“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).
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Contents

1) Where Could I Go But To The Lord . . . (Bill Fairchild, Jr.)
2) The Importance Of Thoughts (Bill Crews)
3) The Mirror Versus The Window (R.J. Evans)
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Where Could I Go But To The Lord . . .

Bill Fairchild, Jr.

“O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (2 Chronicles 20:12, NKJV).

There are those unwanted occasions in life when we find ourselves experiencing that uneasy feeling … we don’t know where to turn or what to do!

We may resort to looking to friends and family. While they offer support, they don’t have all the answers. We may turn to our own wisdom, experience, and strength only to shake our head at our woeful limitations.

We are often in the middle of several battles. Not with large physical armies. Maybe our own health or the health of family members or close friends … maybe our financial situation … maybe relationships complications with our families or neighbors … and even those within our own heart and soul.

The question that plagues so many is how to let God fight our battles?

We may be very independent. A quality that can be a blessing or a curse. A certain degree of independence can be of benefit. But it can also become a stumbling block that, if allowed to go unchecked, can stand between us and our God and His will for our lives.

When the Old Testament King Jehoshaphat received word that three armies had conspired together and were coming against him in one massive assault, he made a decisive and unconventional leadership move. His plea recorded in 2 Chronicles 20:1-13 … “God, we’re facing an enemy that is stronger than we are. We don’t know what to do, but we’re looking to You for help.”

How many times have we been in a similar situation … helpless and in some ways hopeless. We ought to be turning to the Lord with eyes focused on Him! It is with Him that we can find the wisdom, guidance, comfort, and peace that He alone can provide.

Our Lord never grows weary of our taking our worries, concerns, problems, and challenges before His throne! He longs for His people to address their needs to Him … yours and mine. He is always ready to listen and answer … according to His will and nature!

The Lord answered Jehoshaphat by Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him while he was with the congregation.

2 Chronicles 20:15, “… Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.”

Jehoshaphat’s hope was built on the promises and presence of God. Does this describe our hope, our faith and trust in the Lord? Centuries long ago, when the people of God had divided into northern and southern kingdoms, it was God’s name that dwelt in Judah, and therefore His glory was at stake in this great horde marching against them. Jehoshaphat knows that God is faithful to keep all His promises, so he appeals to Him with great confidence and directness knowing he will find well-timed help because of the covenant love of God. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

In the same way, even when we feel overwhelmed by our circumstances, steady hope lives and endures in the promises of God to us in Christ. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who will lead us even in the valley of the shadow of death, pursuing us with His goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. (Psalm 23:4, 6)

Nothing will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)

Except our own choice to dismiss His instructions.

It is when we find ourselves afraid and fearful, unsettled, and uncertain … that we turn to the blessed avenue of prayer, and we pray with confidence because of these sure and steady promises … promises that are ours because Jesus bled and died to make us “sons and daughters of God.”

Whatever battles you are facing today, seek God. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).

— Via Walking in Sunlight, March 14, 2024
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The Importance Of Thoughts

Bill Crews

If you are concerned about your character, your conduct, your life and your destiny, then be concerned about your thoughts. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). The heart is the mind, and the mind is the center of thoughts. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7). A man may not be what he appears to be, but he is what he thinks.

What goes into your mind, then, is extremely important. Be careful about the interests you acquire, the tastes you cultivate, the desires you develop. They shape what goes into your mind. The conversations you listen to, the scenes you observe, the movies you view, the TV programs you tune into, the newspapers, magazines and books you read, the songs by which you are entertained, the jokes you laugh at, the things you are taught all have a part in feeding information into your mind.

You evaluate and monitor all that you hear and see. Your standard for evaluation and your conscience are vital and play their roles. You may seek out or receive what is vulgar or distorted, or you may reject and refuse it. You may pursue and embrace what is wholesome and true, or you may have no interest in it and neglect it. Be cautious, particular and selective about what goes into your mind. If you allow garbage to go in, then garbage will come out in the form of words and deeds.

What goes on in your mind is also extremely important. Be careful about your thoughts, meditations, desires, ambitions, daydreams and fantasies. You determine what goes on in your mind. You are the master of it because you have control over it. It is your own little secret world — except that God knows all about it, and will one day bring it to light when you have to answer for it in the judgment (Eccl. 12:14; Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 2:16; 2 Cor. 5:10). And sooner or later it will find expression in your life and make itself known.

We cannot be like God without thinking the thoughts of God. We cannot know the thoughts of God apart from the revelation of the things of God in the word of God (1 Cor. 2:11-13). We cannot have the thoughts of God in our hearts apart from reverent study of and meditation upon the word of God, coupled with a sincere desire to do the will of God (Jn. 7:17).

— Via Viewpoint from the Valley Grove church of Christ, February 6, 2022
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The Mirror Versus The Window

R.J. Evans

The common philosophy of our culture today fosters the “me, my, and mine” attitude.

From early childhood onward, so much emphasis is being placed on “have your own way,” “do your own thing,” and “look out for number one.”

Some see life through a window while others view life in a mirror. Those who view life in a mirror only see themselves. They are only concerned with self, because they can’t see the needs of others around them. Those who view life through a window, see others first, with a faded reflection of self. They are truly concerned about all those about them. They do everything possible to seek the good of others. This is how parents should be teaching their children — look through the window, not just focus on yourself in the mirror!

There is another mirror, however, that we need to constantly look into in order to see ourselves as God sees us — the mirror of God’s Word (Jas. 1:22-26). As Christians we must always place Christ and the advancement of His Cause first in our lives. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). Further we are told to “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3-4).

Thus, living the Christian life is a life of ministry and service to others. Jesus taught this throughout the whole time he lived among men. At the close of His life here on earth, He demonstrated what He had been teaching by performing the lowly act of washing His disciples’ feet (Jn. 13). Give some serious thought to the teachings of Christ before you begin to think you have to have “your way” in everything. Selfishness has no place in the service of the Lord. Stop looking at life in the mirror (of self); view it through the window!

— Via Viewpoint from the Valley Grove church of Christ, May 22, 2022

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

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

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.)