Playing to our Strength

Playing to our Strengths

Our son was one of the most naturally gifted athletes I have ever known. Even at a young age, his advanced speed, quickness, agility and athleticism were obvious to anyone who watched him play. I recall one particular elementary school basketball game he competed in. With the game on the line and only seconds left, our coach called a time-out and drew up a play which featured Chris’s ball-handling ability and would also give him the final shot, making a comment to the effect that, “If they’re going to beat us, they’re going to have to stop our best player.” Smart coach. Not because he featured our son, but because he played to our strengths; he featured that which was the best of what we had to offer. That’s what good, insightful, successful and winning coaches and people do – they emphasize and play to their strengths, instead of allowing the competition to dictate what they do.

The Gospel Truth is your greatest strength.  Not some gimmick.

The Gospel Truth is your greatest strength. Not some gimmick.

This is why we, as members of the Lord’s church, must not reduce ourselves to simply just inviting others to church the way so many other competing religious groups do, but must instead, consistently utilize that which is our unique and greatest strength. We must find or create every opportunity possible, to engage people in an ongoing and in-depth personal Bible study, precisely because the word of God is our greatest strength and attraction for a lost world. Let’s face it, what other church can be proven by Scripture, to be the one the Lord established and Peter opened on the Day of Pentecost just as Jesus promised (Mt. 16:13-19; Acts 2:22-47)? What other churches can honestly claim to comprise the one, unique, exclusive, undivided and undenominated body or church of Christ which the Lord’s very own hand-picked apostles worked and worshipped in during the post-resurrection first century (Ro. 16:16; Eph. 1:22-23, 4:4-6)? What other church preaches and teaches that a lost person is cleansed, forgiven, saved, and added to the Lord’s church, in exactly the same way as our Lord’s apostles taught (Acts 2:38-47, 22:16; Ro. 6:1-6; Col. 2:12-13; 2 Ptr. 3:21)?

As evidenced above, the word of God proves every one of these points unequivocally. No man-made and founded denomination coming along centuries later can ever legitimately lay claim to any of these things. No judgement, just fact: The Catholic (circa 330 A.D.), Lutheran (1517), Baptist (1607), and so many other man-made churches which lost folks are so often invited to, are never once seen or named in Scripture – but the churches of Christ (33 A.D.) and their faith and doctrine are (Ro. 16:16-17; Jude 3; Eph. 4:11-14; 1 Tim. 4:1-6, 6:3-5; 2 Tim. 3:16-4:4; 2 Jn. 1:9-11). Our greatest strength, is that we go solely by Scripture. Want to win the war for a lost soul? Play to your strength. Get them into the Bible (Jn. 8:31-32)!

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Building Up? Tearing Down?

Are We Building Up or Tearing Down?

Though we may not always appreciate it, one of the great values of the wonderful book of Proverbs is that the inspired wisdom frequently hits close to home. We do well to reflect upon the sayings and make personal application to self as warranted.

The role of wife and mother is powerful and honorable.

The role of wife and mother is powerful and honorable.

Consider, if you will, the rather pointed observation of Proverbs 14:1: “Every wise woman builds up her home, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.” (CJB)

The proverb is not speaking about the building or destroying of a physical structure, but to the building up of a family. A wise woman makes decisions which make her family stronger, more loving, more united and better than it otherwise would have been. Through her tireless dedication, she nurtures, admonishes, and loves those in her care so that at the end of the task, when she is closing her eyes and preparing to sleep, she knows that the home she has built will weather her absence.

The foolish woman, on the other hand ends up with a broken family – and it is her fault based entirely on the choices she made, the words she used, the behavior she encouraged, and the way she drove those close to her away. That’s a hard lesson because we so often want to blame others when we ourselves are the ones destroying the relationships we hold dear.

As an immediate application, God is reminding us that if you want a strong home: wisdom, drawn from His Word, and applied to the family life, is key; otherwise, sinful, selfish words and actions will only destroy that which we want to preserve. And, as a warning, we do well to realize that years of work can be undone by moments of foolishness. Though a potter may labor for days over a particular vessel, it is the works of mere seconds to shatter the same.

While the proverb is pointed at women in particular, it is equally applied to men. Husbands and fathers who want a strong family must work to build the same up in wisdom, while guarding against those foolish words and actions which will undo all the labor that has gone before.

What is true of the home, is true of the larger world beyond. The proverb’s application stretches to encompass many walks of life: our community, our jobs, our friendships, and even the church itself.

In each case, there is a community built upon relationships between people. These relationships are made stronger through the values and wisdom God teaches in His word. Honesty, integrity, selflessness, faithfulness, love, compassion, kindness, goodness, self-control… values such as these can only strengthen the bonds between people. Likewise, gossip, theft, ridicule, scorn, infidelity, violence, drunkenness, selfishness and greed… these sorts of behaviors tear apart the fabrics of societies, breeding distrust and isolation, and making life more difficult for all involved.

Strong homes, strong communities, strong churches and strong friendships: none of these things happen by accidents. They are built up through wisdom and perseverance, with each member of the community in question acting responsible and loving. When we choose to act otherwise, we bear responsibility for the damage that follows.

The world around us is too often torn apart by those who give no thought to the future of their respective communities as they act irresponsible, selfishly and sometimes even violently. We see images on the television of men and women tearing apart their own homes, their own towns and their own families as they lash out, engaging in self-destructive behavior. This behavior can take the form of rioting, drug-abuse, theft, divorce, alcohol, or a myriad of other sinful behaviors. In each case, the damage done does not just harm those around the perpetrator, but rebounds upon themselves with consequence after consequence.

It may sound cliché, but it’s still true – we must choose to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. We bear responsibility for our own actions and how we are choosing to build up our relationships with those around us. Rather than blaming others for the misfortunes that befall our relationships, we do better to examine our own conduct and whether we are building up or tearing down that which we hold dear.

 

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More than a Children’s Song

More than a Children’s Song

Sometimes one of life’s greatest lessons can be found in places where we would not think they could be found. There is a simple song which has been sung by children for at least sixty years which has profound truth. In reality, while it may be thought of as a children’s song, those who are older would truly profit if they thought about its message.

Watch your eyes, watch your eyes what they see.
Watch your eyes, watch your eyes what they see.
For the Father up above is looking down in love,
So watch your eyes what they see.

Each succeeding verse is similar but changes the word eye and the word see to point to another part of the body. The children point to each part of the body so there is a lot of action. Those of us who are older could profit, not by doing the accompanying actions, but by doing the “action” in our hearts.

As good stewards we should take care with the life God has given.

As good stewards we should take care with the life God has given.

Watch your eyes, what they see. “The woman saw that the tree was good…pleasant to her eyes” (Gen. 3:6). “All that is in the world…the lust of the eyes…is not of the Father” (1 John 2:16). “The eyes of man are never satisfied” (Pro. 27:20). “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes” (Pro. 12:15).

Watch your ears, what they hear. “Hear my prayer, O God, give ear to the words of my mouth” (Psa. 54:2). “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination to God” (Pro. 28:9). “Then he read from it in the open square…from morning until midday…and all the ears of the people were attentive to the book of the law” (Neh. 9:8). “Incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding” (Pro. 2:2).

Watch your lips, what they say. “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit” (Psa. 34:13). “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise” (Psa. 51:15). “My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul which you have redeemed” (Psa. 71:23). “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight” (Pro. 12:22).

Watch your hands, what they do. “My hands also will I lift up to Your commandments, which I love and I will meditate on Your law” (Psa. 119:48). “These six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abominations to Him…hands what shed innocent blood” (Pro. 6:16-17).

Watch your feet, where they go. “I thought about my ways and my feet turned to Your testimonies” (Psa. 119:59). “I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word” (Psa. 119:101). “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my path” (Psa. 119:105).

Let us sing.

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Who Runs Your Home? You or Your Kids?

Who Runs Your Home? You or Your Kids?

Baptism is not a flu shot. It’s not a situation in which you are baptized and then you are “covered” for life.

Jesus spoke about the narrow way that we must be on in order to get to the narrow gate (Matthew 7). John admonished that we should be faithful unto death in order to receive a crown of life (Revelation 2:10). Peter and Paul also wrote about fleeing immorality, putting on the new man, and being holy. Obviously, the New Testament indicates that we continue to grow in faithfulness.

Is this the behavior you accept in your home?

Is this the behavior you accept in your home?

Yet, the lives of many young people do not reflect this truth. For example, it is amazing to me how many young people do not honor and respect their parents. This sickening epidemic can even be seen in young adults in their 20s who talk down to, openly rebel against, and manipulate their parents. The same thing can be witnessed in a school classroom where teachers are talked down to and given little to no respect.

And, sadly, this is even happening in the church. On any given Sunday Christian young people can be seen rolling their eyes or ignoring their parents or Bible class teachers. Children can be seen talking down to their parents or throwing fits to get their way. What’s going on here? Who is actually running the home?

Here’s what I intend to teach my children regarding honoring and respecting their parents.

The words honor and respect are often used synonymously. Simply put, to honor or respect someone means you are showing them admiration or showing esteem to them. God used these words in expressing how children should act toward their parents. Notice in Ephesians 6:1 Paul uses the phrase “obey your parents in the Lord,” pointing out that it is important that the parents not be going against the will of God.

So what does this mean for you? Please hear me loud and clear on this: When you have children it is not right or acceptable for your child to boss you around or make the rules in your house. If you allow this then ultimately you will raise children who do not honor and respect their heavenly Father.

Likewise, just because you are of adult age does not mean you get to suddenly set aside passages of the Bible you don’t personally agree with like honoring your parents. Even if you are in your mid-20s, you should still show honor and respect for your parents. My parents are now in their 70s and I still give them honor and respect.

Christian young people—of ALL young people—should be leading the way in demonstrating honor and respect toward their parents. It is easy to love and respect someone when they grant your requests or give you everything you ask for. The true test comes when you don’t get your way or don’t agree. You should honor and obey your parents even when you don’t agree! Right now our culture is suffering because young people think the world revolves around them and they do not respect authority.

It is WAY PAST time that we return to what God’s Word says on this subject. Over and over Scriptures command children to honor their father and mother. Exodus 20:12 states: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” (See also Ephesians 6:1-4; Deuteronomy 5:16), It also indicates that children are to obey your parents (Colossians 3:20; Proverbs 1:8).

Why is all of this important? Because the way you treat your parents reveals a great deal about how you will likely treat God. If you dishonor, disrespect, and disobey your parents then you will likely treat God the same way.

Study carefully passages like Deuteronomy 21:18-21. God was not playing around about children who were rebellious and disobedient. When you grow up please remember that if your child is not honoring or respecting you there is a good chance his or her soul is in jeopardy—because they are probably not honoring or respecting God either. Keep on studying.

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Jesus is the Head of the Body

Jesus is the Head of the Church Me!

And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).

What does it mean to us that Jesus is the head of the church? It is easy to apply this in some distanced way: to say that Jesus is the head, and not the Pope, or the Queen of England, or any person (not in our immediate vicinity) who would claim headship of any religious organization. This is a message some need to hear, no doubt. However, let’s be clear and say further that the head of the church is not the eldership, nor any elder; it is not the deacons, nor any deacon. It is not the preacher or any preacher. The head of the church is not any member or group of members.  Do we understand?

There is one head of the Church for all time.

There is one head of the Church for all time.

Jesus is the head of each congregation; Jesus is the head of the elders, the deacons, the preacher, the members, and me! In 1 Corinthians 11:3, Paul writes,

“But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ.”

The word “head” means authority, leader, director, chief, ruler.  As the church, we confess, “I am not the head of me; Jesus is.” We can say “Jesus is the head of the church” all day long, but it will be meaningless for our lives if we are not following Him. Unfortunately, we compete with Jesus for the title “Head of the Church” every day when we seek control and insist on our own way.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit” (Phil.2:3).

Let’s insist on Jesus, not self. God bless you, and I love you.

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