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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" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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August 4, 2013
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Contents:
1) Counsel on Aging (Steve Wallace)
2) Love and Not Obey? (Gary Henry)
3) God's Word Can... (Jerry Curry)
4) News & Notes
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-1-
Counsel on Aging
by Steve Wallace
We are all getting older. Some of us are further down the road
of life than others. Should we be blessed with many years on earth
we may find ourselves in the state of Barzillai the Gileadite when
king David asked him to come live in Jerusalem and be sustained by
him:
"I am this day fourscore years old: can I discern between good and
bad? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear
any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then
should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?" (2 Sam.
19:35)
Long life can bring one to the point where one says of his or her
days, "I have no pleasure in them" (Eccl. 12:1). With this
said, let us remember that our main concern should always be our
right of passage to realms of glory (Lk. 16:22; Php. 3:11; Rev.
21:3,4,27). What counsel to the aged would be considered wise?
1. "Harden not your hearts" (Heb. 3:7). Remember the wise
writer's words regarding the old and foolish king "who knoweth not
how to receive admonition any more" (Eccl. 4:13). Age can
fossilize one's self-will and obstinacy. In the infirmities of
age one can find warnings tedious and learning unpleasant. As
long as the mind endures there is a place for growth in even the
best of men.
2. "...Beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked,
ye fall from your own steadfastness" (2 Pet. 3:17). The aged
are not immune to this danger. "...It came to pass, when Solomon was
old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods..." (1
Kgs. 11:3). Up until the time of his old age the Temple was
the building project for which Solomon would be most
remembered. The folly of his later years left Jerusalem with
monuments that the example of his earlier life would condemn.
May we all learn from his example of this danger of advanced years.
3. Keep good company. David sought the good company of Barzillai the
Gileadite (2 Sam. 19:33). At the time of life when one is at
his/her frailest the associations of a lifetime must be carefully
considered. Subtleties such as those of Jonadab can mislead
anyone but especially the aged (2 Sam. 13:3). We need only
look at the number of elderly who fall prey to telephone scams.
There will always be those with whom we have of necessity had to
associate (1 Cor. 5:9,10). As we age the words of the wise man
will stand us in especially good stead in our choice of companions:
"Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of
fools shall smart for it" (Prov. 13:20).
4. Impart wisdom and understanding. Ideally, "with aged men is
wisdom, and in length of days understanding" (Job. 12:12). Of
the righteous the psalmist wrote, "They shall still bring forth
fruit in old age" (92:12, 14). Near the ends of their lives
both Moses and Joshua challenged the generation following them
regarding the seriousness of following their examples and
staying faithful to God (the book of Deuteronomy; Josh.
24:14-22). Paul "the aged" (Phm. 9) wrote the second epistle
to Timothy, which was filled with exhortations and instructions
designed to help brethren stay faithful (cf. 2 Tim. 4:1-5). Do
not retire from the Lord's service. Find ways to speak of Him
to the next generation (Ps. 71:18; 78:4).
5. Finish your course (2 Tim. 4:7). Of the patriarchs it is
written, "These all died in faith" (Heb. 11:13). Moses, Jacob,
Stephen, and other faithful went to their deaths in different ways
and under different circumstances but they teach a common
message. One may not be able to choose the manner and time of
one's death, but one can choose to serve God up to and until it
comes (Rev. 2:10).
Conclusion
Let us continue to hear Him from whom all wisdom and knowledge comes
(Col. 2:2,3). Come what may, our strength and our salvation is
to be found in Him from whom all things have come and to whom a life
of faith leads.
"Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house
of Israel, that have been borne by me from their birth, that have
been carried from the womb; and even to old age I am he, and even to
hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; yea, I
will carry, and will deliver" (Isa. 46:3,4).
-- Via The Way of Truth and Life (Volume 4, No. 29, July 21, 2013)
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-2-
Love and Not Obey?
by Gary Henry
"I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my
heart" (Psalm 40:8).
GROWTH IN OUR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD MEANS MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD REAL
DELIGHT IN DOING WHATEVER IS PLEASING TO GOD. Spiritual
maturity must include this element of joyful conformity to God's
will. It is not enough to be able to identify what is good, or
even to appreciate its value. If godly wisdom has given us a
taste for the good, then we must do the good which we've come to
appreciate. This is what constitutes devotion to God.
The person whose "love" for God does not result in obedience is
practicing a religion that amounts to idolatry. Thomas Cranmer
wrote, "Love God with your whole heart. Do everything for his
sake. And above all, OBEY God. For if we merely revere,
love, and trust -- but do not obey -- God, we are making God into
what we want; we are making him into a false god." This is an
important point, worth sober consideration by every seeker of God.
If we say to God, "We love you, but we'll only obey you if your will
meets our approval," we're not bowing before the God who objectively
exists. Instead, we're engaging in a subjective exercise:
whittling God down, smoothing Him out, and making Him into something
more agreeable to our preference. We're adjusting God to our
will, perhaps expecting Him to obey us rather than us obeying
Him. To do this, of course, is to worship not God but a
figment of our imagination. And in its lack of reverence, this
kind of idolatry is not far behind that of the ancient worshiper who
made a physical object to his liking and then bowed down before it
(Isaiah 44:9-20). The idolatry of disobedience, whether
ancient or modern, is a mistake we must be careful to avoid.
It cannot be said too often: RELIGION IS PRIMARILY ABOUT GOD, NOT
ABOUT US. In an age when many feel free to conceive of "God"
in any way that pleases them personally, we need frequent reminders
that the objective reality of God cannot be bent to fit the shape of
our philosophy. The important thing is not whether He pleases
us, but whether we please Him, and reverence means adjusting
ourselves to Him lovingly. Let us pray for the good sense to
recognize what God's will is, and let us not hesitate to act
accordingly.
"True devotion is a constant, determined, prompt, and active will to
do what we know is pleasing to God" (Francis de Sales).
-- Via WordPoints.Com (August 10, 2013)
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"This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad
in it" (Psa. 118;24).
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God's Word Can...
by Jerry Curry
"For the Word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and
spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts
and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). Jesus demonstrated
the power of the spoken word as he spake "peace be still" and calmed
the seas; and when He raised His good friend from the dead with the
words "Lazarus, come forth." Properly exercised in our lives,
the written Word of God can, likewise, accomplish great things.
God's Word can make us wise unto salvation: "And that from a babe
thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise
unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim 3:15).
God's Word can make us complete, thoroughly furnishing us unto every
good work: "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in
righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished
completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
God's Word can exhort and convict us if we stray from the truth:
"Holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching,
that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict
the gainsayers" (Titus 1:9).
God's Word can save our souls: "Wherefore putting away all
filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the
implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James
1:21). "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).
God's Word can lead us in the right path: "Thy word is a lamp unto
my feet, and light unto my path" (Psalms 119:105).
God's Word can keep us from sin: "Thy word have I laid up in my
heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalms 119:11).
The secret? When properly exercised in our lives, the Word can
accomplish great things.
- via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, February
3, 2013
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News & Notes
There will be a gospel meeting this week at the South College Road
church of Christ in Lafayette, Louisiana. Benjamin Lee (from
Beaumont, Texas) will be their guest speaker August 11-14.
Sunday: 9 AM, 10 AM, and 5 PM; Weeknights: 7 PM. There will
also be a 10 AM service for Tuesday. The church meets at 507
South College Road. For more information: (337) 234-4035
Let those of us who are Christians continue to remember in prayer
those who were mentioned in the recent News & Notes.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom.
10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John
3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins
(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet.
3:21).
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can
be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Park Forest
CHURCH OF CHRIST
9923 Sunny Cline Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70817
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 6 PM (worship)
Tuesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go
(Gospel Observer website)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)