Month: August 2024

Joe Slater Via Bulletin Gold

The Lone Ranger Perry Mason – Superman. When you
watched those old black-and-white TV shows, you knew all
along that by the time the credits rolled the bad guys would be
defeated, the good guys would be vindicated, and justice would
prevail. No matter how hopeless it looked, the Lone Ranger and
Tonto would arrest the bandits, Perry Mason would prove his
client innocent, and Superman would confound the crooks.
Real life doesn’t quite match a thirty-minute drama, or even a
sixty-minute one, does it? Innocent people get railroaded!
Criminals remain free! Might makes right! Whatever shall we do
about life’s inequities?

First, make certain you aren’t the perpetrator of evil. “Let none
of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer:, or as a busybody
in other people’s matters” (1 Peter 4:15).

Second, when you suffer despite being innocent, take it
patiently as a way to glorify God. That goes double if being a
Christian is the cause of the abuse (1 Peter 4:16). Jesus suffered
infinitely more than you ever will, and He was 100% innocent.
You shouldn’t expect to be treated better than He was.

Finally, rest assured that justice really will prevail in the final
analysis. It will take longer than thirty or sixty minutes. In fact,
it may not happen in your lifetime! But, as the old song says,
“There’s a great day coming by and by.” We might prefer to see
all the accounts settled now. Since God’s wisdom eclipses ours,
however, we will do well to “run with endurance the race that is
set before us” (Hebrews 12:10).

Rob Redden via Bulletin Gold

For you once were not a people, but now you are the people
of God: you had net received mercy, but now you have
received mercy”. (1 Peter 2:10 NAS)

The Jews looked down on the Gentiles, the Gentiles loathed
the Jews and the Pharisees despised the Jewish common folk.
There was plenty of loathing back then as there is today. But the
Lord makes a difference, changing self-loathing people into
valued souls. Jesus died for sinners.

The Broadway musical Man of LaMancha, with its theme
song. To Dream the Impossible Dream,” featured a ridiculous
knight named Don Quixote. He rides through the Spanish
countryside mistaking windmills for giants During his
adventures he meets a cheap woman in a tavern. Any man can
have this woman for one night, but no man wants her for life.
Then Don Quixote rides into town. The people treat her like dirt.
But Don Quixote bows before her as though she were a queen.
She puts herself down, but he lifts her up. When she finally is
convinced that he really believes in her, she begins to believe in
herself. She found a friend who says she is priceless even when
she feels worthless.

This story was told several times at a Marriage Encounter
seminar Linda and I attended many years ago; it has left an
indelible impression on us. We are here to help others to see themselves
as lovable souls and give them hope. We may make a difference in the
lives of those who sadly see themselves as losers.

Christian, let’s look past the veneer and see how damaged a
precious soul is because of his or her past, and see that just a
caring, loving helping hand may change a soul’s life for the Lord.

All Posted

By Dan C. Bailey Via Bulletin Gold

When Jesus was upon the rugged cross of Calvary, He
prayed for those who were responsible for His
crucifixion saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know
not what they do..” (Luke 23:34). The prayer came
forth from the only sinlessly perfect man to ever live. It
was prayed from a heart of love and spoken without
malice. Yes, my friend, Jesus loved their souls and was
concerned about their forgiveness.

On the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ,
Peter told many of the same crowd to “Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). “Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized: and the same day there
were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts
2:41).

Yes, Jesus prayed for their forgiveness and His
prayer was answered when the people repented of their
sins and were baptized into Jesus Christ. Let us never
forget that forgiveness involves not only our Lord, but
also ourselves. Jesus wants us to be forgiven just as
much as ever. The only question is, are we willing to
obey Him in all things? “He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall
be damned” (Mark 16:16). “If ye love me, keep my
commandments” (John 14:15).