Articles

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:16-17).  These are the words of the Apostle Paul as he wrote that beautiful letter to the Romans. The Apostle Paul after his conversion to Christ endured great suffering and persecution because of this gospel. He was a persecutor and caused great suffering among those that followed Jesus. Now that he has converted, rather than administer the great suffering, he has become a recipient. Yet, in all this Paul claims no shame. Regardless of how Christ and Christianity were being perceived, Paul had found the truth in the gospel and his life was changed. The great suffering was not shame for him because he had a promise from the great Creator. Paul always lived with the priority of serving God but now was armed with the truth of the gospel, the great news of Christ that in Him we have life.  He would sacrifice his life for what he considered light afflictions because he was looking forward to eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17).  With the gospel (great news) that Paul had received, his priorities in life changed. Paul’s priority was to be the servant of God, and by being a faithful and submissive worker in the kingdom his life and the lives of a countless number has been changed forever.

The power of the gospel should move all to evaluate priorities. Like the apostle Paul, our priority should be to serve God. That is the purpose for our lives. God has made us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27).We should desire to belong to God in the lives we live. Belonging to God should lead us to know and understand what God has communicated with us. God has given law in times of old and again the age that we live in now (1 Corinthians 9:21). He has told us how to get back to Him. Man does not have to be separated from God; Jesus has provided a way that leads to God. Let us always study to learn and understand the words of God.

As we study and learn the law of God we understand that he requires worship (John 4:24). He wants us to praise, honor and glorify His name. If we think about what God has done for mankind in the spirit of love, why would we not want to honor Him? God has given us life. Yes we must all pass from this world (Hebrews 9:27). God through His love has provided escape from the second death (Revelation 21:8). Jesus spoke of the second death and the one who can destroy us there (Matthew 10:28). Because of God’s love for mankind, He sent Jesus to become sacrifice for our sins, and thus in Him we may live. This should lead us to a life of praise and glorifying His name. It is a special relationship when one cares so much that the opportunity to live is given. God’s love is immeasurable.  Let us prioritize our lives to always worship.

Studying God’s word and living by his commands and given examples, our priorities with other people will be affected also. As servants of God, we are to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). This means that others will see Christ in us. Everyone that lives is an example. Some people are good examples and others are bad examples. God wants us to be a people that others can look at and see something different. What is different is how others are treated and the peace that the Christian has in life. Jesus set forth a different way of thinking in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) for interactions with those that try to harm us. Jesus said specifically, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Let us prioritize in life to treat other people in such a way that they may see the great love of God.

Finally, let us prioritize to make heaven our home in the here-after. God has given us hope through Christ Jesus. This hope should help to overcome worry (Matthew 6:25-34). It should help to overcome anxiety (Philippians 4:6). Our hope is in heaven and that is where our treasure needs to be. Place your treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). This is a place of eternal rest and peace where no end of eternal perfection will be found. All things and people will vanish at some point from this world, but in heaven there is no decay, sorrow, pain, or death (1 Peter 1:3-4; Revelation 21:4). This is the promise of God for all those that overcome in this life. “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36).

The gospel of Christ is powerful and changes lives every day.  It changed my life. It changed how I think and live my life. I desire to go to heaven whenever that great day may come. Until then my priorities will be to serve a great and awesome God. I will sing praises to His name and offer honor and reverence to Him in all I do. I will search the scriptures to know the truth and I will live a life that I pray will lead others to the great hope that can only come through Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Scott is the minister at the Elm Grove Church of Christ. Meeting times are Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for Bible class and 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. for worship. Mid-week Bible study is on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. All are invited.

Daniel 1:8 states, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”  On three different occasions the children of Israel were taken captive into Babylon. Daniel was captured during the first takeover. He would find himself in a strange country around strange people who were expecting him to change his lifestyle. Daniel was chosen to help serve in the king’s palace. Daniel was chosen because he was a young man who had no blemishes and was good-looking; he was gifted with knowledge and wisdom. The plan was to have him train in the way of the Chaldeans. With Daniel being chosen to receive this training, he would also be given that which would be given to the king to eat and drink. This so-called special treatment would occur over the next three years while he was trained. The problem that Daniel experienced, besides being a captive, was that he was a faithful Jew and not willing to compromise his faithfulness to God by doing that which was not holy.  His mind was focused on living a life that was in accordance with God. If Daniel would have eaten or drunk of the King’s delicacies, it would be defilement for him.

Daniel finds himself in a position where decisions that he makes were matters of life and death; one simply did not refuse an order from the king. This was punishable in many ways, up to and including death. Not only could Daniel not refuse obedience, but those that were in charge of Daniel could not be seen as conspirators in any type of defiance to the king’s expectation. Daniel had found favor with the chief of the eunuchs and was permitted to eat only vegetables and drink water for ten days. Following this Daniel and his three friends were to have their appearances examined. After ten days of this special diet, Daniel and his friends had an appearance that was better than all the other men. God gave these four men—Daniel and his friends—knowledge and skill in all literature. Daniel also received the ability to understand visions and dreams. When the three years were up, the king interviewed all the men; there were none like Daniel and his three friends and they served before the King.

Great reward comes to those who put God first in their lives. We know there is a promise of eternal life for those that serve Him faithfully but I also contend that there is a great reward in the life that we live now. Daniel is an example to all who faithfully serve God.  We, like Daniel, must purpose in our heart to serve Him and only Him. Daniel did not find himself in Babylon one day and then decided to follow the commands of God, but he made a decision before being taken captive that he would serve God no matter what was presented to him. Our lives must be the same. We cannot wait until we are in the heat of turmoil to serve God. Our success in our lives will be in faithfully serving God. In order to do that we must have committed in our hearts that we will do what is right according to the standard of God. This is a standard that is quite different than the standard of the world. I pray that you are studying your Bible and that you have purposed in your heart that you will know the truth and faithfully serve God.

 

Scott is the minister at the Elm Grove Church of Christ. Meeting times are Sunday at 9:30 am for bible class and 10:30 am and 6:30 pm for worship. Mid-week Bible study is on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. All are invited.

On Monday, December 11, 2017, I had just finished conducting the funeral of an elderly man who was extremely well thought of and very active in the community. He was a member of our Lord’s Church and had been preparing himself for the end of his life for some time. Many members of the community were in attendance on that day. It was obvious how the community felt for this man and how he was going to be greatly missed. Sometimes I fear the words that I may speak on behalf of someone at these times are not good enough to do justice for the life of the deceased. How this man had lived his life in preparation to meet Jesus would be far more important than anything I could possible say. Following my remarks, it was time for the community, friends, loved ones and family to come and pay their last respects at the casket.  I remained near the casket as the line progressed to offer condolences to those who were grieving so greatly.

One of the individuals that that I saw in line to pay his respect to the deceased was my old high school football coach. I always had excitement when I saw him because of the great respect I have for him.  I had heard that the old ball coach was struggling with his memory. Over the years, he had suffered some medical issues that had been successfully treated but, his recollection was not always the best. The old ball coach was a man that I had thought of often over the years, and I had kept some contact with him. He taught me a lot about life through the avenue of discipline, hard work, and determination. I loved playing the game of football and it was an honor to have been coached by him. I elevated myself during my time with him to an education and growth through the turmoil of football that I had barely been able to achieve in other areas of my life. I spent a lot of time working early in the morning and late at night to better my skills. I lifted weights and practiced year-round because I wanted to be successful as a football player, and not only because I wanted to be successful but also because I wanted to please the old ball coach. As Coach approached closer, as the line was passing, I put on a big grin and said, “Hi, Coach.” He looked at me somewhat confused and extended his hand to introduce himself. This was a day that I soon won’t forget. All the time and effort that I had spent in my life working toward excellence, and I was not even remembered by the man that I had worked so hard for. It was not as though it had been several years since we last spoke. I had to remind myself that the old ball coach was not himself and his memory was not a reflection on me. I spent a lot of time that day replaying that moment in time and what it means to be remembered.

Humans forget many of the times, places and people they were associated with as the years pass. For some, the memory loss is great. Then, eventually, after the passing of years, we will pass on from this world. For a moment on that day I was troubled. I was humbled realizing that times and people change. My time as a football player was so important to me and the man who was an influential part of that did not recognize me.  As I reflected on this idea of being forgotten, I could not help but think of the greater tragedy in life, which would be Christ not recognizing a faithful servant on that last day. Jesus said, “Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew10:32-33). When I meet that day of judgement, I want Christ to know who I am. I want Christ to see me washed in His blood that brought me forgiveness of my sins. I do not want the ugly scars of sin from my life to be seen. On that last day, because I am faithful to Christ, because I am a baptized believer, because I have been His servant, I desire to hear “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). In this life upon earth, there will be those that after time do not quickly recognize us or remember a relationship that once was. This, I suppose, is a part of life. The greater tragedy will be not being recognized by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on that great day of judgement.  Let us live to Him that we may be seen and remembered as a good and faithful servant.

Scott is the minister at the Elm Grove Church of Christ. Meeting times are Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for Bible class and 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. for worship. Mid-week Bible study is on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. All are invited.

A great sadness in my life is the memory of a man who, during his life and at the end of his life, refused to come to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He simply stated, as the gospel was presented to him one last time, “That is not the type of life that I have lived.” I suppose he was right. He was not a man that thought often of Christ and His sacrifice; this man’s life was certainly not lived putting Christ first in all things that he did. That being said, this man was not a bad man. He had a moral standard that he lived by in life. He loved his family and worked hard for them and always tried to do right by others. Yet, that life is not enough in the eyes of God to attain salvation and the promise of eternal life (cf. Acts 10). Jesus Christ is the only way possible for man to make the journey to God (John 14:6).

Jesus spoke a parable in Matthew 20:1-16, referred to as the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. Jesus likened this parable to the kingdom of heaven. It was about a landowner that went out early in the day to hire laborers to come into his vineyard to work. They agreed on a fair wage, a denarius, and so the laborers went to the vineyard. Again in the third hour of the day the landowner went to the streets, saw some standing idle and agreed with them to go work in the vineyard. The landowner said that whatever pay was right at the end of the day, he would pay. The landowner went out in the sixth, ninth and eleventh hours as well. He did according to what he had done in the third hour regarding work and pay, and more workers went to the vineyard.

As evening came, the land owner had the steward call the workers so that he could make their compensation right. Some of the workers had been in the vineyard since the very beginning of the day and some went into the field at different hours while some only put in an hour’s work. Those that worked for one hour received the same pay as those that began their work at the beginning of the day. Those that received the same wage for more work complained against the landowner, to which the land owner replied,

Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way, I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is you eye evil because I am good? So the last will be first, and the first last: For many are called, but few are chosen (Matthew 20:13-16).

The gospel is presented to different people at different times in their lives. Some become Christians at very young ages; others wait until late in life before they accept Christ and put Him on in baptism. The truth of the matter is, to have hope of eternal life, we must go into the vineyard at whatever time we can go. Christ died for all (2 Corinthians 5:15). We should want to live a life for Christ. If, however, that desire—that commitment comes late in life, Jesus Christ is still our Savior and it is still His blood that cleanses our sins. It is my prayer that people don’t think, “That is not the life I have lived” in denying the hope that is in Christ Jesus.

It is true that many live most of their lives to enjoy the pleasures of this world. That does not change the fact that Christ died for them also. Please know that Jesus is the Savior of us all and in Him hope reigns eternal. I know that my grandfather will stand before Christ not living a life in Him. I pray, however, your heart will be touched and you will not make the same decision. Won’t you become a Christian? You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 15:15-16). You must confess your faith (Matthew 10:32-33). You must repent of you sins (Luke 13:3). You must be baptized (Acts 2:38).

Scott is the minister at the Elm Grove Church of Christ. Meeting times are Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for Bible class and 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. for worship. Mid-week Bible study is on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. All are invited.

I was recently asked to speak at Vacation Bible School in St. Clairsville Ohio. The theme for the week was “Exploring the Wonders of the God Who Loves Us”. My assigned topic for that particular night was “Wonderful Purpose”. The assigned reading was the conversion of Saul in Acts 9 and Ephesians 2:1-10. It is a challenging thought to consider, “What is my purpose in life?” When I was younger, I had my purpose figured out or so I thought. I was going to take the field every Sunday in the Astrodome in Houston, as I suited up for the Oilers.  I spent a lot of time and focus on that dream and for a while forgot the realities of what God’s purpose was for me. Chasing dreams is for every individual, but must be done with God’s commands in mind. Solomon summed up what man’s focus in life should be, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 11:13-14). Let us consider the purpose God had for Saul as well as the direction the Apostle Paul gave to the Ephesians.

Saul was a man who had brought great persecution upon the church, thinking that this was the will of God. He was a Pharisee who had excelled in education and training in the traditions of his fathers (Galatians 1:14).   Saul had the wrong understanding of God’s will, and before being confronted by Christ on the road to Damascus, had the wrong purpose. After this confrontation, Saul was directed to go on to Damascus where Ananias (who had a vision from God) was instructed to meet with Saul. Ananias, through great fear, questioned God about meeting with Saul because of Saul’s violent history against the Lord’s church.  It was then that God spoke to Ananias about the great purpose that Saul would fulfill.  But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, Kings and children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16). Indeed Saul served a wonderful purpose in his life by spreading the gospel of Christ and he suffered physically, emotionally and mentally for doing so. The man who once brought Christian men and women into prison as well as consented to the death of other Christians (Acts 8:1) would become a great servant of purpose for the Lord.

As Saul had focus and purpose in his life following his conversion, it allowed him to teach others of the great love of God and the hope of eternal life that comes through Christ. The apostle Paul, as he would later become known, made many missionary trips to spread the good news of the Gospel. One trip included a stop in Ephesus. Finding disciples, he began teaching and many were converted to Christ (Acts 19). Sometime after leaving this city and traveling to other cities, he communicated through letter with these disciples at Ephesus.  His goal was not only to help them understand their great riches but also to encourage them on their spiritual walk. They had been made alive through Christ (Ephesians 2:1). They were spiritually dead and without hope because of sin at one time, but God showed His great love and mercy so that through Christ they were made alive with Him (Ephesians 2:5). Because of this, they and subsequently, we, are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). We are created for good works so that we should walk in them. Our purpose then is not to live a life to fulfill the lusts of the flesh but rather one that is filled with Christ-like intentions. To do the will of the father who is in heaven. We should live by “GPS”, God’s Plan for the Sinner. This plan gives us the route that leads to heaven and directs us to walk humbly (Micah 6:8). It allows us to be fruitful (Colossians 1:10). Not only should we walk with Christ, but we should also be a witness of the greatness of Christ (1 Peter 2:9). Having a purpose for God will allow us to teach (Matthew 28:18-20) and be a light (Matthew 5:14-16). This life of purpose leads us to victory. Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33) and in Him we will also.

The apostle Paul is often looked at for his life of servitude and encouragement for others. Paul once lived a life with the wrong purpose but when directed by God, he became one of the greatest examples of purpose that we can study. Paul thought about his purpose often as he went about living a Christian life. He became a man of great love for the Lord’s church and suffered greatly because of it. The wonderful purpose for you and me is to live with the same mindset. I am a sinner and yet God loves me. I face a decision as to how to live my life and living for God will bring me His mercy. Living for God brings that mercy which gives me hope and God desires for me to have that hope of eternal life (2 Peter 3:9). I pray that God’s servants think often of what lies ahead of them and the purpose that they must fulfill.

Scott is the minister at the Elm Grove Church of Christ. Meeting times are Sunday at 9:30 am for bible class and 10:30 am and 6:30 pm for worship. Mid-week Bible study is on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. All are invited.