“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” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
——————–

Contents:

1) Honor Your Mother (Doy Moyer)
2) Have a Heart…A Merry One (Bryan Gibson)
——————–

-1-

Honor Your Mother

Doy Moyer

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). It is appropriate to think about the roles of father and mother as those who have had the most impact in our lives. While we often focus on the men who were integral to the plan of God revealed in the word, we should equally remember the great influence of women. From Eve to Mary or from Ruth to Eunice, women’s roles in shaping both the world around us and the salvation in Christ are beyond measure.

Paul’s reminder to Timothy highlights the importance of this on a personal level: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (2 Tim 1:5). This made it so that “from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:15). Never underestimate the value and significance of what mothers (and grandmothers) do.

Let’s think briefly about mothers in the book of Proverbs. First, note that both folly and wisdom are personified as women (see chapters 7-9). While the warning against following lady folly is critical, just as important is the exhortation to listen to lady wisdom. Read Proverbs 7:1-5 and note the need to treasure wisdom as a sister and friend. It is within this context of listening to wisdom that hearers are told to listen to mothers. A mother’s teaching is not to be forsaken (1:8). It is the foolish son who is a sorrow to and despises his mother (10:1; 15:20). One who chases away his mother brings shame and reproach (19:26), and the one who curses father and mother has his lamp put out (likely a reference to a shortened life — see Exodus 20:12; Eph 6:1-3). Mothers are not to be despised (23:22), but should rather be able to rejoice in her children (23:25). Godly mothers and wisdom go hand in hand.

We should also appreciate that it is a mother giving instructions to her son in Proverbs 31: “The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him” (v. 1). Note, too, that her son was a king. Yet he still needed to listen to his mother. She taught her son not to give his strength to women or wine. He was told to open his mouth for the mute and judge righteously, defending the rights of the poor and needy (Prov 31:1-9). Also in this context is the great passage that brings Proverbs to a close: an acrostic about the woman of virtue (Prov 31:10-31). What was personified as lady wisdom earlier in the book is now brought to life in a worthy woman who blesses her home and others as she fears the Lord. This is all part of a mother’s instructions to her son (yes, the passage on the virtuous woman was taught to a young man!).

The point to take away is that there is a connection in Scripture between a righteous mother and the wisdom that emanates from God. Children who listen to their mothers (and godly fathers) are going to be blessed. They honor and obey their parents. They bring to fruition the wise, godly attitudes, and counsel that their parents sought to instill within them. Parents are not to be despised or forsaken as they age. Rather, they are to be cherished, loved, and given due credit for their part in raising children that ought to bring blessings to the world.

There are reasons why we know something of the mother of Jesus. She was especially chosen as the mother of the Lord as He entered this world. When Elizabeth greeted Mary (both of whom were with child), she said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1:42-45). Mary believed and was blessed, and she had the privilege of being “the mother of my Lord.” She raised Him as God desired. She suffered when Jesus suffered; she was pierced through when He was pierced. She stayed close to Him all the way through.

Let us, then, honor our mothers who rejoiced with us, cried with us, suffered with us, and will love us to the end. A godly mother is one of the greatest blessings given by God. Listen to her wisdom and counsel. Know that she longs to protect us from harm and will love us always. We ought to be deeply grateful. And remember, though we may lose an earthly mother, we have many more in the Lord by whom we are richly blessed (see Mark 10:28-30).

— Via Bulletin Articles from the Vestavia church of Christ, May 11, 2025

——————–

-2-

Have a Heart…A Merry One

Bryan Gibson

“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken…all the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast…a merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones” (Proverbs 15:13, 15; 17:22). There’s no debating, then, the value of a merry heart.

That’s not to say that sadness is all bad, or that one should (or could) avoid it altogether. “Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be grief” (Proverbs 14:13). Albert Barnes, in commenting on this passage says, “Sorrow of some kind either mingles itself with outward joy, or follows hard upon it.” So it’s unavoidable, and it can also be quite helpful, even spiritually. “Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better” (Ecclesiastes 7:3).

To remain, though, in the depths of sorrow and discouragement can be hazardous to our souls, and the souls of others. Here are just a few reasons: 1) It’s hard to stay busy doing good when we’re discouraged—it “dries the bones” or saps our strength. 2) We’re more vulnerable to false teachers, because they like to prey on the miserable. 3) We’re also more vulnerable to the lusts of the flesh, looking for that “quick fix.” 4) We’re much more likely to cause strife among brethren, because in this state we tend to see everything in a negative light. 5) Our influence will be greatly diminished—no one likes to hang out with a joyless person, and they sure don’t see us as someone to imitate. 6) For the same reasons, we may even turn some away from the truth.

So how do we maintain a merry heart, even in the midst of sorrow? Proverbs not only commends the merry heart, it also tells us how to keep it.

Find JOY in the truth, in the ways of the Lord—not in what “seems right” (14:12), but in what IS right. The satisfaction this brings to our souls just can’t be replaced. “The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above” (Proverbs 14:14). “The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). “He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he” (Proverbs 16:20).

ENJOY the fruits of our labors—in the physical realm (“he who tills his land will be satisfied with bread”—Proverbs 12:11), but especially the spiritual realm. “A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul” (Proverbs 13:19), especially when that desire is to win souls (Proverbs 11:30).

Develop gratitude and contentment. “A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet” (27:7). We’re not entitled to anything, so let’s learn to be thankful for every “sweet” blessing—from the least to the greatest. “The leech has two daughters—Give and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, four never say, ‘Enough!’ The grave, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water—and the fire never says, ‘Enough!’” (Proverbs 30:15-16). Gratitude and contentment—we’ll never be merry without them, and what’s worse, we’ll lose our souls.

Don’t drink the poison of envy, which in some cases may be the source of our unhappiness. “A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones” (Proverbs 14:39). “Rejoice with those who rejoice” (Romans 12:15)—that’s the antidote to this crippling sin of envy, and one more key to a merry heart.

REJOICE in the hope of eternal life. “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:17-18). Can’t escape sorrow here, but we can there, and that prospect will surely sustain us through whatever difficulties we face in this life.

Hard to find more fitting words with which to close: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

— Via Plain Words from God’s Word, April 10, 2025

——————–

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 Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).

3) Repent of sins.  For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).  For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).

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; 1 Pet. 3:21).  This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).  For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so “through faith in the working of God” (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to…

6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).

——————–

Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA  31501

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service
Wednesday (all but the first): 7 p.m. Bible Classes 
 First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)