------------
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).
--------------------
May 21, 2017
--------------------
Contents:
1) Seeing From a Better Perspective (Tom Edwards)
2) News & Notes
--------------------
-1-
Seeing From a Better Perspective
Tom Edwards
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not
only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
This was actually the very last sentence in a 15-page essay,
entitled, “Is Theology Poetry?,” that C.S. Lewis delivered on
November 6, 1944 to the Oxford Socratic Club, a debating society.
Later, in 1962, that work was then published with the new title of,
“They Asked for a Paper.”
What a great illuminating orb the sun has been for our planet! Much
of what the darkness hides can be clearly seen by the sun's reaching
and revealing rays. I've even noticed how much easier it is to read
a Kindle that is set to its smallest font when out in the direct
sunlight.
And just as the sun has brought numerous things to light, even more
importantly are those things that Jesus, who is “the Son of God”
(Mark 1:1) and “the light of the world” (Jn. 8:12), has shone into
our lives. His words are illuminating, “imperishable... living and
enduring” and enabling one to be “born again” (1 Pet. 1:23).
For His words are “spirit,” and they are “life” (Jn. 6:63), and
truly an enlightenment at the highest level. Surely we can say
of the words of Christ, just as the psalmist said of God's word in
the Old Testament times, that “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a
light to my path” (Psa. 119:105) -- and how necessary that is. For
with God's word to light the way in our journey through life, wrong
turns and dangers can be avoided, comforts and blessings can
accompany us, needs can be met along the way (Psa. 23:1; Matt.
6:33), and we can eventually reach our longed-for destination. For
as Jesus says, “...he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness,
but will have the Light of life” (Jn. 8:12).
When Jesus came to “the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,”
Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled: “The people who were sitting in
darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land
and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned” (Matt. 4:15,16, cf.
Isa. 9:1, 2).
The light of the gospel not only illumines our way, but also
develops within us “the mind of Christ” (Phil. 2:5), as we make
God's word an active part of our daily lives (cf. Eph. 3:3-5; Rom.
12:2; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 4:11-13).
Paul was one who testified toward having “the mind of Christ” (1
Cor. 2:16), and notice the perspective it allowed him to have even
toward severe persecution that he underwent: "Therefore we do not
lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man
is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is
producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all
comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at
the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are
temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor.
4:16-18).
Paul calls it "momentary, light affliction." But how can he
say that in view of all that he went through for the cause of Christ
-- the "far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often
in danger of death"? The 5 times he received 39 lashes, for a
total of 195? The 3 times he was beaten with rods, the once he
was stoned, the 3 times he was shipwrecked, the night and a day that
he spent in the deep? The frequent journeys, the dangers from
rivers, from robbers, from his countrymen, from the Gentiles, from
the city, from the wilderness, from on the sea, and from among false
brethren? The labor and hardship, the many sleepless nights,
the hunger and thirst, and often without food, and in cold and
exposure, along with the daily pressure he had for all the churches
(2 Cor. 11:23-28)? Yet, even in spite of all that, he viewed
it as only "momentary, light affliction" because Paul had the mind
of Christ and could see even these persecutions and sufferings from
a better perspective.
We see this also in Jesus who "for the joy set before Him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand
of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:2). The Lord could see beyond
the cross and its terrible agony. He could think of what His
sacrifice would accomplish for a world of lost sinners and His soon
being back in heaven's glory, after having faithfully completed His
mission on earth.
When we are in Christ, as Christians, we can also have a better
perspective toward difficult trials that challenge our faith.
As James writes, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you
encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith
produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result,
so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James
1:2-4).
Through God's word we learn of the better ways of viewing
things. Consider also the words of Jesus: "Blessed are you
when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds
of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad,
for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the
prophets who were before you" (Matt. 5:11,12).
Peter exhorts the brethren, by saying, "Beloved, do not be surprised
at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your
testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to
the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on
rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may
rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ,
you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon
you" (1 Pet. 4:12-14).
These passages show of the better perspective we can have while
undergoing difficult situations, and we see that type of mind in the
apostles who after being imprisoned and flogged were “rejoicing that
they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts
5:42). How often would you find an innocent non-Christian today who
would be wrongfully punished with scourging and imprisonment, but
would then be able to rejoice in view of it? Having the mind
of Christ sure made a difference for the apostles! It gave
them the right perspective.
Philippians 2:5 is also rendered as, “Have this attitude in
yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (NASB). How often
have we been guilty of having a wrong attitude that has led to
trouble? Paul’s exhortation, however, goes on to illustrate
the mind or attitude of Christ by showing His willingness to leave
the blissfulness of heaven; to submit to receiving an inferior human
body in place of His heavenly, glorified one, so He could humbly
become a servant among men and obey His Father even to the degree of
giving Himself over to the torturous death on the cross (vv. 6-8).
How can any of us even come close to willingly giving up as much as
Jesus did, which shows such supreme self-denial, in order to carry
out the Father’s will?
It is also by developing the mind of Christ that we can reach the
spiritual maturity that enables us to “discern good and evil" (Heb.
5:14), to “be transformed” (Rom. 12:2), and to have the right moral
perspectives based on God's standard.
Unfortunately, this is greatly lacking in our world today. Far too
many want to endorse the wrong and live according to it, while
shunning things that are morally good and virtuous. Of course, this
problem has been around for a long time. Way back in the days
of Noah, who was in the 10th generation from Adam, “...the
wickedness of man was great in the earth, and...every imagination of
the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen.
6:5). Isaiah, who began his prophetic ministry roughly about
750 B.C., declares in Isaiah 5:20 the following: “Woe to those who
call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and
light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for
bitter!” (Isa. 5:20). What he said then is still often seen
and heard in our time, and how tragic if folks guilty of such won't
come to that realization until the Judgment Day, when it will be too
late!
What better perspective can we have toward anything than by first
developing the mind of Christ so that even our very conscience will
react in accordance with it – rather than to be like those “whose
consciences have lost all feeling” (1 Tim. 4:2, CEV)? Or, as the
NASB speaks of those, as having been “seared in their own conscience
as with a branding iron”?
Let us, therefore, remember the words of the apostle Paul to “Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” and each strive
to fully develop that mind that we may become more like the Savior
and live and act and react in greater harmony with the Scriptures,
thus improving our lives, and increasing our ability in seeing all
things from a better perspective. For what we see and
encounter, as we go through life, is one thing; but how we view that
and how we react to what we face or undergo is another. So may
that always be with the mind of Christ!
(Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures are from the New
American Standard Bible.)
--------------------
-2-
News & Notes
Folks who can use prayer:
Due to slight complications and his doctor wanting to be on the safe
side, Gary Cradick returned home Friday instead of Monday,
following his double lung transplant; and where he will continue
receiving home healthcare. He has not had solid food since his
surgery on April 20 and was told that would also be so for the next
several months. Even the drinking of anything is to be
abstained from for now, and he will eventually have therapy for safe
swallowing. Understandably, his energy level has been low; but
already he is doing some walking and exercising and appreciating the
concern, the thoughtfulness, and the prayers on his behalf.
Ronald Renfro is in the hospital undergoing cancer treatments
and will later be moved to a rehab clinic, if he hasn’t been moved
already.
Mary Lou Prevatt is also in the hospital. She has
pancreatitis and will be undergoing some other tests.
Misty Thornton was recently diagnosed with epilepsy,
congestive heart failure, and is waiting to find out if she also has
Addison's disease. In addition, she has two bulging discs in
the bottom of her back.
Let us also remember in prayer: Lexi Crawford, Kay Byars, Judy
Daugherty, Shirley Davis, Jim Lively, Mary Vandevander, Kelli
Fleeman, Michelle Rittenhouse, Rachael Gerbing, La Donna Andrews,
James Medlock, Buddy Gornto, Sunny Nichols, Billy Lowe, and
Tom Haney
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).
--------------------
Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m.
(worship)
Tuesday: 7 p.m. (Ladies' Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (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)