Historical Posts
Perspective
Use Wisdom From Above To Keep Your Perspective
As I have gotten older, I have come to realize more than ever how important it is to keep things in perspective. We cannot allow our circumstances to determine our attitude. Our attitude determines how we relate to our surroundings. Paul found contentment, not because of his environment, but often in spite of it.
The apostle Paul wrote, “…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13).
The problems of this life are either beyond our control, or they are within our power to change. If they are beyond our control, then we are powerless to do anything about them. Acceptance is our only choice. However, if they are within our power to change, we must move forward to bring about change. Our only problem is in separating what cannot be changed from what can be changed and how to go about it.
It was Dr. Reinhold Niehuhr who first prayed: “God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.” This is where a careful study of the Bible comes into play. If the Bible is the inspired WORD OF GOD, and it is, then it provides the only instructions which enable us to distinguish the one from the other (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The only problems I have any control over are my own. What I cannot change I must accept. Where I can affect change, I must work to bring it about. And, I must look to God’s word for the wisdom to keep things in perspective. Therefore, I will not worry about that which is out of my control. Nor, will I be anxious about those things which are within my power to change. I will be too busy changing them to have time to worry.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Don’t Worry
Christians don’t worry the way the world does, even though God has not promised to shield us
As citizens of the United States of America, we are blessed beyond our capacity to appreciate it. We live in a time and place where life is easier and more convenient than it has ever been before. We get more done in less time than ever before, and we have much more time for leisurely pursuits. Yet, we also seem to be under much more stress than those who have come before us. Even the poorest Americans have a better quality of life than a tremendous percentage of the rest of the world, and we all worry about losing the things we have. Whether we are rich, poor, or somewhere in between, we all have to cope with the challenges that life presents us.
Christians have a tremendous advantage over those who are not Christians, we don’t worry when it comes to taking on the challenges of life. We don’t worry about things the way the world does, even though God has not promised to shield us from the problems that are common to all humanity. As Matthew 5:45 reminds us, “he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Still, God has equipped Christians with some outstanding mechanisms for dealing with life’s difficulties (John 9:31). However, many Christians fail to take advantage of the advantages that God provides. Of all people we ought to know how to manage the stresses of life on Earth so that we don’t worry!
The Lord has taught His children not to worry about things that are out of our control. In Matthew 6:27, Jesus posed this question: “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” In essence, He is saying don’t worry. The words, “taking thought” translate a Greek term, which literally means to “be anxious,”or “to worry.” The point is that, just as we cannot make ourselves grow taller simply by worrying about our height, we also cannot deal with issues that are out of our control simply by worrying about them. That is why, in Philippians 4:6, Paul wrote: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing…let your requests be made known unto God.” The word “careful” translates another Greek term, which refers to the concept of worry. The implication of this teaching is that it is a sin to worry about things we can do nothing about. That is what Jesus was getting at in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:25-34, He used the phrase, “take no thought” three times and alluded to it in questions two other times. Clearly, the Lord wants us not to worry so much about things that are beyond our control. Don’t worry and trust that God is in control.
Still, it is natural for human beings to worry about all kinds of things. People worry about the economy, the environment, terrorism, and a host of other issues that are simply beyond the control of a single person. The Bible teaches us to take the worries and fears we do have and cast them upon God’s shoulders. In 1 Peter 5:7, it is written, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” God will listen to His people; even at times when it seems like no one else will (Psalms 142:1-7). The thing is that, in order for our prayers to be most effective, we must listen to our Father’s counsel, which is found in His holy Word (Psalms 119:49-50). Remember that 1 Peter 5:7 teaches that we should cast our “care” (“worry”) upon God, because He “careth” (“worries”) about us. Some Christians have got the idea that their problems are too small and insignificant to be worthy of God’s attention. But, the Bible reminds us that our Heavenly Father loves each one of us, and He cares about the things we care about. That is why the Lord calls out to us from His Word to obey the gospel plan of salvation and become members of His church. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). It ought to be reassuring to us, to know that God worries about us, just as we worry about our own children.
Coping with the challenges of life is difficult, to be sure, but it ought to be much easier for faithful members of the Lord’s church than it is for those who have no relationship with God. That is why the rest of the world will always marvel at the serenity of the Lord’s people and how we don’t worry. The “peace of God, which passeth all understanding” comes only from the knowledge that God cares about us. We don’t worry because we know that He can help us face the challenges of life in this world (Philippians 4:7). If you are searching for peace on Earth, you need not look any further than the Bible. Turn to God and don’t worry anymore. In the pages of God’s Word, you may find the counsel you need to stop worrying about all the world’s problems and to start looking forward to what lies beyond this life!
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Russell Kline
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Psalm 37 – audio
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Text: Psalm 37
1 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret – it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plots against the just,
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword
And have bent their bow,
To cast down the poor and needy,
To slay those who are of upright conduct.
15 Their sword shall enter their own heart,
And their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man has
Is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
But the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish;
And the enemies of the Lord,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.
Into smoke they shall vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not repay,
But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good;
And dwell forevermore.
28 For the Lord loves justice,
And does not forsake His saints;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
And dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watches the righteous,
And seeks to slay him.
33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait on the Lord,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
And spreading himself like a native green tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;
For the future of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;
The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the Lord shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Expecting the Unexpected
What are you expecting?
Over the years my family and I have learned we should be expecting the unexpected. Many a family outing, vacation, or dinner out has been interrupted by some development we were not expecting. It may be a death, an accident, or something else, but in spite of our best laid plans, something invariably goes awry.
James, the brother of our Lord, addressed this matter when he wrote: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:13-14).
We really don’t know what tomorrow holds.
That is not to say, however, that we should not look beyond today. Every farmer plants in spring with an eye to fall. It is not only all right to look to the future expecting a result, but it’s essential. James, however, did go on to advise his readers to preface their plans with the acknowledgment that all is subject to the Lord’s will (James 4:15). What you are expecting may not happen. The unexpected could come up.
Why do we need to look to the future?
As parents, we need to plan for our children’s education. As fathers, we need to plan for our families in case of our untimely death. We need to plan for retirement. At some point in our lives our bodies will no longer function to the extent that we can continue to work and support ourselves. We should be expecting this. We would like to retire while we can still enjoy retirement. That requires planning. The fact is, no one plans to fail, but far too many fail to plan. And, as a result, their dreams don’t come true.
But, the most important planning we do is for eternity.
Yet, this is the area folks seem to put off longest. In fact, many never get around to it at all. They treat the subject as if it has to be unexpected. I don’t intend to make that mistake. Jesus offers a plan for life that will prepare us for eternity, so that we can know what we should be expecting. To the best of my ability, I intend to follow his plan. Do you? When life is over, and it can end for us at any time, it will be too late.
If you are going to follow Jesus, the time to start is now.
Tomorrow may be too late! What are you expecting based on the plans you have put into action?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Matthew 06:25-34 – Watch and Pray – audio
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Reading: Mark 13:32-37 (Reading by Andy Anderson)
Text: Matthew 6:25-34
Introduction
Jesus taught Peter, James, John, and Andrew privately upon the Mount of Olives. They were concerned about when the end was going to come.
Instead of giving them an exact day, time, and year, Jesus instead explained that they needed to be ready at all times! By staying ready for His return, they would not worry about what tomorrow might bring (Matthew 6:25-34).
Body
I. No one knows the day and hour when Christ is coming again.
A. Jesus did promise He will come again (John 14:3).
B. He will return as He went into Heaven (Acts 1:9-11), coming in the clouds (Daniel 7:13; Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 21:27; Revelation 1:7; 14:14-16).
C. He could come at evening, midnight, crowing of the rooster, or in the morning (Mark 13:35).
D. That day will be as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4; 2 Peter 3:10).
E. Everything will seem as normal when the Son of Man comes (Matthew 24:36-44).
F. The ten virgins did not know the hour when the bridegroom would come (Matthew 25:1-13).
II. Watch!
A. We must not sleep, but rather watch and remain alert (1 Thessalonians 5:6)!
B. Watch, remaining firm in the faith (1Corinthians 16:13).
C. Be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8)!
D. Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain (Revelation 3:1-3).
E. Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments (Revelation 16:15).
III. Pray!
A. Watch and pray always that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36).
B. Pray always, being watchful to this end with perseverance and supplication (Ephesians 6:18).
C. Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).
Conclusion
Jesus has warned us that He is coming again.
Since we do not know when, we must always be ready for His return.
Let us:
- Be ready by always being on the alert, living faithfully.
- Continue to pray to Him for His guidance and encouragement.
- Be thankful that when He does come again, we will be ready to meet Him and live eternally with Him.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Salt – audio
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We’ve all probably engaged in a little hand-wringing about the future of our country.
What will happen, we ask, if we continue heading down a path that ignores God, flaunts rebellion, and mocks righteousness? What will it look like when our kids or grandkids become adults? Will God turn his back on us?
Those questions, though unavoidable, do little good.
What Jesus said about anxiety applies here.
Worrying about the future accomplishes nothing. But thankfully, there’s something we can do, and Jesus refers to it here:
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” (Matthew 5:13, NKJV)
When we think of salt, we probably think of the flavor it adds to our meals, but in Jesus’ world its most basic function was to preserve food. And that seems to fit the context here best as well.
Jesus is calling us to slow down the decay and corruption of the world around us.
Abraham once had a fascinating conversation with God in Genesis 18:16-33 about how many righteous people it would take to save Sodom. “Will you spare the city if it has 50 righteous souls living there?” Abraham asked. God said yes. “Forty-five?” Again, God said yes. So Abraham asked about 40, 30, 20, and finally 10. God would withhold his destruction if only a handful of righteous people could be found.
I have often thought that God has blessed America because we have honored him in many ways. We have protected religious freedoms and maintained conservative morals. Our leaders have listened to Christian voices, and we have preserved many aspects of the Judeo-Christian ethic. Is there a connection between those facts and our country’s prosperity?
A strong argument could be made that those things are changing, of course. Recent trends seem to reflect an increasingly secular, anti-God mindset. Even so, it still does no good to wring our hands and decry the loss of our country’s Christian foundation.
What Jesus tells us to do is keep being the salt.
None of us have any idea how long God will spare our nation, but what we must do is to follow Jesus and model him to the people around us. We need to sanctify him in our homes. We need to teach our children and grandchildren to love him more than anything in the world. We need to adore him, worship him, serve him.
It was a tragedy that even 10 righteous souls could not be found in Sodom, and God destroyed the city. What about us? Is there enough righteousness for God to keep his protective arms around us?
That’s his decision, of course, but regardless, he’s challenged us to be those righteous souls, to be the preservative in our spheres of influence.
He’s calling us to be salt.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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I Wonder
“God will not permit man to have a knowledge of things to come; for if man had a foresight of his prosperity, he would become arrogant and careless; and if he had an understanding of his adversity, he would become listless and despairing” (Saint Augustine of Hippo).
For many years I have kept a log of my daily activities
I log things like where I’ve been, who I’ve seen, and what has happened in relationship to my work. Every now and then I review the record. As I get older, I find myself revisiting the past with greater frequency. I also find myself wondering about the future. What lies ahead?
You may wonder why I keep revisiting the past
The answer is that it helps me stay focused on the present and prepared for the future. Who among us will not be here in another year? Who will face declining health, a financial setback, or the loss of a loved one this year? Who will be blessed by the birth of a baby? Who will experience the joy of wedded bliss, or the heartbreak of divorce? Who will move into our community, and who will move away? I can’t answer any of those questions, and yet I know they are all part of what the future holds.
How will we respond to what lies ahead?
Only time will tell! James wrote: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”-yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil (James 4:13-16).
It is not wrong to think about the future, but we must not exclude God from it
He is in control. We are not. It is only when we understand His sovereignty and power that we can face the future with hope and confidence. This life at best is brief. Whether blessings or burdens come our way, neither stay for long. Therefore, we will not boast of our blessings or bemoan our burdens. We will acknowledge the hand of God in all, and simply say, “Your will be done!”
Leave the future to God
It was George Macdonald who wrote: “No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourself so. If you find yourself so loaded, at least remember this: it is your own doing, not God’s. He begs you to leave the future to him, and mind the present.” Good advice! I wonder how many of us will heed it.
— Roger
MARCH 4, 2012
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Fear – Romans 8:15-17 – audio
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Fear often holds us back in our walk with Christ.
Do you ever worry?
About your health, your kids, or your future?
Most of us do, and worry is just another word for fear.
Why do we fudge the truth?
Probably because we’re afraid of what’ll happen if we don’t.
Why do we sometimes fail to say what needs to be said?
Because we’re afraid of confrontation, or what people will think about us.
Why do we so easily join in when people around us are gossiping?
Because we’re afraid of looking self-righteous or judgmental.
If you take a close look at your most common sins, I think you’ll find that you’re scared of something.
Peter denied Jesus three times because of fear.
The one-talent man buried his money because of fear.
Abraham slept with his wife’s servant because of fear.
That’s not how it’s supposed to be, of course. God doesn’t want fear to control us.
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:15-17).
As you’re listening to this, are you worried about something?
What fear is stealing the joy from your life in Christ?
What fear is keeping you from being fully obedient?
By God’s Spirit, cry out to him today: Abba! Father!
Ask him to cast the fear out of your heart!
Beg him to fill your life with confidence in him, to help you trust him enough to obey him no matter what.
Facing fear is part of the human struggle, but it shouldn’t control us.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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