“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) A Genuine Interest in Others (R.J. Evans)
2) We Wait by Faith (Irvin Himmel)
3) Psalm 119:17-24 (Berean Study Bible) 

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A Genuine Interest in Others

R.J. Evans

“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” (Philippians 2:3-4).

It was out of great love and interest in our salvation that God was willing to allow His Son to leave Heaven, live on earth, and ultimately give His life as the redemptive price for the sins of men (Jn. 3:16; Eph. 1:2-12). The over-riding purpose of Jesus’ coming to this earth was, not to do His own will or seek His own interests, but rather to do the will of His Father. This purpose was repeated many times in His conversations with others and His prayers to the Father. Hebrews 10:9 says it all: “He said, ‘Behold I have come to do Your will, O God.’” Jesus also taught that “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23). The Apostle Paul lived this kind of life, as is stated in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Jesus teaches that God must come first when He said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).

Therefore, we must be willing to overcome ourselves, seek the Lord first, and genuinely be interested in others so that we can find true happiness, contentment, and be truly pleasing to God. The basis of the command in our title is predicated upon what is stated in Philippians 2:5: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Therefore, when we truly have the mind of Christ we can do as the Apostle Paul instructs in Philippians 2:4.

Here are a few suggestions to put into action in our lives:

Resist the urge to think we are so specially important or of more value than others. In other words, work on reducing the urge to depend upon and maintain our own self-pride. To some, everything revolves around the importance of themselves. This causes one to be self-inflated and arrogant. When we develop this attitude toward self, it becomes so difficult, and next to impossible, to be interested in the welfare of others. The Apostle Paul counters this attitude when he told the Corinthians: “And I will gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.”

Don’t believe everything we think about ourselves. Don’t become conceited and self-absorbed (go back to our text). The heart can be very deceptive—“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). Maintain a good sense of self-esteem, while developing a healthy sense of “ego-skepticism.” We must avoid being proud and thinking we are “above” others! “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” (Jas. 4:6). Being filled with pride sets an individual up for a “fall.” The Apostle Paul warned, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught a tremendous lesson on being interested and willing to help others in their needs (Lk. 10:30-37). Let us all realize that we are totally dependent upon God for direction— “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23). Thus, when God tells us not to be selfish and conceited, with humility esteem others better than ourselves, and be interested in others—He knows that is what is best for us.

We must all work at overcoming ourselves by denying ourselves and developing the heart of a servant—a genuine desire to serve God and looking out for the interests of others.  As Jesus said, “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:27-28).  When we are truly interested in others, we will seek to teach them the gospel if they are lost; we will seek to restore them if they are a fallen Christian; we will assist others in their physical needs; we will rebuke them when necessary; we will show kindness and true love in every way possible; and we will pray for them.

The Apostle Paul stated, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). This, along with having the mind of Christ, are the keys to obeying the words of our text in having A GENUINE INTEREST IN OTHERS.

— Via the bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales, LA, July 16, 2017

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We Wait by Faith

Irvin Himmel

To the Galatians, Paul wrote, “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith” (Gal. 5:5). The main thought in that sentence furnishes the title of this article.

1. We wait by faith when the gospel is preached. After the farmer or gardener sows the seed, he cultivates, waters, and cares for the plant, patiently waiting for the harvest. He has faith that the seed will germinate, the soil will be productive, and the sunshine will cause growth according to God’s natural laws.

In like manner, we do not expect immediate results each time the seed of the kingdom is sown. We show our faith in God’s word, in the divine laws for the growth of the kingdom, and in the promises of God by cultivating and watering, and by patiently waiting for the increase.

2. We wait by faith for the coming of the Lord. Jesus has promised that He will come again (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11). No one knows of that day or that hour (Matt. 24:36). We do know that “unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb. 9:28). Our citizenship is in–heaven, “from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). “Look for” in this passage is the same as “wait” in Gal. 5:5. It conveys the thought of eager expectation as well as patient readiness.

3. We wait by faith for eternal life. We who are Christians live “in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Tit. 1:2). That which is the grand object of our hope is unseen, for “hope that is seen is not hope… But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Rom. 8:24, 25). This is what Paul is referring to in Gal. 5:5. We, through the Spirit’s revelation by means of the word of God, wait for the hope of righteousness. The Spirit reveals that righteousness or justification is through Jesus Christ, not the works of the law of Moses. Eternal life is the hope offered to all who attain to the righteousness that comes through the exercise of faith in Jesus Christ. We wait (rather than grow discouraged or turn back) for the hope of righteousness by faith.

The life of the Christian is one of the earnest expectation and diligent service in patient waiting; it is a life of fidelity to Christ.

— Via The Auburn Beacon

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Psalm 119:17-24

Gimel

17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.

18 Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.

19 I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.

20 My soul is consumed with longing for Your judgments at all times.

21 You rebuke the arrogant— the cursed who stray from Your commandments.

22 Remove my scorn and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies.

23 Though rulers sit and slander me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

24 Your testimonies are indeed my delight; they are my counselors.

— Via Berean Study Bible

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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.)