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

Which Came First…Chicken or Egg?

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? This question has been around for a long time. I remember as a youngster a lot of kids enjoyed asking that question. No matter which answer one gave, another question came as to the origin. Well, we no longer have to ask that question. A news story on the Internet (www.nydailynews.com and msheridan@nydailynews. com) stated that the answer has been found. Scientists in England say that it is the chicken! The article states: Researchers wrote in a recently published report that it all comes down to one protein— ovocledidin-17—which helps in the formation of the egg’s hard shell.

This essential ingredient in the formation of the egg can only be produced inside a chicken, scientists from universities in Sheffield and Warwick concluded. “It had long been suspected that the egg came first, but now we have the scientific proof that shows that in fact the chicken came first,” said Dr. Colin Freeman, of Sheffield University’s Department of Engineering Materials, as reported by London Daily Mail. Aren’t you glad that you now have a scientific answer to that age-old question? A survey associated with this story asked the question about which came first. The majority answered it was the egg. For the child of God who believes the Bible to be the Word of God, the answer to this question was written down by Moses many centuries ago. Moses wrote: “And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:24–25).

A very important like question has been advanced, “Which came first: A human mother or a human baby?” This, as well as the answer to the chicken question, gets at the heart of evolution. In 1987, Ann Landers had the following question, “Is it biologically possible for a human to crossbreed with animals?” Ann answered, “A human can have sex with an animal but no offspring will result.” She sought assistance from Dennis Borden, Ph. D., assistant chairman of the biochemistry department at Northwestern University. He said, “The human chromosomes and DNA material that govern reproduction are biologically incompatible with that of dogs, cats, cows, horses, sheep, etc. Mother Nature, in her infinite wisdom, saw to it that they don’t mix….”

This writer responded by thanking Ann and Dennis for their intentional (or unintentional) support of the Bible doctrine of creation. This writer received a response signed,” AL/ms”: “…As I ‘m sure you realize, evolution didn’t happen overnight. Two monkeys didn’t just have a human baby….” Of course, this answer misses everything Ann and Dennis wrote in the letter. According to God’s word, the chicken came first, the father and mother came first. This stands written, and it will always stand written. Jesus gave His approval of what Moses wrote of the beginning in Matthew 19:4–6. Never be hesitant to state what God has said comes first, whether the chicken or the baby!

 Jimmie Gribble

Your Ear, A Smile and A Happy Word

If you see somebody having a rough day,

If you see somebody struggling on the way,

If you see somebody with a broken heart,

If you see somebody whose world’s come apart,

If you see somebody who’s tossed to and fro,

If you see somebody whose back is bent low,

Give him your ear, a smile and a happy word,

And bid him put his trust in the Blessed Lord.

 

If you see somebody who’s fighting with sin,

If you see somebody despised by all men,

If you see somebody who has lost his way,

If you see somebody with too much to pay,

If you see somebody who’s wandering about,

If you see somebody who’s struggling with doubt,

Give him your ear, a smile and a happy word,

And bid him put his trust in the Blessed Lord.

 

If you see somebody that the world counts mad,

If you see somebody confused and distraught,

If you see somebody who’s suffering for naught,

If you see somebody whom life’s left behind,

If you see somebody with a troubled mind,

Give him your ear, a smile and a happy word,

And bid him put his trust in the Blessed Lord.

 

If you see somebody who’s doing all right,

If you see somebody whose burden is light,

If you see somebody with no pain or care,

If you see somebody who’s loved everywhere,

If you see somebody not troubled with sin,

Give him your ear, a smile and a happy word,

And bid him put his trust in the Blessed Lord.

 

H. L. Gradowith

For the Cause. . .

Many members of the Lord’s church (including not a few elders and preachers) refuse to understand that the Lord’s church is the Lord’s army. We exist to fight for the right as the Bible defines the right in everything. In order to remain faithful, beginning with ourselves, we are to engage in spiritual warfare all day long, 365 days out of the year, as long as we are able, and until the Lord returns.

But the previously mentioned brethren hold the false view that if they can just get over the present problem/problems, whatever it/they may be, they will be forever out of the problem business. This false mind-set is one of the devil’s greatest ploys to lull the church into a false sense of security. Once he accomplishes selling the church the error that holiness is harmlessness and whispering sweet platitudes to one another in order to make each other happy in our own conceits is the way to go, the father of lies has a much easier job getting us to digress from the Truth more and more.

In living the Christian life, we are in the process of getting over problems, or we are in the middle of them, or we are about to get into them. This is true of congregations as well as individuals and their families. Of course, this is not to say all problems are of the same magnitude. But, when we once realize that life is one problem after another, the better off we will be. And, when “... we know that ... the whole world lieth in wickedness [in the evil one, ASV–1901]” (I John 5:19), should we not expect problems to abound?

The Lord never promised us a life without problems (Luke 9:23; II Timothy 3:12). To the contrary, Christians are promised many problems because of their faithfulness to Him. However, Jesus said He would give us the solution to those problems (I Corinthians 10:13; II Timothy 3:16–17). Thus, “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25).

A successful life is one lived on the Lord’s terms. Although the world never will recognize it, when Stephen was stoned to death for his uncompromising stand for the Truth, he died a complete success (Acts 7:54–60). He lived and died governed by God’s will. Stephen thereby continues to be an example to Christians in living and dying (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14; I Corinthians 15:58; Revelation 2:10).

David P. Brown

God Speaks Only Through His Word

I believe the Scriptures are inspired and wholly true,

In them God has said, what he wants us to do.

And He has no double standards, makes no difference who,

God speaks only through His Word.

There are those who say the Lord speaks in a quiet voice,

And this inner peace, inspires them to rejoice.

Jesus said the written Word is that we may believe,

I have made His Word my choice.

Others say the conscience is a safe and trusted guide,

But it’s uninspired, don’t trust what it decides.

It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Jeremiah ten, twenty three

The Lord is speaking unto men today,

But through His written Word this is the way.

The Holy Spirit said what He must say,

So God speaks only through His Word today.

O.D. Wilson

First Peter

From Peter to the Elect scattered abroad because of persecution –

Praise the Lord who has given us living hope by Christ’s resurrection.

We have an incorruptible inheritance that fadeth not away,

And the trial of our faith will be glorious in that day.

Although you have not seen Him, you believed what was told,

And received the end of your faith, the salvation of your soul.

While the Prophets have searched and the angels desired to see,

This glorious Good News was reserved for you and me.

We are born again of incorruptible seed by God’s living Word,

Who His son self bore our sins in His body as you heard.

And since He suffered for us in the flesh on the tree,

We should not think it strange when fiery trials we see.

I want to exhort the elders who are there among you,

For I have witnessed Christ’s sufferings and am an elder too,

That you feed the flock of God and take the oversight,

And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear He will make things right.

From The Bible in Verse: from Genesis to Revelation by B.C.Jennings, 1986.

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