GUARDING YOUR WORDS

A fool lets out all of his spirit, but a wise man holds it back. 

Proverbs 29:11

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.” It would seem that President Lincoln had been reading his Bible. Proverbs 12:16 says, “An ignorant fool’s anger is known at once, But a prudent man conceals disgrace.” In a similar way we read in Proverbs 19:11, “A man’s insight makes him slow to anger, and it is his honor to overlook a transgression.”

When someone says an unkind word toward us, or does something that is unloving, our knee-jerk reaction is to let them have it with our words. When we are driving down the road and someone pulls out in front of us, what comes out of our mouths? When our family member uses words that hit us the wrong way, what words are coming out of our mouths? 

Nobody wants to be a fool, but God tells us that in those moments when we let the words fly, we are just that. King David understood the struggle, which is why he prayed, “Set a guard, O Yahweh, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.” We must pray a similar prayer. 

It is only when we are walking in the Spirit and abiding in Christ that we will be able to guard our words and not respond with the first thoughts that come to our mind in a given situation. May the Lord help us to be wise men and women who guard our words, and glorify our Savior in all our responses today.  

Joshua Steiner

DO YOU GRUMBLE?

Do all things without complaining and grumbling.

Philippians 2:14

A lawyer, a doctor, and a preacher went deer hunting together when along came a big buck. The three of them all shot at the same time, and immediately the buck dropped to the ground. They all rushed up to examine the deer but couldn't determine whose shot had actually killed it. They were in the middle of a heated argument when a game warden came by and asked what the problem was. The doctor told him that they were debating who shot the buck. The warden took one look at the buck and immediately pronounced, “The preacher shot the buck!” They all wondered how he knew that so quickly. To which the warden said, “Easy. The bullet went in one ear and out the other.”

Now, before you start grumbling about beginning this devotional with a joke, read Exodus 16:1-21. What did you find? The heat, the dwindling supplies and most importantly, a lack of trust in the Lord lead them to grumbling. Why do people grumble? The bottom line is that it’s a form of ingratitude, and we’re saying God’s not taking care of His business well enough. It’s an assault on God. That’s clear from v. 8. Grumbling against God means that we do not trust Him; we do not have confidence in Him.

Now, let’s be clear that there is a huge difference between grumbling and groaning. Job groaned. Groaning is saying, “This is really difficult, Lord!” Grumbling is saying, “You are really difficult, Lord!” Groaning says, “I want something different, please!” Grumbling says, “I want someone else besides You!” Memorize Philippians 2:14 today.

Ike Graham

WHOSOEVER WILL

For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

 Romans 10:13

The year was 1869.  Evangelist Henry Moorhouse was in Chicago and had selected John 3:16 as the passage that he would preach on repeatedly for several weeks as he sought to emphasize the truths of this verse to the crowds that gathered to hear him.  The word “whosoever” was his emphasis:  God sent His Son Jesus to pay the price for the sins of whosoever (meaning “anyone at all”) would choose to believe in Him.   Philip P. Bliss, noted soloist and hymn writer, was also there serving as song leader for the revival services.  As he sat there night after night listening to the messages he gained a clearer perspective of God’s abundant grace causing him to leave the meeting one night and compose the hymn Whosoever Will May Come. 

John 3:16 is also one of my favorite verses.  I often share it like this:  “For God (the only true One) so loved the world (all mankind, you and I) that He gave (sacrificed to death on the cross) His only begotten (unique, one and only) Son (Jesus Christ, the perfect, sinless, eternal Son of God, God in human flesh and blood, who died and rose again from the dead) that whoever (anyone and everyone, even you) believes in Him (trusts in Jesus Christ alone as the only way to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven) shall not perish (be separated from God eternally in hell, the lake of fire) but (praise God!) have everlasting life (life here and now, and forever in heaven).”

 I trust that you, like Philip Bliss and myself, will believe and share this marvelous truth that whosoever will may come!  “Whosoever will, whosoever will!  Send the proclamation over vale and hill.

Tis a loving Father calls the wand’er home: Whosoever will may come.”

Bob Kulp

HOUSE OF ADVERSARIES

A man’s enemies will be the members of his household.  

Matthew 10:36

As inherently social creatures, there resides within us, by design, an intense psychological need for communal support; to experience love, solace, and acceptance from a caring inner circle of trustworthy intimates. By nature, we yearn for our families to occupy the very center of this circle of trust—and it is therefore profoundly heartbreaking and unnatural when they fail us in this sacred obligation. In his day, the Prophet Micah lamented the breakdown of intimate relational loyalty, as men were forced to emotionally isolate themselves in the face of domestic betrayal (Micah 7:1-7). As Solomon observes, in a treacherous world such as ours, having a true intimate is enormous blessing (Prov. 18:24)!!! 

Both in terms of world history and human relations, the first advent of Christ established a great line of division; disciples must therefore anticipate betrayal from within the bosom of their own households (Matt. 10:34-38; Mark 13:12-13). Regenerate Christian believers face the certain enmity of an unregenerate world-system that loathes God and despises His people (John 15:19). Sadly, even our own kinsmen are often a part of that system. 

As American civilization continues to putrefy in correspondence with its spiritual apostasy, it is unsurprising that we increasingly bear witness to the unnatural. Social media is rife with accounts of “Gen Zers” openly disavowing their parents (contra Eph. 6:1-3) and spurning the Thanksgiving table in the name of a neo-pagan far-left political ideology that colors itself in quasi-religious hues. Shakespeare would label this a time “out of joint.”

In such times, let us recall where our true and ultimate allegiance lies (Deut. 13:6-11). Christians cannot endorse sin and unbelief in the name of “love”—which is not true love at all (Prov. 13:24).

Terry L. Reese

EBENEZER

April 8

Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it Ebenezer.

And he said, ‘Thus far Yahweh has helped us.’  

I Samuel 7:12

​Whenever I perform a funeral service, I always read this scripture at the gravesite, and then I explain to those attending:

​“When the Philistines attacked Israel, the Jews called on Samuel for prayers that they might be delivered. Samuel then sacrificed one lamb as an offering, and as the Philistines drew near, God sent a powerful thunder that confused the Philistines and allowed the Israelites to overwhelm them and win the victory. The Israelites then set up the stone called ‘Ebenezer’, meaning ‘Up to now God has helped us.’

​‘Someday you may come back to this grave. You will see a stone with _________’s name on it. What that stone will mean will depend entirely on your faith. If you don’t have Christ in your life and His salvation in your soul, then this stone will speak to you as a Philistine: it will be only a picture of death and loss of one you loved. It will be a source of fear and defeat in life.’

​‘But if you return here as a born-again Christian with Jesus in your heart and His Word as your guide, if you know that God sacrificed that one Lamb for you, and that that Lamb was the Jesus Christ Who died for your sins, then this stone will be an Ebenezer, a sign of victory and hope, left here to remind you how He helped your loved one through life and then into eternal glory.”

​In saying this at the grave, I have found how it leaves those who are left behind with a picture of the Gospel, a choice to make, and an encouraging invitation for the Christian to return some day to remember the victory.

Davy L. Troxel

SHARE YOUR HOPE

April 7

​My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And come to an end without hope. 

Job 7:6

RS was an acquaintance of mine from JHS days. I periodically invited him to church, which he never attended, and YFC meetings, which he attended a couple of times. He was regularly in trouble in school. There was the year you could walk in a classroom and know where RS sat by the collection of small paper airplanes stuck in the ceiling, tossed while the teacher’s back was turned. He even had a grouping in the gym ceiling! Then there was the day after Trick or Treat one year when he was confronted by a teacher whose four tire valves he had removed. RS had to pump up the tires using a bicycle pump. One night my senior year my family could hear the police chasing someone through the neighborhoods. The next day in school we discovered it was RS. After his encounter with the police he parked his car in his garage, ran a hose from the exhaust pipe to the cabin, and exited this life.

What makes a young person decide they have nothing left to live for? What makes anyone decide this life is not worth living anymore? We live among RSs whose lives are spinning out of control, and they do know how to change it; they do not have any hope of change. All they can see is Job 7:1-10. And it is not always obvious who they are. They need to know about forgiveness, fresh starts in Jesus, being born again—they need to see hope working in YOU.

True Christians always have hope because we have an anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19) that is sure. Show them Romans 15:13: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 

Jeffrey Eno

FIGHTING FOR THE FAMILY

April 6

And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” John 2:14-16

The word “zeal” (John 2:17) has the basic idea of excitement; to be hot about something. Jesus became riled when the temple was misused and God was dishonored. Do you become upset when God is dishonored? Does it upset you when someone uses the name of the Lord as a curse word? Does it cause you to be hot when people criticize God or blaspheme Him? Isn’t it extremely instructive that Jesus was zealous, excited, and hot over those things that touched the honor and glory of God, but not Himself personally?  Even as believers, we tend to get upset over the things that non-believers do. Did Jesus do that?  Did he say things like, “The Romans are terrible because they expose babies?”  No.  On the contrary, He addressed the external religion of the people of Israel.  He was kind to the Samaritan woman; even to the Syro-Phoenician woman.  But he was hot when it came to the external religion of the Pharisees and scribes. 

Take time right now to ask the Lord to sensitize your heart to things that dishonor God or fellow believers. We should be ready to stand up for fellow believers, not criticize them readily. Our zeal must be for the Lord’s church and His honor within the church.  

Ike Graham

And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” John 2:14-16

The word “zeal” (John 2:17) has the basic idea of excitement; to be hot about something. Jesus became riled when the temple was misused and God was dishonored. Do you become upset when God is dishonored? Does it upset you when someone uses the name of the Lord as a curse word? Does it cause you to be hot when people criticize God or blaspheme Him? Isn’t it extremely instructive that Jesus was zealous, excited, and hot over those things that touched the honor and glory of God, but not Himself personally?  Even as believers, we tend to get upset over the things that non-believers do. Did Jesus do that?  Did he say things like, “The Romans are terrible because they expose babies?”  No.  On the contrary, He addressed the external religion of the people of Israel.  He was kind to the Samaritan woman; even to the Syro-Phoenician woman.  But he was hot when it came to the external religion of the Pharisees and scribes. 

Take time right now to ask the Lord to sensitize your heart to things that dishonor God or fellow believers. We should be ready to stand up for fellow believers, not criticize them readily. Our zeal must be for the Lord’s church and His honor within the church.  

Ike Graham

NEVER TO DIE AGAIN

April 5

For they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 

Luke 20:36

Death is a terrible reality of the world we currently inhabit. As believers we understand that death is simply a transition from this world into the very presence of Jesus (2 Cor. 5:8). From that perspective, we do not need to fear death. Even in that transition, God promises to never leave us (Heb. 13:5). As we are reminded in Psalm 23:3, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” In addition, God will send his angels to escort us to our eternal home (Luke 16:22). 

And yet, there is something terrible about death. The suffering. The separation. Thus, when Jesus promises that those who attain to the resurrection from the dead cannot even die anymore, we rejoice! In addition to the great blessing of being in the presence of our God forever and ever, we will never have to fear or experience death. John reminds us, “…and there will no longer be any death…” (Rev. 20:4). No more suffering, no more separation, no more grief. As sons and daughters of the resurrection to life we are guaranteed the privilege of never having to die again. 

The Apostle Paul refers to death as the ‘last enemy’ that will be abolished for good (1 Cor. 15:26); which causes him to celebrate, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” Meditate on the truth that death will soon be defeated for good! 

Joshua Steiner

ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF COMMITTED TO DUTY

April 4

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief... Isaiah 53:3                 

Our Lord knew the tremendous depths of disappointment and sorrows. Certainly, the loss of loved ones, but also the thousands of ways that people can let you down. He wept over the utter coldness of Jerusalem spiritually. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones them who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings and you were unwilling" (Matt. 23:38). Judas betrayed Him with a kiss, and Peter denied His name three times. Furthermore, He was railroaded through the courts and forsaken by His own people. Cruelly mocked and beaten, He, through all His sorrow, completed the task before Him.        

Pastors get a front row seat to grief and sorrow. It was something of which I was unaware when I answered the call of God on my life, but after nearly 50 years of pastoring and 150 funerals, coupled with the ups and downs of the ministry, I have become to a small degree more aware of the meaning of "acquainted with grief." Also, I had a sense of burden that settled in on me. This is not to say that ministering to God's people didn't have its joys. I count myself as incredibly blessed in many, many ways.         

My dear wife of 52 years passed on a Thursday night. That Saturday I already was scheduled to do a funeral for a dear man of God. He was counting on me to preach the Gospel to his family which I promised him I would do. Then that Sunday I preached as well. "Oh, Pastor, no one expected you to preach this Sunday" many exclaimed. While that was true, as I saw it, if the farmer loses his loved one, the next day the livestock still need to be fed. Also, a young mother must care for children despite the tragedy at hand. Our Lord while despising the shame, still endured the cross. His personal grief and shame were set aside. We likewise are ..."fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross..."(Heb. 12:2) Friends, we just need to feed the livestock, keeping at our task while remembering our Lord's example.      

Russ Simpson

IT IS FINISHED!

April 3

I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. John 17:4

Imagine yourself at Calvary.  God the Son has been hanging on a Roman cross for almost six hours, the last three in total darkness.  God the Father turned His back on His Son for the first and only time in history prompting Jesus to cry out loudly in horror at 12 noon, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).  Around 3 pm Jesus utters, “I am thirsty!”  The soldiers quickly lift a sponge soaked with cheap sour wine on a hyssop branch to His mouth.  This helps Him to cry out loudly a one-word announcement in Greek “tetelestai” or “It is finished!” (John 19:28-30).  It is a word of glorious triumph and not of utter defeat.

What did Jesus mean when He said, “It is finished!”?  It meant that His death totally paid for mankind’s debt of sin against God (Hebrews 9:12, 26-28).  He completed His Father’s business here on earth and fulfilled all His will including drinking to the very last drop that dreaded cup of suffering He recoiled at in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38-44).  Jesus took all the punishment for our sin so we don’t have to (2 Corinthians 5:21).  All He needed to do now was to rise from the dead to prove that He was indeed God and that His death was sufficient to redeem us (Romans 4:25).  Satan was soundly defeated (John 16:11).  Hebrews 2:13 states that Christ took on flesh and blood “that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”  There was absolutely no more work to be done for us to be saved and forgiven of our sins.  We simply need to believe and trust Him alone, turn from our sins and receive His gift of eternal life (John 1:12-13; 3:16; Romans 6:23).  It is finished!

Bob Kulp

BARABBAS AND THE TIMING OF THE EXODUS

April 2

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.
Matthew 27:20

On the same occasion that the Jews brought Jesus before Pilate, Pilate released to them Barabbas, an act based on the Jewish custom to free one prisoner “at the Feast” (Matt. 27:16-26; Mark 15:7-15; Luke 23:18-40; John 18:39-40). This happened “during the Feast” while it was in progress, which was daytime of Passover (Abib 14). Such release was a symbolic gesture of Israel being freed from their bondage as they were in the process of leaving Egypt. Therefore, John 18:39 labels it a custom of the Jews, “But you have a custom, that I should release someone for you at the Passover.”

The timing of Pilate releasing Barabbas significantly plays into the chronological calculation of the Passion Week, since it parallels with the original Passover. Hendriksen leans toward this interpretation although he is not sure it pointed only to the Passover festival: “...the idea of setting a prisoner free would seem to be (emphasis mine) most appropriate in connection with Passover, the commemoration of the deliverance of the Israelites from the house of bondage.”

The Passover meal had been eaten the night prior to the prisoner’s release, just as Israel ate the Passover the night of Abib 14 and were in the process of being released from their bondage the next day (Preparation Day for leaving Egypt), Passover daytime. If the Passover during Passion Week had not yet been eaten (according to some scholars who hold that Jesus and His disciples ate Passover a day early, but the regular Passover had not yet commenced) the release of Barabbas was out of synchronicity; it was too early. Such a scheme is actually in reverse than what happened in the Exodus. God’s timing is perfect. Events in history are controlled by God and can only happen one way.

DeLane Miller

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.”

Exodus 8:19

 There was a debate between an atheist and a theist: Dennis Prager, the theist, debated Professor Jonathan Glover of Oxford University, the atheist. Dennis is Jewish so he argued for the existence of God. At the end of the debate, the atheist argued that even if God existed, it would not make any difference. The debate was about to conclude, but Dennis Prager asked Jonathan Glover this question: He said: “Let’s say that you leave here this evening and you are driving toward Los Angeles and you take the wrong exit. You find yourself in a very dark part of the city. You notice that buildings are run down; there are no street lights and to make matters worse, your car breaks down. You get out of the car and open the hood. After looking at the engine for a while, you aren’t able to tell what the problem is. About that time, 6 rather burly, rough looking men exit a building and notice you. They start walking toward you, and you really can’t see their faces very well because of the darkness. Would it make any difference to you if these men had just left a Bible study?” The atheist admitted that it would make a difference to him. 

Why? Because in everyone’s heart of hearts, they know that God exists (Romans 1:19) and many have seen how the Lord changes lives. Has He changed yours? Read Exodus 7-8 and see how the power of God was undeniable to Pharoah’s magicians. Then, recount God’s power and His work in your life. List 5 great things that the Lord has done for you.

Ike Graham

MY ALL FOR JESUS

For He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.  What will man do to me?” 

Hebrews 13:5b-6 

70 years ago on January 8, 1956 the world was shocked to hear of the brutal deaths of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian in their quest to share the gospel with the Auca Indians or the Waorani as they are called today.  Why would God allow these faithful servants of His to be killed?  I believe the answer to that is found in the favorite Bible verses of these men.

Jim Elliot: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose". His quote reflects Matthew 16:25: "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”  Nate Saint: "And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries? They forget that they, too are expending their lives... and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted.”  His quote goes along with John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: that one lay down his life for his friends.”  The other three men shared a common commitment to Mark 16:15: “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”  They each believed that Christ was to be obeyed, even unto death.

Just like these men we know not what the next moment holds.  Because of the testimony of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming and Roger Youderian and the future work of their families, thousands of people worldwide dedicated their lives to serve Christ and some 300 Waorani became believers in Christ.   Who will you share the gospel with today no matter what the cost?

Bob Kulp

HIS LIGHT STILL SHINES

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2

​A wooden table lamp stands on my desk in my office. It is more than a lamp, however. It is a memorial to a man that could not be beaten down. His name was Merlin, and in spite of all that he went through in life that could have made him hateful and bitter, he was one of the kindest, most generous men I ever knew.

​Merlin grew up in a large family, and, for some reason, he was singled out as the family whipping boy. He was at times without shoes and had to stand in fresh cow manure to keep his feet from freezing as he did his chores. While the other children would get Christmas gifts, all he ever got was the tail of a pig, wrapped up like a gift. These and many more acts of rejection made up his life growing up.

​But Merlin learned woodworking and eventually ran a sawmill. He was always smiling, quiet, and friendly. He and his wife loved church carry-in dinners. And when his son-in-law deserted his family, Merlin took his daughter and granddaughter into his own home.

​In Paul’s verse from Romans, he warns us not to be conformed. The word in Greek implies seeing a certain model and choosing to align yourself to copy it.

​But when we walk by faith and not by sight, we choose to be transformed into what God wants, instead of what the world looks like. “Transformed” comes from “metamorphosis”, inferring a life-changing power that cannot be overcome. When you choose to be born again, you choose to be like Christ, and the very gates of hell cannot take you in to ruin that. Now Merlin’s light continues to shine.

Davy L. Troxel

A LICENSE FOR PRESUMING ON GRACE

So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. Ruth 2:17 

Why do we dislike a spoiled brat? Usually, it is because we realize that he has imposed upon his parents’ goodness. He feels entitled to everything his parents possess.

The same thing can happen in Christian circles. There is a common misunderstanding that grace requires no change or responsibility on the part of the believer. You are entitled to what God has given. But such thinking fails to fully understand grace. Grace does not give anyone the license to act however he would like. In fact, just the opposite is true. Paul wrote that grace instructs us that by “denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12). God saves you, not so that you can presume upon His grace, but so that you will faithfully grow in Christlikeness.

Ruth experienced this. Even though she was a recipient of grace, she still had to do her part. Boaz gave her the barley, but she had to glean it, beat it into an ephah, and carry it into the city (all 25-30 lbs.). This would have involved hard labor, but she willingly did it.

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13)

Philip Moeller

GREATER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE

But just as it is written,Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,

And which have not entered the heart of man,All that God has prepared for those who love Him.

1 Corinthians 2:9

The first time I visited Washington DC I hitchhiked 87 miles there with another summer camp counselor. When we were dropped off and turned around, there, larger than life was the capitol building! So that’s where we started our exploration on an amazing day of visiting things we had only seen in pictures and TV news reports. The grandeur was way beyond the images. That was the first of my six visits (so far) to Washington, each one a thrill as you get to visit, see, and touch the real deal.

So what is it going to be like to see heaven? The Bible leaves a lot to our imaginations, but one thing we know: it is going to be amazing—way beyond what we are imagining! Why would anyone NOT want to go there? Yet many who want to don’t know how to get there. Such was the case with my mother. She was raised in church, and as a teenager heard a sermon on heaven and how wonderful it was going to be. She desperately wanted to go there, but the minister did not, likely could not, tell her how. Nor did any minster after that. It was not until after my father got saved when I was 12 that my mother, through him, found out, and she got saved. 

Do you think heaven is going to be amazing? Do you know how to get there? Will you share how with someone you know who wants to go?

Jeffrey Eno

WHICH WATER?

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 

John 4:7

I love the way that Jesus turns ordinary conversations into spiritual ones, don’t you? Have you seen the tract “Turning a Conversation to Spiritual Things?” When you meet someone, you should ask leading questions like: 

-Where are you from? Do you attend church there? Did the pastor explain how someone can go to heaven?  May I ask you a more personal question?

Maybe you’ve had a conversation like this: “Well, I wasn’t happy in my marriage so I got out.”  I see.  So, you’re alone now?  “No, the guy that I’m living with….”  It’s like this woman.  We must handle it like Jesus.  Or, the person who said to me, “Well, I’m not as bad as so-and-so.”  I replied, “I see.  Well, how do you compare to Billy Graham?”  He finally said that he did not deserve to go into heaven because of his sin. Then, I told him about the apostle Paul and how he was saved and shared my own testimony.

What did Jesus do when the woman at the well believed?  “OK, I’m finished here.  Let’s move on boys!”  No.  He not only stayed two days (v. 40), but he made it clear to the disciples that looking for opportunities was more important than getting a drink of water or eating.  Look at verse 34.

Are we committed to the will of God like this?  Let me ask the question another way.  Are you so satisfied with doing the will of God that your desire for food is eclipsed by the joy of serving the Lord?  I’m challenged.

In verses 35-38, do you hear this: “Look around!  What is the condition of your neighbors; your relatives; your colleagues?” Ask the Lord to give you the opportunity today to tell someone about Jesus and how they can be saved.

Ike Graham

SOCIAL GOSPEL?

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins…

1Corinthians. 15:3a

The cruel excesses of the Industrial Revolution generated a reaction within many Progressive Era churches known as the “Social Gospel Movement,” which offered mankind a purported “social salvation.”

Contemporary manifestations of the Movement still advance the thesis that society is best served when the Church’s primary emphasis is directed towards the effective realization of social justice through such devices as political activism, reform campaigns, and civic involvement. Such advocacy is asserted to constitute the Church’s true mission—as opposed to diverting valuable resources upon such “distracting” enterprises as personal evangelism and Biblical indoctrination (contra Matt. 28:19-20). Further, the happy fruit of such activity will be a Millennial Dawn—arising not through the supernatural activity of Christ, but through the good agency of an enlightened humanity (i.e., postmillennialism).

In response: Christians should indeed charitably provide material benefit and tangible support unto others (Acts 2:45; 9:36; 2Cor. 8:1-5), in imitation of the ethic of their Divine Master (Acts 10:38; Luke 6:31)! An idle faith that is devoid of practical concern for others misrepresents the benevolent character of God (Matt. 5:45), and is thus odious, ridiculous, and shameful (James 2:15-16).

But regarding the Gospel message, what remains central and paramount? Paul identifies that which is of “first importance:” the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1Cor. 15:3-4).

Modern “social salvation” schemes ignore the Biblical emphasis upon the personal salvation of individuals from the just wrath of a Holy God (Matt. 3:7; Rom. 5:9; 1Thess. 1:10b; Rev. 6:16-17). Our basic problem is rooted in sin—not in imperfect social environments or inequitable institutions. The Answer remains Jesus Christ—and Him crucified (John 3:16; Rom. 6:23; 1Cor. 2:2)!

Terry L Reese

JURY DUTY

​Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not worthy to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 

1 Corinthians 6:2-3

​I was recently selected for jury duty, this being the fourth time to have such a “privilege”. At my first attempt, the defendant was his own lawyer. When he saw on my questionnaire that I was a pastor, he asked how I felt about his crime. In front of 100 people, I got to quote God’s Word concerning what he was accused of. I was dismissed, of course.

​On my second attempt, the lawyer asked how I felt about alcohol. I replied that I could not believe either side since both of them were drunk at the time of the crime. I was dismissed, of course.

​On my third attempt, I actually made it to the jury but was dismissed again when previously unknown evidence was introduced, and they had to start over.

​I feel that if people want an honest trial, the court should want a whole jury of pastors and Christians who know and abide by the absolute truth of the Bible. But we see from this how people today fear the clear, absolute truth of Christ. They probably hope that the eternal judgment of their soul could also be finagled in the same way. But they have a surprise in store. Believers will judge not only those in the world, but also demons. What’s more, the results of that judgment will be final and eternal. When God’s gavel falls, the Word has the last word, and “your Honor” will actually be 100% honorable!

Davy L. Troxel

BE A “Y’ALL” CHRISTIAN!

I thank my God… always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for YOU ALL because of your fellowship in the gospel.

Philippians 1:3-5a

Among the more easily detected accents are those from New England, New York or the South.  While the apostle Paul was not from the Deep South, he did use the phrase “you all” frequently in his New Testament letters as a warm expression of Christian fellowship.  I counted 23 “y’alls” but will only mention several of them today.

Paul’s thankfulness led him to pray much and often for YOU ALL.  “I thank my God… for YOU ALL, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8).  Paul often encouraged churches reiterating the wonder of their salvation in Jesus Christ.  Some other encouragements include: “For YOU are ALL sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26); “For YOU are ALL one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 - no matter what your earthly distinction is); “There is… one God and Father of ALL, Who is over ALL and through ALL and in ALL”(Ephesians 4:6) and “YOU ALL are fellow partakers with me in this grace” (Philippians 1:7b).  Aren’t y’all encouraged viewing our position as believers in Jesus Christ?  We are NOT an exclusive club as Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and salvation is open to YOU ALL if you will believe and receive Him (John 1:12; 3:16).

Paul concluded his letters with simple but powerful benedictions of blessing upon his readers.  “Now may the God of peace be with YOU ALL” (Romans 15:33); “My love be with YOU ALL in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 16:24); "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with YOU ALL” (2 Corinthians 13:14) and “Grace be with YOU ALL.” (Titus 3:15b).  That’s my prayer for YOU ALL as well!

Bob Kulp