GOD IS JUST
September 22
The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He. Deuteronomy 32:4
Recently, in our area, a semi-truck driver was tried for crashing into a bus load of high school students with the result that 1 teacher, 2 chaperones and 3 students died. The verdict in the case was that the truck driver was found guilty of 6 misdemeanor counts of vehicular homicide, but not guilty of aggravated or reckless vehicular homicide. Those related to the people who died were outraged. They believed that justice was not served. One parent stated, “It’s in God’s hands.”
In a world of injustice, mistrials, wrong sentencing, etc., unless a person believes in the perfect justice of God they may live many years in bitterness and misery. When the preincarnate Lord Jesus told Abraham in Genesis 18 that Sodom and Gomorrah would be judged, Abraham, knowing Lot was there, finished his discussion with the Lord by saying, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justice?” Our God is the perfect Judge. He weighs motives, attitudes, and actions. He makes no mistake in the sentence which He issues. Those who find themselves in the lake of fire will know that their sentence is deserved.
I have to remind myself that apart from the grace of God in Jesus Christ and His mercy to me, I would find myself in the lake of fire. So, when I sing, “Rock of Ages,” like Augustus Toplady, from my heart I say:
Could my tears forever flow, could my zeal no languor know,
These for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone.
In my hand no price I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling.
Is this true of you also?
Ike Graham
NIGHT AND DAY
September 21
The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12
Verse 11 talked about being nearer to our salvation than when we believed. In light of that, the concept of “night” here symbolizes our time in this dark sinful world. That time in this dark world is far spent or about over. The “day is at hand” means that we are about to enter into the eternal day of heaven. Knowing that, we should have a response, a reaction, a course of action. What should that be? Paul says “let us” do two things. By the way, “let us” is not allowing us, it is actually requiring us to do these things. First, we are required to “lay aside the deeds of darkness.” Stop living like the sinful world around us. You know what that means. Paul is writing to the Romans under the general assumption that they are living like the world around them. He just as well could have written this to the modern church. Secondly, we must “put on the armor of light.” You can find the Christian’s armor described in Ephesians 6, but to put it simply here, “We must live in a Christ-like way, because we are about to enter day, and for how we lived, what will we say?” What one dark worldly thing in your life are you going to “lay aside” in obedience to Christ, and what will you replace that with that would be what Christ wants you to do? Do it for the Lord, because we are about to enter His eternal glorious day.
Tom Johnson
THE GREATEST INVITATION EVER
September 20
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out. John 6:37
The most amazing invitation ever is the Creator of the universe urging us as sinful human beings to COME to Him and be saved, forgiven and part of His forever heavenly family. It is the message that pervades the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Let’s look at some of these invitations.
“COME now and let us reason together,” says Yahweh. “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) “COME to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me.” (Matthew 11:28-30) “If anyone is thirsty, let him COME to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38) “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘COME!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘COME!’ And let the one who is thirsty COME. Let the one who wishes receive the water of life without cost.” (Revelation 22:17) The Lord reminds us that we have limited time to respond to His call as He declared for the third time in this same chapter, “Yes, I am COMING quickly.” To which we should be able to say “COME, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20)!
If you said “Yes!” to every invitation you received, you would probably go crazy and broke! If you say “No!” to God’s gracious invitation of forgiveness and eternal life, you will be sorry for all eternity! COME to Him today! You will never regret it!
Bob Kulp
MENIAL TASKS?
September 19
And all the women whose heart stirred with wisdom spun the goats’ hair. Exodus 35:26
Yahweh has delivered the nation of Israel from bondage in Egypt and is leading them to the Promised Land. He has given the people the 10 Commandments and many other instructions, which they will need as they seek to live out the covenant He has made with them (Exodus 19). Part of those instructions included specific directions about the Tabernacle Yahweh wanted the Israelites to construct in order to worship Him.
Exodus 35 is another reminder of the truth that when God calls us to do something, He equips us to do all that He asks. God was working in the hearts of many of the men and women (Exodus 35:21) providing them the desire to donate the materials that were needed in order to construct the Tabernacle and all of its furnishings. God was also working in the hearts of specific men and women, whom He gave the wisdom and ability to manufacture the materials needed and to then assemble them.
It can be easy to look at the task of spinning goats’ hair as a menial task; similar to the task of washing dishes, doing laundry, and keeping a house clean. But God was overseeing all of those details, and was stirring hearts to carry out the many tasks that needed to be accomplished, not just to build a tabernacle, but to build a home. As Jamie Finn wrote: “I am convinced that every word I speak, every dish I scrub, every diaper I change, every spill I clean that’s done out of love for my Savior, is divinely transformed from a mother’s chore to a daughter’s worship.”
Joshua Steiner
SHOULD I BE REBAPTIZED?
September18
And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” Acts 19:3
I wasn’t raised Brethren—I am Brethren by choice. Obviously, there are enormous advantages to being raised Brethren, experiencing nurture in solid teaching—but the Lord can providentially make use of those church backgrounds that are “less-than-perfect” unto His glory!
In terms of my church experience as a kid, my family was affiliated with a Campbellite Church (e.g., Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Non-instrumental Church of Christ). We were irregular in our attendance (of which I am thankful, given the church’s heretical inclinations), but I was baptized when I was around twelve, because of the strong Campbellite emphasis in this regard.
After I was eventually saved in my 20’s, I drifted into Somerset GBC, where I was rebaptized by Trine Immersion. The problems with the Campbellite baptism were multiple, as enumerated below.
1) Wrong intent: The Campbellites believe in baptismal remission. For them, baptism IS your salvation! This is why the Baptist Church threw out their founder, Alexander Campbell, for heresy.
2) Wrong form: Campbellites exclusively practice a Baptist-style single immersion.
3) Wrong authority: The Campbellite Church is not a Bible-believing church. It is a sectarian borderline-cultic society that teaches extreme legalism and Pelagianism (an ancient heresy that denies Original Sin and the Holy Spirit’s role in conversion).
4) Wrong candidate: I was not saved when I was baptized by the Campbellites. Instead, I was a lost person who knew nothing of the Biblical Plan of Salvation or the grace of God in Jesus Christ—and was thus being baptized in order to be saved!
Should YOU be rebaptized, like myself and the people in Acts 19:1-7? Well, if ANY one of the four points enumerated above apply, then the answer is “YES!”
Terry L. Reese
GODLY WISDOM
September17
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; Ignorant fools despise wisdom and discipline. Prov. 1:7
The book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom. In it there is much for us to learn and apply. Through these sayings which present general rules for life and circumstances, we find help and guidance in how we deal with things.
Much of the book was written by Solomon who was the wisest man who ever lived besides our Lord Jesus. Do you remember how he grew in wisdom? In 1 Kings 3 God gave the king an opportunity to ask Him of anything. He requested the best thing possible; wisdom. And because he did, God commended him and granted even more than he had asked for.
Different than worldly wisdom is the wisdom of God we find in the Scriptures. We open the Bible knowing that our omniscient (all knowing) God has revealed His Truth to us. We submit ourselves to Him in fear every time we open the Bible with the character of God in mind.
A proper understanding of God leads to a healthy fear of Him. This comes first with the understanding that God will one day judge. We can also fear God in the sense that we respect Him enough to be submissive to Him in all things in life. To know God leads to genuine wisdom. If we are lacking wisdom, we can ask for it from God (James 1:5-8).
How long has it been since you have spent some time in Proverbs? Perhaps this month you should read a new chapter each day and ask the Lord to give you the help you need for that day.
Matt Foreman
GOD IS ETERNAL
September 16
Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting,
You are God. Psalm 90:2
Time is a relationship between things in a finite, changing universe. According to Hebrews 1:2; 11:3, time began when God created the universe (ages). God also created the sun, moon and stars to measure the change (changing universe) in terms of revolutions around the sun (years). Consequently, God is infinite in His relationship to the duration of time. We call this eternal. Because this is true, God is also the ruler of our existence in time (Job 14:5) and the existence of human rulers in time (Dan. 4:17). It is certainly a mindboggling concept to finite humans.
God alone is eternal. The Bible plainly asserts that God had no beginning, and that He will never end, or die. He alone possesses eternality in the dual sense (1 Timothy 1:17). We will live forever, but we had a beginning. Personally, I find this very comforting. My God is eternal and immutable. He doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6) and He is eternal. It reminds me of the young pastor’s visit to an elderly saint. Brother Junkins was about 87 years of age. Pastor White went to see him and as he walked into the room this very godly Christian said, “Pastor, I’m dying. For years I have been feasting on the promises of God, but this morning, when I awakened, I could not remember a single one of the promises. What shall I do?” Pastor White replied, “Brother Junkins, do you think that God will forget His promises?” A sweet smile came over the face of the old saint as he looked up at his pastor. “Praise God!” he said. “That’s wonderful! He will remember then, won’t He?” Then, the pastor started repeating some of the promises of God to him. But in a few minutes, Brother Junkins waved his hand and said, “I’m tired, I will just fall asleep and trust Him to remember His promises to me.”
Ike Graham
THE 4 R’S
September 15
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory with great joy. Jude 1:24
In Jude 1:17-25, the half-brother of Jesus exhorts us as believers to master four essential “R’s” in order to make a difference for Christ in these perilous yet opportunity-filled days. We must master REMEMBERING (vv. 17-19) that we are living in the last days before Christ returns for His church. Secondly, we must master REMAINING (vv. 20-21) or continuing in God’s love, Word and will by constantly building ourselves up in His Word (vs. 20a), praying in cooperation with the Holy Spirit (vs. 20b) and expectantly watching for Jesus’ return (vs. 21b).
The third “R” we need to master is RESCUING (vv. 22-23). Jesus Himself said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). This is the message we need to share everywhere as spiritual rescuers. Jude’s fourth “R” is RESTING (vv. 24-25). The resting here is trusting, relying and depending on the power and promises of God in regards to our salvation. When God gives eternal life, it is just that – eternal not temporary! We can never save ourselves or keep ourselves saved, BUT God can and will if we believe and trust Him, allowing us to rest with assurance in our awesome all-wise Savior!
Jude begins his letter by challenging us as believers to “contend earnestly” or defend the faith of God’s Word in these days of spiritual deception and apostasy. He closes by giving us the “4 R’s” of how to do it. Can God count on YOU to make a difference for Him today? I trust that He can!
Bob Kulp
TWO DEPARTURES
September 14
Let your light shine before men… Matt. 5:16a
This July (2025), within a two-week period, we saw the passing of two well-known clergymen: John MacArthur and Jimmy Swaggart. A study in contrasts is instructive.
Regarding Dr. MacArthur: What great joy it is when a saint enters the Lord’s Presence, having died “full” (Gen. 25:8) and leaving behind an example of having finished the race well (2Tim.4:7)! We thank God for the life of Dr. John MacArthur—an uncompromising fundamentalist, firm Calvinist, master of expository preaching, prolific author, and pastor of the Grace Community Church. Dr. MacArthur had a godly walk and was known as a warm and kindly man—but yet, as a stalwart defender of TRUTH, he was forceful and unyielding, which generated much controversy and created a slew of enemies—the mark of a true disciple of Jesus Christ (John 17:14)! Through it all, he stood strong and unapologetic in his convictions. He bequeaths to the Body of Christ the great legacies of the MacArthur Study Bible and the Master’s Theological Seminary. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, he inherits the great reward that is reserved unto the faithful steward: “Well done, good and faithful slave” (Matt. 25:21)!
On the other hand, Jimmy Swaggart, perhaps the biggest televangelist of the ‘80’s, was a man who made a shipwreck of his faith (1Tim.1:19) and disqualified himself through his persistent sexual immorality (1Cor.9:27). Spurning the discipline of his denomination and rejecting accountability, his “legacy” was bringing enormous embarrassment to the entire Body of Christ. Suitably, his final public act was to tearfully receive his son Donnie’s false prophecy that he would live to be 100 (he expired at 90).
Beloved, will your light shine so that God will be glorified through your works (Matt. 5:16)?
Terry L. Reese
YOUR SPECIAL STONE
September 13
To him who overcomes . . . I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it. Revelation 2:17b
I was two years old when I was adopted. When I came to my new home, I only had the clothes I was wearing and my teddy bear. My mother kept that teddy bear for me, and I still have it. It’s raggedy, dusty, missing its button eyes, and half the stuffings are gone. It doesn’t mean anything to my wife or my daughters, but it’s the only thing that came across the line with me from foster homes to a permanent family home. For me, it is a reminder that someone actually took me in and gave me a home. So it is special to me. Our verse talks about a special stone. This white stone is a special reward that the overcomer will receive as a reward when we all get to heaven. You may think, “Wow, I get a rock, how exciting.” But, it actually is exciting. The Greek word translated as “stone” is found only here in the New Testament. A different Greek word is used everywhere else. This was a small smooth stone used in court hearings. The white stone was cast for a verdict of innocent and a black one was cast for guilty. Christ is giving the overcomer a verdict of innocent because they were washed by the blood of Christ. But, then this special stone has a special name on it that only you know. That special name has meaning that only you understand. So, it will be special and meaningful to you. What name do you suppose will be on your stone?
Tom Johnson
PURPOSE OF LIFE
September 12
Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made. Isaiah 43:7
Ask 10 different people what the purpose of life is, and you will probably get 10 different answers. The answers may include: ‘to continue to evolve,’ ‘to become as educated as possible,’ ‘to chase your dreams,’ ‘to realize one’s potential and ideals,’ ‘to become a moral person,’ ‘to align oneself with nature,’ ‘to pursue happiness,’ ‘to attain tranquility,’ or ‘to care for mother earth’. And someone might tell you there is no meaning to life at all. But what does God say?
As believers we have been created for God’s glory. This is a purpose outside of ourselves and our desires. A purpose that will fill the Christian with hope and meaning in all of life. The incredible truth is, as we seek to live our lives to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:23), we will discover a contentment and fulfillment that unbelievers can only dream about. Why? Because we will be living out the design and reason we have been created.
Making any other path or goal the purpose of life, is like trying to use a hammer to turn a screw or a needle to hit a ball. But that is not what those tools were created to do. Not only will you be unproductive in accomplishing your mission, the tools will probably be damaged in the process. Let’s follow what our Designer has made us to do, as God goes on to say, “You are My witnesses, and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He” (Isaiah 43:10).
Joshua Steiner
A BROKEN FUEL TANK STRAP
September 11
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.29 Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers; Romans 8:28-29
While we were serving in the Central African Republic, we made a get-acquainted trip to the Chad. At that time rebel activity made it unwise for us to go to Chad. The mission allowed us to use the oldest, most decrepit pick-up truck for the trip. As we entered one village in which there was a Grace Brethren Church, one of the straps holding up the auxiliary fuel tank broke. One end of the tank was lying in the road.
It took me a couple of hours lying in the dirt to syphon the gasoline from that full tank into basins normally used for carrying water from the source to the village. (Gasoline is not my favorite flavor!) I removed the empty tank and put it into the bed of the truck. By then the church had prepared a meal for us. After the fellowship it was getting dark enough that we stayed the night.
We continued in the morning to the next village with a Grace Brethren Church. The pastor told us several times that he was thankful that we had not arrived the previous day. When we asked why, he told us that a group of rebels with guns had sat there all day waiting for a truck to come along. They were tired of walking. None appeared, so in the morning they started off on foot.
When we got back to the town which had been our starting point in Chad, the church members and the government officials were wondering where we were. Our announced plan had been to return the previous day.
It was a frustrating experience for us Americans to be thrown off schedule. It was not a pleasant job to work under the truck in the dirt and the hot weather. I had wondered why the Lord had allowed (caused) the delay. Do we really believe that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28)? We do not always understand the things we experience, but the sovereign Father Who loves us has it all under control.
Les Vnasdale
DEVELOPING CONSISTENT GODLY CHARACTER
September 10
However, let us keep walking in step with the same standard to which we have attained. Philippians 3:16
The apostle Paul provides an excellent example of how we need to develop consistent, godly character. We could have chosen Joseph, Moses, Daniel or John the Baptizer. Like us, the apostle Paul had a definite turning point in his life and got on a tough path to developing consistent, godly character. Here, in Philippians 3:7-17, we get insight into this process for our benefit. It begins by putting aside the things that are hindering your spiritual growth. Another way to state this is to say that Paul valued Christ and knowing Christ above everything else that he had achieved. Could you say that? Is Jesus Christ the #1 priority of your life? If not, then your quest for consistent godly character will be like the person who wants to be a good pianist, but only practices when it is convenient. Oh, he is talented. His teacher says that he could be great, but it isn’t important to him. You have the Holy Spirit. You have a new mind. You have a spiritual gift from God. You have the resources that you need.
On April 14, 1912, 10:00 p.m., the Titanic crashed into an iceberg in the mid-Atlantic and four hours later sank. One woman in a life boat asked if she could go back to her room. She was given only three minutes to do so. She hurried down the corridors, already tilting dangerously, and through the gambling room piled ankle-deep in money. In her room were her treasures waiting to be taken, but instead, she snatched up three oranges and hurried back to the boat. One hour before she would have naturally chosen diamonds over oranges, but in the face of death, values are seen more clearly.
What do you value most? Valuing Jesus the most will enable you to continue on the path to consistent godly character. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).
Ike Graham
HOW SECURE AM I?
September 9
If God is for us, who is against us? Rom. 8:31b
A supreme frustration is that I encounter so many dear people whom I apprehend to be genuine Christians, but who nonetheless lack assurance regarding the matter of their salvation. They are thus deprived of experiencing the full JOY of their salvation!
The Grace Brethren movement—unique amongst the diverse fraternity of related Schwarzenau Brethren groupings—historically and dogmatically affirms the doctrine of the Eternal Security of the believer. To deny Eternal Security involves introducing a legalistic, works-based element into our salvation. In Christ, we HAVE eternal life, Brethren (John 3:16)! God has not bequeathed to us the spirit of anxiety and uncertainty: rather, “so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13)!
As we are reminded in the Sacred Form of our Trine Baptism, our secure salvation is rooted in the work of each Person of the Holy Trinity. Believers have been predestinated unto Eternal Life by God the Father (Eph. 1:3-6), and our status is that we have been adopted into His Family as His own dear children (Rom. 8:15)—no longer His enemies! Consider where we were—and where we are now, in Christ (Eph. 2:1-10)! God the Son, whom the Father has sent, has paid our debt in full (John 19:30), and His righteousness has been legally reckoned unto us (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 5:18-19). We have also received the “earnest” or pledge of God the Holy Spirit, which is an assurance that our salvation-experience will be consummated and completed. Further, we have also been sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the Day of Redemption (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13, 4:30).
We are secure in the Triune God—and it doesn’t get any better than that!
Terry L. Reese
DO YOU HEAR ME?
September 8
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
John 10:27
If Jesus were giving a spiritual hearing test today, He might ask these questions:
1. Do you really understand what I’m saying? Many think the Bible is just like any other book that can be understood naturally and intellectually. However, 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 states that apart from the Holy Spirit’s help we cannot do so. When the Holy Spirit opens and convicts a person of his need of Jesus Christ as Savior, he repents and trusts Christ alone for forgiveness, and things become much clearer. We now have a spiritual antenna to receive God’s spiritual truth as His Spirit illuminates our minds.
2. Do you really listen to what I’m saying? When we do not mix personal faith with God’s Word, it’s a non-profit venture (Hebrews 4:2). So we are thrice warned “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me” (Hebrews 3:7-8, 15; 4:7). Are we really listening to God with agreement and acceptance?
3. Do you really obey what I’m saying? We can actually understand and agree with God without obeying Him! James 1:22 hits the nail on the head, “But become doers of the Word and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” Deluding means to cheat, defraud, make a miscalculation. For many, obeying God’s Word is like a round-to-it that gets lost in the weedy maze of the cares, pleasures and desires of this life (Matthew 13:22).
How have you done with Jesus’ hearing test today? Are you content to be deaf to His desires for you? Jesus says some 15 times in the New Testament, “He who has an ear, let him hear!” You will be glad and blessed that you did!
Bob Kulp
13 GHOSTS AND THE GOSPEL
September 7
They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they will have no insight. Isaiah 44:18
An old horror movie came out when I was a kid called 13 Ghosts. I remember really wanting to see it because it was one of the first 3-D movies ever made, and you had to watch it with special glasses on, or you couldn’t see the ghosts. The glasses were the gimmick that made the movie work. Without them, you couldn’t enjoy the real scare.
Here in South Bend, a new dinosaur museum just opened. It is well done, educational, and highly documented, being put together by some people who are experienced paleontologists. They wear the “special goggles” that allow them to be scared into believing in ape-men and billions-of-years evolution. The light of the Creator blinded them into seeing the world on a screen of pseudo-science and the impossibility of upwards genetic mutations.
They don’t mean to be deceitful. They are a nice couple and have done a lot for South Bend with another company that they own. But they miss much of the world, and the power and plan of God Almighty, by seeing everything through those tainted lenses that repute the Divine Creator.
God is seen as Creator from Genesis to Revelation, and to miss this aspect of His being in the world and in the Word is like never taking off those movie goggles. It’s a lot scarier ride than the real truth.
Davy L. Troxel
THE MASTER’S PLAN
September 6
…Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. 2 Kings 5:8
2 Kings 5:1-19
Can you imagine being in her shoes?? A young girl had been captured during a Syrian raid in the land of Israel. In a moment she went from living under the roof, authority and protection of her family to being placed in a wagon train likely full of other slaves, becoming a trophy of war. At that moment her faith was being tested!
As she was growing up in her household she was being prepared for a special assignment. It was The Master’s Plan that she would serve in Naaman’s house. He was a successful warrior! He had the praise of his king! But Naaman had a terminal illness, he was a leper which means he had an incurable and debilitating disease. God was going to send a word of hope and salvation through this young lady to this desperate Gentile in a foreign land.
From her lips come these words, “I wish that my master were before the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.” Her message of hope flew through the house, through two kings who were enemies of one another, all to get Naaman before the prophet Elisha. Not just to be healed but to be saved (v15).
Things can change in a moment just as it did for this young girl. First Peter 4:12 exhorts us to be ready, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.” What are you facing today? Is your burden so great that you have no good news to offer? Remember, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). What’s your divine assignment today? Seek the Master’s Plan!
Gordy Harmon
ALLAH IS NOT GOD
September 5
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5
You may have heard this shouted in some news report (الشَّهَادَةُ ), i.e. “There is no God but Allah!” But that is not true, like many other reports on various news channels. The God of the Bible and the god of Islam are not the same. The one, true God, maker of heaven and earth declares that He alone is God and there is no other. In Isaiah 44:6, the Lord says: “I am the first, and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.” Later, in Isaiah 46:9, God says: “Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me.” Furthermore, Deuteronomy 6:4 declares that the one, true God is plurality in unity. The word “one” in that verse is the same Hebrew word that is used in Numbers 13:23 of a single cluster of grapes or one cluster of grapes. It is plurality in unity. The same idea occurs in Genesis 1:26-27.
One former Muslim describes his journey to Jesus like this: I went back to my Bible and I read, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (I John 4:18). As soon as I read this verse, all the fear I had melted away. The Presence of God was so powerful in the room…. After a six-year journey, I gave my heart and life to the Lord Jesus…. I finally realized that Jesus is God. The love of the Lord Jesus captivates my heart, and I am no longer who I was. In Islam, God was distant, but in Christianity, He is loving, always with me and His Spirit now lives in me.
Is the Holy Spirit in you? Do you know the Lord Jesus?
Ike Graham
LESSONS FROM AN APPLE TREE
September 4
Please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work.
Colossians 1:10
My wife eats apples daily. Imagine her delight when we moved here and discovered an apple tree in our front yard! The bad news was that during our first six years here, the tree failed to produce ANY apples to speak of. In fact, no one could even tell us what kind of apple tree it was. Everything miraculously changed in 2019 when shockingly out of nowhere the tree yielded a bumper crop of light green tart apples and has continued to do so since with some pruning.
Just like our apple tree, God is counting on us as believers in Christ to bear much spiritual fruit for His glory. Fruit is the outward evidence of a plant/tree/person’s inward nature. Jesus declared, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit nor can a bad tree bear good fruit… so then, you will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:18, 20).
The Lord desires us to produce good fruit as well as much fruit (John 15:8). Christ also made it clear that we can never yield much good fruit on our own, saying, “I am the Vine, you are the branches; He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). To abide in Christ means to remain, continue, stay connected and be at home with Him in a dependent, submissive and obedient relationship. What kind of fruit is God looking for? Fruits of character (Galatians 5:22-23), repentance (Luke 3:8), righteousness (Hebrews 12:11), witnessing (Romans 1:13), praise (Hebrews 13:15), doing good/sharing (Hebrews 13:16) and spiritual sacrifice (Philippians 1:21-23). God is still working in and on me. How about you?
Bob Kulp
WITH CHARITY FOR ALL
September 3
…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Matt. 5:44b
Outside of the Biblical Ethic, the story of Dirk Willems, a 16th century Dutch Anabaptist martyr, defies all rational explanation.
Incarcerated for promoting the cause of Believer’s Baptism and rebaptizing those who had been “baptized” as infants, Pastor Willems was held prisoner for months within a gloomy, moat-encircled fortress. Finding opportunity to escape in the winter of 1569, Dirk successfully crossed the ice-encrusted moat while being pursued by an officer—who proceeded to fall through the ice!
At this point, we might ask ourselves “What would YOU do under such circumstances?” Most of us, I dare say, would continue our flight. Dirk—unable to ignore the cries of a fellow man in distress—immediately turned about and rescued his pursuer. Despite the pleas of the grateful officer that his benefactor be released, the local Burgermeister insisted that Willems be returned to prison for prosecution. The authorities—under the tender guidance of Romanism—proceeded to convict and mercilessly torture Dirk in a fruitless attempt to make him recant his Anabaptist Faith. In May of 1569, Dirk Willems died horribly, being slowly burnt alive at the stake.
Let us return to the icy moat, where there was little time for reflection: Willems was required to make an instant decision. The only explanation that speaks unto the facts is that Willems had so internalized a Christlike charity that he was able—almost intuitively—to rapidly pivot and regard a hostile pursuing wolf as someone in need of redemption. Marvel—Jesus died for us sinners when we were yet enemies (Rom. 5:10, Col. 1:21-22)!
What a hard saying is Matt. 5:44—what a lofty challenge! To deny self, take up a cross, and follow (Matt. 16:24)!
Terry L. Reese