Mark 12:37

"The Common People Heard Him Gladly"

When Jesus taught in the temple "the common people heard Him gladly" (Mark 12:37).

The gospel of Christ is God's power to save all who believe (Romans 1:16), but those most receptive to His message have always been commoners. Jesus even gave thanks to God, saying "that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes" (Matthew 11:25). Salvation is not reserved for the college educated, for captains of industry, or the crowned heads of Europe. The word of God is most appealing to those who prefer simplicity. Paul remarked, "not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called" (1 Corinthians 11:26).

That common people could hear Him gladly indicates the Lord spoke to them in a way that was simple to comprehend. He didn't dumb it down for them, but neither did he speak over their heads. The message is meant to be understood, which is why God commanded the prophet Habakkuk to "Write the vision and make it plain" (Habakkuk 2:2). When the people of Judah returned from captivity and restored proper worship, Ezra's assistants "read distinctly from the book, in the law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading" (Nehemiah 8:8). Sound doctrine doesn't impress the audience with the preacher's eloquence (1 Cor. 2:1-5); it just communicates God's word in a straightforward fashion. When this is accomplished, common people will gladly hear it.

- by Bryan Matthew Dockens

 

Dr. Anne Hampton

United Again

10 months. That's how long Dr. Anne Hampton was unable to see her father,
Chris, age 87, face-to-face. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the The
Steppes care home in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, England where Chris
resides, went on lock-down back in March, 2020. Since then, Dr. Hampton has
only been able to see her father through a window at the assisted living
facility. On January 1, 2021, however, Dr. Hampton was able to see her
father up close, even if it was through the shield of a PPE (personal
protective equipment) uniform.

Dr. Hampton jumped at the opportunity to join a medical team in
administering the Covid-19 vaccine to the residents in The Steppes care
home. "When I realized we would be vaccinating The Steppes care home, I
just thought this would be an amazing opportunity to take part in the
vaccination program - and also to be able to get to see dad in a safe way,"
Hampton said.

On January 1, Dr. Hampton, adorned in her PPE, went to The Steppes care home
to administer the vaccine to 22 patients. The first one she inoculated was
her father.

"Hello Dad, I've come to give you your vaccination today, to stop the
virus," Hampton said in a tender moment caught on camera. Hampton later
explained, "He didn't recognize me at first in all of my PPE but it's been
lovely to see him, just briefly, and start him being protected."

Hampton and all the world is hopeful that the vaccine will help defeat this
dreaded virus that has kept us separated from our loved ones. We long to
see and to be with our loved ones, face-to-face in the same room, with no
masks or barriers between us.

Separated. That word speaks to a painful reality. It is a word that
describes what our sins do to our relationship with God. Isaiah the prophet
told the people of Judah: "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it
cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities
have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from
you, So that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:1-2). Because of our sins, we are
separated from God and doomed.

But God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the
cross for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Through Jesus, we can be saved
from our sins and reconciled with God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31),
confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into
Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). The atoning blood that
Jesus shed in His death will not inoculate us from sin, but it will keep us
cleansed and in fellowship with God as we continue to walk in the light of
His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

What a glorious reality with eternal blessings: we don't have to be
separated from God anymore! We can enjoy relationship, fellowship, and
union with God - all because He loves us so much that He made reconciliation
possible through the gift of His Son.

Won't YOU accept His offer of reconciliation?

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from "Doctor gives dad COVID-19 vaccine after 10
months apart" by Janine Puhak, www.foxnews.com.

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Praying for America

PRAYING FOR OUR NATION is right, taught in the Bible, and needed at the present time.  Learn more about praying for America by going to https://www.facebook.com/Goshencoc on January 24th, 2021 and watching the live broadcast, or watch this video as an archived file.

 

I touch the future. I teach

Teacher

Teacher. Is there a more honorable designation than that? I am sure we all
have teachers in the past (and the present) that we really appreciate for
what they have taught us, and the way they have taught us.

I remember seeing a quote about the impact that a teacher can have: "I touch
the future. I teach." - Christa McAuliffe

Jesus was often called, "Teacher" or "Rabbi." "Now behold, one came and
said to Him, 'Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have
eternal life?'" (Matthew 19:16). Jesus taught spiritual truths that brought
people to God.

The greatest teachers are those that practice what they teach. Jesus
embodied what He taught. The inspired writer Luke made reference to his
Gospel account as he opened the book of Acts: "In my former book,
Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach" (Acts 1:1
NIV). Jesus was a "doer" and a "teacher." Jesus said to His disciples,
"You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then,
your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
another's feet" (John 13:13-14). With Jesus, it was not only "do as I say
(teach)" but also "do as I do."

Pat Smith was a serious Bible student and a Bible teacher. She taught
classes for young people for many years at Sage Avenue Church of Christ.
She taught the Ladies Class for many years for the Creekwood Church of
Christ. She also modeled what she taught, in and out of the classroom.

Listen to some of her students. "Pat was one of the most knowledgeable and
informative Bible teachers I have ever had. I have missed her wealth of
knowledge" (Freda Butts). "I have many memories of Pat but I guess the most
prevalent one is her vast knowledge of the Scriptures. She taught the
Ladies' Class for many years and I learned so much from her. Those days we
studied the Bible not books, and you could tell she put in a lot of time
studying. She was truly a role model of how a Christian should live. She
was devoted to her husband and I remember her saying they read and studied
the Bible together every day" (Barbara Howell).

If you were to ask Pat, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may
have eternal life?", here is what I believe Pat would say: "God's Word says
that it is only through Jesus that we can be saved and receive eternal life
(John 14:6; Romans 6:23). We must place our faith and trust in Him (Acts
16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus
before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the
forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). Then, as we continue to walk in the
light of His Word - and you need to study God's Word! - the blood of Jesus
continues to cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7-9)."

There is no greater teacher than one who, from the Scriptures, will point
you to God and His will. Pat Smith was one of the great ones.

There is no better response than to listen to your teacher and submit your
life to God.

Won't YOU?

-- David A. Sargent

* In loving memory of Pat Smith (April 15, 1938 - January 4, 2021), a
beloved teacher of the Scriptures. Thank you, Pat, for teaching and
modeling what the Bible says about living the Christian life. Thank you for
touching our future. Until we meet again.