____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ August 5, 2001 ____________________________________________________ Excel Still More by Rick Liggin When am I religious enough? Or when am I spiritual enough? Is it enough that, as a Christian, I am a moral person? Is it enough that I am involved in the work of the Lord? Is it enough that I love my brothers and walk in a way that pleases God? When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he observed that they already were actually walking in a way that pleased God (1 Thess. 4:1). And when it came to "love of the brethren," they had no need for further instruction, because they were already practicing it "toward all" (1 Thess. 4:9-10). Yet, regarding both their God-pleasing walk, as well as their love for one another, Paul urged them to "excel still more" (4:1; 4:10 -- NASV). And later, Paul used the same word that translates the expression "excel still more" to tell the Corinthians that they needed to be "abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). It would seem, from these texts, that the answer to our question about how much is "enough" would be: we cannot do enough. No matter how pleasing our walk may be to the Lord, no matter how much we love our brothers, and no matter how hard we are working for the Lord, we can--and must--"excel still more!" Standards Less Than Excellence There are two common philosophies by which carnally minded people of the world live. The first is to do the bare minimum! This philosophy asks, "What is the least I can do?" and its standard is the absolute minimum. The second philosophy is that of comparing oneself to others! This philosophy says, "At least I'm better than most!" Its standard is the actions of others. These philosophies should not affect the people of God, but far too often they do! There are times when we settle for the bare minimum in ourselves or in our families, and there are times when we expect only the bare minimum of one another. But worse than this, there are times when we fall into the trap of comparing ourselves or our families with others, and we take comfort in the fact that at least we're "better than most." But worst of all is the fact that, at times, we (who claim to be the people of God) do not even measure up to the standards of the world! How can we possibly expect to please God when we're acting like this? Listen! When we settle for the "bare minimum," we bring God's standard down to the level of barely adequate--and that is spiritually dangerous. And when we settle for the "status quo" of everyone else, we bring God's standard down to a substandard level--and that is spiritually deadly! Neither of these philosophies is acceptable to the Christian. The true Christian will not be satisfied with living up to the status quo of others. He understands that when men "measure and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding" (2 Cor. 10:12). Thus the true Christian will also not be satisfied with the bare minimum; he will want to "excel still more" (1 Thess. 4:1). When the only standard we accept is excellence, the standard is not lowered at all. Rather, what happens is that we bring ourselves up to the standard of God--and that is spiritually safe! The Pursuit of Excellence The pursuit of excellence is clearly what God expects of His people! According to the apostle Peter, God has made us special! We are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession" (1 Pet. 3:9). But why has He made us so special? It is so "that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (3:9). Our God is morally excellent. He is virtuous, and He wants His own special people to reflect and proclaim His moral "excellencies"--His virtues--to the world. Peter also tells us that, by His "glory and excellence," God "has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises," so that by these we "might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust" (2 Pet. 1:3-4). Peter then adds: "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue" (1:5--NKJV). Please understand that "virtue" does not refer to the "moral status quo or norm." Nor does it refer to "moral minimums or mediocrity." It refers to "moral excellence." This is what we are to add--with all diligence--to our faith; this is what God expects of us! You must understand that when you choose to do good, you reflect well on yourself. And when you choose to do better, you reflect well on the church. But when you choose to do the best (to excel still more), you reflect well on God! Settle not for the status quo or even for the bare minimum! Instead, in all you do, pursue excellence--choose to "excel still more!" Anything shy of excellence simply is not enough! -- Via Think on These Things, April-May-June, 2001 ___________________________________________ How Much, How Often by Robert F. Turner There is nothing more completely opposed to the true spirit of Christianity than the attitude back of the questions, "How much, how many, how often must I serve the Lord?" It is appalling that some world argue such. Years back a man handed me a paper which listed his income, rent, food bill, utilities, etc.; and said, "Now you have the facts. Tell me how much must I give to the Lord?" I asked if he thought he should visit the sick, help the needy; and when he said he did, I asked, "How often?" He seemed a bit puzzled, so I suggested 50 times per week -- and he thought he would do well to get in that many calls. But I persisted: "On Saturday afternoon when you have just made your fiftieth call and are on you way home, you meet a brother who is destitute, obviously worthy; and you have the means to assist him. Do you say, "I'm sorry. I cannot help you now. I have made my 50 calls for this week -- but I'll see you first thing Monday"? How does one measure service that is patterned after God's love for us? If a fellow just must have figures or percents, he should be given them from the Scriptures: like 100% -- "all that she had, even all her living" (Mark 12:44). Or, "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). Are you amazed? (Matt. 19:25). A genuine Christian does not dole out an hour or two, a few dollars, or a pound of mercy for God. He first gives himself, 2 Cor. 8:5; Matt. 16:24, and from then on his service is limited only by ability and opportunity. That's the meaning of "as prospered" (1 Cor. 16:2), i.e., in keeping with what God has given you. God gave life to Stephen, and when the service of God called for it, Stephen gave it back to God (Acts 7:59). When Jesus said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matt. 22:37), He left no place for "and 10% of thy money, and one hour per week of thy time." I believe Jesus will go fishing with you (Luke 5:4f); but don't forget, you are doing it on His time. -- via Plain Talk ___________________________________________ "Are You My Mother?" by Jim R. Everett The book "Are You My Mother?" was a favorite of our daughters before they learned to read for themselves. We read it to them so many times they both had it memorized -- we dared not do the "abbreviated form" known only to tired parents, because they would catch us and make us back up to the pages we skipped. Obviously, it was "catchy" because there could be no sensible association of a kitten, hen, dog or cow with the motherhood of the little bird. The smallest mind is intrigued by the incongruity. Motherhood must be determined by a likeness of kind. In John 8:12-59, there is an on-going controversy between the Pharisees and Jesus that crescendos in intensity until it climaxes when they seek to kill Him. To a great degree the controversy focuses on "ancestry," because the Pharisees are claiming the parenthood of God based on national heritage and Jesus is trying to get them to see that the Fatherhood of God is based on character and behavior. Sure, they could legitimately claim Abraham as their physical father but they had no right to claim him as the father of faith. Abraham had a special place with God, because of his implicit trust that always caused him to obey The Father's will. They had no legitimate claim for Abrahamic fatherhood while trying to kill the seed God promised him. Jesus identified their true, spiritual parentage: "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not" (vv. 44-45). It was their desire to do the will of Satan, so their behavior identified true fatherhood --Satan was their father. The claim for the fatherhood of God can be made only by those who want to do God's will and act like The Father. To claim otherwise would be like claiming a kitten, hen, dog or cow as our mother--even small children understand the likeness of kind. If we behave like the devil, let us not think that we have "a leg to stand on" when we call God our Father. ___________________________________________ Meditate by Steve Klein How much time do you spend really thinking about spiritual things? Most of us spend a lot of time sitting at home and letting the television direct our minds -- news commentators and actors do our thinking for us. We drive to work and listen to the radio or the CD player. We get to work and focus our minds on the tasks at hand. Often, we hone our minds on the trivial occurrences of this life, but fail to consider the larger issues relating to the life that is to come. Little time, if any, is found to focus and think on spiritual things. But Christians should be a thinking people. Paul commanded both Timothy and the Philippians to "meditate" (1 Tim. 4:15; Phil. 4:8). In ancient times, when we imagine the pace was slower, meditation was a vital part of the spiritual life of God's people. Isaac went out in a field to meditate in the evening (Genesis 24:63). But faithful people back then didn't meditate more just because they had more time, they meditated because they took the time and saw the value of it. Joshua, the busy leader of an emerging nation, was commanded to meditate day and night (Joshua 1:8). The Psalmist meditated all the day (Psalm 119:97), and then looked forward to the night watches when he could spend more time lost in thoughts of God and His will (Psalm 119:148). The blessed man of Psalm 1:1,2 is described as meditating on God's law day and night. In our modern age, few of us take the time for such quiet reflection. As a result, we enjoy all the riches of modern technology, but we are spiritually bankrupt. We are, as someone has said, "Atomic giants, but moral pygmies." Who among us has gone to sit on the front porch in the evening with the determination of the Psalmist -- "I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work..." (Psalm 77:11-12; cf. 143:5,6)? When was the last time you laid awake in bed at night to purposefully and thoughtfully count your blessings (cf. Psalm 63:5-7)? When have you taken the word of God and sat down to read, ponder, memorize, and apply it to your life (Psalm 119:10-16)? And when, if ever, have you humbly and sincerely prayed, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14)? -- Via The Exhorter, September 3, 2000 ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (For postal service: P.O. Box 421) (610) 268-2088 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 11:00 A.M. Worship 6:00 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:00 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://www.mypage.onemain.com/tedwards/avondale ________________________________________