THE
LANGUAGE OF LOVE
by Kirk Castleman
Some
heard Peter speaking at the "trial" of Jesus. They
said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives
you away" (Matthew 26:73). These spectators of the mockery
of our Lord indicated that when Peter opened his mouth and
started talking, the way he spoke and what he said indicated he
was one of the disciples of Jesus.
In
the days of Nehemiah, after the return of the children of Israel
from Babylonian captivity, Nehemiah was concerned about the fact
that "Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod
or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know
how to speak the language of Judah" (Nehemiah 13:24). Our
speech gives us away: both the content and the words we choose
tell much about our interests, values, and perspective.
Jesus
said one of the ways His disciples would be known is that they
would love one another (John13:35). This love is not
sentimentality nor a cheap emotionalism or romance. It is not
just "talk," but it is in "actions and in
truth" (I John 3:18). Real love in the life of a disciple
is learned; one does not "fall in love" with God,
Christ, or the brethren! (I Thessalonians 4:9, "Now about
brotherly love we do not need to write you, for you yourselves
have been taught by God to love each other.")
But
do we ever speak the language of love? When we open our mouths,
does anyone suspect that we love God, Christ, His Word, and His
People? Is there anything in our speech that might "give us
away" as His loving, devoted disciples? Is it not enough to
refrain from evil speaking; there must be the language of His
love in our living coming from hearts filled with His love.
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The
Threat of Apostasy in the Golden Years
by Kirk Castleman
Not much is said
about the apostasy of those who have lived into their
"golden years". Alot of attention today is given to
youth and "youth ministry." There is rightful concern
for our young people, and the Bible provides insights into the
temptation and challenges of youth.
But we remember
Solomon:
As Solomon grew
old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart
was not fully devoted to the Lord... so Solomon did evil in the
eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely... (I
Kings 11:4-6).
What happened along
the way that caused this change? Where is the man who asked for
wisdom because he was a little child, not knowing how to go out
or come in? Why did the Lord's presence and guidance not fill
his heart so much that he fell away?
Perhaps there was a
flaw in his devotion that many of us know about: he built his
spiritual life on external goals for God and failed to
internalize spiritual truth. His apostasy occurred after he
built the temple, after he collected an army, after he married
many women.
He programmed
himself for his fatal fall because he majored on minors; he had
a form of godliness, a shell of holiness, but no internal
reality.
Maybe the
"faith of his father" was really just a habit with no
goals, no challenges, and finally, no meaning. After all his
"building goals" were realized, after the
"excitement" had gone (I Kings 8), the cold draft
poisoned his heart. Either grow or die! Solomon's heart got cold
on "habit"!
How tragic that one
so wise, so promising, so full of life should die old, cold, and
weary. Solomon did not "remember his Creator", and the
days of trouble came and the years went by until he said,
"I find no pleasure in them" (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Life
was "vanity" and emptiness simply because he forgot
that the meaning of life is a wholesome, life-challenging
relationship with God (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
"The Threat
of Apostasy in the Golden Years" is an excerpt from, "This
is How You Should Pray" by Kirk Castleman, minister
of the Lake Houston Church of Christ. If you are interested in
ordering the book in its entirety, please contact the Lake
Houston Church of Christ at 8003 Farmingham Rd., Humble, TX.
77346, (281) 812-0120. The book is free of charge. Donations are
appreciated. The church will use all proceeds to reprint and
distribute the book. ©2000
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"He
Laid Aside His Privileges"
by Mike
Drachenberg
In
this age of high technology and computer enhanced video
production, it's difficult to separate factual events from
imaginary. In order for us to fully appreciate the sacrifice that
Christ made, we need to understand more about what it meant for
Jesus to come to earth and humble Himself. His was a genuine
sacrifice with real drama and real suffering. There were no
computer-generated special effects.
In Philippians 2:7,
Paul writes, "But (Christ) made himself of no reputation, and
took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness
of men". The meaning of this verse is perhaps better conveyed
with the phrase "He laid aside His privileges." He was
God and He became man. He was King and He became a servant. He was
Spirit and He became flesh. He was Creator and He became like the
created. Philippians 2:6 says, " who, although He existed in
the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be
grasped".
He could have had a grand entry into Jerusalem riding in a
bronze-covered chariot, pulled by a team of white stallions,
surrounded by legions of warriors. Instead He chose to ride on a
small donkey using the garments of His disciples as a saddle. He
laid aside His privileges. He could have worn a golden crown and
been chief executive of a large and powerful political
organization, but instead he wore a crown of thorns and laid aside
His privileges.
The same voice that
spoke the solar systems and stars of the universe into existence
could have stopped the hands of the Roman solders from whipping
Him unmercifully and cutting his flesh to ribbons.
At His crucifixion,
observers said, "He saved others. He cannot save Himself. He
is King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross and we
will believe on Him" (Matt. 27:42). Philippians 2:8 says,
"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross". He
could have come down from the cross with the same power that
calmed the storm and made even the wind and the sea obey His voice
but instead, He laid aside His privileges.
In making this ultimate sacrifice, Jesus considered you and I to
be more important than Himself. He was looking out for our
interests, not His own. He laid aside His privileges. From the
beginning, God was thinking about each of us. He made it possible
for us to be with Him in eternity. He chose to serve, instead of
being served. He chose to die in our place so that we could be
true children of God.
As we remember Him today, let's meditate on the richness of
this blessing and be grateful that He laid aside His privileges.
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God
Can Cry
by
C. Bruce White
I don't know about
you but I need a God who can cry. It helps me to know that I
never suffer alone or have to feel lonely in my disappointments.
Notice that when the Jews
saw Jesus crying, they commented, "See how He loved him."
The expression of sorrow on the part of Jesus evidenced His love for
Lazarus. I need a God who can cry.
In contemplating the
reason or motivation for Jesus' tears, several things have come to
mind. As in most emotional situations, a complex scenario presents
itself.
It is obvious that Jesus
loved Lazarus and the loss of such a friend brought an emotional
response. The pain in our hearts; displayed in comment and disposition
of Mary and Martha, surely touched Him. But wait, He was going to
raise Lazarus from the grave. Why weep?
Might it be that having
left heaven and come to this earth himself, He was weeping over
bringing Lazarus back from paradise? It is said in verse 38:
"Then Jesus, still groaning in Himself, came to the tomb."
Maybe He was reluctant to bring his friend back yet knew that it had
to be done to prove His authority over death and the grave.
Whatever the reason, I
need a God who can cry.
Bulletin Digest P.O.
Box 575, Cisco, TX. 76437
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THE
CELEBRITY AND THE CHRIST
by Beverly Johnson
THE CELEBRITY
I asked for his autograph.
He reluctantly gave it.
The signature faded with time.
As he aged, his skills and greatness wavered.
He died. He was forgotten.
THE CHRIST
I asked for his forgiveness.
He willingly gave it.
It was a blessing to me in time.
From Birth to the Cross, His greatness increased.
He died. He rose from the grave with all power.
He was never forgotten.
He has never forgotten me.
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Make
Your Child Go!
by John Thiesen
Some parents are afraid it
will cause their child to grow up resenting spiritual things if they
make them attend church and Bible classes with them.
Strangely, parents don't
use this kind of reasoning on anything else that's good for their
children. How many leave it up to the child to decide for himself
whether or not to wash his body, brush his teeth, eat his breakfast,
or go to school?
They realize the child is
not mature enough yet to make the best decisions for himself in these
matters. They do what is best for him --sometimes against his wishes.
Solomon, the wisest man
who ever lived, excepting Jesus, said, "Train up a child in the
way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it"
(Proverbs 22:6). This is still the best advice on child-rearing for us
today.
Bulletin Digest P.O.
Box 575, Cisco, TX. 76437
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