____________________________________________________ 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 2, 1992 ____________________________________________________ Love by Lawrence Kelly If it is good to place emphasis on things that last, then we should place a lot of it on love. Love, we are told, exists forever. Without love nothing else matters. Life is more than love, but life without it is meaningless. Love is the greatest motivator in the universe. Love accomplishes things of wonder and beauty. Truth and righteousness are the companions of love and with them at its side, it conquers error and wrong. Love is of God, and God is love. The nature of God is characterized by integrity to the principles that make Him what He is. Of all the unalterable characteristics of God, none is more pronounced than His love. The greatest demonstration ever set forth was the sending of Christ into the world to die for our sins. John says the motive for this was love. One fact is certain, even when times are hard and it feels like He is a million miles away, God loves us (Mal. 1:2; Heb. 13:15). God expects us to reciprocate His love. He has created us with the ability to love and the facility to choose to love Him. It is a tragedy that so many people choose not to love Him. God asked this question of Israel, ``A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?'' (Mal. 1:6). We show our love for God by giving Him the honor and reverence that is due Him. When we call Him Lord, Lord, and do not what He says, we are despising Him, not loving Him. This great and loving God who saved us from our sins is worthy of our affection and our devotion. We need to learn to love God. What about love for our fellowman? The Greeks had at least four words to describe specifically what we lump together in one. We ``love'' our wife, sister, brethren, children, and pizza, but we love them all differently. Husbands and wives ``love'' one another in a sensual sort of way. This is good and God made us to feel this way. But this kind of love isn't what has kept my grandparents together for half a century. The love that keeps a husband and wife together when circumstances might make splitting up easier is of a nobler sort. This kind of love has to do with commitment to each other, respect for what is right, and determination to please God. This kind of love searches the heart of its mate and does what will bring about the highest good for them. This love gets up early every morning to cook him breakfast. This love goes to the mall and doesn't complain that he would rather be hunting. This kind of love talks, when watching TV would be easier. This kind of love works. Hard. Peter says to ``love the brotherhood.'' We must indefatigably seek the best interest of the brethren. Jesus said, ``A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.'' People outside the church are not impressed by our weekly observance of the Lord's supper, baptism for the remission of sins, or local autonomy, but they will be impressed by a sincere love for one another. A congregation that operates a rumor mill, talks about ``them'' as opposed to ``us,'' or is full of people waiting to be served, is dead and will not grow. We need to learn to give more and ask for less. If you're not giving of yourself till it hurts, then you're not giving enough. The kind of love Jesus is talking about says, ``let's do it your way,'' when you are thinking, ``my way is better.'' This kind of love says, ``I have plenty of time,'' when you haven't even had time to eat. This kind of love works. Hard. Love is something you say, but it's more than just a word. You love when you give of yourself. The strange thing is, the more of yourself you give, the bigger you get. ``God don't make no junk''; you have something to offer. God expects you to look outside yourself and help those who need it. The cause of Christ has a space with your name on it. Do you love Him enough to fill it? Your wife had plans to spend the day with you--will you cancel the round of golf? Your husband planned to go golfing--will you wait till next week to take him shopping? Your neighbor has never obeyed the gospel--will you teach Him words whereby he must be saved? It's time for the kids to be tucked in for the night--will you kneel by their little beds and pray with them even though the game is in overtime? Love works, really hard. ___________________________________________ Time Well Spent!! by Rick Harlow Benjamin Franklin once made the statement that ``if time be of all things the most precious, then to waste time is the most foolish.'' How true these words are. Many of my brethren today would immediately turn to the pages of inspiration to convince the alien sinner that he should not delay obedience to the gospel of Christ. Sooner or later we would turn with this individual to James 4:13-14 which states, ``Go to now, ye that say today or tomorrow, we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.'' To many Christians, James 4:13-14 has little meaning other than in relationship to a non-Christian's decision to become a Christian. Should not this also be a constant reminder and exhortation to ALL Christians that we too have responsibilities to God Almighty which should NOT be delayed. The Sweet Singer of Israel writes, ``So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom'' (Psalms 90:12). Many times today it seems that the only time which we are willing to give to God are the bits and pieces which we have remaining after all of our worldly activities have been taken care of. Should not God get the best of our time?? Would God consider time spent chasing after the things of this world as ``time well spent''?? We need to follow the instruction of the Apostle Paul in Col. 4:5. ``Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.'' It is truly a wise man who has learned how to make the proper decision in regards to the use of his time. The inspired John wrote, ``Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life'' (Rev. 2:10). Spending our time in serving God is truly ``TIME WELL SPENT.'' ___________________________________________ Children of strict parents are generally happier, better-adjusted and higher achievers than children of permissive parents. They feel secure and loved, believing their parents care about what they do and what they become. Children of permissive parents interpret their parents' attitude not as greater love but as lack of concern. -- Joyce Brothers ___________________________________________ "He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, but he who forsakes reproof goes astray" (Proverbs 10:17). "Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, Thou dost know it all" (Psalm 139:4). ___________________________________________ HOW IS YOUR FAITH? by Marvin Noble Is your faith as strong as it used to be? Do you pray as often and with as much fervor as you once did? Do you enjoy the peace that passes understanding? When making choices for the use of your time, energy or money are you able to put the Lord first? Are you courageous in declaring your faith? These are important questions because faith is an absolute essential to our spiritual survival. ``We walk by faith.'' We ``live by faith!'' The Hebrews writer warns that unbelief can cause us to depart from God, Heb. 3:12. If you see within you signs of a weakening faith, you would do well to identify the danger. Here are some threats to our faith: It is a sign of possible danger when a Christian becomes lax in studying the Word. (Remember, ``faith comes by hearing the word of God,'' Rom. 10:17.) Have you placed yourself in faith situations? Hebrews 3:13 tells us we can become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. The company we keep, the material we read, the television we watch can gradually change our appetites, aspirations and convictions. We may have even deceived ourselves into thinking that we have not weakened, but when in reality we have become blind to our great danger. If you see that your faith is threatened, meet the danger. ``Abstain from every form of evil.'' Schedule some time for daily study and meditation of the Word. Seek out companions who encourage growth in faith. Exercise and perfect your faith by use--with all your might practice what you believe. Eternity hangs in the balance. What will you do about it? ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________