Month: May 2024

Glen Elliott Via Bulletin Gold

Jesus was tempted (Mt, 4:1-11; Heb.4:15). We struggle with
temptation. It is simply part of the human condition. Each of us
battle inward desires which can bring sin into our lives (Jas. 1:13-
15). Satan is the tempter (Mt, 4:3). We must engage him in
spiritual warfare by the strength which God supplies (2 Cor. 10-
4-6; Eph. 6:10-13), We better get our minds firmly set on the life
and death struggle each of us must face or be lost through our
own carelessness or neglected.

Satan makes temptation attractive. He sugar-coats sin. He
wraps it up in a nice, little package. Sin has pleasures associated
with it (Heb, 11:25), These pleasures manifest themselves in
many ways. Satan knows that all people are not tempted in the
same way. So, like a skillful fisherman, he makes each lure
appropriate to the person being tempted. Each person is “tempted
when he is carried away and enticed by his own desires” (Jas.
1:14). Sin feels good. But, its consequences are heart-breaking
(Rm. 6:23).

No one is immune to the evil influence of Satan’s temptation.
Deliverance is more than a sentence-prayer (Mt. 6:13). We must
not be ignorant of Satan’s schemes against us (2 Cor. 2:11). We
must keep watch in prayer (Mt. 26:41). We must treasure up
God’s word in our hearts as a safeguard against sin (Ps. 119:11).
We must trust God completely rather than lean on our own
strength (Prov. 3:5). We cooperate in the process of deliverance
by making firm resolutions (e.g. Dan. 1:8); by putting ourselves
in the company of those who will encourage right choices (Heb.
10:23-25); and, by fleeing before temptation has opportunity to
ensnare us in its web (2 Tim. 2:22). Above all, remember that
God is faithful and will provide the way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13).
Deliverance is ours through faith in Christ Jesus (1 Jn. 5:4; Rm.
8:37).

By Edd Sterchi

You may recognize the title (without the parenthesis)
as a song recorded by the Beatles and, later, by Earth,
Wind, and Fire. But this thought (with the parenthesis
statement added by me) depicts perfectly how we can
overcome the world.

In light of this, consider 1 John 4:4, “You are of God,
little children, and have overcome them, because He
who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
This is reminding us that if we get (and keep) Jesus
Christ into our lives, then we will overcome Satan and
the ways of the world.

In the book of 1 John, this whole process is spelled
out. Jesus became the sin offering for us (1 John 2:1-2).
We get Jesus into our lives through a proper baptism (1
John 5:8). It is then that we are born of God and become
His children (1 John 3:1). We keep Jesus in our lives
through loving His word (1 John 2:5) and through
faithful living (1 John 1:5-7). In fully doing this, we also
keep ourselves from loving the world and the world’s
ways which are influenced by Satan (1 John 2:15-17).

In the words of John Lennon and Paul McCartney
(who wrote the original song): “Ooh, then I suddenly
see you – Ooh, did I tell you that I need you. Every
single day of my life?” Do you truly have Jesus fully in
your daily life?

Adam Faughn, Adapted from Bulletin Gold

For some, today is their first Mother’s Day as a mother. They just had
their first child, so today is special in that way.

For some, today is their first Mother’s Day as a grandmother. They
are seeing their own daughter hold a precious child for her first
Mother’s Day.

For some, today is their first Mother’s Day as a mother of two (or
three or..). They are getting extra kisses and hugs (and a well-deserved
extra cup of coffee).

For some, today is their first Mother’s Day without their mother
living. So, today will be bittersweet.

For some, today is their first Mother’s Day since losing a child.
There will be memories and, likely, some tears.

For some, today is their first Mother’s Day with a child a long
distance away geographically. It might be the first one where they are
not physically in the same place.

We could go on, but markers on our calendar, like Mother’s Day,
are reminders of how each year contains firsts. Some are happy. Some
are hard. Others are simply reflections of the normal passage of time.
Each, though, is part of the tapestry of life, and mothers are an
invaluable part of that picture.

God thought that mothers were so important that He gave every
human being ever born a mother. A true godly mother, though, is rare.
Today, no matter what “first” you are going through, if you are striving
to be a godly mother, we honor and thank you. Reflect on why this
Mother’s Day is a “first,” and use it as an opportunity to be grateful for
what is good and learn from what might be a struggle.

To every mother, we say “Happy Mother’s Day,” but to those who
are striving to be godly and righteous, we say a heartfelt and gracious
“thank you.”

By Ron Bartanen Via Bulletin Gold

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name given among men whereby we must be saved”
(Acts 4:12).

The name referred to by which we are saved is “the name
of Jesus Christ” (4:20z0. His is the name which is above
every name…the name before which every knee shall bow
(Philippians 2:8-10. The name signifies one’s power and
authority. Jesus commissioned His apostles to preach
“repentance and remission of sins…in His name…” (Luke
24:47). The power to become sons of God is given “to them
that believe on His name” (John 1:12). The convicted
multitude at Pentecost were commanded to “Repent and be
baptized.. in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins” (Acts 2:38). Christians are admonished, “Whatsoever
you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus”
(Colossians 3:17).

Faith, repentance, baptism and Christian worship and
service are all in the name of Jesus Christ, not in the name
of religious leaders or churches. Why, then, do some wear
human names in religion? To paraphrase Paul, who opposed
the wearing of his name: “Is Christ divided? Was (your
denomination or preacher) crucified for you? Or were you
baptized in the name of (your denomination or preacher)?”
(1 Corinthians 1:13). Human, denominational names give
honor to others than to Christ, and divide those who claim
faith in Christ. We urge all to honor Christ alone in faith
and obedience.