____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ July 20, 2003 ____________________________________________________ Dedicated to God by Tom Edwards Faith in the Lord and a love for Him are certainly two motivating factors in being fully dedicated to God, and which becomes a way of life for the Christian -- and as much a part of it as breathing. For as Solomon sums it up, the whole duty of man is to "fear God and keep His commandments," which "applies to every person" (Eccl. 12:13). By his obedience, the Christian is able to show his love for the Lord (John 14:15); and the more difficult the command, the more love and dedication the saint can manifest to God. Since being dedicated to the Lord is such a needful thing, let us consider the following Bible examples for encouragement: In Joshua 14:8, Joshua states, "...I followed the Lord my God fully." Joshua was a great man of faith. He was willing to do what the Lord wanted -- even if everyone else was opposed to doing so. For example, while virtually all of the Israelites had sided with the 10 spies who dissuaded Israel from entering the Promised Land, due to the giants there; Joshua and Caleb tried to encourage the people to take possession of the land, for that was what the Lord wanted. Unfortunately, Israel did not listen. As a result, they were given 40 years to wander in the wilderness (one year for each day the spies had been checking out the land); and out of the more than 600,000 fighting men of Israel (from 20 years old and upward), only Joshua and Caleb eventually took possession of the Promised Land. The rest had died in the wilderness. Joshua had not been intimidated nor hindered by seeing the giants in Canaan, for he was one who walked by faith; and that faith enabled him to be fully dedicated to the Lord. As the New Testament teaches, Christians are to also "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7) and to be fully committed to God (cf. v. 15). Another good example is that of Ezra: "For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel" (Ezra 7:10). The word of God was a dominating force in the life of Ezra: he studied it; he lived it; and he taught it to others. This is dedication; and it is also the type of dedication that should be true of each one of us today. Let us, therefore, be sure to put these three steps into practice in our own lives -- for they lead to heaven. Daniel's three friends also manifest a great determination to please God -- and to a very fervent degree. According to Daniel 3:16-18, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were willing to be thrown into the fiery furnace rather than to sin against the Lord. They were determined to not compromise their faith and commitment to God in any way -- even if it meant saving their physical lives (and delivering themselves from torture). Do we also have that kind of dedication to the Lord? To God, Abraham showed total commitment when he attempted to offer his son Isaac on the altar, at the Lord's command (Gen. 22). Though the land of Moriah was a three-day journey, how short it must have seemed to Abraham, as he walked along with his cherished son, realizing that when they arrived, Isaac would have to be offered in sacrifice -- and by Abraham personally. Surely, having the faith and knowledge that God would have to raise Isaac from the dead in order to fulfill the promises, aided Abraham in this task (Heb. 11:17-19); but still it must have been difficult for him to carry out. Yet, he strove to. Then, just as Abraham was stretching forth his hand to slay his son, an angel of God commanded Abraham to refrain (Gen. 22:10-12). He had passed the test -- and with flying colors. Though driven into different parts of the world due to persecution, the early Christians continued to preach and teach God's word wherever they went -- that same message by which they incurred persecution to begin with (Acts 8:1-4). Their fiery zeal for the Lord could not be extinguished -- even with the threat of violent persecution and martyrdom. Throughout the Bible, examples abound of those faithful followers who, with strong determination, obeyed God fully -- and in spite of the cost. This is the dedication that we need to also maintain. Dedicating ourselves to the Lord includes also our physical bodies. Of course, the Bible teaches that even the Christian's body ultimately belongs to God: "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glory God in your body" (1 Cor. 6:19,20). In Romans 12:1, Paul writes, "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." We do not literally put our bodies on an altar to be burned; but by giving ourselves over to serve God fully, we our offering up a spiritual sacrifice unto the Lord. Elsewhere, Paul gives the following instruction: "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (Rom. 6:12,13). What are these "members" that we are to present? How about our eyes, our feet, our hands, our ears, our mouth, and so on? Let us consider how we can dedicate even the members of our own physical body to the Lord: Heart In Matthew 15:19,20, Jesus teaches that "...out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man...." An unclean heart certainly isn't one that is dedicated to the Lord. Let's not forget Christ's rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matt. 23:25-28). One of David's fervent prayers was, "create in me a clean heart, O God..." (Psa. 51:10). We also need that type of pure heart in order to truly worship and serve the Lord. For just going through the motions does not please God, unless our heart is also coupled with that obedience. Therefore, to His wayward people of old, the Lord said, "Yet even now...Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping, and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments" (Joel 2:12,13). The rending of the garments was the ripping of the top portion around the front of the neck, which signified grief or mourning; but God wanted His people's response to be genuinely from their hearts and not merely a superficial or outward show. They would, therefore, need a heart that reaches out to God and will fully dedicate itself to Him. And, as Jesus shows in one of the beatitudes, "blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8). Hands To those who would misuse their hands for the evil purpose of thievery, Paul writes, "Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need" (Eph. 4:28). Our hands can be used for many good works. We use our hands for work out of the home, as well as for in the home; for disciplining children; for passing out gospel tracts, bulletins, and other good material for others to consider; for writing comforting or instructional messages to others; for welcoming and greeting one another; for giving an encouraging pat on the back, etc. There are many ways in which our hands can be used in service to God. Feet Solomon writes: "Watch the path of your feet, And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil" (Prov. 4:26,27). It is wise for Christians to not walk near places that would subject them to great temptation or places where they shouldn't be. Consider how Joseph used his feet in Genesis 39:12 to literally flee from a situation that could have led to sin and shame had he yielded to the advances of Potiphar's wife. Though Joseph was still falsely accused and suffered two years imprisonment because of it, he still could know in his own heart of his innocence, would have no guilt to bear, and could rejoice in the God to whom he proved loyal. As considered above (Acts 8:4), many early Christians had used their feet to take the gospel far and near: "Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word." May it be also true of the church in our age that we are wearing out our shoes for Jesus. For, as Roman 10:15 declares, "...How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!" Ears Some things we hear can bring great rewards: "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their whole body" (Prov. 4:20-22). We need to, therefore, learn to be good listeners -- and especially to the things of value, such as God's word above all. James 1:17, "...let every one be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger." As someone once said to the following effect: "Perhaps God gave us two ears, but just one mouth, so that we will spend twice as much time listening than speaking." In a sense, we can also "hear" with our eyes (by reading); and how important it is for us to hear (in whatever the sense) before we speak; as in the case of learning before we can teach -- or understanding before we can explain. Job 12:11, "Does not the ear test words, as the palate tastes its food?" Foods can greatly differ in taste and texture: some are sweet, some are sour, some are soft, some are crunchy, etc. Words, too, can greatly vary in sound: some are smooth and pleasant, while others are a little jagged or harsh. But even more important is the testing of words to properly evaluate them, to know of which ones to use and which ones not to; for we will be judged by every "careless word" we speak (Matt. 12:36). It is alarming to hear even some Christians uttering euphemistic terms that stand for that which is sinfully vulgar. How helpful the ear is to bring thoughts and ideas into our minds; but, sadly enough, some people have so chosen to close their minds to the truth that they, consequently, cannot perceive spiritual truths: for "...while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand" (Matt. 13:13). Eyes Eyes should also be employed in our service to God -- rather than for that of which the Lord would be displeased. Jesus states the following in Matthew 5:27-29: "You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery'; but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell" (Matt. 5:27-29). Was it not through the eyes that Eve sinned in the garden? "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate" (Gen. 3:6). There are many good things eyes can be used for, but Satan would prefer that we pervert their use. Pornography, for instance, is a multi-million dollar business; but who would desire our subscribing to such -- God or Satan? Also, in view of what is often displayed on TV and many movies, it would do well to take heed to the psalmist's example in Psalm 101:3, "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes." Not everything on TV is worthless; but, sad to say, many other things are broadcast that aren't fit for our eyes, nor for our ears, nor for our hearts. We need to guard against mind pollution. Mouth As considered above, we must be careful in what we say; so the mouth must be used wisely. For Jesus warns, "And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned" (Matt. 12:36,37). Look at a couple of the sins that Paul was afraid that some of the Corinthians might have fallen into: "slanders, gossip..." (2 Cor. 12:20). No, gossiping is not an innocent pastime, as some people might feel that it is. In James 3:2-8, James teaches what a great damage just little words can do. He likens them to the bit in a horse's mouth, the small rudder on a ship, and the small fire that can set ablaze a great forest. Words can be destructive -- even when just innuendos and untrue. We need to take heed to Paul's admonition in Ephesians 4:29: "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear." Just because something is true, doesn't necessarily mean that it needs to be repeated. We probably all know of some things that are best left unsaid. Solomon writes, "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver...The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of understanding" (Prov. 10:19-21). Yes, we have various members of our own physical body that we can use in serving God. May we each do so with thankful hearts, while realizing the meaning of true dedication, in order that we will also be able to say, like Joshua, "...I followed the Lord my God fully" (Josh. 14:8). ____________________________________________________ News & Notes The Gospel Meeting in Metairie begins today with Carl Mullins preaching. (He is from the Dallas area.) Just a few miles from New Orleans, the church (which meets at 3000 Lake Villa Dr.) will be having weeknight services at 7:30 PM, Monday through Friday. (Their Sunday services are 9 AM, 10 AM, and 6 PM.) Roy Fenner is the regular preacher. ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________