Updated 3/25/02
Thoughts on the War Only one talent A Blessing in Thorns Rules to visit the sick, mourning Bedtime Habit The Lord Works Backwards From Us When to give thanks Within you Worried? Why are ye fearful? Santa Claus
January
It is hard for me to go more than a few minutes these days without my mind wandering to the war in the Middle East It is on the front page with top headlines of each morning newspaper, the main news story of every television and radio broadcast, and the first topic of conversation among my co-workers, family and friends.
When I saw the prisoners of war paraded by Iraq on the evening news, it went straight into me like a sharp knife. I thought of the suffering and pain which must be felt by the family of those pilots, knowing they are suffering from physical abuse.
I even find myself concerned about the “material” aspects of the war because it is taking place in historically geographic areas - in the area near - the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers where historians tells us was somewhere located the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:14). Abraham’s birthplace near Ur, Iraq, and the general valley between the rivers in the former land of Babylon where many of the books of the Old Testament were said to have been written.
I am concerned that we were forced into this position and the resulting spiritual bind that it puts us into. I personally support the basis of the action, but am bothered as to why the country of Iraq and its leader cannot find a peaceful middle ground for discussion of their concerns. I try to control my emotions, but find myself bitter and judgmental toward Iraq leaders.
When I realize what pain apparently has been inflicted by this men, not only on outside people, but against his own family and countrymen, all in the name of his “holy war’ ‘—I do not find much “holy” about it.
It is a good thing that judgment rests in the merciful hands of the Lord, because I know I would have difficulty finding mercy in my own heart. It makes me realize how weak I am, but know I must trust that the Lord will help us through this.
As we know, vengeance rests in the judgment of the Lord, Deut. 32:35; Romans 12:19.
So what can we do about this situation. Are we to simply worry and ponder on the possible things that can go wrong? What good can one person do several thousand miles from the battle? Is there simply no way for us to be involved? To help our leaders and the leaders of the dozens of other countries with whom we are aligned?
Would not it be wonderful if we could only know that our leaders had the wisdom of Solomon in situations like this. But realistically, we know our leaders are, in fact, just men and women like ourselves, capable of judgmental errors and insecurity at facing each monumental worldwide problems.
Perhaps, though, there are things that each of us can do in times of trouble, such as we face in the world today. Maybe you do not have a telephone hotline to the President, or can directly provide a word of encouragement to a friend of family members serving in the armed forces in the Middle East, but you do have a duty, regardless of whether you feel you have actual political or direct influence.
First, to help yourself deal with the mental pain and stress turn to Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
Solomon had great wisdom for making tough decisions. But he was not born with that wisdom, and did not obtain his ability through acts of his own. He was a wise man because he placed his trust in the Lord to give him wisdom that he needed to make just and wise decisions. (1 Kings 3:11-12. Asking God for wisdom and understanding provides us with the relief from the stream and anxiety of war.)
Second, we have the duty to pray—for each other as well as for our servicemen and our leaders.
“I thank my, God always on your behalf.” 1 Cor. 1:4.
“Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1:16.
“We give thanks to God always, for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.” 1 Thess. 1:2.
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.” Phil. 1:3-4
As the song by James D. Vaughan states: “I need the prayers of those I love, while traveling o’re life’s rugged way … and To help me in each trying hour.”
You should pray for your family and friends; you should pray for the servicemen and women, even those you do not personally know; you should pray for our president and leaders. And, you should pray for your enemies. (Matt. 5:44)
“The effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
March
As we near the summer season we want to encourage everyone to notify us early regarding your planned meetings so that we have plenty of time to publish them in upcoming issues. Also, during and after the meeting we would like to have a picture along with a brief article about your meeting.
We feel one of the main purposes of The Banner of Love is to publicize the church meetings across the country in plenty of time to allow everyone who would like to attend the planning time to arrange transportation and schedule their trips. Please let us know about each and every meeting.
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I many times find myself wishing I had the ability to do certain things. If I could just write better, or speak better, or lead singing … then I could make a contribution that would be really worthwhile.
I see lots of others with abilities and opportunities that if only I had, then I could really accomplish things that would be of real benefit to my family, my friends, my church...
However, I must excuse myself because of my lack of ability in so many ways. There are plenty of others who can do so many more things. They have so many more opportunities than I have. They have more time and therefore naturally they can utilize their opportunities more than I can.
Am I alone in this thinking, or are there others who can agree with me that they face this same problem? If I just bad more ability, then I could do more.
When I think that way, I am wrong. God does not ask me why I have not been able to do more with the ability I do not have. But He does expect me to fully utilize the ability that I have been given, no matter how small or insignificant that ability is. I need to learn the ways to utilize whatever ability I have to the maximum benefit of the Lord’s people, and for the glorification of the Lord. If I can learn to do that, then my abilities will grow.
We have numerous examples of persons utilizing their ability rather than focusing on their limitations. One primary example is in the parable of the “talents’ taught by Jesus is the 25th Chapter of Matthew. It was the servant who was given the single talent, but chose not to utilize It who suffered the consequences.
We are given talents according to our individual abilities. We are not expected to all produce the same results. But we are expected to do the best we can with whatever ability is given to us.
One sermon that has stayed with me and constantly on my mind was preached by Elder G. H. Crain at the Rule, Texas church more than 20 years ago. He told of his purchase of gasoline containers. Instead of utilizing a new container, he placed it back, putting it into storage saving it instead of using it. Later when he went to retrieve it the container had become rusted and was of no value because of non use
The same can happen to each of us with our non use of whatever limited ability we may have. Like the servant who buried his single talent rather than risk losing it by using it, that talent was taken away from him. Those servants who received varying amounts of talents and utilized them gained and were rewarded by theft master.
If we focus on our limitations, instead of our ability, we may lose what ability we db have. However, if we utilize what limited talents we have been given for the Lord’s work, then the Lord will reward us not only with increased ability, but with added blessings.
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’ Matt. 25:21, 23.
April
Recently my young son was running barefooted through our back yard, and he picked up a small sticker in the ball of his foot. With the help of a pair of tweezers, we were able to remove the small thorn without too many tears.
It caused me to remember a number of times when I would, as a young boy, become injured and turn to my mother and father to relieve the pain. I wish it were still so easy today when I find myself in a major problem.
In fact, I often find myself facing some same problem or committing some same mistake over and over of which I cannot rid myself. I pray often about seeking the Lord’ help to correct the matter. But the Lord does not such to answer my prayers.
I see others around me with physical, medical or mental problems similar to mine, but the Lord seems to quickly answer their prayers and heal their wounds. Why does God answer some prayers and neglect to answer those of mine? I keep my deficiencies … perhaps He is punishing me deliberately refusing to answer my prayers.
The Apostle Paul teaches us a lesson about our infirmities - our mental, physical, medical, and moral weaknesses. Sometimes we learn it is a blessing for us to learn to live with our problems. With Paul, his infirmity was a “thorn in the flesh.” 2 Cor. 12:7.
The Apostle Paul prayed to the Lord three times to remove the thorn, but the Lord did not answer the prayer—at least the Lord did not answer it the way Paul had in mind when he prayed to the Lord for relief. Instead of removing the thorn, the Lord simply told Paul,” My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9.
The Lord answers our prayers and blesses us many times by not giving us exactly what we ask. He instead gives us His grace to overcome the thorn in our flesh. Our learning to live with our infirmities and utilize them to the glory of the Lord is a blessing which might not be realized had the Lord simply pulled out the thorn and gotten us out of our immediate pain.
We ask the Lord to give us His grace which will be sufficient to teach us patience to live with our deficiencies. I know I too many times find myself batting my head against the wall trying to get a solution to a problem, or trying to get myself through a condition over which I really have little control. I simply must have help to overcome my “thorn.” The situation I must realize is that the Lord “blesses” me by leaving the thorn in my flesh and providing to me His grace sufficient to live with and utilize the situation to the honor and glory of Him!
Have you ever complained to the Lord, praying over and over, to remove some “thorn” in your side? Maybe we should look to see if that Thorn, or our being required to live with it, has a purpose – or if the Lord has a purpose in not answering our prayers by simply removing it.
“Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when. I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Cor. 12:10.
May
It is always a struggle for me to visit, with those that are very sick, or those that are mourning from the loss of a loved family member or friend. I many times feel awkward, and uneasy about what to say or how to act.
A trip to the hospital or the funeral home is a tough job for anyone at anytime. When it is not us who are personally involved with the sickness or death, we find ourselves uneasy and at a loss of the exact words to provide comfort to those of whom are directly affected.
The Lord has provided us with some basic lessons in this regard. Like most things, if we would take some time early to study the Scriptures, we would know how to address these and similar types of matters that we encounter in our daily lives.
A number of good examples are given to us through the Scriptures in the form of those who visited with perhaps the sickest person ever to have lived: Job. In the first chapter of the Book of Job, we learn some background into Job’s life. He was a righteous man who bad been blessed with a good family and a good worldly fortune and was known throughout the area for his excellent reputation of character.
Satan approached the Lord, and in a detailed discussion of Job, Satan asked the Lord permission to take all Job’s blessings from him. Satan then set about taking away all Job’s vast holdings of stock, servants and family. Still, Job worshiped the Lord. Satan then asked to tempt Job further by placing Job in great physical harm, but the Lord required Satan stop short of taking Job’s life. (Job 2:6) Satan then made Job undoubtedly perhaps the sickest person who has ever lived (Job 2:7 covering Job with sickness from head to foot such that his friends could not recognize him 2:12).
There is, of course, major teachings through these verses regarding Job, but a separate lesson regarding how to visit the sick and mourning, is also given to us here with regard to how those who visited Job did some good things.
First, Job’s closest friends did go to visit him. 2:11. We have the duty to visit our friends when they need help (Ecci. 7:4, James 1:27, Matt. 25:36.) By visiting the sick and mourning we can help not only those we visit, but also ourselves because of the lessons which can be learned from their afflictions, and their instruction. We can become more wise and humble in such visits.
Second, Job’s friends “had made an appointment together” to go mourn and comfort him. We know they probably did not receive an invitation from Job (See Job 6:22), but instead made an appointment among themselves (“together”). This teaches us it is helpful to call one another and go in small groups. In doing so we bind ourselves together, encourage each other to do good works of comfort.
Third, in verse twelve, we learn the visitors mourned with Job and tried to share his afflictions. They tore their clothes and sprinkled ashes upon themselves. They sat on the ground with Job (2:13) to place themselves into the same humble and uneasy place as Job.
Fourth, they sat in silence because they saw how great Job’s grief was. (Job 2:13). One of the greatest lessons here is that the unspoken word can be greater many times than ‘that which is’ spoken, especially if silence is more important. The very sick or mourning person needs rest and does not necessarily need a lot of words. The simple fact that you have come to visit them and placed yourself in such an otherwise awkward and uneasy position - all because you care about your friends - says the most. You should not worry about having all the right words - no words can take the place of a short visit, a sincere hug or a squeeze of the hand.
Finally, Job’s friends allow Job to express his grief and his anger. (Job 3rd chapter). In other words, they listened.
There are many lessons to be learned in the remainder of Job, one of which is that his friends rebuked him because they did not understand the basic reasons Job was undergoing his grief. We should be careful not to instruct those we visit with our analysis about why they are grieved.
The lessons we
learn from this are that we should visit our sick and mourning friends.
June
In the last month with my business I. have been traveling considerably. One night in Houston I had the opportunity to visit with the Grace Primitive Baptist Church during. their annual singing school. Brother Harvey Bass of Muleshoe, along with his family, meet in Houston in June each year at the Grace Church in north Houston to help the area church members and friends learn the basics of singing, note reading and song leading.
I had the opportunity to meet with them one evening during their congregational singing and view their practice leading. I truly enjoyed the song service and fellowship as a number of leaders, young and not so young, practiced their lessons of the day.
Hopefully, in next month’s edition we will have some pictures from the event for you.
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The ability to lay your head upon the pillow and go to sleep is an extremely important matter. As you may know it is not always so easy to do as to say or preach. My mind seems to collect all my thoughts at the end of the day and I subject myself to scrutiny, to determine if I accomplished in that day what I had set out to do. Usually I find myself far short of my original goal. Most of the time I want to assign blame to others.
The state of my mind or the turmoil of it, generally causes me one of two problems; either I have difficulty getting to sleep, or I wake up in the middle of the night with some matter on my mind that will not allow me to go back to sleep.
Either we cannot get to sleep initially, or we wake up prematurely early in the middle of the night unable to get back to sleep.
Most of us experience some of both during our lifetimes. My problem many times is my frustration at someone or some thing. My anger at the end of the day is built up inside me and occupies my mind. Being able to control that anger and frustration is then a major problem in getting a successful night’s sleep.
Staying angry is not only a hindrance to our ability to sleep; it also gets in our way of enjoying the fruits of the kingdom of heaven. Getting angry or frustrated is commonplace for many of us as we go through our daily lives. Getting angry is part of the natural man which we many times will not be able to avoid.
However; staying angry, or growing bitter is a sin. Carrying a grudge through life, or frustrations to bed, is wrong and is something we have been given the blessings from God to address. It is one thing to get angry or frustrated about someone or some thing. We are natural and react in the manner of our nature. Beyond that, God has given us guidelines to address our anger, our frustrations and our bitterness. After we get angry, we should address our anger.
We are to forgive our trespassers. Jesus taught. us this in the Sermon on the Mount. Matt. 6:12, 14-15. Not only should we forgive them for one trespass, but also if our trespassers wrong us 500 times. Matt.18:21-22,23-25.
We all generally know that we should forgive, but finding the “time” or the “place” is something we do not always remember. We generally get so wrapped up in our lives that we do not take the appropriate time to think about it.
This is where bedtime comes in. Going to bed at night is a natural time for us to reflect on the day’s events. It usually is also where we remind ourselves one last time about our anger and go over in our minds why we are angry and why we, want to remain angry,
But read what the Apostle Paul tells us that we should do as we prepare for bed each evening as the days ends “…let not the sun go down upon your wrath: . Neither give place to the devil.” Eph. 4:26-27. The entire chapter is excellent reading on goals for our daily living, but I consider his teaching here an important point because it should easily fit into our lives each day before or as we go to bed.
Going to bed is a perfect reminder time for us to have a moment to reflect upon the day and take an objective look at our anger and our frustrations. It is the perfect time for us to do our forgiving of others and make peace with ourselves. As David said in Psalm. 4:4 “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still”
And review the 37th Psalm:
“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of inequity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” Psalm 37:1-2.
“Rest in the. Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” Psalm 37:7-9.
As you lay in bed at night is the perfect time- to “commune with your own heart.” Do not fret yourself with the evildoing of others, because it is the Lord who holds the authority and power of judgment and vengeance, not us. Deut. 32:35, Rom. 12;19. In our subjective minds we are poor judgers of what is in another’s heart.
Our duty is not to judge, not to avenge, and not to let our wrath, anger and bitterness leave us open to Satan’s influence that we need to help the Lord do His job.
When you go to bed at night, turn all wrath, judgment and anger over to the Lord. Our duty is to forgive and not let ourselves or our conscience be controlled by wrath and anger. If we can learn to do this each night as we lay in our beds, getting to sleep gets much easier with each time.
July
Have you ever noticed that the Lord works backwards from the manner in which we would do things?
Our very nature may be to do things a certain way. God’s way so many times is opposite the way man would do it.
A couple of good examples of this are given in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus details His teachings in pretty clear terms. It is relatively easy to understand; yet the nature of man is so opposite that each of us sees examples daily of how man continues to act opposite to such easy-to-read and understand principles.
Our pride and our ego override, and we do just the opposite of what Jesus tells us is the correct way which the Lord has set out.
In the opening verses of the 6th Chapter of Matthew, in the middle of the course of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us about charitable giving, and how we should, and should not, go about seeing to our duty to give.
‘Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 6:1. Jesus goes on to tell us that when we do our duty of charitable providing to the needy, we should “not sound a trumpet,” as the hypocrites do” in the streets. When we give charitably for the sole purpose of other men’s glory, our reward is the sole reward that other men can give; but it is not a reward of God.
Jesus tells us that when we do our alms giving, we should do it in secret, “and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Matt. 6:4.
We all give to charity, sometimes frequently, sometimes not as frequently as we should. We do it as a part of our jobs. The government has in most cases made it “tax deductible,” so that it even becomes a part of our financial concerns. Some charitable organizations even provide special recognition for donations: the larger the recognition for the larger the donation. We can get our names in the newspaper, our names and images on plaques, and even get buildings named after us. Occasionally, we read and hear of greet celebrations to announce special donations of large proportions, usually accompanied by the naming of a program, a street or similar after the contributor.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with charitable giving, and even for taking a tax deduction for it if the tax laws so allow. There are hundreds of good causes in such things as medical research, protection of unwanted children, and food for the hungry. Jesus does not tell us not to make public charity contributions, He tells us to “take heed” that when we do such, it should not to be seen of men. If we give solely to be seen by other people as a wonderful person then we are doing it as hypocrites, and we have only the present reward that other men give to us. We have that instant satisfaction of our pride and ego that the publicity gives us.
Our one problem is that such giving with such an attitude gives us “no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”
We should try following Jesus’ example. Try giving to someone needy, and do so anonymously. Fight satan’s temptation to get the publicity he tells you that you deserve. Give without letting anyone know – perhaps not even the receiver of the gift. If you do so, someone will know: “thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward the openly.”
The Second example immediately follows the first, beginning at Matt. 6:5
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and I the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
Jesus tells us to pray by entering our closet and shutting the door behind us. “Pray to thy Father which seeth in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matt. 6:6. Jesus continues with the teachings about prayer, telling us not to use “vain repetitions” so as to be heard for our “much speaking.”
Again, there is nothing wrong with public prayer. It is an important role in numerous events, and in our public worship service. The lesson is, first, not to pray in public solely, “to be seen of men.” Secondly, the lesson is that the overwhelming majority of our personal prayer should be secret and private unto ourselves. God hears us, and in fact, already knows what we need before we even ask him. See Matt. 6:8.
Our very human nature is to satisfy our egos and pride. It is opposite the very way Jesus tells us is God’s way.
There are numerous other examples of such, but of course, the primary example is of our eternal salvation. We work hard every say to achieve worldly goods to pay for our homes, provide for our families, and obtain security for our later years.
The greatest achievement of all should be eternal salvation. Our goal under our logic would be to do numerous good works, deeds and personal acceptance in order to gain that salvation. This is opposite of God’s plan. Such salvation is free, no amount of good works or personal “acceptance” of which we could boast can achieve it. We are saved by the grace of God “not of ourselves; it is the sift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8-9.
Like alms-giving and prayer our nature is to be public to achieve the reward that our fellow man can give: to satisfy our egos in order to show other men our great contributions and our great achievements. It is no different from the men to brag and boast of the many souls saved by themselves or through their ministry, or through their churches mission programs. Or, of a. man boasting he has saved himself by “accepting” the Lord. They are like Jesus describing the publicity-seeking charitable givers, and the street preaching prayers: they have their reward. It is a present reward, it nurtures egos and prides. They are honored of other men for the thousands of souls saved from damnation.
Yet the Apostle Paul, like Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, describes what appears to be clear and easily understandable text to be opposite what we would do according to our human nature and our human logic. Our eternal salvation is a free gift from a sovereign God who needs no man’s help, not even ourselves to “save” one of His elect: “It is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” We are God’s workmanship, created in Jesus Christ “unto good works.” We cannot even boast of “saving” ourselves.
Our good works are done in honor of God and in praise of Him. But the good works come afterward, not as a condition of our eternal salvation.
Like alms-giving and prayer, men have real problems with their actions being exactly the opposite of Scriptural teachings.
August
I recently was working on a major business project with a group of colleagues. It began to seem as though we ran in to a major hurdle each time we tried to find a method to solve a problem which confronted us. About the time we managed to solve, or work around, one problem we then would run right into the next problem, usually of a totally different nature.
Most of the time we could resolve one problem (which involved different personalities), we became frustrated because another person or group entered the picture and threw the so-called monkey wrench into our renewed efforts. By the time we were finally able to put together our plan to the satisfaction of all parties with whom we had dealt and were nearing completion, our entire proposal fell through altogether. It was a total failure, in spite of our best efforts and our best intentions.
That same problem too often seems to also happen in our personal life. It also happens in. the church. It seems we encounter a problem and despite our best efforts the end result is a failure, or at best a frustrating attempt which makes us wonder why we ever attempted to solve it in the first place.
Why are we put to so much trouble for an end result, that in our opinion, is not worth the effort, the frustration, the pain or aggravation that it put us through.
Not only does it result in our being frustrated. But also makes us just downright angry, mad, furious. Sometimes we end up depressed or sulking over the problem, or we turn to drastic measures to relieve our frustrations on the next person.
I know when I get mad or frustrated, especially when I have been working hard in an attempt to achieve some good result, the last thing I want to think about is to whom I should express my thanks for the problem occurring. I am usually thinking in terms of retaliation. giving thanks is the furthest thing from my mind.
However, giving thanks should be the first thing I think of, and the first thing I should do.
The Apostle Paul’s teachings are numerous in his letters to the various churches which are contained in the New Testament. Those teachings are just as important, and just as applicable, today as they were when they were written almost two thousand years ago.
In the first epistle to the Thessalonians Paul closes with several verses of advice to each of them. Two of these verses are especially important for this discussion.
‘Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thess. 5:17-18.
First, we ought to pray constantly. This does not mean we should be making audible prayer 24-hours per day, but it should be regularly and continually a part of our daily lives. We should keep our commitments to specific times of prayer, and we should always have it in the back of our minds throughout the day. We ought to keep our attitude one of prayer as we go about our day.
Second, in our thoughts and prayers, we should give thanks to the Lord for every thing. We should give thanks for both the good and the bad, the pleasant and the unpleasant. We should pray constantly and give thanks in every event or circumstance for the good that the Lord can make of any unpleasant event.
No condition is so bad, but that it could not be worse. We should give thanks for whatever happens -- that it will result in some good for some of the Lord’s children.
The constant attitude of prayer, giving thanks for all things, will help us maintain the proper gratitude, especially in the face of adverse situations.
September
How important is it to you to have physical proof?
How important is it to you to have the physical evidence of something?
Sometimes I know that if I just had a “sign” I would then be able to make correct decisions with my life. I find myself looking for absolute physical proof of what I should do.
If I only had a “sign” of the Kingdom of Heaven then I would know it exists. If I can see the Kingdom of Heaven then I would know when it arrives.
I simply want proof - physical feel-and-touch proof - something I can see.
Well, first, if I am looking for a sign I should reexamine my thinking. I need only turn to the 12th Chapter of Matthew to learn about “looking for a sign.”
The scribes and the Pharisees asked Jesus if they would see a “sign” from Him. That is my same sentiments — I would like to see a sign. However, the next verse makes me realize that maybe a sign is not what I want. ‘But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Math 12:38-39.
Jesus goes on to tell that his rising from the dead after three days is the only sign that is important.
I have the same problem as the scribes and the Pharisees had — I sometimes feel I need a sign, something of physical evidence. However, Jesus tells us otherwise through his teachings.
A corresponding lesson is given in Luke when the Pharisees ask Jesus when the “kingdom of God” will come. Again, like me, the Pharisees are looking for some type of physical evidence, something of the world that can be physically seen and touched. But a “physical” kingdom is not what Jesus describes for the Pharisees:
“The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21.
As we are told in John, the kingdom of God “is not of this world.” John 18:36. The glory of the kingdom of God is spiritual, not physical. Its power lies in the soul and the conscience and in the attitude. The kingdom of God is within us, not about us. If we look for physical effect, we are missing it. The kingdom of God provides to us the freedom of mind of worry that was apparent in the questions of the Pharisees. The peace of mind for which we desire in the finding of a “sign” is available to us, but not through the things of this world.
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We were saddened at the passing of Elder Ira Fry. We know that his Colorado church will soon be sending a resolution of respect, but we wanted to acknowledge his contributions. He had been a long time writer for the Banner and he had a strong following among our readers.
We will greatly miss him, but we know he is better off today than are the remainder of us.
October
I have had a number of things on my mind lately.
There are several matters that I have been unable to resolve. It may be that I simply do not have the financial means to do all I would like to be able to do or there are several personal problems that occupy my mind. I find myself worrying about a number of matters. Does this ever happen to you?
Do you have some personal problems at work, at home or in the church or among your friends that has caused you to lose some sleep or to take more than your share of stomach or headache medicine?
Worrying is not something new. I am not the first to experience, and I doubt I will be anywhere near the last. However, when it is personal it can be stressful and painful, even when we do not realize it.
It is easy to look upon another’s life and condition and know that there should be absolutely no reason for worry. It certainly is easy for me to judge someone else’s situation as really a lot less worrisome than my own.
Have you ever had someone tell you that you should not be worrying? It is irritating, isn’t. it. They do not have a real clue about your real problems or concerns, yet here they are telling you “not to worry”. Easy for them to say—they do not have to pay my bills or deal daily with the people or problems that I do.
Other than continue with the aspirin and antacids, do we have any real way we can find any peace from our troubled and anxious minds?
I certainly cannot solve your worries for you. I cannot solve my own. In fact, few people can do much, on a continuing basis, to give peace of mind to one who has problems of concern
There is help. There is continuing help. It is easy to call upon. It is personal help aimed directly at your problem.
It will probably not come in the form of a bushel basket full of money left on your doorstep, nor in any manner that can be measured in material means. It may come as a clear mind, one in peace and content with your ability to solve your problems.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us clear direction on whether we should be worrying about our problems. In the last verses of the 6th Chapter of Matthew we are reminded that we cannot add a single day or minute to our lives by the stress of worry. Matt. 6: 24-34. Here Jesus tells us that worry about the material things of life is to create a life for ourselves in which we live in continual insecurity, if our minds are set first in the correct spiritual context, then we are told that the material things will come. (Matt. 6:33).
The Lord has given us the avenue of prayer at any time of day or night that we need it, whether we are in bed, driving down the street or at work. He knows what we need before we even ask (Matt. 6:8)
The 7th verse of the 37th Psalm has special importance for me, because of my constant anxious state for immediate resolution of my problems: “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him...”
The Apostle Paul tells us what we get in the form of immediate help if we relate our problems through prayer: “Be careful for nothing;” Phil. 4:6. He here again encourages us not to worry simply for worry sake, but instead He tells us to take our requests for our concerns to the Lord: “...but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.” Phil 4:7.
Through prayer you get peace of mind. You receive the clear mind and thought process because you confidently know you have someone else helping you with your problems. You can share your innermost thoughts with someone and realize that, if you ate patient and ask for the Lord’s help in the manner he deems best, the problems you have will reach resolution.
This kind of peace surpasses all understanding. It works better than aspirin or antacids.
November
It is again the time of year which we refer to as the “holiday season.” With Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas and New Year’s, we go through this annual time of what is known as festival and joyous.
We have so much to be thankful for, and we have primarily only one to thank. We need to constantly remind ourselves of the importance of thanking the Lord, especially during this time period.
We are told by the documentations of our nation that this festival time also is a time of major stress to many people. People want to enjoy the holidays, but they many times remain quiet about their fears. The holiday period to many is a stormy period, whether or not others are aware. It seems that many of us quietly worry through this season about a variety of personal things.
While we remain relatively calm and happy on the surface to our family and friends, it seems there are many of us who harbor fears of rising storms. It may relate to our families, our finances, our work or our church. We are told by the experts that the holiday season is a period of tremendous stress for many people who allow numerous personal problems to cause us to worry, or worse, to unconsciously take our fears our on those we love the most.
Jesus has taught us a lesson in this regard as we face the variety of “raging storms” in our personal lives. The lesson was one He taught His disciples upon a boat in the sea.
The lesson is related to us in three of the gospels and is a well-known Bible story; but it bears repeating and focusing as we enter the holiday season. It is told in Matthew 8:23-27, in Mark 4:35-41 and in Luke 8:22-25.
Jesus’ disciples boarded a boat with Him and headed out across the sea. During the trip, Jesus lay down and went to sleep. During His sleep, “there arose a great tempest in the sea,, insomuch that the ship was covered with waves...”
The three gospels tell us the storm was great with high winds and waves beating against the ship. The disciples, witnessing the great storm, were afraid for their lives, awoke Jesus, and asked for His help lest they all should perish.
“He arose, and rebuked the wind and said unto the sea, Peace be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
Jesus then spoke to His disciples: “Why are ye fearful, 0 ye of little, faith?”
We need to review this story quite often as we go through our lives. We face storms daily in our lives (or what we perceive are storms) and our first thought is that everything is going to pot and that we might perish.
What. we should do is turn to the Lord and request His help and guidance. Whether or not we see immediate physical evidence of the storm disappearing, we can feel a sense of security that only asking the Lord’s help can provide. When he chooses to tackle a storm head on, we see immediately results of the wind is stopped and the sea calmed in our own minds first, and that is the most important;
By turning to the right source for relief of mental stress, it seems the winds and the seas manage to get calmed if we are patient and allow the Lord to handle it in His manner.
It is our little faith that causes us fear in the storms of life.
December
It is the time of year for Santa Claus.
I have a son who is anxiously awaiting for the arrival of Santa Claus and all the excitement legend has built into that tradition over the years.
Santa Claus is an interesting concept. It is for the kids, but parents seem to get as much enjoyment and benefit out of it as the kids get. It is a good, fun tradition that I personally enjoy. My parents observed it with me as I now observe it with my own child.
It is important though, that we recognize, and know the difference between, the concept upon which Santa Claus operates, and that upon which we are taught by the Gospel. We need to recognize the difference so that; we can be sure to teach our children the difference.
Santa Claus is a concept of man. It is a good, fun tradition, built on good intentions. But it is not based on the same fundamental concept as our salvation.
As the Santa Claus tradition goes, I go over with my child that he must be on a certain behavior in order to secure the presents that Santa Claus can bring. Santa “makes a list, checks it twice” to determine whether and which children will get a visit from him.
Santa is based on a system of law, with certain merit gaining end results. 1t is only natural that the world would develop this type of concept because it is one which is so natural for us to comprehend and understand and follow.
Thank the Lord, however, that our eternal salvation is not based on the same type of law system. Few, if any (certainly not this one) would qualify under the law at the standard which would be required for such an everlasting treasure as eternal life.
A legal system is what we know and want to understand. We feel we must do good deeds, perform specific acts, “accept” in our minds certain concepts in order (like we do with Santa Claus) to gain the ultimate reward. However, God through Christ, did not base our salvation on legal standard:
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Born. 6:14.
God did not send His Son into our world to be a judge of our merit under the law. Christ was sent., to be our Saviour under grace “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that through Him the world might be saved” John 3:17. Matt. 1:21, Luke 9:56.
“...the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” L John 4;14.
We would be thankful that our “eternal salvation was not created by the Lord based on our same concept in man’s creation of the legend of, Santa Claus, otherwise, someone right now would be “making a list and checking it twice” A burden too high for us to overcome. ‘
We enjoy the tradition of Christmas and the legend and fellowship that comes with our children in the form of Santa Claus It is a good tradition, but is a man-contrived tradition. It is important that we recognize the difference, something that can be easily distorted. .
Should we reject good works because we are not under the system of law for eternal life. We know we should not. It is simply that because we have been abundantly showered with grace that we should obey the law.
“What then? shall we sin because we are not under the law; but under grace? God forbid.” Eph. 2:10.
Grace was given to us first, we should follow with good works. It is important that we understand that basic difference with so many things of the world (like Santa Claus), in which we are taught that only good works will result and merit the prize.
Celebrate Christmas and enjoy the legend of Santa Claus with your kids and your family; but understand the basic fundamental difference between man’s easy-to-understand system of law, and God’s plan of grace through Christ. Raise your children also to understand the difference.