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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" (Matthew 28:19,20).
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July 25, 1999
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The Two Sauls: Two Attitudes Toward God
by Lee Woodward
Once upon a time there were two men named Saul. But
this is not a fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm. It is a true
story from the Word of God. From that Word we learn that
they lived in times about 1,000 years apart, but that there
were some things in their lives that were similar.
For example, they were both from the tribe of
Benjamin, as we can read in 1 Samuel 9 and Philippians 3.
Both received the name of Saul and were circumcised on the
eighth day after birth (Philippians 3:5), a customary
practice among Israelites. Both were reared ``under the law''
and after early years of obscurity held important public
positions. One was Israel's first king (chosen by God), and
the other was ``a chosen vessel'' to bear the Lord's name
before the Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel (Acts
9:15). Both Sauls lived a long life, but both died a sudden,
violent death. In both men we can see a passionate and
zealous pursuit of their individual endeavors of life, as well
as a resolute and persistent approach to the problems
confronting them.
The Old Testament Saul was making his way to Gibeah
when he met a company of prophets, whereupon the Spirit
of the Lord came upon him and he prophesied among them
(1 Kings 10).
In a similar manner, centuries later, Saul of Tarsus
was traveling toward Damascus to imprison Christians when
the Lord appeared to him and directed him to Ananias in
the city for further instruction.
Each of the Sauls then began a different course of
life. Called by God, the Old Testament Saul used the sword
against the enemies of the kingdom; but the New Testament
Saul used the sword of the Spirit (the Word). Saul the king
was at first a man of God and later disobeyed Him. The New
Testament Saul was at first persecuting Christians, but was
converted, became Paul the Apostle, and continued his
service to God and man until his death. The first Saul lived
unto himself, not freely and fully surrendering himself to
God; but the other lived unto the Lord, not being
disobedient to the heavenly vision. The source of the first
Saul's reservation was pride, seen in Samuel's reprimand in
1 Samuel 15:23. Saul of Tarsus emptied himself of much
pride, as seen in Philippians 3:7-14 and 1:21.
King Saul met his death in despair by his own hand
(I Samuel 31:4), while Saul of Tarsus (Paul) apparently died
as a martyr of Christ in the full realization and acceptance
of the death that awaited him (II Timothy 4:6-8).
The life and death of each of these men should be a
lesson to us all. Certainly the Old Testament Saul must
remain forever a warning to avoid his errors. The life and
triumph of the Apostle Paul should serve as a pattern for
our own lives (Philippians 3:17; 1 Tim. 1:16).
-- Via The Exhorter
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Just a Dance?
by Chuck Bartlett
The phone rings and on the other end is the principal
of Jordan Public School. ``Hello, Mrs. Bartlett. I understand
that your children will not be attending the school
dance....'' Yes, this is one of the times where children--who
want to do what God says--stand out from the rest of the
crowd. Oh, they may stand out also by the way they talk,
dress and speak; but not attending what everyone is talking
about, can't help but center you out.
Our young (not just the Bartlett children) people need
to be commended for their efforts to be an influence for
good. Why not go? It's just a dance, isn't it? No. It's more
than a dance; it is a lascivious action (Gal. 5:19). This
simply means an action that creates lust, inappropriate
thoughts.
Is it hard for young people to go against the
majority? In some areas it is, while in other areas it isn't.
Peer pressure is something we all face, and it doesn't just
affect our younger people. Society wants God's people to
conform to their standards; and we need to ask ourselves,
who is influencing who? With all that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life
(1 Jn. 2:15), who is not being tempted?
As children of God, we all need to examine ourselves
from time to time to evaluate our standards and compare
them with the Bible and make sure they harmonize. There
are times I can see world standards creep into our
household. For one, it might be the types of movies or TV
programs. For another, it may be the kind of clothing one
wears (or doesn't wear) in the summer, etc.
May we all encourage each other to stand against the
wiles of the devil. You see, the more we think about it, the
more alert we will be. The less it is discussed, the easier it
is to drift back into the world where we once were (Eph.
2:1).
-- Via The Jordan Journal, February 11, 1998
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The Key To Greatness: Being a Servant
by Leon Mauldin
What do you want to be when you grow up? The
youngster may reply, ``A major league baseball player,'' ``a
fireman,'' ``a legal secretary,'' ``a corporate lawyer,'' ``a
country singer,'' ``an actor/actress,'' or as I am told one
answered, ``I want to grow up to be a servant.''
When you study the life of Jesus Christ, what trait
stands out about Him? Is it not that He was a servant--one
who lived to do the will of the Father? Isn't that the key to
understanding greatness? Consider the following passages:
``I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who
sent Me'' (John 5:30). ``For I have come down from heaven,
not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me''
(John 6:38). ``He who speaks from himself seeks his own
glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him
is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him'' (John 7:18).
To Jesus, being a servant of God was more important
than anything. It was more important than food: ``My food
is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His
work'' (John 4:34). The attitude of a servant is one of
humility. Jesus ``made Himself of no reputation, taking the
form of a servant...He humbled Himself and became obedient
to the point of death, even the death of the cross'' (Phil.
2:7,8). One might think, ``Well, that was nice for Jesus to
be a servant, but I'm not too sure that's for me.'' The fact
is, all of us are servants, either of God, or sin. ``Know ye
not, that to whom ye present your selves as servants unto
obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey....'' (Rom.
6:16). Neutrality is not an option! One is either living to
please God, or self (Gal. 1:10).
Consider the following definition of serve: ``to
completely and absolutely assign all personal rights over to
the authority and will of another person (e.e., God); his will
altogether swallowed up in the will of another'' (Trench).
Does that describe you and me? There is no greater honor
than being a servant of Christ!
-- The Old Path II, June 27, 1999
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Love is Kind
by Steve Klein
Simple descriptions of deep things are usually the
best. And that is surely the case in the beautiful
description of love given by the apostle Paul in 1
Corinthians 13. Here we are told that, among other things,
``love is kind'' (13:4). Love is kind in many ways.
LOVE SHOWS MERCY. Mercy is what allows us to
refrain from being harsh toward others, even toward our
enemies. Mercy enables us to help the poor -- perhaps not
charging the full price for something they need or even
giving it to them outright (see Proverbs 14:21, 31). Jesus
said, ``But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for
nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you
will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the
unthankful and evil. {36} Therefore be merciful, just as
your Father also is merciful'' (Luke 6:35-36).
LOVE FORGIVES. How unkind it is to refuse to forgive.
In Ephesians 4:32 we are instructed to ``be kind to one
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God
in Christ forgave you.'' If God found it in His heart to
forgive you and me, surely we can be kind enough to
forgive others, no matter what they have done to us.
LOVE DOES GOOD DEEDS FOR OTHERS. When Paul and
his company shipwrecked on the island of Malta, Acts 28:2
says that, ``the natives showed us unusual kindness; for
they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the
rain that was falling and because of the cold.'' This was a
simple act of loving-kindness, performed by people who
were not even Christians. There are so many little acts of
kindness we can do. Out of love, let us look for these
opportunities.
LOVE REBUKES. Although we would not automatically
think of rebuke as a kindness, it often is. People who love
us want us to be the best we can be. From such motives a
parent might rebuke a child, a friend might rebuke a
friend, and a Christian might rebuke another Christian.
Yes, ``Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my
head not refuse it'' (Psalms 141:5).
Proverbs 22:19 says that ``what is desired in a man is
kindness.'' Today, my challenge to me is to look for
opportunities to be kind. This is what God desires. This is
the behavior of love.
-- The Exhorter, February 21, 1999
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Gratitude Makes Happiness
by Jere E. Frost
Most of our unhappiness is produced by the gross sin
of ingratitude -- self pity is what it is often called.
Anything we do not like, anything that is against our
wishes, makes us miserable if we are consumed by
selfishness. It is quite striking that many of those who were
so miserable as to commit suicide were blessed with looks,
talent, wealth and even fame. They ``quit'' on themselves
and on life, not because no one needed them, but because
they magnified their miseries and ignored their blessings.
The antidote to this kind of misery is to reverse the
process. Forget yourself. Jesus said ``deny'' yourself
(Matthew 16:24). Help someone who needs some help. Magnify
your blessings and remember that all your problems -- all
of them -- are temporary. We were made for eternity! What
a blessing. Thank God for the great hope we have in Jesus,
and for the blessings of the common day!
-- Via The Bulletin of the North Courtenay church of
Christ, November 22, 1998
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NEWS & NOTES
We extend our sympathies to the friends and family of
Irene Lee who recently passed away. Her son Jim preaches
in the Dayton area and has been not too far from us several
times (in Louisa, Kentucky) to hold gospel meetings.
I was also sad to recently learn that Tracy Schell left
this life last month. Several of his articles I have used for
this bulletin; and I enjoyed visiting the website he
maintained for the North Courtenay church of Christ in
Merritt Island, Florida. He had a form of muscular
dystrophy, which had him bed-ridden for about 9 years.
Still, he was able to continue in his service to the Lord in
his home. As he once wrote me about a year ago: ``Brethren
from the North Courtenay Church have been holding a
special worship service at my home from 4:30-5:30PM, just
before the Sunday 6 PM service for the last 6-7 years. We
sing some songs, partake of the Lord's Supper and take
collection, have a Bible study. We usually have 4-8 brethren
in addition to me and my family...We also have a Thursday
Bible study at 2:30PM which has 4-7 brethren in addition to
my family...I also have a midnight Wednesday Bible study
but that only involves me and one brother who has to work
2nd shift at the Space Center and can't attend the regular
mid week Bible study at the church. Since I am a night owl
he asked if he could stop by after work at midnight and
we've been meeting for several years also.''
Let us be praying for those who have lost loved ones.
John Pitman also solicits our prayers. He dislocated
his shoulder about a week and a half ago, and it is still
giving him much discomfort--though he can now use it.
On a happier note, Bonnie Hencye (a former member)
was married July 17. Let us pray for her and her husband
(Ryan Long) as they begin their new life together.
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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
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