Month: June 2020

(Acts 19:38-41) If therefore Demetrius-and the craftemen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you seek anything further, sl it shall be settled in the regular assembly. For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

The inappropriateness of the present ad hoc assembly is made evident in v. 39 when the clerk says that if there is anything further the crowd wants to know, it must be settled in the legal assembly. [Riots and Roman Law, Acts 19:21-41, Underground Network, Apr.14,2016] 

Rome was not likely to pass a blind eye over an unlawful assembly, and so now the clerk turns the tables on the crowd. If there was an unlawful assembly the City could be charged with “stasis,” that is, with acting seditiously, creating factions in the Empire, rioting. The terminology the clerk uses here at the end of his speech is legal and correct. His point is that if questioned, the Ephesians could give no legal justification for this particular meeting, and so would be suspected of, and, as v. 40 puts it, in danger of being charged with, subversive activities. (ibid)

The providence of God? Certainly. A leader with the ability to diffuse an ugly situation? Looks like it. 

Whichever, either or both, may God help us today. Burton Coffman opines. “One has to admire the intelligence, tact, and ability by which the town-clerk achieved a dispersal of such a mob. First, he pointed out that the whole city might be “in danger” for tolerating such an illegal uproar; but then he softened his reference to the riot by calling it a “concourse.” This indicated that he was willing to convey some semblance of legality to the mob by naming it a concourse instead of a riot; then, moving still further to legalize the outrageous gathering, he “dismissed THE ASSEMBLY”! In context, that town-clerk’s actions bore the stamp of genius. Once more, the providence of God had preserved the life of the dauntless apostle, saving him and protecting him, without his so much as opening his mouth. How wonderful are the ways of the Lord”. (Commentary on Acts)

Rioting is ugly. Turns illegal, Needs to be stopped. May God give us leaders today who can and will lead as the town clerk did in Acts 19.

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD; and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate” (Psa. 127:3-5).

 

What an awesome blessing, as well as responsibility, rearing children is! lf only more fathers and mothers had a greater appreciation of this gift and took more seriously their God-given roles as parents (cf. Deut. 6:1ff; Pro. 22:6; 31:1f, Eph. 5:22ff 6:4).

“Father’s Day’ is a day set aside each year to honor our fathers for a job well-done. In addition, it is a day to remind fathers of the influential impact they have on their children as well as society. It is true, “as the home goes, so goes the nation (society).” A strong nation is comprised of strong godly homes; homes led by strong and faithful fathers who..

1…love the Lord (Mark 12:30; Mat. 6:33).
2..love their wife (Eph. 5:25-26).
3..love God’s Word and shares it with family (2 Tim. 2:15, Eph. 6:4; Acts 10:33).
4…are faithful to the Lord and His church (1 Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10).
5..communicate well (Jam. 1:19).
6. ..provide for their family (1 Tim. 5:8).
7..pray fervently and without ceasing (Jam. 5:16; 1 The. 5:17).
8. .non-abusively discipline their children when necessary (Pro. 13:24; 22:15).

 

May all men strive toward these teachings of scripture, and thus build strong homes and a strong nation!

The title of this article is a question of no little importance. And when we reflect upon Jesus’ own words that “many” will choose to walk the way of eternal destruction and that “few will ultimately make it to the gates of Heaven (cf. Matthew 7:13-14), this question becomes even richer in significance. While our busy schedules might often prevent us from doing so, we should actually reflect upon His return every day! Could it be that the Lord has chosen tomorrow as the day of His return? If that be the case, in what condition will you find yourself to be in the day after tomorrow? Only the wise will bother to seriously ponder this thought.

We all need to live every day as if we actually had access to information that told us that Jesus’ return was imminent; that it could occur at any moment “in the twinkling of an eye.” But it is most interesting to consider the fact that in a very real way, that is actually true. Ne know that Jesus promised us that He would return, and we know that we are closer to that day than any day that has yet dawned upon this earth; but we also know that this very day could be that day!

The world is nearly 2000 years closer to His return than it was during His earthly walk when He often spoke of that fateful day involving His impending return. “Watch” was the word of caution that Jesus often used when He spoke of that inevitable day of His assured return. Later today, we will close out another day on earth (Lord willing!). Each of us will then welcome the dawning of a new day. May we all be living our lives as if we knew for a guaranteed fact that tomorrow would be that final day of mankind’s existence in this rapidly passing world.

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13).

Via. Bulletin Digest

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the term Pandemic relates to geographic spread and is used to describe a disease that affects a whole country or the entire world.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has determined that Covid-19 has reached the level of a pandemic. A world-wide threat. A vicious virus. It is certainly something to make us sit up and take notice of its potential for harm or even death to many people all around the world.

There is no cure for this virus or for the multitude of other virus’ that affect mankind. Our best hope is to control it and somehow minimize its spread and volatility. Just how we go about doing that is not agreed upon by all the experts. However, maintaining what has come to be called social distancing is perhaps the most agreed upon counter measure to the spread of this disease.

Wash often with soap and water. Change your clothes when you come in from any social interaction. Disinfect the counter tops..the steering wheel…the door knobs..the fridge door…anything and everything that you might touch..disinfect thoroughly.

Just understand that there is no cure. So, the best way to stay healthy is to avoid contact with the virus. But, what if..

Let me remind us of another pandemic. It started long ago in a land far away from here. Yet, we have felt the ravages of this disease for centuries. It has affected the whole of man from his beginning and has affected every generation of humanity.

We feel its effects today all through our society and around the world. It is the most volatile pandemic in the history of man, causing untold numbers of people from every walk of life to die. It affects you and me since “we have all sinned and come short of glory of God”. The greatest pandemic, the greatest Scourge to man, the Bible calls sin.

Thanks be to God there is a cure for this disease. However, there is only one cure..the Blood of Jesus. In order to be healed we must be washed in the blood of the Lamb…the One who “takes away the sins of the world”. To be washed in His blood we must be baptized into Christ “for the remission of our sins”