But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified--1 Corinthians 9:27 NASB

 

World Book Encyclopedia defines the word discipline as "training, especially the mind or character; bring to a condition of order and obedience". There are few things more characteristic of our age than undisciplined living. In the secular realm restraint is being cast to the wind resulting in people doing whatever they want to do without any regard for the consequences. I am reminded of the words of Judges 17:6, "In those days there was no judge in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes".

 

We live in a very troublesome and perilous time. Read the daily newspaper, watch the nightly news cast, just open your eyes and look at what is taking place in the seat of government, in the workplace and often in our own neighborhood. The words of 2 Timothy 3:1-5 read like today's newspaper. The words of  Romans 1:24-32  describe accurately conditions that surround us today.

 

There is an urgent need for more disciplined living. We are weak, frail human beings with fleshly lusts waging war against our souls every day (1 Peter 2:11; James 4:1).  Subduing the fleshly lusts  is one of the most difficult battles we are called on to engage in if we are going to be successful in our quest to one day live forever in the land where joy shall never end (Colossians 3:5).

 

From Romans 8:12-13  our attention is called to take note of two creditors, the flesh  and the Spirit. One is a pretender to whom we owe nothing, the other is genuine to whom we owe everything. Each day we live there is a fierce battle taking place between these two creditors for control of our lives. If the flesh wins, it will bring death (Gal. 5:19-21). On the other hand, if we live according to the Spirit, our lives will be full of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Gal. 5:22-24) . Which creditor will win the battle? The answer will be found in how well we discipline ourselves.  Follow the Spirit, we will live life and live it more abundantly.  Follow the flesh, and we will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

Charles Hicks

Two days before Christmas Day

 

                                                                FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

 

Well, it's two days before Christmas Day and I have reached the point of no return.  As in, I will not "return" to any shopping center for anything.  To put it bluntly, if I haven't gotten it for you, you ain't going to get it.  I'm ready to just sit in my recliner, wrap up in my "blankie" and turn on the football games.  The only thing I'll get up for is more chips, dips and sodas.  And then, only if there's no line for them.  If I never see another traffic jam, over-flowing parking lot or checkout line it'll be too soon.

 

Now, lest you think that I don't like the Christmas season, you're wrong.  I do like a lot of things about it, but also there are some things that I don't.  In the category of "likes" are the feelings of good will and cheerfulness that are present now but seem to be absent the rest of the year.  And, I like the music even though I get sort of tired of it towards the end.

 

I like the tradition of gift-giving, but not for the presents themselves.  What I really appreciate is the principle or the thought behind them.  And the cost of the gift isn't what's important either.  The important thing about the gifts is that someone thought enough about another person to get (or make) something for them.   The old cliche, "it's the thought that counts" is absolutely true.  We'll return to "gifts" before we close.

 

Another thing that I like about this season is that it seems to draw people closer together in a good way.  Not as in traffic-wise.  I just wish that this attribute would be seen throughout the whole year instead of just a short season.

 

What I don't like are the crowds, the traffic problems and the ill-will brought on by those things.  It's just sad that one has to experience states of hostility between folks who are supposedly trying to spread cheer and good will.  Somehow this seems conflicting to me.

 

I guess that what I'm getting at here is that I'm not a "bah humbug" or "anti-Christmas."  I just don't believe that this holiday and season has anything to do with the actual birth of Christ.  Or, that we have any directive or inference in the B9ible to celebrate it as such.  I believe that history will reveal it to have been a pagan holiday that was adapted by the Roman church in about 330AD and from then on to be worshiped as the birthday of Jesus Christ.

 

Without any Scriptural evidence, many believe that December 25th is the day that Christ was born.  Therefore, they look upon this date as a "religious" holiday that's to be observed with special worship services.  If we're true to the Scriptures, we will understand that there is no command or inference given for Christians to worship the day of Christ's birth.  If that had been commanded, or even suggested, we'd have also been given the time to do so and not left with the adoption of a Roman pagan holiday to do so.

 

 

Yes, the Scriptures do tell us ABOUT the birth of Christ and where it occurred, but the significance of His birth is not the date of it but rather, how it was accomplished.  It's the circumstances of His birth that proves that Jesus of Nazareth is truly the expected Messiah because they fulfill the prophesies of His coming.  In modern parlance, the circumstances of his birth established His "bona fides."  Example: Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be born of a "virgin.'  (Isa. 7:14)

 

They also confirm the prophesies regarding where He would be born (Bethlehem, Micah 5:2) and His family lineage, IE: the tribe of Judah.  That is the significance of His birth - the fulfillment of all the prophesies regarding it which prove that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ - the Messiah.

 

So, is it okay for me to enjoy this season, this day?  I certainly believe so, as long as I understand it to be a "non-religious holiday similar to the other holidays of the year.  The Christian's worship of Christ as the Savior of the world is a year-round, 365 day celebration with emphasis on the sacrifice of His life on the cross and the significance of that event rather than His birth.

 

I said that we'd return to the topic of gifts and the giving of them so this is the point at which we'll do just that.  Yes, this is the season for the gift-giving between friends and loved ones.  But, rather than worship a day chosen by man as His birthday, I believe it more important to worship the day of His death because that was the greatest "gift" ever given. 

 

It was on that day that God allowed man to kill His "only begotten Son" on the cross of Calvary.  The sacrifice of His totally innocent and sinless Son so that, by this act, a "gift" was given to all mankind.  Romans 6:23 tells us exactly what that "gift" is: "But the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

 

What better "gift" could ever be given?  Oh, we give our loved ones gifts during this season, but they're only gifts of a transient nature.  They don't last.  But, can you imagine a recipient of a gift refusing to accept it?  Or refusing to open it?  Hard to imagine, isn't it?  But, here's something else that's hard for me to comprehend.

 

God gave His loved ones a "gift" that will last forever.  A "gift" more valuable and more precious than any other.  And there will be many who refuse to accept or open it.  For those who do open their "gift" from God I echo the words of Paul, written to the Corinthians:

 

                                        "Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift."  (2 Cor. 9:15)

 

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey

A Christian should always project what they profess to be otherwise you’re what the Greeks called “an actor” - a “hypocrite.”

 

                                                                FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

 

For today's editorial lesson I'm going to make use of a design scheme that I've used in the past and that is to use the message of one of our old hymns to make a spiritual point.  When you really consider it, our songs, hymns and spiritual songs are just sermons put to music.  When we join our voices in song worship we're not only offering praise to God, but we're preaching a message to each other at the same time. 

 

And, when someone leads us in prayer service, our hearts are joined with the prayer giver just as our voices are when we sing.  Having said that, my efforts today will be to see if I can connect some thoughts pertaining to those two worships, song and prayer, and see if we can't come up with a spiritual application.

 

The design of this lesson is to hopefully make us aware of how we, as Christians, should present ourselves to the world around us.  To see how we can set the right example and be of benefit to Christ and the Father.  And always keep this in mind, if you say that you're a Christian, the world is watching you.  They know what you say, but they're watching what you do.  A Christian should always project what they profess to be otherwise you're what the Greeks called "an actor" - a "hypocrite."

 

Before I get to the song I'm going to use today, I'm going to apply the thoughts on prayer and let that lead us into the song and it's message.  What I'm going to use about prayer comes from what I once heard a brother say as he was offering a congregational prayer during a Lord's Day service.

 

His words left such a profound impression on me that I immediately wrote them down so I wouldn't forget them.  He said, and I'm quoting verbatim, "We pray that those who don't know Christ will know Him through us."  Think about those words he spoke.  It's a statement that should cause us to be aware at all times as to how we present ourselves to others. 

 

You know, Christ spoke to that very nature of a Christian when He said that we are to be "a light to the world."  A "city set on a hill." (Matt. 5:14)   What that means is that we are to be conspicuous.  Something easily seen.  Think of it in the negative sense - if Christ can't be seen in the life of a Christian, then their claim of being one is simply a lie.  Like I mentioned earlier, the Greeks called these kinds of people "hypocrites."

 

This thought leads me into our song, but before we look at it I'm going to return to an earlier thought, that being the "world is watching us."  The reason why it's so important that we live what we profess is because much of the world doesn't read the Bible.  They never study to know the gospel.  But, even though they don't do those things, they will watch (read) what Christians do and will judge God's Word by their actions.  How we talk, live and behave.  Do we practice what we preach.  And never forget that we can be "conspicuous" either for or against Christ.

 

That brings us to the song I've chosen to illustrate our lesson today.  You may be familiar with it or this might be the first time you've seen the words of it.  It's title is simply "The World's Bible" and it's lyrics are so fitting to our thought here.  Read them with me:

 

    Christ has no hands but our hands, To do His work today.

    He has no feet but our feet, To lead men in His way.

    He has to tongue by our tongues, To tell men how He died.

    He has no help but our help, To bring them to His side.

 

    We are the only Bible, The careless world will read.

    We are the sinners' gospel, We are the scoffers' creed.

    We are the Lord's last message, Given in deed and word.

    What if the type is crooked, What if the print is blurred.

 

    What if our hands are busy, With other things than His?

    What if our feet are walking, Where sin's allurement is?

    What if our tongues are speaking, Of things His life would spurn?

    How can we hope to help Him, And welcome His return?

 

As we go through our lives, whether we realize it or not, we are preaching a sermon to the world.  And that's my point today is to make us realize that fact.  To make us always cognizant that our "sermon" can be an example to the world in two ways.  We're either promoting Christ or we're demoting Him.  He told us this Himself when he told His disciples "He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth." (Luke 11:23)

 

In today's parlance, we'd say "if you're not helping, you're hindering."  And, you know what else we need to be aware of here?  That there are no "maybe's."  You either are or you're not.  In respect of this thought, I like what John was told regarding the church at Laodicea when they were described as being "lukewarm" thus, they were rejected.  (Rev. 3:16)   In our equation here, "lukewarm" equals a "maybe."

 

The apostle John tells us that Christ is the "true Light" (John 1:9) and that He states "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  (John 8:12) Christians are to be a reflection of that "Light."  And, as long as we are truly mirroring Christ, we're leading others out of "darkness."  But, should our "light" get dim or cease to reflect the "true Light," we've become a hindrance rather than a help to Him.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey

 

       

 

Teaching the Whole Purpose of God for the Salvation of Sinners

This is a Bible study – perhaps a series of studies. It's to your advantage to read it all, along with all the included Scriptures.

Adam and Eve in the garden, Noah in the ark, Daniel in the lion's den, Jonah in the belly of the big fish, Lazarus coming forth from the tomb – these and many more unusual Bible stories are often ridiculed because the sceptics have not understood their place from God's perspective. Why was Noah in the ark? Why was Daniel in the lion's den? Why was Jonah in the belly of the fish? What is the meaning behind Jesus raising Lazarus from death? If sceptics spent more time asking why, and less time ridiculing unusual things they don't understand, they would see what God is doing.

this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Acts 2:23-24

And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Acts 20:25-27

The Greek word for "plan" and "counsel" is boulē. It means 'purpose.' In Acts 20:27, 'the whole purpose'. We repeat: the whole purpose. Jesus' death was in God's purpose. Paul declared God's whole purpose. Jesus' death was the focal point of God's whole purpose.

"The boulē was an advisory citizen body of the Athenian democracy. Members had to be over 30 and citizens could serve on it twice, which was more than other elected offices. There were either 400 or 500 members of the boule, who were selected by lot in equal number by each of the ten tribes. In Aristotle's Constitution of Athens, he attributes to Draco a boule of 401 members, but Solon is generally taken as the one who started the boule, with 400. The boule had its own meeting house, the bouleterion, in the Agora."

-    Source: The Ancient Greek Council, thoughtco.com

The boulē or advisory council that the inspired Paul talks about – the purpose of God – was in the true and living God's mind – His own advisory body: the Godhead, comprising Father, Son and Holy Spirit!! Before the foundation of the world, this divine council came up with a plan to redeem sinners and take them to heaven to live eternally. Ephesians 1:3-14.

In Acts 20:25, Paul says he went about "proclaiming the kingdom," while in verse 27, Paul said he "did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God" – the whole purpose or plan of God.

When we today proclaim the kingdom of God, we must proclaim the whole plan of God – not just a few favourite proof texts! The whole purpose gives you the big picture: how God has worked through people, nations and events over thousands of years; i.e you see God's divine plan at work in history to suit His purposes. When you understand the importance of explaining God's purpose, you understand why many sermons in the New Testament are long! In fact, the whole Bible is explaining the whole purpose of God! The Bible is a very long sermon!!

While preaching in Pisidian Antioch, Acts 13:16-41, Paul said:

"Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation … 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I

have begotten you.'

34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this

way, "'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.'

35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, "'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.' 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: 41 "'Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'"

42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:26,32-48.

 

Boulē is used here in verse 36 to say that David "served the purpose of God in his own generation." Are you serving the purpose of God in your generation?

Then in verse 34, Paul speaks of the connection between "the holy and sure blessings of David", and the resurrection of Jesus! Compare Romans 1:1-6. The whole sermon connects God's promise to Abraham, Israel's exodus out of Egypt, and then David, with the salvation of all sinners in Jesus. It discusses the whole purpose of God to save all people – Jews and Gentiles. It is a great place to do evangelism with a non-Christian. It gives spiritual perspective!

Notice the idea of purpose or intent in verse 46-47, It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" "It was necessary"! Why was it necessary? Because it was in God's purpose!!

'Boulē' is found in some dozen places in the New Testament. Here's one other of those significant places:

When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. Luke 7:20-30.

John's baptism was in God's plan, but rejected by some Pharisees and Lawyers. Jesus' baptism is also in God's plan, as is plain to see:

And Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16

Sadly, today, many reject God's purpose when they distort that purpose by claiming water baptism is not essential for salvation. They do this because they have not bothered to look at God's whole scheme. God has a purpose for faith, a purpose for confession of faith, a purpose for repentance and a purpose for baptism. But shallow Bible study misses all this. It's why 2 Timothy 2:14-15 is so important for Bible teachers. Read it now.

Messing with God's purpose is a terribly dangerous – not to mention - "God-dishonouring" thing to do. Beware!

Luke 23:51; Acts 2:23; 4:26; 5:38; 27:12,42; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Ephesians 1:11 and Hebrews 6:11 are the other places boule is found. (Acts 13:46, referred to above, uses different words for "it was necessary.") Here's one of those, but try reading all of them!

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guaranteed of our inheritance until we acquire

possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:11-14

Are you in the purpose of God? Has God worked in your life "all things according to the counsel of his will"?

He certainly wants to! The question is: do you want to be in God's purpose?

Some questions for thought:

1.    How do Adam and Eve fit into God's purpose?

          Just read Romans 5.

2.    Is the devil real, and how does he relate to God's purposes?

       Read Genesis 2 and 3; Mathew 4:1-11; Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 3:7-8, and Revelation 12.

3.    Are Noah, the ark and the flood part of God's purpose?

       Read Matthew 24:37; Luke 17:22-37; 1 Peter 3:18-22. God will not forever tolerate evil.

       Judgment is real, just as salvation is real. A real Noah helps us to understand this as reality.

4.    What about Abraham and Sara?

       Next to Jesus, Abraham is the most important person in the Bible! That "the just shall live by faith" is a         promise God first gave to Abraham, and later to a prophet. Genesis 15:1-6; 22:1-18; Habakkuk 2:4.

5.    How does God use Israel in His purposes?

       Read Matthew 1.

6.    Why is David such an important figure in God's plan?

       As well as being in the line of kings leading to Jesus, who will be the Son of David, David helps us understand how a Jew could live under the Law of Moses, and love that Law, yet realise that forgiveness comes only through God's grace. Read Psalms 32, 51 and 119.

7.    What about prophets such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Micah, Jonah and Malachi.

       Jonah and the big fish, so often thought of as a mythical story, is in fact God's way of showing His  impartial love of all people, as well as being a type of the resurrection of Christ after 3 days.

       Would Jesus compare His resurrection after three days to a mythical story unworthy of belief??

       When you read the whole Book of Jonah, the fish bit is only part of a much bigger purpose. It is why God

regurgitated Jonah from the fish after 3 days that is the real point. But people who zero in on one unusual aspect, but miss the context, fail to see the importance of God's overall purpose, and thus resort to ridicule. When you don't understand something, ridicule it!! Why? Because you are only interested in serving your own interests. You are not interested in the things of God, or even whether there is a god. You just want to live in your own little world, oblivious to God's purpose for you.

8.    What use are the numerous genealogies we find in both Old and New Testaments?

       These family trees are as real as your family tree. They are not composed of make-believe people.

       All the names mentioned in those genealogies fit nicely into God's purpose. Try 1 Chronicles 1 – 8 and Luke 3:23-38.

9.    Why do we have an Old Covenant and a New Covenant?

       The Old one served its purpose and was then replaced by the New one! The Old anticipated the coming of the Saviour. Luke 24:27,44-47; John 5:39-40; 2 Timothy 3:14-17. The New reveals that Saviour. Read the following in the New Testament to get a snapshot of Jesus the Lord and Saviour: Mark chapters 1, 2 and 8; John 1:9-18,29; 2:18-22; 12:23-32,42-50; 15:26-27; 16:1-15; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 8:1-13; 9:11-14,27-28; 10:1-18; Revelation 1:12-18; 7:9-17; 11:15; 12:10-11.

10.  How is Jesus the fulfillment of all this?

       Try reading Matthew 5:17-20; Romans 3:19-26; 10:1-17; Galatians 3:1-29; Hebrews 10:1-23.

When you look at the whole Bible to see how God has planned His work, and worked His plan, you see clearly that

many characters, places and events, assumed by sceptics to be mythical, are actually factual - having important parts to play in God's plan. Serious misunderstandings occur when you separate unusual incidents from the larger context. From the day of Adam and Eve, and the later promise made to Abraham, God worked in the lives of an enormous number of people until Jesus was "born of a virgin, born under the Law" – born to save believers from their sins so they could live forever with God.

God desires the salvation of all men, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, but saves only those who want to be saved. John 5:39-40.

God has a purpose in sin, suffering, tragedy, and sorrow.

He has a purpose for grace, faith, healing, joy and plenty.

He has a purpose for the material as well as the spiritual.

He has a purpose for the now, the future, and eternity.

He has a purpose for you.

As the writer of Ecclesiastes said,  "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1, but read to verse 8.

It's all in His big picture. And yet, as Paul said under divine inspiration:

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

In Ephesians 1:11, quoted earlier, 'purpose' is prothesis, while 'counsel' is boulē. In Romans 8:28, "purpose" is "prothesis," which means setting forth, intending, predetermining.

But whether the word is boulē or prothesis, we can be sure that God works all things after the purpose of His will!

Isaiah 46:5-11.   The Bible reveals that purpose. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Without that purpose, life has no purpose.

 

David Hunter

Destroying the Black Community

    The notorious murderer, even if he was not personally responsible, Joseph Stalin once said, “The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of a million is a statistic.” The tragic death of millions of aborted babies is lost in the statistics. How many have been aborted since Roe v. Wade was passed? Millions? Tens of millions? 

    Unfortunately, the percentage of people who care is falling. In a Pew Research Center survey from 2018, sixty percent of blacks, sixty-one percent of whites support abortion in all or most cases. Likely due to the high percentage of Catholics among their demographic, the percentage of Hispanics who support abortion is much lower at 49%. For all the faults of Catholic theology, it does hold the sanctity of life in high regard.

    What also gets lost in the statistics is the destruction of the black community. According to the Center for Disease Control, the abortion rate among black women is 25.1 per 1,000 pregnancies among black women. Among white women, the rate is 6.8 per 1,000. In 2016, in NYC, more babies were aborted than born.

    In 2017, Planned Parenthood sent out a tweet: “If you’re a Black woman in America, it’s statistically safer to have an abortion than to carry a pregnancy to term or give birth.” I’m not sure there’s a country in the world where that statement has any truth to it at all. The truth is, Planned Parenthood makes money off abortions and black women have abortions at a far higher rate than white women.

    Pro-abortion messages among the black community have reached propagandistic levels. An abortion center in Ohio declares: “Because of racial injustice, women of color are more likely to need abortions. …For us, reproductive justice includes racial justice.”

    Saving the black community from destroying itself through abortions has a multifaceted answer. The sanctity of life issue begins with understanding the sanctity of marriage. God’s plan, for every culture, has been one man, one woman, for life. For those who become pregnant outside of marriage, a support network needs to help them get on the right track. It cannot be separated from God’s teachings and it needs to help them understand that they can live a better life. They have to make better choices and have support from Christian friends and the church to make those better choices. The front line for saving the black community is individual Christians encouraging women not to make two bad decisions. The first was sex before marriage. Abortion doesn’t have to be the second.

    We all sin. Some sin, however, carries immediate consequences. Killing an unborn child does not have to be the end of an unwanted pregnancy. Let’s try to help those on the wrong path to get on the right path.

P Holland

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts--Psalm 139:23

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts--Psalms 139:23

 

As I sit here thinking about these words spoken by David long ago, my thoughts go back to the day Isaiah told King Hezekiah to set his house in order because he was going to die (1 Kings 20:1-3). Upon hearing this, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to God. It is an amazing prayer, one in which Hezekiah reminds God of how he has walked before him in truth and done that which was right with a sincere heart. Now, think about this for a moment. We need to make sure that our house is in order because we have no guarantee that we will be alive when the sun comes up tomorrow. I wonder, can I, can you, go to God in prayer right now and pray as did Hezekiah? The answer to this lies in the condition of our heart.

 

The thoughts of our hearts are not concealed from God. He searches our hearts and knows all the secrets, purposes, intents and motives that dwell in them. David once instructed his son Solomon to "know God, serve him with a whole heart and a willing mind for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every intent of the thoughts" (1 Chronicles 28:9).

 

We must ever be alert as to that which we allow to take up residence in our . heart. Hear Solomon as he tells us. "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life" (Prov. 4:23). The importance of guarding our hearts will be seen when we realize that our conduct in this life is determined by that which we harbor in our heart (Matt. 15:18-19; Gal. 5:19-25; Rom. 6:16-19). "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Prov . 23:7). What we think leads to what we do or, as the case may be, do not do and what we think depends on what we have put into our heart. "Whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellence and worthy of praise dwell on these" (Phil. 4:8). I pray that all of us can with the same kind of conviction Hezekiah must have felt when he prayed long ago, say to our God, "Search me, know my thoughts and my heart"

 

I end this message with this saying of old: ""What is in the well, comes up in the bucket"

 

Charles Hicks

How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you have wrought for those who take refuge in you (Psalm 31:19).

 I have not always understood some of the things that have happened in my life. I do know and understand that so long as I believe and trust God, his goodness will keep me safe even through the darkest night. When I find my way to be difficult and hard, I know that He will pilot me safely through the difficulties of the day (Isaiah 12:2-3; Prov. 1:33; Psa. 62:7-8; Phil. 4:7-8; Heb. 4:16; Isa. 40:31). Hear the words of David from Psalm 27:13, " I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living". What would we be. where would we be without believing in and embracing the goodness God in our lives. Without the goodness of God, the afflictions of  Yes, God is so good, He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:6-7). He is mindful of our physical needs (James 1:17; Luke 12:22-31). He knows all of our burdens, difficulties, wants and necessities. We never know how God is going to bless us but bless us he will so long as we seek his favor in all that we do (Proverbs 28:20; Psalms 115:11-15).

 We are told in Psalm 103:14 that God knows our frame. He is the potter, we are the clay. Our God knows how weak and frail our outer frame is and how quickly this can cause our inward frame to be corrupted with sin and doubt. So not only is he mindful of our physical needs, he is also mindful of our spiritual needs. Thus, he gave his Son to die for us (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8); his love makes it possible for us to be called the sons of God (1 John 3:1)  because of his goodness to us we can have redemption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:12-14);  because of his goodness, our eternal need is provided (John 14:1-3; Heb. 5:7-9). The goodness of God will direct our heart so long as we trust him with all our heart and  let his word dwell in us richly in all wisdom, letting his word fill our heart, mold our thoughts and guide our life. Never for a moment doubt the goodness of God in your life.

Charles Hicks