Category Archives: Christian Living

Almost But Not Enough

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Our world is driven by the idea of perfection, achieving 100% in every arena. Students strive to make 100’s on their tests. Athletes are driven to leave 100% on their respective playing fields after every game. Anything less than perfection is never desired, but gives motivation for a higher level of devotion and determination to achieve. Even in the areas of life where 100% is not achievable or expected, the number is only dropped by one percent. We buy antibacterial soaps that promise to kill 99% of all living germs. While this allows one percent to continue to grow and possibly infect a person’s life, we have grown to accept this smallest margin of loss. What would 99% success mean in different areas of life?

A recent study, published by the Gates foundation, gave statistics on 99% not being good enough. If 99% of all newborns were given to the correct parents, that leaves 12 newborns (1%) given to the wrong parents daily. Would this outcome be tolerated by the parents of a misplaced child? If the postal service was only able to achieve 99%, then 18,322 pieces of mail would be mishandled and even lost in one year. Would this be acceptable for the people who depend upon this service for their weekly or monthly checks? If 99% of all the shoes made had a correct match, then 114,500 mismatched shoes would be shipped in a year. Are you willing to wear a size 10 and 9 shoe at the same time?

We require 100% percent from every purchase or service that we receive. Anything less than that is not acceptable and if changes are not made, we will choose a different garment, hospital, or transportation service. While all of these affect our physical lives and can be burdens at time, how are we doing in giving God 100% spiritually?

Jesus gave the standard of Christianity by His life, death, burial and resurrection. He gave everything to become the perfect lamb of God (John 1:36; Hebrews 5:8-9). It is solely because of His great sacrifice that we have any hope of eternity in heaven. Therefore, if Jesus was willing to give everything in obedience to the Father, what about you and me? We must remember the standard, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

What does it mean to deny ourselves and take up the cross? Did not Paul capture that aspect in his own mission in life, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is not I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20)? Thus, our lives of selfish desires and wanton pleasures must die and we must live solely for God. The price that was paid for my sins requires my complete devotion. As Paul said, “and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:14). The standard must be 100% or else we fail to carry out the condition prescribed by Christ.

To give God 100% of our lives may at times require us to surrender some enjoyable activities. These losses were to be expected and we need to prepare ourselves for the hard decisions that arrive upon giving our lives over to God. Our human relationships may be tested by the love we have for God. We will often have to choose between man or God (Luke 14:26). We will have to count the cost of our discipleship with God, and decide whether or not we will remain faithful to Him (Luke 14:27-33). Jesus never once promised that discipleship was the easiest route, but warned that “the gate is small and way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14).

If we are only willing to give God 99% of our lives, is that enough when Jesus gave us 100%? We owe everything to God’s providence and love; therefore, we must strive to give Him everything. What happens when we fail and make mistakes along the way? We confess our sins to God and He is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9). To be found guilty of not giving God everything places me in a realm of unknown certainty. As a recent church sign reminded me, “To be almost saved is to be eternally lost.” A similar statement could read, “To almost give God everything is to be eternally lost.” We must learn to give God everything within our lives, because He deserves nothing less.

 

By Colby Junkin

Giants in the Land

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In Numbers 13, the Israelites are about to enter the land of Canaan to fulfill the promise God had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would be given the land wherein these faithful patriarchs dwelt. God instructed Moses to send 12 spies to spy out the land and bring back a report. As is well known, the report they brought back was not a good one. The land was as promised, “flowing with milk and honey”, but there were giants in the land, inhabitants stronger than the Israelites. The consensus among the 12 spies was that the land could not be taken. Of course, we remember that two of these spies, Joshua and Caleb, urged the Israelites to trust in God. They were confident that with His help the land could be taken. But, alas, the Israelites sided with the 10 spies who gave the evil report and the whole assembly began to murmur and complain against Moses and against God. We know the outcome of this story. God punished the Israelites by not allowing any adults 20 years or older to enter the land of promise, except for Joshua and Caleb. They were not allowed to enter the promised rest because they did not trust God to help them overcome the stronger inhabitants of the land. They were not willing to put forth the effort to overcome.

Christians are also promised a land of rest – a beautiful home in heaven (Revelation 21). But to reach that rest, Christians face a conquest just as the Israelites did. Ours is not a physical conquest, but a spiritual one. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

There are many spiritual enemies facing Christians. These enemies can, at times, appear invincible, as giants in the land. I John 2:16 tells us what these giants are: (1) lust of the flesh, (2) lust of the eyes, and (3) the pride of life. These three “morph” into one huge giant called SIN. But they can also “de-morph” into numerous smaller giants such as those described in Galatians 5:19-21 – “idols, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, reveling and idols;” These things are all around us, everywhere, every day. It can be overwhelming at times. We may come to the point to where we feel we just can’t be righteous in the face of so much evil. But, let us not be as the Israelites who gave up without even trying.

There are three ways in which we can overcome those evil spiritual giants:

  1. Trust in God – In Romans 7:18-25, Paul realized that he could not overcome by himself. He understood the war that was waging within himself between the flesh and the spirit. He realized that the flesh would win if he relied only on himself. In verse 24, he seems on the verge of giving up, but then, in verse 25, he turns it over to God who could deliver him “from this body of death.” When we fail to trust in God, we will end up as the Israelites who perished in the wilderness instead of enjoying the promised rest in the land of Canaan.

 

  1. Stand strong – In I Kings 17, we can read of the champion giant, Goliath, who defied the armies of Israel. No Israelite was willing to stand against him. But when David heard his challenge, he stepped forward, knowing that, with God’s help, he would be able to overcome just as God had helped him overcome the lion and the bear that tried to steal his sheep. But David still had to do his part to overcome. In Ephesians 6:13-18, we can read of the spiritual armor God has provided for us to overcome spiritual giants. But this armor will do us no good if we do not equip ourselves with it, learn how to use it to fight against evil, then stand strong.

 

  1. Look for help from the brethren – Galatians 6:1-2 exhorts those who are spiritual to restore those who are caught in sin. In Hebrews 3:12-13, we are told to “exhort one another daily” to guard against “departing from the living God.” From the inspired words of Paul in I Thessalonians 5:14, we are to “warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”

With God’s help, we can overcome evil spiritual giants and enter that rest He has promised us. But we must have faith (trust in Him), we must be put forth the effort (stand strong), and we must help each other if we are to overcome.

 

By Tim Johnson

Beyond Acts 2:41

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The gospel was preached (Acts 2:14-36).  Some of the hearers believed what was preached (Acts 2:37).  These believers were told what to do to receive the salvation, which comes only from the Lord (Acts 2:38).  The hearers were encouraged to respond to the word of Almighty God (Acts 2:39-40).  Three thousand souls obeyed the gospel call by submitting to water baptism (Acts 2:41).  Every authentic Christian should be able to recall this story for several reasons: 1) The plan has not changed, 2) They followed this same pattern in order to become a Christian, 3) Acts 2 is pregnant with vital information from answering basic questions about salvation to exposing the false views of Pentecostalism, & 4) This is the history of the church of our Lord; the history of the church of which they are members.  Unfortunately, it appears knowledge & practice has ceased beyond Acts 2:41.

Acts 2:42 is a verse which addresses the church’s responsibility of service.  This Scripture helps us to understand our duty as members of a local congregation.  Listen to your Bible!  In Acts 2:42, the Bible teaches, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching & the fellowship, to the breaking of bread & the prayers.”  Devote means “to dedicate one’s self to a cause.”  Christians are devoted people.

  1. Christians devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching.  It is through reading & studying we serve ourselves, which in turn serves God, our brethren, & the world through the means of worship, fellowship, & evangelism (1 Timothy 4:13, 2 Timothy 2:15, & 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
  2. Christians devote themselves to the fellowship.  It is through the sharing of Christ’s blessings we serve the brethren.  It is because of our relationship with God & our brethren’s relationship with God that we have fellowship with one another.  This relationship should run deep for several reasons: 1) We are now children of God by faith (Galatians 3:26), 2) We are workers together with a common goal (1 Corinthians 3:9), & 3) We have been transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2).  We should draw strength by our coming together & not seek ways to avoid one another.
  3. Christians devote themselves to the breaking of bread.  It is through worship we serve God.  Love sent outward is called affection.  Love sent downward is called grace.  Love sent upward is called worship.  Communing with God with brethren of like precious faith is not something we do out of duty or convenience, but because of gratitude & love (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  It is the will of God!
  4. Christians devote themselves to prayer.  God talks to us through His word, but we talk to God through prayer.  What is the subject of our supplication to God?  Are our prayers totally selfish or do we pray for the salvation of those who are lost?  Do we pray for opportunities to reach out?  Do we pray for God to touch the hearts of those who do not know our God & have yet to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ knowing what their end will be if they don’t (2 Thessalonians 1:8)?

By Antoine Holloway

Of Gnats and Other Annoyances

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I remember working one morning with Joe Bridges, a grizzled old… man who watched out for me on the job and had become a dear friend. From Tylertown, Mississippi, he had been a common laborer for many long years and had followed construction jobs all over the South. I often marveled at the patient, rhythmic way he worked in difficult conditions, and this morning was no exception. As I furiously fought the gnats and said unappreciative things about the day I was born, Joe seemed to take only slight notice of the devilish little insects.

“Man, how in the world can you stand this?” I finally screamed. “Don’t these gnats bother you?”

“Well,” Joe said, looking at me sideways as he adjusted his hard hat a little, “I guess they would —— if I let ’em.”

It was some years later that I understood: folks who have known what real hardship is don’t pay much attention to gnats.

One measure of a man is the size of what it takes to annoy him. Unfortunately, most of us are far too easily irritated. Since we have so little character, it doesn’t take much to get the best of us. And consequently, our lives are dominated by relatively minor vexations, things that wisdom says we shouldn’t take the time to be troubled about. We’re the victim of every little unpleasantness that comes along. But rather than grow in character and rise above these petty annoyances, we spend our lives swatting “gnats.” The real work we were sent here to do ends up being neglected because we spend most of our time and energy being annoyed.

The tendency to be easily annoyed is far more than a quirky little “personality” trait. I would suggest that many of the quite serious problems in life —— especially in our dealings with other people —— boil down to a failure of self-discipline with regard to the basic issue of irritability. If not repented of and removed from our character, annoyance is likely to cause more deadly destruction than we expect. As bad “habits” go, being grouchy is far from harmless.

When we find ourselves frequently upset over “gnats” and other annoyances, our hearts are wide open to all manner of evil things. The Bible warns about this. “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (Proverbs 25:28). “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32). “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression” (Proverbs 19:11). “Have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Love is not “easily provoked” (1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).

Paul wrote, “Let your gentleness be known to all men” (Philippians 4:5). The word translated here as “gentleness” (moderation, meekness) has been defined as “strength under control.” To avoid the destructive effects of annoyance in our lives, our strength must be under control. To do this, we must be not only self-disciplined, but wise with a wisdom that comes from God. Listen well to the words of James: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:13-17).

Most of us would like to have more “peace of mind.” But we tend to see “worry” as the main hindrance to that peace. What we fail to recognize is that annoyance is just as much the enemy of peace of mind as anxiety. The peace of God hardly reigns in our hearts if we’re in a constant state of vexation over the little irritations of life.

So what is it that really gets your goat? Whether it’s a big thing or a little one, do yourself a favor and give this a try: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

 

By Gary Henry

Let All The Earth Keep Silence

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“But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him” (Habakkuk 2:20).

How often have we heard these words read or sung at the beginning of a service? The silence enjoined by Habakkuk is not a literal silence but the silence of submission and acceptance which would not dare to voice any question or complaint against God.

There is, however, great value in literal silence—a value our generation may well have forgotten. In these days of roaring traffic, noisy factories, humming household appliances and megawatt stereos, an unexpected moment of silence can be almost frightening. The first option we demand for our automobiles is a radio/cassette player; and people going to the mountains or the seashore for a picnic seem more concerned about getting their ghetto blasters or portable TVs than they are about the sandwiches. One thing to be said for many of these people is that they are generous enough to share their sound with everyone within a mile’s radius. With all due respect, however, I think I prefer the selfish kind who, while walking, running or cycling, get their necessary sound fromthose little earphones that allow the rest of us to make our own selfish choices of what we want to hear—or not hear.

All of this lust for sound has even carried over into worship: we want sermons delivered with machine-gun rapidity and prayers prayed without a moment’s pause for thought. The silence during the Lord’s Supper has become so unbearable to some that they have eliminated it with live or recorded singing. Our generation would have been miserable in heaven when there was silence “for about half an hour” (Revelation 8:1).

Silence is the natural effect of many commendable emotions: awe, humility, controlled anger, sympathy, a stricken conscience, and reverence, as well as the submission and acceptance of superior wisdom advised in Habakkuk 2:20. Even love may be expressed by silence. Someone has said that the depth of a friendship may be measured by the time two individuals can be comfortable with no word exchanged. Our aversion to silence may reveal the scarcity of some of these qualities.

Silence increases objectivity as we escape the clamor of emotional appeals and subjective arguments and evaluate the real substance of things we have heard. Crooked salesmen do not like silence.

In a special way, silence seems to remind us of the presence of God. It is not in the city that Christians most often remark on the certainty of a creator; rather it is on a mountain peak, far above the noise below, where the stillness is broken only by sounds of God’s creation.

Silence allows us to hear the voice of the Spirit—not in some miraculous way, but through reflection upon the law of God which we have laid up in our hearts (Psalms 119:11) and upon which we “meditate day and night” (Psalms 1:2). Meditation is best without distracting noise.

Because of these qualities, silence may often be used effectively to calm bitterness and to avoid polarization of individuals in disagreement. The Quakers have become known as peerless mediators in numerous types of conflict; and periods of silence are among their favorite devices.

Most of us talk too much and are too rushed to be successful as peacemakers.

Silence is an excellent tool in personal evangelism. A period of quiet reflection after the reading of a scripture gives the student time to reach his own conclusions about its message. It is amazing how effective the Holy Spirit can be in revealing truth to one whose mind is uncluttered by the explanations of “teachers.”

Silence can encourage decisions. Once, talking to a couple who had been attending services for many years, I was urging their obedience. As usual, they said they needed a little more time. “How much time do you need?” I asked. “You have had 20 years.” Silence followed. They said nothing. I said nothing. I determined that I would not speak until they did. The silence lengthened. It became almost embarrassing—it seemed so long. But it was finally broken when he said, “I’m ready; let’s go.” They died not long after that—saved by a decision which was spurred, not by what was said but by what was not said. I learned that there is, indeed, “a time to keep silence” (Ecclesiastes 3:7).

Silence facilitates private prayer. Perhaps it was a quest for such silence which led Jesus, rather often, to rise a long while before day to go out into a solitary place to pray. If He sought it, so should we.

 

By Sewell Hall

Free Speech?

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“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21

“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.” Proverbs 21:23

“These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.”  Proverbs 6:16-19

“There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.” Proverbs 12:18

“The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” Proverbs 12:19

“If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” James 1:26

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

 

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

 

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

 

With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” James 3:1-12

“For ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.’” 1 Peter 3:10

“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19

“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24

“He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” Proverbs 17:27

“Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 29:20

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33-37

 

[Verses arranged by Isaac Muñoz]

Staying Alert in the Battle Against Sin

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Have you ever been through a time in your life when you were constantly overtaken by the same sin again and again, not realizing the temptation was there until it was too late? Maybe you’re even struggling with that right now, falling into old habits, not seeing the trap until you’re already caught in it.

What causes this spiritual obliviousness? How can you and I be more alert and aware so that we won’t succumb to a surprise attack from Satan?

In his epistle, Peter talks about three actions we need to take that will help us to change from who we used to be into the people God wants for Himself:

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)

Prepare your minds for action

This phrase literally means “gird up the loins of your mind”. Back when people wore long robes, it was necessary to tuck the robe into their belts in order to run quickly. Peter’s essentially saying, “Roll up your sleeves and get ready to work”. If you’re not expecting to be tempted by sin, you will be caught off guard and fall more easily into the temptation. Peter says later in his letter, “Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Half the victory is preparing for the battle. What can you do to be ready to combat Satan?

Be sober-minded
If you’re struggling with impaired judgment and poor decision-making, maybe you’re drunk. And not necessarily on alcohol, though that could be an issue, but maybe on other things that numb you to the reality of God’s truth. What are you “under the influence” of? Think about what you go to for comfort or escape when you’re feeling down. Is it entertainment, sex, food, socializing, etc.? These things can offer temporary relief from pain but do nothing to confront the reality of life, and will only deaden us spiritually. Ephesians 5:15-21 offers the alternative to spiritual inebriation: be filled with the Spirit, sing to God, be thankful, and serve others.

Hope fully on grace
Peter spent the first 12 verses of this chapter writing about the hope that we have because of the grace God has given us, and the grace we’ll continue to receive. Often when we find ourselves falling into the same sins repeatedly, it’s because we have our hope fixed on something other than Jesus and the grace He brings. If your hope is set on landing that promotion at work, or meeting the perfect person, or finally getting approval from someone you admire, then you will make decisions and work hard to bring that hope to realization, no matter the cost spiritually. Examine your behavior and how your emotions are affected by circumstances in your life, and you will begin to see where your hope is truly placed.

When we have our minds set on God’s truth and ready for action, when we remove from our lives influences that impair spiritually, and when we focus on the hope Jesus gives, we will be better prepared to confront the sin that we’re tempted with head on.  Peter gives us hope for the battle against sin at the end of the letter:

Resist [the devil], firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you (1 Peter 5:9-10).

By Joshua Lewis

Things Involved in Service

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Service is serving — sometimes voluntarily, sometime involuntarily. In service one is enslaved to someone or something — sometimes voluntarily, sometimes involuntarily. Slavery is not all bad. For instance, Paul, inspired by the Spirit, said, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18). One may be freed from one kind of slavery, but he will inevitably be brought under the control of another kind of slavery. Those who were made free by The Emancipation Proclamation were not free to do as they pleased. They ceased being mere chattel for their masters; but they were brought under the laws of the land. If one is free from righteousness, he is the slave of sin; if he is freed from sin, he becomes the servant of God. Everyone serves someone.

Service to God is a deliberate action. It is a choice made. There is no force involved saving for the force of one’s own intelligent reaction to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel forces one to this new slavery by imposing upon him a sense of righteousness and judgment and a sorrow for sin. It only forces one to serve because he comes to know and love God.

This new yoke (Matthew 11:30) is easy to bear, its burden light compared to the imposing slavery of sin and the yoke it imposes.

Service to God is man’s only way to glorify Him. There is no other. Mental assent may bring some satisfaction to the mind, but it brings little glory to God. Even pangs of conscience may well say something about where a man is headed, but it does not, by itself, glorify God. Only service glorifies God. Adopting the attitudes He recommends, bringing oneself deliberately under His control, performing, to the best of one’s ability, His requirements and leaving off His prohibitions constitutes service. Without these things in their proper places, there is only admission, not service. True service brings the whole man into subservience to God.

To serve God one must put himself totally at God’s disposal. There must be no room left in the heart for any god of any sort, but Him only. One must sanctify Him; give Him the high place He deserves. That speaks not only to faith, but to trust and confidence as well. It speaks to allowing Him complete control in one’s life. Any less is double-minded devotion and such a mental division of affection is not acceptable to Him. Please note that such submission not only brings Him glory, but it brings glory to the person who submits as well. Man never operates at a higher level of efficiency, nor does he ever come closer to the fulfillment of his design for being, than when he is totally disposed to serve his Maker.

Service to God is eminently practical. It makes sense. It is practical because of what it does for man. Man is made better by serving God. His ideals are more substantive, his goals are more sensible, His labors more effective, his hope more lofty. It makes no sense at all to lay up treasures on earth when nature itself teaches that the earth eventually claims its patrons, leaving them penniless and powerless. It makes good sense to lay up treasures in heaven where God has assured that the investment will pay dividends so rich that our fi nite minds fail to accurately comprehend them. Such rewards are the result of service to God. Notice, I said the “result,” of such service. These rewards are provided by the grace of God; but they are for those who choose to serve Him. There will be no such rewards for those who deliberately choose a life of service to the mundane.

In its purest sense, service is an offering. Service is a sacrifice of oneself to God. Paul indicates such in Romans 12:1, when he says, “present your bodies a living sacrifice to God.” He speaks of such as “your reasonable service.” It is reasonable because it makes sense; it makes sense because it is reasonable. This offering is a presentation — one presents himself to God to be used as He sees fit. “Here am I Lord, send me” is the mantra of the true servant. You give your life, you give your heart, and you give your being to Him. He is yours and you are His. Beside Him there is no other. It is this giving in service that makes it a “living” sacrifice; it is alive, active.

Service is a measurement of one’s love for God. If you serve Him faithfully, you love Him dearly. If you serve Him sporadically, you love him sporadically. You must measure your love yourself; and you measure your love by appraising your service to Him. Is it total? Is it unrestrained, unrestricted, unlimited?

By Dee Bowman

“Be Patient With All”

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“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

We all have responsibilities toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. That’s especially true when the going gets tough. In this verse, Paul briefly identifies some common spiritual problems and our duties toward those who have them.

The word unruly described a soldier who was insubordinate or a laborer who neglected his work. This brother’s behavior is disor­derly, out of line. He is not following the rules (i.e., the command­ments of God; see 2 Thessalonians 3:6b). He knows what he ought to do but chooses not to do it.

Paul’s command is that we admonish (warn) such a person. We work to persuade him to do better. Whether it requires gentle words of encouragement or stronger words of rebuke, our goal is to get him to change his conduct to conform to what God instructs—in other words, to repent.

The fainthearted (literally, “small-souled”) brother is easily dis­couraged. He may be overly sensitive to criticism. He may quickly lose heart when he makes mistakes, or when he sees the failures of others. He may be fearful of opposition to his beliefs. Without help, this disciple could become disheartened and depressed to the point of giving up.

Our duty to this brother is to comfort him. He may need a cheerful word or just a sympathetic ear. He needs to know he is not alone. “Let them know that the battle is not theirs, but the Lord’s; and those that trust in him shall conquer” (Adam Clarke). “There­fore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble” (Hebrews 12:12).

The weak brother has many faces: the student who is experi­enc­ing doubts about his faith; the new convert who still has much to learn; the brother who is weak in conscience toward some matter of indifference (cf. 1 Corinthians 8-10; Romans 14). This Christian lacks the depth of knowledge or conviction that he needs.

Paul tells us to “uphold” or support the weak. The word here can mean either (1) to endure or withstand, or (2) to cling to or pay atten­tion to. I believe both meanings could apply. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his neighbor’s good to edi­fication” (Romans 15:1-2). When a brother is weak, we must “put up” with his weaknesses and try to “build up” what is lacking on his part. The goal is not for him to be complacent in his weakness, but for him to grow stronger.

When a brother or sister struggles with problems, it may be hard to determine which of these descriptions best fits. Is the person willfully disobedient or just struggling with temptation? Is his problem due to a lack of self-control or a lack of knowledge? Does she need reassurance or rebuke? It may take careful consideration and time before we know. And that leads us to one more exhortation…

Be patient with all. The word is literally “long-tempered”—be­ing patient with those who try our patience. Warning the unruly, comforting the fainthearted, and upholding the weak can put a strain on us. Satan seeks to frustrate and discourage us. He would rather we just gave up on those who need our help. But we must not. Remem­ber that we all need the support of our brothers and sisters from time to time. Imitate the longsuffering of God (2 Peter 3:9,15). “And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentle­ness, and patience” (Colossians 2:12).

 

By Jeff Himmel

Do It Yourself Obituary

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The “Do It Yourself” idea has made millions for industries catering to those who would rather complete a project than pay another to do it.  Entire cable networks have built their programming around this craze, demonstrating how old houses can be made to look new again, how old furniture can be refurbished, and how items from the junkyard can be turned into treasures. In turn, those with the necessary skills have saved millions of dollars by doing the work to produce a satisfying end product. It is within this spirit of “DIY” that the following challenge is made: write your own obituary!

Even today, most every hometown newspaper has an obituary column. Enshrining those who have passed from this life, their family, deeds, good works, and hobbies are encapsulated in a few brief paragraphs to allow readers to know the quality of the individual. What, though, if obituary writing was taken away from newspaper journalists and the responsibility given to every individual?  There is biblical precedent for such an idea! As the Apostle Paul knew his life would soon end, he wrote his obituary:

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (I Timothy 4:6-8)

Paul’s reflection on his death illustrated an individual who knew what he wanted in life; thus, his final days were not spent with regret, but with anxious anticipation of what was soon to come.

Getting Started

Typically, the hardest part of a do it yourself project is beginning. The necessary motivation is often eclipsed by either a dread of the work at hand or the attention paid to other pursuits. As a part of the do it yourself obituary, the first step is to take time and contemplate what accomplishments are desired in this life. A nurse who spent her life working in the field of palliative care recorded the biggest regrets her patients voiced as their lives were coming to a close. In her anecdotal observations, she found that every male patient expressed the same regret, “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.” As these men looked back on their lives, they realized that pursuing a career had devoured time which could and should have been devoted to family and other good works. The Lord recognized this as a great temptation, admonishing in his parable of the soils that “what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). Thus, as the “do it yourselfer” begins writing, he must determine how he wants to be remembered. Will his obituary state that he was a devoted family man, good father, and good husband, or will it state that he was an invaluable asset to the company for whom he worked? Will it state he was a selfless worker in the Lord’s service or will it state he was a tireless worker for his employer?

Concluding

Perhaps the second hardest part of the do it yourself project is finding satisfaction with the end result. Often, the DIY enthusiasts will state “I should have done this” or “I should have done that.” What about with the final lines of the obituary? Note once again how the Apostle Paul concluded his obituary; it was not with regret, but with anticipation. He was not a perfect man in any way; in fact, he stated that he was “chief among sinners.” He, however, knew the grace of God and knew the absolute necessity of “working out one’s own salvation.” Thus, he always had the finish line in mind and raced accordingly. The DIY obituary writer must make a choice; does he desire to be remembered as the man who left his family financially well-off or the man who laid the foundation for a spiritual house? Does he desire to be remembered as the veteran employee whose portrait will hang on the wall for years to come or the Christian whose portrait adorns the hearts of his brethren? Does he desire to have his name engraved in earthly memorials or does he desire his name to be recorded in the Lamb’s book of life?

Filling In The Middle

The hard labor of any project is what occurs between beginning and end; the same is true with life. What, then, is the purpose of writing one’s own obituary? It is to live in such a manner that will lead to the desired conclusion. Writing an obituary before the closing days of life provides opportunity to evaluate the direction one’s life is going. It gives the young man working his way up the corporate ladder opportunity to pause and reconsider his family obligations: “Husbands, love your wives even as Christ loved the church” (Ephesians 5:25).  It gives the young woman opportunity to reflect on her God-given duties within the family: “And so train younger women to love their husbands and children” (Titus 2:5). It provides opportunity for every Christian to examine his or her lifestyle and determine if the Lord is a part of that life or if the Lord IS life: “And when Christ, who is your life, appears…” (Colossians 3:4). The priorities established “before the evil days come” will certainly determine the outcome.

Conclusion

Death is not a subject that most desire to contemplate and mortality is often an avoided idea. The realist, however, fully understands that the day of departure is coming: “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Heb. 9:27). The DIY obituary writer, with full realization that death is coming, gets busy! As the Apostle Paul, actions are taken to produce the hope and security that a victor’s crown is waiting. May every child of God take to heart and live every day in anticipation of meeting the Lord. May every obituary written by the faithful come to its desired and glorious conclusion – a life lived for God.

By Greg Chandler