Month: March 2026

“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) Seeking the Face of God (Psalm 27:8-9) (Mike Johnson)
2) Whom Having Not Seen, Ye Love (Jarrod M. Jacobs)
3) Dad’s 9 Rules For Living (W. Frank Walton)

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Seeking the Face of God
(Psalm 27:8-9)

Mike Johnson

Many think David wrote Psalm 27 when fleeing from Saul, which is likely the case. Earlier in the Psalm, he expresses strong faith and confidence in God, but verses 8-9 reflect him apparently facing difficulties. In these verses, he addresses God saying, “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.’ Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.” David says he will seek God’s face and asks God not to turn His face from him. This may have been at a time when David was struggling with himself or God. Perhaps he felt God had not responded to his prayers as quickly as he would have liked and had turned His face away.  What does the concept of God turning His face from someone mean?  We will look further at this concept and see what we might learn.

To begin with, the concept of seeking the face of God or God hiding His face from someone appears several times in the Scriptures (Job 13:24; Ps. 13:1; 44:24; 69:17; 88:14; 102:2). Someone may say, “But, God is a spirit and does not have a face.” References to the “face” of God is a figure of speech called “anthropomorphism,” which means attributing human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object. God turning His face toward a person entails receiving His protection, presence, guidance, and favor. God hiding His face from someone would mean being without these things.

Next, we see in these two verses that God took the initiative, asking the Psalmist to seek His face. His statement tells us that the Lord wants to have a relationship with us; He wants everyone to be saved (2 Pet. 3:8-10). So often, rulers and others of importance are not interested in having contact with the people. This attitude is not the case with God, as He wants us to seek His face. David’s response was like an echo as he said he would seek God’s face. Then David, perhaps expressing frustration, asked God not to hide His face from him.

How do we seek the face of God? How do we keep God from hiding His face from us? Various passages tell us how to do this and the benefits which will follow. Note 2 Chronicles 7:14:

if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

The verse above shows that seeking God’s face involves humility, praying, and turning from wicked ways. God will then “hear from heaven,” and we will receive forgiveness. Consider Psalm 105:104:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!

From the verses above, we learn that one must give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, and make known His deeds, among others. We must also sing psalms to Him, talk of His wondrous works, glory in His name, and seek His strength. Note another passage:

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?  Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face (Ps 24:3-6).

From these verses, we see that seeking the face of the Lord involves having clean hands and a pure heart and not having worshiped idols or having sworn deceitfully. As a result, we will receive blessings and righteousness from God, who will save us.

Are we seeking the face of God? Is God hiding his face from us? We must always seek the face of God!

— Via Seeking Things Above

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1).

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Whom Having Not Seen, Ye Love

Jarrod M. Jacobs

Peter’s description of “the strangers scattered” in I Peter 1:8 has fascinated me for many years. I Peter 1:8 states that these people had not seen Christ, and yet Peter was assured they loved Him. How did Peter know they loved the Lord? He knew this in the same manner Christ described in John 14:15, 15:14, and other places. Based on their obedience to the Lord, their love for Him was apparent. When we read this chapter, we see they were commended for being obedient to the Lord, enduring various trials, and continuing to follow Him.

It would also have been seen in the love expressed toward their brethren (Jn. 13:34-35). After all, how could someone claim love for Christ whom he has not seen when he doesn’t even love his brother that he has seen (I Jn. 4:20)? Yes, he who loves God must love his brother also (I Jn. 4:21)!

Although these people had never seen Christ, because they loved their brethren and believed the teaching and preaching of the gospel, the people from these five regions had continued following the Savior of the world.

In like manner, I think about men today. Are we not in a similar situation as those in Peter’s letter? We have not seen the Lord. Yet, think of those countless millions who have expressed their love for the Lord to this present day. They love the Lord and love His sacrifice, His kindness, His care, His wisdom, yes, they love Him for what He has done in selflessly offering Himself that we might be free from sin (Jn. 8:36, 10:17-18)! It is these people (us) that the Lord commended in John 20:29!

How much do you love the Lord you have not seen? How are you expressing it among the brethren that you have seen? These folks expressed it by rejoicing “with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” How much joy is in your heart?

I Peter 1:8 is yet more proof of the timelessness of the Bible and its teachings. We have a connection to those “strangers” Peter addressed. Let us make the connection and apply God’s word to our lives accurately (II Tim. 2:15)!

— Via Articles from the Spenser church of Christ, November 3, 2025    

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Dad’s 9 Rules For Living

W. Frank Walton

1. Put God First — We exist for His glory and then to enjoy Him forever (I John 17:3; Prov. 9:10).

2. Follow Jesus Daily — He became as we are, in order to make us like He is (I John 2:6; John 14:6).

3. Study the Bible Regularly — Scripture is God’s one and only guidebook to eternity (Acts 20:32; Psalms 119:105).

4. Pray Constantly — It keeps us close to heaven’s pure air for the soul (Romans 12:12; Hebrews 4:16).

5. Think Hopefully — Our life is what our thoughts make it (Proverbs 17:22; Proverbs 4:23).

6. Improve Yourself Consistently — With God’s help, you can make the best of any situation (Philippians 4:13; 3:14).

7. Do the Right Thing Always — Character is the sum of all our choices (Proverbs 27:19; Proverbs 4:18).

8. Treat Others Lovingly — God put us on earth to help lift others up to heaven (Matthew 7:12; 5:16).

9. Be a Faithful Member of Christ’s Church — Jesus is counting on you to carry on His work by exercising your talents in His one body (Ephesians 4:16; Revelation 2:10).

— Via Viewpoint from the Valley Grove church of Christ, January 23, 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 (except for last of the month Song Service)
and 10 a.m. Worship Service
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.)

“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) Teach Me Your Way (Psalm 86:11) (Mike Johnson)
2) What Must I Do…After I Become A Christian? (Bryan Gibson)

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Teach Me Your Way
(Psalm 86:11)

Mike Johnson

Psalm 86 is a psalm of David, and verse 11 is a part of a prayer he prayed during a time of extreme distress. People are trying to kill him (14), and he turns to God for help. He implored, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.” 

It is interesting, although experiencing turmoil, that the Psalmist wanted to learn. The desire to learn is essential in gaining knowledge in anything, and this concept is especially true with the Scriptures. Consider Ezra’s heart described in the Old Testament (Ezra 7:10). “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.”  Other passages in the Bible teach this idea.  For example, 1 Peter 2:2 says, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” (Some translations render the Greek word “crave” or “long for.”)  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Mt. 5:6). Thus, wanting to learn God’s will is essential.

Consider the following illustration.  A young man was trying to learn the language of another country and was having trouble — it was a slow process. Finally, however, he met a woman from that country and learned the language in practically no time.  What was missing earlier? It was the motivation! Similarly, we must be motivated to understand God’s Word to succeed.

To successfully learn God’s Word, it is also vital that we have a love for it.  Consider the attitude of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:97 as he says, “Oh, how I love Your law!  It is my meditation all the day.” The first part of the verse relates to the second part — those who love the law of God are more likely to meditate on it “all the day.” Sadly, some may not care for Bible study because God’s Word condemns them for sins they are not ready to stop practicing.

Further, the text (11a) says, “teach me YOUR way.” We must be willing to submit to God’s will, not follow our own.  From the earlier verses, it is clear that David knew who God was and wanted to humbly submit to His will, not someone else’s.

After expressing a desire to learn the Lord’s way, he says (11b), “I will walk in your truth.” The writer wanted to understand God’s way, not just for intellectual curiosity or to be able to have a conversation about it, but he wanted to “walk,” or live, by God’s Law. In the earlier verses, we learn what God has done, but we must do our part to know and obey His will.

Yet what is truth? Pilate asked this question at the crucifixion of Jesus (Jn. 18:38). Philosophers have also asked it throughout the history of mankind. The Scriptures teach that God’s Word is truth. In John 17:17, Jesus prayed to God for His apostles just before His arrest, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (Note also Eph. 3:3-4; 1 Thess. 2:13; Gal. 1:12; 2 Tim. 3:16-17.)

We also see in Proverbs 23:23 that truth is vital as it says, “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.” The writer compares truth to a commodity. First, we should do anything it takes to “buy” it; then, we should not give it up for any price. Only truth (“Your way”-11a) can make us free (Jn. 8:32).

Then he says (11c), “Unite my heart to fear Your name.” Many people have divided loyalties, as their hearts may not be entirely into an endeavor. This type of heart is also found as people try and serve God. Since God alone is God (10c), the Psalmist did not want a divided heart where he might partially serve God but also serve idols or other gods. If he did this, he could never walk in God’s truth (11b).

Are we motivated to learn God’s truths?  Do we, like the Psalmist, strongly desire to know God’s ways so we can walk in his truth with an undivided heart?

— Via Seeking Things Above

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”  — Colossians 3:1

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What Must I Do…
After I Become a Christian?

Bryan Gibson

Do what the very first Christians did—join together with other Christians in
a local church and continue “steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42; 11:26; 20:7). Because you will be involved in what this church does, make certain that everything this church does is according to Christ.

Do not forsake or neglect the assemblies of the church. God designed these to help you grow, and so if you miss, you’ll just get weaker and weaker (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Now that you have “turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21), you must “with purpose of heart…continue with the Lord” (Acts 11:23).

Do not live for yourself any longer; live for Jesus, who loved you and gave Himself for you (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Galatians 2:20).

Put Christ and His word first—before yourself, before your friends, before husband or wife, before father or mother, before son or daughter, before anyone or anything (Matthew 10:34-39; 6:33).

Be willing to surrender all to Jesus—your talents, your money, your time, and yes, even your own life. Give Jesus all you’ve got, because that’s exactly what He has done for you (Romans 8:31-32).

Do not let peer pressure keep you from standing up for Jesus (John 9:20-22; 12:42-43; Mark 8:38; 1 Corinthians 16:13). “Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow” (I Have Decided To Follow Jesus, v. 2).

Do not keep living the way you once did (Ephesians 4:17); “walk in newness of life”.(Romans 6:4).

Regard yourself as “dead to sin, but alive to God” (Romans 6:11)—and then live that way.

Be a “slave of righteousness” (Romans 6:18); do whatever it demands of you.

Change your priorities. Seek the things above (Colossians 3:1), things like kindness, humility, meekness, forgiveness, love, peace, etc. (Colossians 3:12-17). You should no longer have any interest in being like the world. Conforming to the image of Christ is now your main focus (Colossians 3:9-10).

Do not “look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Keep your focus on that “which endures to everlasting life” (John 6:27).

“Regard no one according to the flesh” (2 Corinthians 5:16), or according to the standards of the world. Everything about you now is “new” (2 Corinthians 5:17), including a new way of looking at people. Don’t focus on their nationality, race, color, level of intelligence, financial standing, their sordid past, etc.— focus on their soul, focus on the fact that Jesus loves them and died for them (Hebrews 2:9). See the value in every soul.

Love others the way Jesus loves you (John 13:34-35). Look out for their interests as well as your own (Philippians 2:3-4). Be willing to sacrifice for them, just as Jesus did for you (1 John 3:16-18).

Spend considerable time in the word of God, so you can grow spiritually (1 Peter 2:1-3). The word of God provides food for the soul; you simply cannot live without it (1 Timothy 4:6; Matthew 4:4).

Spend much time in prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), which will enable you to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Do not try to make it on your own; you will need His help, and you will need it every single day.

Show God how grateful you are for what He has done for you—do as much for Him as you possibly can (1 Corinthians 15:10, 58). You can start by teaching (or getting someone to teach) your family, friends, and neighbors the gospel of Christ (Mark 5:19; Luke 8:39; Acts 8:4).

— via the Weekly Bulletin from the Prattmont church of Christ, May 4, 2025

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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 (except for last of the month Song Service)
and 10 a.m. Worship Service
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.)

“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) Five Steps to Peace (Psalm 37:3-8) (Mike Johnson)

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Five Steps to Peace
(Psalm 37:3-8)

Mike  Johnson

“Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb” (Ps. 37:1-2).

When we think of the word “fret,” we may think of someone excessively worrying or frequently anxious. However, the Hebrew word used here (charah) means “to be hot, to be furious, to burn, to become angry, to be kindled” (The Online Bible Thayer’s Greek Lexicon & Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon). Most translators translate the Hebrew word in the text as “fret.” Elsewhere, however, it is rendered with such words as “wrath,” “anger,” “hot,” or “kindled.” In addition, various modern translations may translate it by words “annoyed” or “upset.” Thus, the idea is not to be angry or “worked up” regarding evildoers or envy them (1b). Why would someone be tempted to react this way? It is because of the prosperity and, seemingly, good life. Jeremiah asked, in Jeremiah 12:1, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?”

There are times when God’s people face many difficulties in life. Like others, Christians can face money problems, mistreatment, illnesses, the death of loved ones, and relationship issues. Yet people who make no pretense of serving God seem not to be experiencing such matters, as everything appears to be going well for them. Looking at the prosperity of evil people, God’s followers might tend to get discouraged. This discouragement especially appears when EVERYTHING seems to be going wrong, and they hit “rock bottom.” However, it is ridiculous to be envious of evildoers.

Verse 2 points out that these evildoers will soon be “cut down like the green grass,” and they will “wither” as the “green herb.” Their prosperity only lasts for this short life. Righteous people, however, have much more going for them. In Proverbs 24:19-20, Solomon says, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked; for there will be no prospect for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.”

Sometimes, a Christian might contemplate how nice it would be to swap places with another person. Although that person may be living a life of ease, perhaps wealthy or famous, switching places with an evil person would not be wise as their days of pleasure are short. It might be said that this world is as close to heaven as they will ever be. With the righteous, however, their days may be full of toil and strife, but they have a glorious future beyond this life, and their earthly existence is as close to Hell as they will ever be.

After showing the importance of not having anxiety, anger, and envy because of the prosperity of evil people, David points out what might be called “Five Steps to Peace” in verses 3-8. These are “medicines” against fretting and anxiety. They are the path to peace.

1. Trust in the Lord and Do Good — Verse 3 says, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” Thus, instead of fretting over the prosperity of evil people, the first step for God’s people is to trust in the Lord and to keep busy doing good. The Hebrew word translated “trust” can be defined as “A verb indicating to trust, to be confident. It expresses the feeling of safety and security felt when one relies on someone or something else. It is used to show trust in God…in other people…or in things…In addition, this expression can also relate to the state of being confident, secure, without fear” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament). The same idea is in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Note also Ps. 9:10; 4:5.)

In the text (3b), he also says to “do good.” Doing good is often associated with trusting in God. Recall another occasion when Nehemiah and the people were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and Tobiah, an antagonist, started ridiculing them (Neh. 4:3-6). How did they respond? They prayed, and they kept working. We should always do this today, especially when facing life’s challenges. We must trust God and stay busy!

In the later part of verse 3, a blessing is attached. If we trust in God and “do good,” we can “dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” For the children of Israel, the land would refer to the Promised Land, the land of Canaan (Is. 1:19). If they would trust God and “do good,” God would “feed them” with physical blessings such as food and clothing. How do we “feed” on God’s faithfulness? We feed upon God’s faithfulness by having full assurance that He is willing and able to keep His promises.

2. Delight in the Lord — Verse 4 says, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Found here is the next step for peace, which is to delight in the Lord. The word found in the original (anag) carries with it the idea of something delicate or soft that someone would take pleasure in (The Complete Word Study Dictionary). Here it involves the concept of having joy and delight in God. The verse says, “Delight yourself,” so there is a choice involved and the idea of effort and commitment.

What does it mean today to take delight in something or someone? It involves being excited (thrilled, energized) when people do what they want to do or with someone they love. What do you take great delight in today? Many take great pleasure in sports. They cannot wait for the season to start, and they eagerly anticipate the start of the big game. When the game is over, they talk about it with others. Indeed, they delight in sports. Others may delight in television, wealth, shopping, eating, or their computer. It is good to have various hobbies and endeavors we enjoy. Primarily, however, as the text says, we should delight in the Lord! For us, God produces delight, pleasure, and happiness. Therefore, if we delight in the Lord, the result should be a joyful interest in things of a spiritual nature.

Returning to verse 4b, we see a blessing attached to delighting in the Lord. It says if we trust in the Lord, He will give us the “desires of our heart.” Some interpret this to mean if we trust in the Lord, He will provide us with anything we want, such as luxuries, wealth, and power. However, this is not talking about superficial earthly desires to have more. 1 Timothy 6:6 says, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 John 2:15-17 points out we are not to love the world or the things in the world. The passage in our text is consistent with the New Testament teaching on prayer. In the New Testament, there are assurances regarding prayer (Mt. 7:7-11), but we also learn there are conditions of acceptable prayer (I Pet. 3:12, James 5:16-18). It is not saying if we delight in the Lord, He will give us any luxury we request of God. Instead, as in the New Testament, God knows our needs; we pray to Him, and His response will be in keeping with what is best for us.

We tend to get discouraged. We see moral decay with little interest in spirituality. Perhaps the stock market is down, the economy is terrible, and we see war and violence worldwide. This bleakness can result in despair, but we should always delight in the Lord regardless of what is happening around us. Corrie Ten Boom put it like this:

Look around, you’ll be distressed.

Look within, you’ll be depressed,

Look to the Lord, you’ll be at rest.

                                                          
Thus, do not get angry and envious because of evil people’s prosperity; instead, rejoice in the Lord.

3. Commit Our Way to the Lord and Trust Him — Verses 5-6 says, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (6) He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.”

The third step to peace is to commit our way to the Lord and trust God. As noted, we really cannot delight in the Lord if we are unwilling to obey Him. Another way to say this is in verse 5. We must “commit our way” (our course of life) to Him, and we must “trust” Him.

Consider the meaning of the Hebrew word translated as “commit.” The root meaning involves the idea of “roll” and refers to the “rolling of a stone.” Consider the following definition: “It can also describe abstract concepts, such as reproach being rolled off (removed) from someone (Ps 119:22) or one’s ways and works rolled onto (committed, entrusted) to someone (especially God)…” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament). Thus, it might be said we are to roll off the burdens of life onto the Lord. Consider I Peter 5:6-7: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” We must commit our lives to the Lord and trust Him to care for us. As we handle the burdens of life, we give God the credit. Verse 6 shows a blessing that will follow. It points out that God will vindicate those who commit their way to Him and make them shine like a bright sun.

4. Rest in the Lord and Wait — Verse 7 says, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.”

The fourth step to obtaining peace is to rest in the Lord and patiently wait. The word translated “rest” means “to be silent, to be still, to stand still” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary). The prosperity of the wicked might produce a dilemma for followers of God. The evildoer may prosper while engaging in wicked schemes. God’s people are not to fret, get angry, or envy. Instead, they are to remain silent and patiently wait for God. (See also Ps. 46:10, Ex. 14:13-14, Rom. 8:38-39.)

5. Cease to be Angry — Verse 8 says, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret — it only causes harm.” This step is the last one for peace. In the context, this is saying to stop being angry about the prosperity and seemingly good life of evildoers. Unresolved anger can fester and lead to bitterness and hurtful actions. Therefore, do not be fretful regarding evildoers or be angry with God. Ultimately, for the righteous, everything will work out. Someone put it like this: “We may not be able to control what happens in our lives, but we can control how we respond to what happens.”

Putting away the anger and anxiety that may come when we face difficulties is essential. We can do this by following these “medicines” for peace.

— Via Seeking Things Above, Volume 4, Number 5, August 2023

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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).
——————–

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

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes (except for last of the month Song Service)
and 10 a.m. Worship Service
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.)

“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) The Deceitfulness of Sin (Bryan Gibson)
2) At the Crossroads (Doy Moyer)
——————–

-1-

The Deceitfulness of Sin

Bryan Gibson

Sin is deceitful, so says Hebrews 3:13. Let’s examine some of the different ways in which sin can deceive us.

Sin can seem so right, even though it’s always wrong.

King Saul perhaps thought it was right to spare King Agag and the best of the flocks (1 Samuel 15), but it was very wrong. Paul thought he was right when he persecuted Christians (Acts 23:1; 26:9), but he was dead wrong. “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

Sin promises freedom, but what it really brings is slavery.

If you don’t believe it, ask the man who keeps carrying on an affair, even though it’s destroying him, his family, and his partner’s family. He has become a slave to his passions. Or, ask the man who has sacrificed everything else in order to get rich. Looking for financial freedom, what he got instead were more worries than he ever dreamed of. “His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin” (Proverbs 5:22).

Sin can seem very attractive, but it is actually very ugly.

With sin, what you see is NOT what you get. The fruit of the tree looked very attractive to Eve (Genesis 3:6), but she didn’t stop to think of the ugly consequences (Genesis 2:17). A festering, oozing sore was how God described Judah’s sins (Isaiah 1:5-6). When the apostle Peter wrote about saints who returned to sin, he described it as a dog returning to its vomit and a sow to her wallowing in the mud (2 Peter 2:18-22). The advertising industry paints one picture of sin; God paints an entirely different one.

Sin appears to be satisfying and fulfilling, but it ends up being very disappointing.

Without a doubt, sin brings a certain kind of pleasure. But here’s the catch—it doesn’t last very long. It was said of Moses that he chose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25). “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17).

Sin can seem insignificant, when actually it is very serious.

Adam and Eve—all they did was eat a little fruit (Genesis 3). Lot’s wife—she turned around and looked at a burning city, what’s so bad about that? Uzzah—well, he was just trying to keep the ark from falling (2 Samuel 6:1-11). We try to classify our own sins as minor, but that’s not the way God looks at them. Let’s be sure we don’t trivialize ANY sin.

Sin appears to bring life, but what it really brings is death.

What the devil says: “If you really want to live, you should have an affair, get drunk, go to the casino, etc.” What he really means: “If you want to die, you should…” Romans 6:23 is hard to misunderstand: “The wages of sin is death.”

— via the Weekly Bulletin of the Prattmont church of Christ, November 17, 2024

——————–

-2-

At the Crossroads

Doy Moyer

Scripture warns against those who “walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.” Paul writes, “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things” (Phil 3:18-19). Elsewhere Paul writes that those who cause divisions “do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive” (Rom 16:18). There can be specific applications of this (e.g., Judaizers, perhaps those greedy for food, or immorality), but the concept is still that there were those who were allowing their own desires to take precedence over the will of God. The only thing that mattered to them was their desires, so they gloried in their shame. Sadly, there can be those who give the appearance of wisdom in what they say and do, but they are promoting a “self-made religion” that has “no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” because, in reality, they are “not holding fast to the Head,” Jesus Christ (Col 2:16-23). They are enemies of the cross.

Contrasting this selfish spirit of fulfilling their desires and having minds set on earthly things, Paul speaks of dying to the elementary principles of the world and recognizing heavenly citizenship (Col 2:20; Phil 3:19-20). The enemies of the cross set their minds on this world to serve self. Citizens of heaven set their minds on things above because “you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Then, “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Therefore, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you…” (Col 3:1-5). Do you see where this is going?

The fight that we will always have is a spiritual battle with self, urged on by the devil. We may sometimes mask our selfish desires with a self-made religion that sounds good, but our self-affirmations and selfish ambitions betray us. We demand rights and fight for entitlements. We worship God as is convenient for us. Our personal happiness is paramount, and we use our freedoms to fight for our desires. Are we portraying the picture of those whose god is their belly and setting their minds on earthly things? Or are we showing what it means to die to self and live for Christ?

This concept of dying to self should not surprise us because it runs throughout Scripture. I have often remarked that the most difficult command in Scripture, at least for me, is found in this: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Self-denial is a prime trait of a child of God, though it comes with a heavy price: self must die! This is not easy.

Think of the ways this theme is stated: “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:3). “How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Rom 6:2). “He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor 5:15). “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal 5:24). “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal 6:14). “We know that our old self was crucified with Him…” (Rom 6:6). Many more passages can be cited.

Self-denial is not a passing concept in Scripture. It is at the crossroads of our service to the Lord, the decision point where we demonstrate how serious we are about our faith. To make self more important than the Lord is to become an enemy of the cross. To set our minds on earthly things is to run contrary to our heavenly citizenship. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom 8:5-8).

This will always be the critical fight. Will we deny self to take up the cross and follow Jesus? How we answer this will define the rest of our lives.

— Via Bulletin Articles from the Vestavia church of Christ, March 30, 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 (except for last of the month Song Service)
and 10 a.m. Worship Service
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.)