Month: October 2019

The events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus hold special meaning for all Christians. Perhaps the following thoughts might add a special dimension to these events.

Simon, a Cyrenian, literally carried the cross of Jesus. When we read this account, can it not serve to remind us to take up our cross and follow Him? Can it not remind us that He depends on our help to carry out His will on earth (Mark 8:34)?

When we picture in our minds the outstretched, nailed hands and arms of Jesus, we can recall His words, “Come unto Me..” His arms are always open to receive us (Matt. 11:28).

The two thieves who were crucified with Jesus were situated, one on His right and one on His left. At the second coming, when He sits upon the throne of His glory, all nations will be separated one from another; the saved on His right and the lost on His left. This can be a reminder to be on the “right” side of Jesus (Matt. 25:33).

The cruel death Jesus suffered is an example to remind us that we too can face whatever type of death is in store for us. He will see us through it (Heb. 4:16).

Jesus had the disciple whom He loved (John) to take His mother into John’s own house. This is a lesson to us that, unlike Cain’s question to the contrary, we are our brother’s keeper. We have a charge to love and take care of the needs of our brethren (1 John 3:17).

The parting of Christ’s garments can serve to remind us all not to be concerned about the material aspects of life. We must lay up for ourselves “treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:19).

The title Pilate wrote and put on the cross, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS, should remind us daily that Jesus “…is King of kings and Lord of lords” (John 19:19; Rev. 19:16). We must honor Him and acknowledge His power always and in all ways.

In Matthew 25:1-13, we read about ten virgins waiting on a bridegroom. Five of the virgins were wise and came prepared with plenty of oil for their lamps, but five of the virgins were foolish and did not come prepared. When the bridegroom came, the five foolish virgins had gone to purchase more oil. The bridegroom and those that were ready entered the wedding, and the door was shut. Whern the five foolish virgins came, they were not let in, and the bridegroom said unto them, “I do not know you.”

Christ is going to return one day, and that leaves us with a choice to make. We can either choose to be prepared for the Second Coming of our Lord, or we can choose to sit idly by and waste the time that we have right now. “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13).

Preparing for Christ involves submitting to the Lord, His Word and His Will. Have we had our sins washed away in baptism? Are we living and worshipping the way that God has told us to live and to worship? Are we actively working for the Lord? We need to ask ourselves these questions and more every day as we prepare for Christ’s return. One day Christ will return, and I hope we all will be ready for that great day of the Lord.

A woman approached a business man and asked for a donation to help build a church building. He agreed to give a sizable donation if they would put a sign over the door saying, “This is a church of Christ.” “But”, the Woman replied, this is not a church of Christ!” So the business man agreed to give the money anyway if the sign would say This is NOT a church of Christ.” The woman refused the money and walked away. (Matt 16:18 and Col. 1:18) 

via Livingston church of Christ

Have you ever considered how the Bible views where Christians were before they were Christians? Notice Colossians 1:13: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Those outside of Christ are under the “power” of darkness.

The word “power” here is the same in the original as the word Jesus used in Matthew 28:18 (“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”). That Word always carries the idea of “authority.” In other words, while we were outside of Christ, we were living under the authority of darkness (shadiness, i.e., evil). We were under its “domain” (NASB).

Whether knowingly or not, everyone outside of Christ is under the authority of darkness (sin). We all have owed the wages of sin. Paul declared, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Because We all have sinned, we all have been under this authority (Romans 3:23).

We also are unable to leave the authority of darkness on our own; we have to be delivered (rescued, NASB). Yes, it is a choice we make, but it is an action that requires Divine assistance. Paul said, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). The only way to escape the power, guilt and condemnation of sin is to obey the gospel.

From Livingston church of Christ Livingston, TN Bulletin Digest

From Northridge church of Christ

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow… ” (Matthew 6:34). A person’s life can be divided up into four chunks of time: the past, the present, the future and eternity. The devil draws attention to the past and the future; God draws attention to the present and eternity. Therefore, the devil wants to take our focus off of the present and eternity while God wants us to avoid investing too heavily in the past and the future.

For example, when a person is thinking about becoming a Christian, the devil attacks that thinking in at least two places. First, the past: “I have done too many bad things that God could never forgive me of,” and second, the future: “Even if He could forgive me, once I was baptized, I could never live up to the high standard of the Christian life.

God, on the other hand, reinforces truthful thinking in the above scenario by coaching a person to do NOW what will secure him or her for ETERNITY. In the process, of course, God does remedy the guilt of sin (PAST) and also gears the new convert up by prayer, worship, Scripture, fellowship, hope, etc. to be faithful in living out the Christian life (FUTURE).

The plea to live in the present saturates Scripture (see for example Mt. 6:34; 2 Co. 61-2; 2 Pet. 3:11-12).

That does not mean we have no business with the past. There may be a mess to clean up. And it does not mean we have no business with future, because we must plan (see Jas. 4:13-16).

It does mean that we should not waste life fantasizing, “I wish I could go back to yesterday,” or “I am waiting for things to be different tomorrow.”

Rather, live in the moment. Do what you are supposed to be doing today. Obey God now. Take responsibility for the present. That posture is Christian” and can secure our eternity.