them ample opportunity.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:34-40)

In the art of marriage, little things can become big things. Marriage is the most important commitment besides one’s original decision to become a child of God. The marriage of two dedicated Christians can be a force for God that no other force should overcome. However, there will be rocks in the road – especially for the preacher and his wife. Being constantly on display, like preachers’ families are, is one of the biggest hurdles any couple has to face. They, of all people, must keep their focus on God and the work He has given every Christian to do, if the rest is to fall into place.

Beth Johnson

Thanks for all of the first responders

who come to the aid of those in need,

who bravely work to save people’s lives

with the utmost speed.

They risk life and limb

to rescue people each day

Without their hard work and dedication

many lives would be lost along the way.

Thanks for all the men and women

who serve in the military, too

who work tirelessly each day

to protect me and you

They put themselves in harm’s way

to defeat evil people everywhere

while their loved ones stay at home

with their own heavy load to bear.

May God be with all those brave men and women

as they do their jobs each and every day.

May He always keep them safe

is what I always pray.

Rom 13:7 – Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute (is due); custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Debora Robbins

I admit that I have not spent as much time studying the prophets as I should. They can be difficult to understand if you just open one and start to read.

As my ladies’ class has been studying the divided kingdom, I am trying to introduce the prophets at the place they fit in the stories. This makes the study of the prophets a lot easier, and it gives us a better perspective on what is happening.

We have spent a lot of time talking about the idolatrous worship of both Israel and Judah. It is so hard to understand why the people continued to worship the statue of a god instead of God in heaven. He even spoke to them through the prophets, and they still continued their evil worship of idols.

Recently, I was privileged to hear an excellent lesson that gave some insight into how corrupt these people had become. It also gave me some insight into just how we can, as God’s people, also worship idols.

It begins in Ezekiel 8:14-15. The Lord came to Ezekiel and took him to Jerusalem to show him the wickedness that transpired at the temple. At the house of God, there were women weeping for Tammuz, an idol. God then told Ezekiel that he would see worse in time. He did, of course, see worse; and I wonder if he would also see idol worship in us today.

1. An idol is an image of a god, used as an object or an instrument of worship.

An example of this is found in Isaish 44:9-20. They cut down a tree, used it as a fire to warm themselves, used it to cook, and the rest they used to make an idol.

2. Any object of excessive or ardent devotion or admiration.

In Ezekiel 14:1-5, the people took idols into their hearts. This was not casual worship.

3. A false notion or idea that causes error in thinking or reasoning.

In Second Timothy 4:3-4, Paul says that there will be some who “will not endure sound doctrine.” The women in Ezekiel were in at the house of the Lord, but they were not worshiping according to God’s commands.

The point to this lesson is to make us aware that we also serve idols. It may not be in the same way as the people of Israel and Judah, but it is often serving the physical rather than the spiritual.

When the people of Israel left Egypt, it didn’t take them long to worship, not the God that brought them out, but a golden calf. There is nothing wrong with gold or a calf; but when combined as an object of worship, sin rears its ugly head.

What about the movie stars, the television stars, the athletes that we idolize? When we put them before worship and doing the Lord’s work, they become idols. What about events like football games, races, our children’s sporting events? Do we choose God or the idol?

The nature of man has not changed. Jesus has not changed (Hebrews 13:8). Paul told the Corinthians to flee from idolatry (First Corinthians 10:14). From Deuteronomy 6:5 to Luke 10:27, even to today, God has always demanded first place. He is brokenhearted when we set up idols in our hearts (Ezekiel 6:9).

So how do we rid ourselves of all forms of idolatry?

• We examine ourselves (Second Corinthians 13:5; Second Peter 1:5-11).
• We fill our hearts and minds with God’s Word (Psalm 119:11).
• We make sacrifices to God—dedicate ALL of ourselves and all our spiritual service to Him (First Peter 2:5; Romans 12:1).
• Make heaven our number one goal at all times (Titus 2:11-13).

Sandra Oliver