____________________________________________________ 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 3, 1994 ____________________________________________________ Learning From Others by Paul C. Keller In the Bible we read of the lives and activities of many people, men and women, young and old, good and evil. From the records given we may learn many valuable lessons. A study of Bible characters can help us to learn of the principles of righteousness God approves as well as of dangers and pitfalls to be avoided. Bible writers are straightforward in telling us of these people, and while they may not relate all we would like to know to satisfy our curiosity about some, we can depend upon the truthfulness and accuracy of the information given. They do not exaggerate the virtues nor conceal the faults of those about whom they write, as many biographers are prone to do. This adds to the value of their records and to the profitableness of our study of them. David is one of the great characters about whom we read in the Bible. We can profit from the record given. Second Samuel 12:14 records this significant statement once made to him, ''...because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme....'' This is, in part, the language of Nathan, a prophet of God. It is addressed to David, king of Israel, a man who heretofore had been known for his righteousness. But, David had sinned--greatly. He had coveted the wife of another man, committed adultery with her and, in a reckless effort to cover his sin, had coldly and deliberately plotted the death of her husband. What terrible sin--especially upon the part of one so prominent, and who knew better. From the story of David we see something of the malignancy of sin, and learn something of its power. David was a good man, a God-fearing man. On the whole his heart was right with God, yet we see what sin did to him. It threw him from the throne into the gutter. David sinned--and for months remained with his sins unconfessed and unforgiven. David's conduct, when reproved by the prophet, is an example of one of the saddest effects of sin; so long as one willingly entertains it, sin overpowers the conscience and numbs it--so long as one willingly continues to allow sin to reign in his life the hope of recovery or deliverance dwindles. With every advance in sin, one's own chance of retreat is more and more cut off. David listened to Nathan's story about a lamb--a story of the injustice of one man against another. He became enraged, but he never made the application to himself! You see, it is so much easier for one to become indignant against the other man's sin than against his own. The prophet described David, but sin had so numbed his conscience that he did not see himself--and so, the prophet said, ``Thou are the man.'' The prominence of David and his past reputation for righteousness did not lessen his sin, but rather intensified it--it gave ``great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.'' It is ever the case. When those who have been prominent and active in contending for truth and righteousness become unfaithful, their influence for evil is far-reaching and their sin is intensified. It is a serious thing to ``give occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme." It is a serious thing to become a stumblingblock to others (Matt. 18:6; Rom. 14:13; 1 Cor. 8:11,12). David's sin had not only affected him--and his family--but had been an occasion for others to blaspheme. But the story has a happy ending. When Nathan said, ``Thou art the man,'' David did not become offended at him--rather, he faced himself and the gravity of his sin. He repented--and God forgave him. It does not take long for men to repent. Repentance is a change of the will--and results in a reformation of life. It is produced by godly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10) and it produces a change of action (Matt. 21:29; Matt. 3:8). No, it does not take long for one to repent, and when one genuinely repents it will be evident by his change of action. Yes, David repented. He did not have to consult his wife to see if such would be agreeable. He repented. He offered no confusing and conflicting excuses, pleaded no mitigating circumstances, laid the blame on no other shoulders. As long as one confesses his sins--and then excuses them--there is little hope for him. More often than any other man in the Bible, King Saul said, ``I have sinned''--but he continued in sin, and died in rebellion to God. Really, there is no excuse for sin--and may God help us to know it. David did not make excuses for his sin. He repented. He did not insinuate that if Nathan and others would just leave them alone they'd work the thing out after awhile--and probably better in their own way than in the Lord's way. He repented. And because he did repent he could write of the blessedness of one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (Psalms 32:1). All of us sin, and when we sin we need to repent (Acts 17:30). While not many sin as did David, nevertheless, there are those today whose sin gives ``great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.'' We would to God that these, like David, would repent. -- Via Pause--Ponder--Profit (June 1994) ___________________________________________ ``BE NO MORE CHILDREN'' by Greg Gwin After seeing an exciting basketball game on TV, he decides he'd like to be a professional basketball player. A few days later, after hearing of a daring rescue from a burning building, he is convinced he wants to be a fireman. Not long after that he learns about men going to outer space, and he is sure that he really would love to become an astronaut. What in the world is wrong with this fella? Why can't he decide on a career course and stick with it? Why is he always changing his mind about important things? The answer is simple: he's a child! It is inherent in children to frequently change their minds. They may be firmly convinced of something one day, and ready to do the opposite the next day. We understand that this is their nature. They will (hopefully) outgrow this tendency. And, when they do, we will say that they have ``matured.'' There are some who are spiritual ``babes.'' All are in that category upon first obeying the gospel, but some never grow past that point (1 Cor. 3:1-3; Heb. 5:12-14). These folks are forever troubled by something new or different that is being taught. It may be something about our worship, or about the work of the church, or about a matter of morality (like divorce and remarriage), or...you get the idea. These people can never be settled in their thinking as to the important truths contained in God's word. Let us put it as simply and directly as we can--GROW UP! Ephesians 4:14 urges us ``that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.'' You need to know what you believe, and you need to know why you believe it. If you hold a view, endorse a position, or would teach or recommend an ``alternate view,'' you should be ready to logically and rationally defend the position you espouse. If you can't do that, you're manifesting the fact that you are a spiritual child--immature--and you are likely to be ``tossed to and fro'' by whatever new thing comes along. GROW UP! -- Via Good News ___________________________________________ IT DOES MORE HURT THAN YOU THINK Members are mistaken when they say, ``It doesn't hurt to stay away from the meetings of the church.'' It hurts far more than they realize. It hurts you. It hurts your standing with God when you disobey His commands (Heb. 10:25). It hurts you because you sin, and sin always hurts. It hurts God. He is grieved when you disobey. (Gen. 6:6) He smiles with pleasure when you obey Him. It hurts the church. Your voice in the singing, your participation in the prayer, your fellowship in the Lord's Supper and your contribution you would have made to the Lord's work are missing. The church is composed of its various members. In 1 Cor. 12:18-26 Paul proves that the body cannot properly function without each and every member doing his part. It hurts your influence. When you stay away from the meetings of the church, you set a bad example. Your neighbors and friends who are not members of the church will know that your religion means little to you. Your bad example may influence younger and weaker members to stay home too. It hurts your spiritual strength. Just as one cannot maintain his health without partaking food, the inner-man grows weaker when we deliberately miss a spiritual meal. -- from The Prevailing Word (author unknown) ___________________________________________ While Jesus was with Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration--and Peter, James, and John were present--God said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" (Matt. 17:5) ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________