|
|
Past Articles – Messages of encouragement and information |
|
Last week, we looked at the possibility that we are at ease today and like those Amos wrote to, we have not grieved over the “ruin of Joseph” (Amos 6:6). The “ruin of Joseph” of which Amos spoke was the people’s lack of concern for the things of God while being concerned about their own things. (See Amos 8:1-6.) Amos warned them about what God was intending to do to them if they did not change their ways. They didn’t; and so God carried through with His warning. What about us today? If we are at ease today – and the general lack of involvement in the works of the church suggests that to a high degree – how can we avoid God’s rejection? What can we do to overcome the “ruin of Joseph”? Israel’s problem was not only a national problem but a personal one as well. Most of the nation had allowed their faith to fall into a religious routine. Isaiah, a contemporary of Amos (same time frame, different audiences), said the people had a heart problem: “… this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,…” (Isa 29:13; also quoted by Jesus, Mt 15:7-9). Unless the people would rend their hearts and be wholly devoted to God again – in sincerity, not in lip service – God’s punishment would come upon them. The same is true for us today. Too many people give God little more than lip service. Involvement in the Lord’s work is minimal – we’re too busy with our families, our jobs, and/or our leisure time. We don’t want to be teachers, servants, or helpers. We treat the church like a restaurant – come in, sit down, look over the menu, pick out want we like, and wait to be served our choice. The various works that need to be done are being done by the same handful of people. (When was the last time you stayed just to clean up after a pitch-in? Last month, those who tend to stay and do it had to leave early. Dirty utensils and dishes were still in the sink several days later.) How can we change from being at ease? Follow Jesus’ lead: “Did you not know that I had to be in the things of My Father?” (Lk 2:49, mrg.) And then get to work. Until next time…
6/16/02 - Respect in our Dress Code Ancient Israel had many problems in their walk with God. One of their basic problems was their lack of real respect for God. Jesus quoted Isaiah’s statement concerning the pseudo-honor of which the people were guilty: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.” (Mt 15:9; Isa 29:13) There is evidence that we today are at times as guilty as ancient Israel and the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. Through the prophet Malachi, God had a complaint with Israel concerning what was being brought to Him in their sacrifices. They were bringing in the lame, the blind, and the sick rather than the perfect animals prescribed in the Law. He asked the very pointed, but also rhetorical, question: “Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?” (Mal 1:8) The answer, though unspoken, is a resounding “No!” They showed greater respect for the governor than for God. How many in the Lord’s church today show greater respect to the “governor” than to God? If you were invited to the governor’s mansion for a dinner, how would you prepare yourself? Would you show up at his house in shorts? What about a dinner at the White House? Somehow I really don’t think any of us would show up in shorts. Why is it that so many today apparently think nothing of showing up at worship and Bible class in shorts? We gather to worship our God, to sing His praises, and yet some come in attire better suited for mowing the grass or working in the garden. Certainly, we are not expected to come to worship in formal attire such as is typical at a White House dinner. But neither should we treat our gathering together as the people of God as just another casual event. We are coming specifically for the purpose of worshipping God. Does He not deserve that His people show Him respect by the way we dress before Him? There is no “dress code” stipulated in God’s word. It speaks nothing of white shirts, coats and ties, or of dresses, stockings and gloves. But certainly our individual dress code ought to reflect the honor and respect God deserves from His people. Until next time…
6/23/02 - Change: Good and Bad Change. Life is filled with it. Every time we turn around, something has changed. It may be as simple as the traffic light switching from green to amber (or red). It may be as complicated as putting together a wedding. We can’t avoid change. Change is not necessarily bad. A traffic light changing from green to amber to red helps to keep the traffic flow regulated. As a safety tool, its change is usually good. Redecorating our homes is usually a welcome change. We grow tired of the Kool-Aid, pizza stained, cleaning defying carpet that had grown under us. When we come to grips with sin in our lives, change is very good. When one turns from sin to serving God better, there is joy in the presence of the angels in heaven. Yes, change can be good, and change can be welcome. Not all change is good, or welcome. Some change needs to be resisted – strongly! Jesus once said, “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Mt 5:18 ). There are those today who would change God’s Word, who would annul what God has required of us, who would redefine the Scriptures in accordance with their own desires (Gal 5:2-4; Mt 5:19; 2 Tim 4:3,4). When people who profess to be the people of God decide that baptism is not as important as God says it is (Mk 16:16 ; 1 Pet 3:21; Gal 3:26,27), they have changed God’s Word. They are much like those of whom Paul spoke to Titus (Tit 1:10,11,16). Peter tells of those who distort the Scriptures – to their own destruction (2 Pet 3:16). No, change is not necessarily good and beneficial. What can you and I do to help ensure that we are not guilty of such unwelcome change? We can examine the Scriptures daily, as the Bereans did, to see if what is being taught is actually God’s word (Acts 17:10,11). We can be diligent to present ourselves to God as workmen who don’t need to be ashamed, handling God’s word correctly (2 Tim 2:15). And when we find those who diminish the value of what God has said, we can be like Priscilla and Aquila and try to teach them more accurately (Acts 18:25,26). Until next time…
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’ ” (Mt 28:18-20). What a Great Commission! Because of the authority given to Jesus Christ, we are authorized and charged to go into the entire world to make disciples, that is, those who like us become followers of Jesus. What an awesome commission! Who is able? When persecution came on the church, those persecuted went about preaching the word (Acts 8:1-4). Who is able? People said Christians had turned the world upside down in the first century (Acts 17:6). Who is able? We are able, through God’s strength (2 Cor 3:5,6). It is a marvelous experience to be able to go into other nations and teach the gospel to those hungry for God’s word. I’m not a jet-setter, nor a world-traveler, nor even a frequent flyer. I’ve only been out of this country on a couple of occasions. But that commission to go into the entire world is not set aside because of my travel habits. There are other ways that I can help the gospel go into the entire world. The Philippian church could not go with Paul personally, but they were able to fellowship with him in the proclamation of the gospel. They sent financial help to him on more than one occasion (e.g., Phil 4:16). We can do the same thing today – we can help others who can go and teach, and we can help those who are teaching through the written word. Taking opportunity to help those in other nations to learn of God’s love and salvation through Jesus is just part of our responsibility to all the nations. We have responsibility here at home as well. Our co-workers, our neighbors, our relatives – they are lost if they are not in Jesus. The only way they can be saved is through our taking the gospel to them right here at home. The gospel is the only hope for salvation whether people live nearby or far away. Until next time…
7/7/02 - Opportunities to Spread the Gospel “Go into all the world…” (Mk 16:15) Although we cannot each personally go into “all the world,” there are opportunities available for us to help others who are going. Last month, Eddie Cloer spent some time with us telling us of the work of the Truth for Today World Mission School. Each month they are sending out educational materials to train national preachers throughout the world. These materials are tried and true, sound instruction from God’s word. They are being translated into the languages of the people in many countries of the world. They are currently working on translating the materials into several of the languages of India. This is their highest priority task. We can help them with this effort. In order to fully underwrite this work, they are looking for 600 individuals or families to commit $25 each month to help in their work. Eddie mentioned they had something over 350 commitments thus far. Several here have expressed an interest in fellowshipping in this published teaching work. There is also another opportunity to go where we can’t all personally go even closer to home. Our own Salena Hazel will be going to Brazil soon to work in the gospel. She will be working with the “Let’s Start Talking” Bible teaching program. In September, she will be going to Texas for about three months of specialized training. After a brief time to set things in order here, she will be off to Itu, Brazil. (Salena has spent several summers working with the resident missionaries there already, and she already speaks Portuguese.) Salena needs our support to go to Brazil. The congregation has committed to help support her, but there is much that we can do individually as well. She is still in need of about $900 each month to enable her to work through the end of 2003. Few, if any of us, have that kind of money just lying around waiting for just such an opportunity. But many of us could work together to make up her deficit. Ten families committing $90 each month for a year would do the trick, or twenty families committing $45 monthly, or thirty families committing $30 monthly for a year. Will you give prayerful consideration to fellowshipping in these works? Until next time…
“I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High” (Ps 9:1). What a wonderful world our God has created for us! Each morning, the sun rises to shine its light on the beauty of God’s creation. The rains water the earth that it might bring forth the vegetation necessary to sustain life. Each evening, the moon reflects the glory of the sun and the stars shine in the heavens. Spring comes and the earth is refreshed; summer comes and the earth blossoms with life; fall comes and the harvest is gathered in; winter comes and the earth rests. During each season of the year, we enjoy the beauty and majesty of God’s creation. Give thanks to God for his wonderful creation! What a wonderful thing God has done in creating us. The crown of God’s creation was mankind. We were created a little lower than the angels, created in the image of God Himself, and even created to share fellowship with the Creator. Though outfitted for life in the here and now, there is a part of us that will endure past time into eternity. The outer person grows old and weary with age, but the inner person can be renewed day by day. The Preacher once wrote, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth…” (Ecc 12:1). As we grow older, there are many things that vie for our affections, tending to draw us away from God. There are times when we may turn our back on God as Adam and Eve did, as David did, as Solomon and a host of others who walked with God. And yet, God still desires that we enjoy His fellowship. So great is God’s compassion for us that Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we could enjoy God’s fellowship once again. “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!” (Ps 32:1) How truly blessed are we when we have fellowship restored with God! Oh, what a wonderful God we are privileged to serve in this life. Who is like the Lord in compassion, and mercy, and grace? Who is like the Lord in abundant concern for my walk through this life? Who is like the Lord who desires that all His people walk with Him into eternity? Until next time…
7/21/02 - Patience and Training Puppies Every one of us who has had a new puppy knows firsthand the “joys” of housebreaking. It’s just not an easy task. We put down papers where they have their accident so they learn to associate the paper with the scent. We move the papers to the back door. In the meantime, we are taking them outside religiously so that they just might “do their business” outside. It takes a lot of patience to housebreak a puppy. There are a lot of anxious moments along the way. Oh, what a joy it is when the little beastie goes to the door, wants to go outside, and does its business – outside! We work hard with that puppy to get it to behave in certain ways so that we can enjoy its company inside our homes. Now, I’m not a puppy and you’re not a puppy. We don’t need to be housebroken in that sense. But think about the training that God provides for us so that we can be “heaven-broken” – trained so that He can enjoy our company and fellowship in His home. All the little – and big – trials that come into our lives are part of the disciplining that God is providing to us. James said, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (Jms 1:2-4). Each struggle we go through can help us to trust God and His wisdom more and more. If you have ever housebroken a puppy, did you ever get frustrated with that cute furry little bundle? I know we have in our household. Sometimes it is so frustrating you almost want to rethink the decision to have a puppy. Goldfish start looking mighty exciting. But our hearts are set on the puppy. Therefore, we patiently clean up its messes and keep up the training process. We know that if we can endure its mistakes, we will be able to have it with us in our home. Do you think that God ever gets frustrated with you and me? The Old Testament shows God’s “frustration” with the people of Israel. But it was His desire to have people with Him in His home. Therefore, He kept on training them. There are times that you and I can be as frustrating to God as they were. Thanks be given to God that He continues to train us so that we can be with Him in His home one day. Until next time…
Vacation
Bible School is a week of fun, Bible study, and fellowship. It starts tomorrow
evening! There are classes for all ages from youngest to oldest. Vacation Bible School – it’s not just for
kids.
Whew! Vacation Bible School is “in the
can” as they say in the movie business. It has once more been relegated to
the pages of history. Or has it?
8/11/02 - If Today Was All We Had How
would our lives change if we each had the attitude of Paul? When Agabus came
down to Caesarea while Paul was staying at Philip’s house, he took Paul’s
belt, bound his own hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says:
‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and
deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’ ” (Acts 21:11). The crowd who
heard Agabus urged Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem. Paul’s reaction
reflects the attitude to which I am referring. He wasn’t like most people.
He said he was not only ready to be bound, but to die for the name of the Lord
Jesus (Acts 21:13).
The
angels rejoice and God’s people on earth are rejoicing. This past Lord’s
Day was another wonderful day for the people of God at Columbus Avenue.
Brother Allen Barber’s lesson drawn from Lot’s troubles was great. When
the invitation was extended to seek help from the church, there were four
precious souls who walked down the aisle. The Lord knows how many other souls
drew closer to Him that day.
This, Salena Hazel is moving to Texas to begin an evangelistic
internship program. She will then be going on to Itu, Brazil, about the first
of the year. Salena is to be commended for her zeal in wanting to help others
to learn of God’s saving grace. Many of us would not even consider moving to
another city, let alone another country in order to teach the gospel.
September
has arrived and our children are back in school. Those lazy, hazy, crazy days
of summer have ended as reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic have returned. Our
children’s lives will be filled with school activities including homework
for the next nine months or so. Those of us no longer in school remember those
days well.
9/8/02 - Remember Without Revenge Sometimes my mind goes to wandering. This
week is the “anniversary” of the attacks on our country last year. Many
people are planning to remember that day through some type of service or
memorial. Here I go – wandering… |
|
