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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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February 19, 2017
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Contents:
1) Readiness of Mind (L.A. Stauffer)
2) The Best is Yet to Be! (Tommy Thornhill)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Readiness of Mind
L.A. Stauffer
After the apostle Paul departed from the city of Thessalonica, he
left behind a few believers, but the Jews in general had closed
their minds to the message that “Jesus is the Christ.” These Jews
had access in their synagogue to scrolls of Old Testament
scriptures. Paul preached from these scriptures that Jesus of
Nazareth died for their sins and arose from the dead to prove He is
the Messiah the prophets of their nation had anticipated for
centuries. Although a few men of that city believed, a host of
rabble rousers closed their minds, refused to countenance such an
idea, stirred up persecution against the saints, and forced the
apostle to “get out of town” late one night (see Acts 17:1-9).
Paul made his way some 50 miles down the road to the city of Berea.
Again, as was his custom, Paul entered a synagogue of the Jews and
began the same process over -- alleging and demonstrating from the
Old Testament scriptures that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ. The
apostle found among these Jews open and receptive hearts — men who
honestly and eagerly examined the scriptures Paul read in their
midst. Luke tells us that these men of Berea not only received
Paul’s teaching, but they daily examined the scriptures to determine
“whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
When Luke commends the nobility of these Bereans, he made specific
note not only of their study habits but also their “readiness of
mind” (Acts 17:11). This attitude was prerequisite and fundamental
to their willingness to examine and study the scriptures daily. The
word “readiness” combines a preposition “before” and the word “mind”
to describe the mindset of the Bereans before their study of the
scriptures even began. The “mind” is essential to man’s examination
or study of the scriptures, but its “before” condition determines
whether that study ever takes place. The mind, as the Greek word
suggests, must be “ready.”
The minds of the Jews at Berea, as Jews everywhere, were conditioned
by scripture to anticipate at some point in their history the
arrival of a Messiah — an anointed savior. Hundreds, even thousands,
of years had passed since the first prophecies of the coming Messiah
and many Jews had become lethargic and indifferent about its
prospects. Others were so misinformed that Jesus didn’t fit the
pattern of their thinking and was dismissed as perverse and false.
The Bereans, however, were different. They were both excited about
the claim and the scriptures that proved it. When Paul unrolled the
scrolls of the Old Testament writings and announced Jesus as the
Messiah, their minds were “ready,” “eager,” and “prepared” to
examine the prophecies and Paul’s application of them to Jesus.
Would it not be wonderful today if every one of us who claim to be
Christians was this eager to grow in Bible knowledge and Christ-like
character? If we were, we would daily open our Bibles, examine
verses and chapters, and answer a few simple questions that are
designed to prepare our hearts for Sunday and Wednesday Bible
studies and our lives for eager service in God’s kingdom.
Think, brethren, how much each of us would grow in wisdom and
stature with God; think of the knowledge and strength we would gain
in preparation for living in an ungodly world of sin; think of the
deepened faith we would have in God and in His word; think of the
love and care we would begin to show one another; and think of the
zeal and enthusiasm we would have to teach sinners.
When Bereans had this kind of mind, God called them “noble” — a word
that means of “high rank.” That’s who we’d be in God’s kingdom. Not
only an “elect race,” a “holy nation,” a “royal priesthood,” but
also “noble citizens” ranking high in the mind of God. How special
would that be, brethren?
— Via The Auburn Beacon, May 22, 2016
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-2-
The Best is Yet to Be!
Tommy Thornhill
I don’t know of how you, the readers, look at life, but I always try
to look at things with the attitude that THE BEST IS YET TO BE.
Being optimistic about the future is certainly better than looking
back at the way things were. This view gives me a reason for being
happy in a sin-sick world, but not in the way this world thinks of
being happy.
Our nation’s founding fathers proclaimed in the Declaration of
Independence that the pursuit of happiness is an “unalienable right”
of mankind. Since then it seems that people have taken it for
granted that being happy is their God-given right, regardless of how
it is gained. They want to be happy but most never attain true
happiness for they don’t know where to find it. They think it is
found in the things of this world. But John tells us we are not to
“love the world or the things in the world ...the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father
but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of
it” (1 John 2:15-17). The word “lust” means desire, and is generally
condemned as “inordinate affections.” Even if the things some desire
in this world are not sinful, they are at best still temporary. So,
in the end those who seek happiness in the things of this world will
have to say, like Solomon, “all is vanity, and a striving after
wind” (Eccl. 1:14). Those who seek happiness in serving God and
doing His will are the truly happy ones. They know there will be a
better world to come.
A man, lying on his death bed, was surrounded by his family. They
were grieving over his impending departure from this life. While
waiting for the inevitable, he says to them, “Don’t worry about me,
the best is yet to be.” Why could he say this? Because he was a
Christian with “a living hope” (1 Pet. 1:3-5; Phil 3:20-21). He
understood how and why he had lived his life. Like Paul, he had
committed his soul to God for safe keeping (2 Tim. 1:12). He
knew his experiences in life, good and bad, were only temporary, so
he had used his time to prepare for the better life to come (2 Cor.
4:16-18). He knew the best was yet to come and was looking forward
to it with optimism.
One with this view is truly a “blessed man” (Jas. 1:12). Many simply
translate the word “blessed” (Gk. makarious)
as happy. They view the word with human
understanding. They think to be blessed means power, wealth,
sensual pleasure, etc. Others see the word “blessed” with a
sanctimonious flavor, as a technical word of theology, i.e. such as
being blessed by some religious ritual performed by a reverend,
rabbi, priest, or maybe the Pope. Such thinking obscures its
deeper meaning. As used in the NT, one that is blessed has
gained the highest happiness a human being can enjoy in this world.
It is the state of spiritual and moral prosperity that people share
only in Christ.
Jesus used the word nine times in what is referred to as the
beatitudes of Matt. 5:3-12, where He describes the truly “blessed”
(happy) man. John, in his Revelation letter also records seven
beatitudes of the blessed ones, Rev. 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6;
22:7,14. The ones who possess spiritual happiness do not
depend on the ever-changing conditions in the world. The blessings
can only be lost if one chooses to change his mind toward God. The
blessed man, knowing the best is yet to be, is an eternal optimist.
So, how does the optimist know the best is yet to be? Because he
places his trust in God, who is always faithful: 1 Cor.
1:9; Heb. 6:18; 10:23; 1 Pet. 4:19. This faithful God will sustain
those who trust Him: Ps. 37:23-40; Phil. 4:11-12. This belief
allows one to be content and satisfied, not in life’s circumstances
but in his attitude -- that regardless of life’s outcome it will be
better later. To such people, peace of mind and joy in life is not
dependent on material things. They trust God to make things right in
His time. They know the best is yet to be because God said so.
Such optimism will make your life richer. Why? Because the Christian
knows things the world do not.
1. The optimistic Christian knows that when this physical body
returns to the dust after death, we will be clothed with a better
one (Read 2 Cor. 5:1-ff). “For we KNOW that if our earthly house,
this tent, is destroyed we have a building from God, a house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens...” So, the best is yet to
be.
2. The optimistic Christian knows that by trusting God things will
work out for good, even though it seems impossible at the time --
Rom. 8:28: “And we KNOW that all things work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are the called according to His
purpose.” So, the best is yet to be.
3. The optimistic Christian has no doubt about the security of his
soul (2 Tim. 1:12). “...I am not ashamed, for I KNOW whom I
have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have
committed to Him until that day.”
Yes, the best is yet to be because the one who has been saved in
faithful obedience has this promised salvation, promised by God:
“...kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time” (1 Pet. 1:3-5).
Without an optimistic attitude you will be content with mediocrity,
just drifting along with no goal in life. Your life will be one of
fear, insecurity and hopelessness. But by being optimistic, thinking
the best is yet to be, you will have much better outlook on life.
You will have something to believe in. You will have a sense of
direction in life providing you with a goal (reason) to live. You
will have a spirit of expectancy that it will be better later. This
is your anchor for life (Rom 8:24-25; Heb. 6:19).
— Via The Old Hickory Bulletin, February 5, 2017, Volume 37, Number
6
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-3-
News & Notes
Let those of us who can pray be remembering the following in prayer:
We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Evann
Michelle Todd who passed away February 12, following a sudden
illness. She was only 25 and the daughter of Michael and
Holley Todd of Waycross.
We are glad to report that the biopsy R.J. Evans recently
had, concerning something that a CT scan had detected on the right
side of his throat and beneath where his removed tonsil had been,
turned out to show that he is cancer free!
Doyle Rittenhouse has been having back trouble, and his wife
Joyce recently sprained her foot.
Shirley Davis' eye surgery went well last Thursday.
She will be returning to her doctor in a couple weeks for a
checkup. She is also still waiting to find out more on a knee
replacement, which will take care of the pain she has continually
been having for months.
We are glad that Melontine Davis is now better from her bout
with illness that had lasted several weeks.
Kelli Fleeman has been doing well. Her cancer, which
she had received treatments for, has been in remission; and she
continues with checkups every three months.
The Hoboken church of Christ, at 5101 W. Main Street,
Hoboken, GA, will be having a singing this Saturday (2/25)
from 4-6 p.m. and will be using the Hymns for Worship
songbook.
There will be a Gospel Meeting at the North Valdosta church of
Christ March 5-10 with Danny Roberts as the guest
speaker. Services for Sunday will be at 9,10, & 11 a.m.
and 7:30 p.m. for Monday through Friday. The church meets at
4313 North Valdosta Road in Valdosta, Georgia.
Let us also continue to remember Lexi Crawford, Kay Byars, La
Donna Andrews, Mary Vandevander, Charles Crosby, Tanya Terrones,
Jim Lively, Brianna Mackey, James “Buddy” Gornto, Billy Lowe, Tom
Haney, Randall and Linda Hickox, and Ray Richards
We want to thank Myrna Jordan for putting together the new
church directory for us! Thank you, Myrna!
The WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2017/02/25/the-gospel-observer-february-19-2017/
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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)
Tuesday: 7 p.m. (Ladies' Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com (Gospel Observer website with
pictures in WordPress)
http://thomastedwards.com/go (Older version of Gospel Observer
website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)