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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"
(Matt. 28:19,20).
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July 31, 2016
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Contents:
1) Carrying More Than Bones (Jeff May)
2) News & Notes
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-1-
Carrying More Than Bones
Jeff May
By Bible standards, I am likely in the "older man" category.
The Bible doesn't talk about middle age. There's the
young. There's the old. That's it. So, whether I
like it or not I am probably closer to the latter group.
As I grow older, I think more about the things I want to one day
leave behind for my children. I look at the legacies of Bible
men and women. I suppose that none of them is more impressive
to me than the legacy of Joseph.
Picture with me that grand processional of the Israelites as they
left the clutches of Egypt to pursue freedom in God's promised
land. A conservative figure shows 1.5 million people traveling
through the desert. Somewhere among the living are some bones;
skeletal remains of Joseph. Although not alive to see it,
what's left of Joseph's earthly tent is making its way to
Canaan. On his death bed, Joseph had said, "God will surely
visit you and you shall carry up my bones from here" (Gen.
50:25). Israel honored his dying request (Exodus 13:19).
May I suggest that if only they had reflected on it, they were
carrying more with them into the land than just the bones of
Joseph. They were carrying a legacy worthy of imitation.
If they had really contemplated Joseph's life and imitated it, their
entire history would have been different. A nation full of
Josephs would never have been "vomited" out of the promised land and
into captivity.
Let us consider what they were carrying.
Joseph's Godliness
Godliness means that we live every day with reverence being shown
toward God and a keen awareness that all we do is done in His
presence. Could there be a better portrait of it than Joseph?
If ever a man could have been bitter against God, Joseph
could. He was thrown into a pit by his brothers who first
wanted to kill him. He was sold to a band of Ishmaelites and
then into Potiphar's household. Bitterness could have caused
him to say, "I'm done with God. Why should I serve Him?
I'm in a pagan land. No one will ever know what I do.
Why not just live it up in sin?" Joseph never did that.
A lusty woman gave him every chance to do just that and yet what did
he say? "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God"
(Gen. 39:9)?
Who would know? God would. Joseph's godliness kept him
reverent toward God, knowing there was an "all-seeing eye."
What about you, dear reader? How do you do at the office when
none of your spiritual acquaintances are around? What about
when you are on vacation? What if you are a young person who
is dating and you know there are lots of places to find seclusion?
Godliness will hold you in check. I wish Israel had carried
Joseph's godliness into the promised land with them, but I'm afraid
all they carried were bones (Isa. 29:15-16).
Joseph's Forgiving Spirit
Oh, the things his brothers did to him and all it led to!! In
his life he was hated, almost murdered, sold, lied about, thrown in
prison and then forgotten about. The poison of a bitter and
unforgiving spirit could have eaten him alive!
The most touching of all moments comes at the end of Genesis when
Jacob dies. The brothers are thinking, "Joseph will harm us
now." But Joseph says, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the
place of God?" (Gen. 50:19). He comforts them and speaks
kindly to them.
What about you? Do you have a forgiving spirit? Is there
anyone you have written off for life? Is forgiveness difficult
for you?
In my early days of preaching there was an older man I spent a lot
of time with who loved me as his own son. He was like a father
to me. At this moment, I am sitting next to cabinets he and I
made together for my books. A picture of him is within
reach. I'll never forget him telling me once, "Jeff, I don't
know why it is but the two most important things in life people need
to say, they have so much trouble with. Why do we struggle to
say 'I'm sorry' and 'I love you'"? I need to carry that with
me. My friend was buried not long ago but for me he left
behind a lot more than bones.
I wish Israel had carried that spirit across the Jordan; but by the
time Jesus came, many of them were full of hatred and
bitterness. Forgiveness did not come easy (Mt. 18:21-22).
Joseph's Care For His Family
While Joseph was in Egypt, back home his dad was growing old and
needed lots of help. News that Joseph was alive would now
allow him to go to his grave with some relief (Gen. 45:28).
His pilgrimage had been evil but Joseph would see to it that he was
taken care of in his final days (Gen. 45:9-11; 46:29-34).
Do we do the same? What will our attitude be when our family
members enter the difficult days and they need us? God is
clear in his expectations (1 Tim. 5:4,8).
It is so sad to see parents in our society left lacking in love and
care and support while their children go on their merry way. I
have always appreciated the Jewish proverb which says, "One woman
can take care of ten children, but ten children can't take care of
one woman." It is true too many times.
If only Israel had carried that same care into the promised
land. Instead, many of them turned out to be neglectful to
widows, aged people and their own parents. It left Jesus
infuriated (Mark 7:9-13). Joseph didn't do that. Bless
his bones.
Joseph's Awareness of God's Providence
Even when times are tough in our lives, we need to know God is
working. The things that are happening may not be good but God
is working it all for good. It's sort of like a cake.
Who would eat Hershey's cocoa by itself or raw eggs or flour?
But all together, it works for good.
Think about Joseph. Now there was a life that could leave a
bad taste in your mouth! Yet, all his troubles worked for
good.
This next thing I will share is amazing to me. Let's back it
up. Our Savior came out of a great nation. But there
can't be a great nation without a place for them to grow and
prosper. We need to get those twelve sons of Jacob to
Egypt. We can't do that without Joseph being in a position of
power to help them. We also need a famine to make them go to
Egypt. We can't get Joseph to Pharaoh without him meeting the
king's butler. The place to meet the king's butler is in a
prison, and you can't get to the prison without a lying and lustful
woman who makes false charges. To meet such a woman, you need
to be sold into her house. You can't be sold without the
hatred of your brothers. You don't become hated without your
coat of many colors and dreams. Do you see God's providence?
Joseph did (Gen. 50:20).
I could only wish Israel had carried that confidence of God's
providence into the land of Canaan. When things were bad, they
turned against God (Dt. 1:26-27,31-32). Oh to God they had
stopped to think about what they were carrying. It was surely
more than bones.
So, I stop here to ask myself a question. When my children
carry me to my earthly resting place to await the resurrection, will
they carry more than bones? May God be blessed for what He
made of Joseph and may such legacies bless our lives greatly.
-- Via Living a Christian Life, January 30, 2012
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-2-
News & Notes
After having seen his primary doctor last Friday, and his
heart doctor Wednesday, Jim Lively is now scheduled for open
heart surgery August 17, which will involve 4 or 5
bypasses.
Easton Cox's ANC (blood count) had risen to about 1250, so
they were able to give him his final chemo treatment that day.
Though initially he had some temperature spikes, nausea, and didn't
want to eat, he is now doing better in those areas. And for
some more good news, the results of the scans and x-ray on his lungs
show that he is clear of cancer. But we want to still keep
remembering him in prayer. For, as his mother writes, he will
"still undergo more lab work, scans and side effects in the months
to come."
Shirley Davis saw her doctor, but will need to have an MRI,
which is scheduled for August 9, before the best treatment for her
painful back can be determined. She is still also waiting to
find out the date for her foot surgery.
Andra Johnson, whom we mentioned as going into labor last
Wednesday, gave birth to a healthy boy whom they have named Zachary
Jordan.
Let us also remember in prayer Rex Cothren (who is to have brain
surgery), Camp Tatum (cancerous cells in the spine), James "Buddy"
Gornto (healing from heart-valve replacement), Melotine Davis (for
the pain in her neck, shoulder, and arm), Kelli Fleeman (receiving
treatments for lymphoma), Joyce Rittenhouse (liver tests), Doyle
Rittenhouse (hip and back trouble, arthritis and bursitis), James
Medlock (for his health), Penny Medlock (medicine adjustment),
Brianna Mackey (having therapy, due to premature birth), Mary
Vandevander (house-bound), and Sue Wooten (nursing home).
Wordpress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2016/08/05/the-gospel-observer-july-31-2016/
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom.
10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John
3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark
16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith, living for the Lord; for, if
not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet.
2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10
AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com
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back to March 1990)
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