COME HOME….

There’s an old song that goes:

“Many years ago in days of childhood, I used to play till evening shadows come. Then winding down that old familiar pathway, I’d hear my mother  call at set of sun, “Come home, come home it’s supper time. The shadows lengthen fast. Come home, come home, it’s supper time. We’re going home at last.”

I cannot hear that song without a lump rising in my throat as I remember my own mother’s call like that one, oh, so long ago in childhood. And even today,her voice echoes through my memory.

There is a similar call that ought to resonate through the minds of many today. That’s the call of the Savior in His revealed Word, saying, “Come home, child.” How many souls stand in jeopardy this day because they have left the Savior and returned to the world? They may not be immoral or vile, but they have simply shunned and neglected Christ and His church, as did Demas, whom Paul said, “loved this present world” (II Timothy 4:10).

The erring child of God stands daily in jeopardy of losing his soul eternally because he has chosen to leave the only Way to the Father (John 14:6). But the mental and physical abilities to come home are still in his possession. Those abilities are gifts from God, but he will not always possess them. Peter told Ananias that the land he and Sapphira sold was theirs to do with as they willed, and asked them even after it was sold, “was it not in thine own power?” (Acts 5:4). The things God has granted us are ours to use as we see fit. Those things include our thinking and reasoning abilities and time. Yes, God has given us time to repent because He is not willing that any should perish (II Peter 3:9). God does not want you to be lost eternally, but He will not force His salvation upon you. He is longsuffering and wants you to come to Him of your own free will. That is in your power today, but it may not be in your power tomorrow.

Think about the condition of your soul today. If you have left Jesus for the world, your condition is worse than if you had never obeyed the Gospel. “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them” (II Peter 2:20–21).

Mothers and fathers, long departed from this world, still raise their voices in memory, saying, “Come home.” Faithful Christian friends who love you, gently implore, “Come home.” Dear cousins, uncles, and in-laws who love you, kindly plead, “Come home.” Parents who love you more than life itself, pray and plead for you to “come home,” and the Savior, Who died a criminal's death to wash your soul white as snow in His guiltless blood, says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

We love you more than you will ever know and the Savior loves you even more than we do. Won’t you hear His voice? Won't you resolve to “come home” today, to faithfully follow Him and enter the joy of Heaven when this short life ends? This plea is set before you because God, Who gave His Son for you does not want you to perish (John 3:16), and because we love you so much.

Jerry Brewer

I Don’t Understand

Some things I don’t understand:

  • I don’t understand how men who were once faithful Gospel preachers can preach a perverted “gospel” based on fantasy instead of fact (II Timothy 4:2; Galatians 1:6–9).
  • I don’t understand why congregations put up with or fellowship preachers who have left the faith (I John 1:6–10; II John 9–11).
  • I don’t understand how anyone can think that instrumental music in worship is authorized (or more beautiful) than singing that comes from our hearts (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
  • I don’t understand how anyone can think that God’s Word changes just because his—or a family member’s—situation in life changes (Matthew 5:32; 19:3–9).
  • I don’t understand how anyone can believe that the Spirit works directly on the heart of some unless he believes that God is a respecter of persons (Proverbs 24:23; John 7:24; Acts 10:34–35).
  • I don’t understand why faithful Gospel preachers are ridiculed, abused, and even fired for doing what God has told them to do (I Corinthians 1:23; II Timothy 4:2).
  • I don’t understand how anyone can love the things of this world and expect to be loved by the Father (I John 2:15–17).
  • I don’t understand how God could love such a one as I and be willing to give up His Son to die as a sacrifice for me (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
  • I don’t understand pain, suffering, and death, but I do know that one day these will be no more (Revelation 21:3).

I don’t understand such things, but I know that if I endure faithfully to the end, God the Father will explain it all to me on that Day (II Timothy 4:7–8)!

Danny Box

A FAITHFUL FRIEND

It is good to have a friend. We all need someone in whom we can utterly trust. We need someone who loves us in spite of all our weaknesses. We need someone who will comfort and encourage us in times of trouble and sorrow when the world leaves us alone to fight our battles. “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).

“Ointment and perfume rejoiceth the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel” (27:9). Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “So long as we love we serve, so long as we are loved by others I would almost say we are indispensable; and no man is useless when he has a friend.” Jesus Christ said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15: 13).

Gossip can wreck friendship. “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very (chief) friends” (Proverbs 17:9). A true friend will help you up when you have fallen down. He will defend you when others speak evil of you. He will believe you are innocent until you are proven guilty. A good friend is a great blessing. To be a friend one must give of himself and appreciate all that is loving and noble in others. “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter” (11:13).

Do not turn against a true friend, and don’t be a treacherous friend. “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me” (Psalms 41:9). “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6).

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS!

G.K. Wallace

SOMETIMES LOVE HURTS

One of the greatest things that God gave to man is love. It can take man to the highest of joy. The number of songs and poems written on the subject demonstrates how important love is in our lives. Someone has gone so far as to say that “Love is what makes the world go around”.

As great as love is, there is a down side. Some times love hurts. If you don’t believe me, just ask someone who has been dumped by their first love or a parent who has lost a child to an accident or illness. Those who go through such grief often find it hard to continue living. The reason for such emotional grief is love. Think of the grief of our Heavenly Father, when he “gave his only begotten son” (John.3:16). After all, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The fact that love can be the source of the greatest joy and the greatest grief is one of the greatest conundrums of all time.

Another reason that love sometimes hurts is corrective discipline. Most if not all have heard of a father who said, “This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you.” Furthermore, most if not all have heard a child argue this point. The fact is, the father is talking about emotional pain and the child is talking about physical pain. In this regard, the writer of Hebrews stated, “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” (Hebrews 12:5-7).

Unfortunately, society (and even some in the Lord’s church) believe that physical punishment of a child is abusive and motivated by hate. The folly of this perversion of love is easily seen in the effect it has had on society (especially in our schools). Those who withhold corrective discipline really don’t love their child. In fact, all who are without corrective discipline are considered fatherless and not sons at all. Remember, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Proverbs 13:24).

Yes, sometimes love hurts. Often that pain is unfortunate, but, at other times it is necessary. Don’t avoid corrective discipline because of the pain that it brings. Whether you are on the giving or receiving end, be sure that it is always understood that it is done in love for the greatest good of all.

Bruce Stulting

IF GOD BE FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US - Romans 8:31

Notice the evidence that God, the Father, is for us.

  1. God “loved us” (Romans 8:37).
  2. This “love of God...is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
  3. God sent His own Son (Romans 8:3), not sparing Him, but delivering Him up for us (Romans 8:32).
  4. God also uses sufferings and hurtings to help us on the way to glorification (Romans 8:17-18).
  5. Then, God uses hope to help us on the way to salvation (Romans 8:24-25).
  6. God uses His Holy Spirit to help us in our prayers (Romans 8:26-27).
  7. God purposes our good, if we love Him and are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
  8. God uses His foreknowledge for our good (Romans 8:29).
  9. God uses predestination for our good (Romans 8:29-30).
  10. God calls us for our good (Romans 8:30).
  11. God justifies us for our good (Romans 8:30).
  12. God will glorify us for our good (Romans 8:30).

In view of these dozen things evidencing that God is for us, when Paul asks “who can be against us?” the answer is “not God the Father.”

Could or would Jesus Christ be against us, if God the Father is for us? No!           

  1. Jesus Christ also loves us as does God the Father (Romans 8:35, 37, 39).
  2. Christ died for us (Romans 8:34).
  3. Christ was raised for us (Romans 8:34).
  4. Christ is now at God’s right hand for us (Romans 8:34).
  5. Christ is now making intercession for us (Romans 8:34).
  6. To those who are in Christ Jesus there is therefore now no condemnation (Romans 8:1)

Could or would God’s Holy Spirit be against us? No!

  1. God’s Holy Spirit has given us His governing factor, which is the law of the Spirit, and which can make us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
  2. God’s Holy Spirit leads us as sons of God by that law (Romans 8:14).
  3. God’s Holy Spirit, through that law, can make us spiritual minded (Romans 8:5-6).
  4. God’s Holy Spirit can also cause us to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:4).
  5. God’s Holy Spirit dwells in us as children of God giving life (Romans 8:9-11).
  6. God’s Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God and heirs of God (Romans 8:16-17).
  7. God’s Holy Spirit helps us in our prayers (Romans 8:26-27).

God the Father will not be against us. God the Son will not be against us. God the Holy Spirit will not be against us.

Could or would God’s holy angels be against us? Not according Jesus, who said, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15: 10).

It is emphatically encouraging to know that God the Father is for us, that Jesus Christ is for us, that the Holy Spirit is for us, that God’s holy angels are for us, and that none of these can or will be against us if and as long as we love God by keeping His commandments.

“We love him because he first loved us” (I John 4:19). Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15), and “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). John said:

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (I John 5:2-3).

David B. Watson

“Nothing Separates Us From The Love Of God; Romans 8:31-39.” Encouraging Statements Of The Bible. Michael Hatcher, Editor. Bellview Church of Christ : Pensacola, FL. 2001. Pages 219-220.

 

The Christian Life

The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch (Acts 11:26). “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, ‘Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian’” (Acts 26:28). “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God on this behalf” (I Peter 4:16).

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN

  1. It means remission of past sins (Acts 2:38).
  2. Membership in the church, the Body of Christ (Acts 2:47).
  3. He can call God, Father (Romans 8:15).
  4. He can worship and serve God acceptably (John 9:31).
  5. He has the hope of eternal life in Christ (Revelation 2:10).

HOW DOES ONE BECOME A CHRISTIAN?

  1. He believes unto righteousness (Romans 10:10).
  2. He repents unto life (Acts 11:18).
  3. He confesses unto salvation (Romans 10:10).
  4. He is baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans. 6:3). He is born again (John 3:5). See also I Peter 1:23.
  5. A Christian must live like Christ; must follow Him.

WHY WEAR THE NAME CHRISTIAN?

  1. It honors Christ who died for us (Hebrews 2:9).
  2. We were baptized in the name of Christ (Acts 19:5).
  3. Paul condemned human names (I Corinthians 1:10).
  4. We are married to Christ (Romans 7:4). Therefore, we should wear His name.
  5. There is salvation in no other name (Acts 4:12).
  6. We are His children (Galatians 3:26). Hence, we are in His family, and should wear His name and no other.

BECOME AND REMAIN A TRUE CHRISTIAN!

WHAT MUST ONE DO TO KEEP SAVED?

A. This great question implies:

  1. Man was once lost in sin.
  2. That he has been saved.
  3. There is a danger of falling.
  4. Something must be done to remain saved.

B. There is a danger of falling.

  1. Demas hath forsaken me . . .” (II Timothy 4:10).
  2. Simon was commanded to repent and pray (Acts 8:22).
  3. The last state was worse than the first (II Peter 2:20).

C. Christians have the power to stand.

  1. Give all diligence and add the Christian graces (II Peter 1:5-10).
  2. Make your calling and election sure (II Peter 1:10).
  3. Then, “Ye shall never fall” (II Peter 1:10).

D. Four safe rules to follow:

  1. Read the Bible daily. The Bereans were more noble than those in Thessalonica because they searched the scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). Newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby (I Peter 2:2). The engrafted word will save (James 1:21). We will be judged by it (John 12:48).
  2. Pray to God every day. Pray Without ceasing – have a regular time for prayer (Ephesians 6:18).
  3. Attend all the services of the church. Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). The disciples met upon the first day of the week.(Acts 20:7). Christians need this spiritual food.
  4. Give liberally of time, talents and means. See I Corinthians 16:2 and 2 Cor. 9:7. “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”

MAKE IT AS SURE AS YOU CAN!

OUR RELATIONS ONE TO ANOTHER

A. Love one another.

  1. “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).
  2. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
  3. One cannot love God whom he hath not seen and hate his brother whom he hath seen (I John 4:20).

B. Bear one another’s burdens.

  1. “Bear ye one another’s burdens [the crushing burden beyond one’s ability to carry, John Rose] and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
  2. “For every man shall bear his own burden [any load one can carry, himself; John Rose]” (Galatians 6:5).
  3. Each individual must bear his own responsibility to God.

One cannot obey God for another person. However, we can help one another bear the infirmities of the flesh.

C. Forgive one another.

  1. "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15).
  2. How often shall we forgive? Jesus said to Peter: “Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22).
  3. “And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him” (Luke 17:4).

D. Pray for one another.

  1. Paul said: “Brethren pray for us” (I Thessalonian 5:25).
  2. “Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
  3. Samuel said: “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you” (I Samuel 12:23).

LET US HELP ONE ANOTHER

(above adapted by John Rose from a tract)

AND GOD SAID, “No!”


I asked God to take away my pride,

And God said, "No."

He said it was not for Him to take away,

But for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,

And God said, "NO."

He said her spirit is whole;

Her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience,

And God said, "NO."

He said that patience is a byproduct of tribulation.

I asked God to give me happiness.

And God said, "NO."

He said he gives blessings.

But happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain.

And God said, "NO."

He said, "Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares

And brings you closer to me."

I asked God if He loved me,

And God said, "YES."

He gave His only Son to die for me,

And I will be in heaven someday because I believe and obey.

I asked God to help me love others

As much as He loves me,

And God said, "Ah, finally you have the idea."

Author Unknown