| May 31, 1998 |
Vol. I, No. 5
|
The basic reason we need to study, understand, and obey the Bible is because God knows what is best for us. In Matt. 6:8, Jesus said, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” There are a number of reasons why God knows what is best for us. Let us briefly take note of some of those reasons.
1. God created us. Gen. 1:26-28 tells us, “God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea...” etc.
2. God knows what is best for us because He sees the future and understands what is unknown to us. Peter tells us how God, through the Old Testament prophets foretold the gospel plan of salvation centuries before that play was finally unfolded in New Testament days. Peter wrote, “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow” (1 Pet. 1:10-11).
3. God knows what is best for us because He rules the universe. In the context of Dan. 4:17, God revealed a decree “in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” The realization of this truth caused the prophet to pray in 2:20-22, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.”
Thus we see that God knows what is best for us. He made us, He knows the future, and He rules the universe. It behooves us to mold our lives by what He has revealed in His word, the Bible.
--CRJ
"Going to church regularly is like making a path in the forest -- the oftener you use it, the less obstruction you'll find in the way."
Was it you who spoke to that couple in the parking lot last Sunday morning? I heard you greet them cheerfully with, “Good morning, I’m so glad to see you today!”
Was it you with the smile and the hearty handshake who greeted folks in the foyer between services Sunday?
Was it you who noticed a member who looked a little “down” and then took time to talk to him or her earnestly about God’s love and concern? Everyone comes to services with some burden. It helps so much when Christians help “bear one another’s burden” (Gal. 6:2).
Was it you who noticed those visitors who were seated near you? It helped when you introduced yourself and your wife to them and to some of your friends close by.
Was it you who saw that young mother with two small children come into services last Sunday? You informed them about the nursery and offered your help. Your thoughtfulness really helped her be in the right attitude of worship.
Was it you who last week entertained some of our new members in your home? If you have ever been new in a community, you know how much an invitation like that means. How important it is that we reach out to new members!
Was it you? Well, if it was, you were a blessing to those who are important to God. In these many ways, you help Christ to minister to people when you greet visitors, seek out the lonely and show hospitality to fellow Christians. This kind of positive, excited, happy attitude will do much to build up the body of Christ. And the wonderful thing about it is, EVERYONE CAN DO IT.
--W.R. Jones
Matthew chapter two tells of the visit of wise men from the East to Jesus a short time after His birth, and how that visit disturbed King Herod, who feared that somehow this baby was a threat to his throne. The text tells how God protected Jesus by sending Him to Egypt, and sending the wise men back home without a return visit to Herod. Verses 16-18 tell of the drastic measures Herod took to try to eliminate this baby that caused him so much fear and dread: "Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they were no more.'"
Matthew's quotation is taken from Jeremiah 31:15. The world has always viewed with horror the cruelty of King Herod, and rightly so. But while we look back with disgust on his selfishness and lack of moral restraint, I wonder if we would not do better to look at the situation in our own land as mothers and fathers conspire with medical doctors to snuff out the lives of their own offspring before they ever see the light of day. And why? Sometimes to hide the sin of fornication. Sometimes because the birth and rearing of a child would be an unwanted expense or inconvenience. Sometimes be cause he will get in the way of his mother's career.
And how do modern parents justify such action? They have been falsely led to believe the developing child is nothing more than a piece of tissue--or perhaps an unwanted growth on the mother's body. They have often been falsely led to believe that human beings are nothing more than matter in motion, that we are the descendants of apes, and have no sour or spirit that survives death.
The truth is that human kind was a special creation of God in His own image, with a spirit like His immortal Spirit, with power to reproduce and subdue the earth, Genesis 1:26-28. We need to get back to the Bible and understand our heritage and destiny, that we might once again have proper respect for innocent human life.
--CRJ