| June 13, 1999 |
Vol. II, No. 7
|
A few years ago, I listened while some preachers recounted their experiences with the brethren. Some had been cheated, some lied about. Some had been run out of town. Others had been sadly abused in many ways. They told some pitiful stories.
Of course, a board has two sides, and one might become suspicious of a preacher who ALWAYS (or never) has trouble with the brethren. The brethren might have an interesting story to tell also. In fact, there are one or two contrary preachers even I have trouble getting along with -- as good nature as I am!
Unbiased history testifies that many good men have been mistreated. From the righteous prophets of old to the heroes of recent times, all have borne the scars of truth’s battles. No surprise; soldiers expect to be wounded. It is the wounds on their back -- inflicted by the critical and worldly brethren -- that hurt. They pierce to the heart.
I began to brood over my own experiences. The more I thought, the more determined I was to “get even” with the brethren for the way they treated me. I laid my plans, and I could hardly wait! There were some with whom I had a special score to settle. I watched every occasion. Now and then I would think my day had come and I would “get even.” No such luck! Foiled again! I never knew brethren could be so elusive.
The years have taught me patience. Few occasions have come to “get even” but I can wait. I surely will not forget. I must admit, however, it gets discouraging -- waiting so long. But one of these days my chance will come; I will be ready and waiting.
I will treat them as they have treated me. I will even every score. Boy, will I enjoy it! Then I “will lift up the hands which hang down” (Heb. 12:12) and speak words of comfort and encouragement as they have done for me. I will provide for them as they have so long and generously supported me. I will freely sacrifice of my time and energy for them as they have for me. I will be as helpful as they have been to me. Yes, I will even the score. Who says my revenge will not be sweet?
But I begin to wonder -- yes, even doubt. Can I EVER “get even”? There are so many people and deeds on the ledger -- and the list is growing all the time.
Until my day comes, I will, as I “have opportunity, do good to all men and especially to the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). I shall pray “above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in good health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2).
I will watch my opportunities to “get even,” but if my change doesn’t come, my Lord will even the score for me. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Heb. 6:10). He will see that you get what is coming to you. For this assurance I am thankful.
--Joe Fitch
[Ed. Note: This material comes from a young Christian attending the University of South Florida. Her parents are members of this congregation. She sent this material to them, but we’d like to share it with our readers. CRJ]
I got this from the list server I am on in connection to my women's fraternity. I felt a little violated when it showed up in my mailbox. I wrote my own response to this essay, and thought to share it with you all, perhaps it will render some encouragement:
“Imagine A Woman..............................
“Imagine a woman who believes it is right and good she is a woman. A woman who honors her experience and tells her stories. Who refuses to carry the sins of others within her body and life.
Imagine a woman who believes she is good. A woman who trusts and respects herself, who listens to her needs and desires, and meets them with tenderness and grace.
Imagine a woman who has acknowledged the past influence on the present. A woman who has walked through her past, who has healed into the present.
Imagine a woman who authors her own life, A woman who exerts, initiates, and moves on her own behalf, Who refuses to surrender except to her truest self and to her wisest voice.
Imagine a woman who names her own gods. A woman who imagines the divine in her image and likeness, who designs her own spirituality and allows it to inform her day and life.
Imagine a woman in love with her own body. A woman who believes her body is enough, just as it is, Who celebrates her body and its rhythms and cycles as an exquisite resource.
Imagine a woman who honors the face of the Goddess in her changing face. A woman who celebrates the accumulation of her years and her wisdom, Who refuses to use precious energy disguising the changes in her body and life.
Imagine a woman who values the women in her life. A woman who sits in circles of women, Who is reminded of the truth about herself when she forgets.
Imagine yourself as this woman.”
BUT I SAY:
Imagine a woman who believes it is right and good that she is a woman, for that is God's plan for her life; A woman who sees her experiences as lessons and blessings, who tells her stories for the encouragement of others; who strives to lead a life without sin.
Imagine a woman who's goal is to be good, who's trust is in the LORD, who listens to His word as Truth and presses on to obey it; on her tongue is the teaching of kindness.
Imagine a woman who acknowledges that without the past, she would not be who she is; and who has allowed the LORD to heal what scars have remained in order to make her whole.
Imagine a woman who acknowledges and embraces the fact that the Author of all life authors her life; A woman who exhorts, edifies, and loves others, who surrenders her will to the LORD's will; who serves Him through her service to others, recognizing that true love involves giving service to others, not because she is pressed to, but because it is her desire, be it her husband, children, parents, siblings, or friends.
Imagine a woman who Knows her God and has a close and personal relationship with Him, who knows that she was fashioned after the image and in the likeness of the Divine, who finds her source of spirituality in the One True Word, and allows it to direct her daily life.
Imagine a woman who walks in the paths of righteousness, who allows only what is true and right, honorable and lovely, excellent and of good repute to dwell in her mind and on her heart; who knows that through the strength of the LORD, anything is possible. A woman who is satisfied and content with what she has been given; she makes the most of it and grasps for no more.
Imagine a woman who removes vexation from her heart and pain from her body, who's adornment is not merely with outward decorations of gold and plaited hair- strength and dignity are her clothing.
She fears the LORD and keeps His commands and therefore, she smiles at the future.
Imagine a woman who looks to the ways of her household. Her children rise up and bless her, her husband also, for her worth is far above jewels.
Imagine yourself as THIS woman.
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning."
--Allison Reed
In Matt. 10:32-33, Jesus promises, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
In Rom. 10, as Paul shows how those who “call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (verse 13), he points out that a person cannot call on the Lord until he comes to know the Lord. “How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall the believe on Him of whom they have not heard?” So the first order of business is to hear the truth of the Lord. We do that by studying the writings of the inspired preachers of New Testament days. We can help each other by teaching preaching the same truths they made known.
The simple New Testament gospel will produce faith in good, honest hearts and that faith, in turn, will lead the honest truth-seeker to repent of his sins, and acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Christ. In the same chapter, Paul wrote, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness and with the mouth confession is made to salvation” (Rom. 10:9-10).
Once a person puts his trust in Jesus, repents of his sins, and is willing to confess Jesus as God’s Son, that person is ready to obey the Lord’s command to “be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Paul, earlier in the Roman letter had written of New Testament baptism, that it puts us into Christ’s death where His blood was shed. He clearly identified baptism as a part of the new birth Jesus had spoken about in John 3:3-5. “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in NEWNESS of life” (Rom. 6:3-4).
Acts 8 tells us that Philip the evangelist preached Christ to an Ethiopian eunuch. “Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’ Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him... And the eunuch... went on his way rejoicing” (verses 26-40).
If you believe, along with the eunuch, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, if you have repented of your sins and are willing to make the confession the eunuch made, you too are ready to buried in baptism and raised to walk a new life in Jesus. Born again. A new creature in Christ! If we can help you in your study or obedience of the word of God, please let us know.
--CRJ
People may doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.