A Lesson from Luther
Mike Johnson
Luther was quite slow from a mental standpoint. He was well-liked in the community, and it was easy to get along with him. However, some of the young men in the neighborhood could not resist having some fun with him from time to time. At the little store where the guys always “hung out,” they would play a little game with Luther. They would say, “Luther, here is a dime and a nickel. Which one do you want?” Luther would always choose the nickel, which was, of course, the largest coin in size. At this point, the boys would all get a big laugh.
A few years later, one of the young men who had moved away returned to his hometown for a visit. Eventually, he made his way to the little store. He saw Luther at a distance and asked someone if people still played the game with Luther and if he always chose the nickel. They told him that people still played the game with him occasionally, and “Yes, Luther still always chose the nickel.” The young man then called Luther over and played the game, and, as usual, Luther chose the nickel. However, the young man felt a little bad about it this time (maybe he had matured some), so he explained things to Luther. “A dime,” he said, “is smaller than a nickel but is more valuable. A dime is worth ten cents, while a nickel is only five cents. So you should always choose the dime.” Luther looked at the man earnestly and said, “I know that, but if I choose the dime, they will stop doing it.”
The boys thought they were so clever and that Luther was so dumb. Who showed a lack of intelligence? It certainly was not Luther. He was getting the nickels and was more intelligent than they thought.
The story about Luther illustrates a fundamental principle. It teaches that things are not always as they appear. A person, an idea, or a concept may seem unintelligent and useless to some. However, a person’s view is not correct simply because he thinks it is an accurate or enlightened view.
Many people today view preaching and God’s Word as foolishness and a waste of time. They may not even believe in God. These people may also think of religion as a crutch and Christians as ignorant and unenlightened, while thinking of themselves as intelligent and enlightened. Many may not express these ideas, but they show their belief in them throughout their lives. They have little interest in spiritual things but instead serve such things as pleasure, lust, riches, and greed.
Some people were like this in Paul’s day. They thought of themselves as wise and thought of preaching as foolish. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” In verse 21, he said, “… it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” The “foolishness of preaching,” as it is called, is the source of salvation. Paul came to them with the straightforward message of “Christ crucified” (vs. 23). Yet, Paul said the world by its wisdom knew not God (vs. 21).
Some in Paul’s day saw the value of preaching and obeyed God. I Corinthians 1:18b says this about preaching, “… but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Those people saw where true wisdom existed. While others saw preaching as foolishness, they saw it for what it was: the power of God for salvation.
Let us not think of God’s Word as valueless and useless, as some people do. On the contrary, we need to see God’s Word for what it is. It is essential; it is the wisdom of God. Romans 1:16 says that it is the power of God unto salvation. James 1:21 says, “… receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
How do you regard God’s Word? The way you respond to it will determine where you will dwell eternally. One day, the Judgment will occur, and then it will be apparent to all that God’s Holy Word is not foolishness but the power of God unto salvation. If you view God’s Word as foolish, think of Luther. Remember, things are not always as they first appear.
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Lessons in Times of Disaster
Marc W. Gibson
What lessons should the faithful Christian learn from times of disaster?
1. Disaster can strike at any time or place and can start in the smallest ways (the proverbial “finger in the dike”). We must remain alert and watchful at all times, physically and spiritually (Eph. 5:15-17). The Christian will appreciate the brevity of life much more than those who have hope only in this world (Jas. 4:13-15).
2. All that we possess may be gone in a moment. Earthly things are uncertain, and the faithful Christian will not put his trust in such things, but use them to the glory of God (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
3. Life is more precious than property. If a great disaster is predicted to come, the Christian will seek safety, and not foolishly risk his life for the sake of earthly things that can be replaced. The Hebrew Christians did not worry when their goods were plundered because they had better possessions waiting in heaven (Heb. 10:34). God teaches us to properly order our priorities so that we will not fall into the snares and dangers of life (cf. 1 Tim. 6:9).
4. Only our relationship with God is everlasting. We can be separated from earthly things and relationships, but nothing on this earth can separate us from the “love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:37-39). In life or in death, we are “more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
5. Our attitude must be one that will accept the trials of life as we faithfully lean on God to care for our souls. Paul overcame despair and depression by learning to be content (sufficient, adequate, trusting) in any given situation, good or bad (Phil. 4:11-13). Paul had plenty of disastrous moments in his life (cf. 2 Cor. 11:24-28), yet he learned how to suffer with integrity and faith. It is easy to be content in good times, but we must be determined to learn how to suffer with patience in times of disaster, avoiding the temptation to sin with our mouth or commit acts unbecoming of a child of God.
Whatever may happen on this earth, eternal salvation is always available by grace through faith. Let us hear and obey the will of the Father so that we may face the trials of life and death with trust and hope in our God, who has preserved an eternal inheritance for us in heaven. In that heavenly home, we will endure no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain (Rev. 21:4). I know this will be true, for no earthly disaster will ever touch it!
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Can We All See the Bible Alike?
Hiram Hutto
If a statement is made often enough, people will come to believe it even though it is not true. A good example is that which you hear so often in religion, “We can’t all see the Bible alike.” The Apostle Paul disagrees with this idea in 1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
If we can’t all see alike, why would Paul, the inspired apostle, tell us to do so?
We Do See Alike in Everyday Affairs
- We see alike on the point that each automobile must have a state license. Those who cannot see this are punished.
- We see that all must stop for a red light. What is your interpretation of a red light? Does it mean “stop” to one and “go” to another? It means “Stop” to all. One who will not see this endangers his life and the lives of others. He is required to pay a fine.
- We see the time of day exactly alike. Those who refuse to see, like all the rest of us, miss their appointments. If we should disagree on the time of day, we simply go to the recognized authority and correct BOTH our watches.
The objection may be made that we do not see alike on the kind of automobile to buy or the kind of clothes to wear. But there is NO LAW that tells us we must purchase a certain make of car or wear a certain type of clothing. Where there is a law that tells us what to do, we MUST, and we DO see alike in everyday matters. Where there is no law, we are at liberty to do as we please. BUT THE BIBLE IS GOD’S LAW – NOT MAN’S OPINION.
Can We All See the Bible Alike
James 1:25 tells us that we are under a perfect law of liberty. We must see the commands of this LAW alike. Can we do so?
- The Bible tells us there is only one God. Can we all see this? The heathen in Paul’s day did not think they could. Why? Simply because they would not accept what the Bible said. All who believe the Bible can see this alike.
- The Bible affirms that Jesus is the Son of God. Can we all see this? Some do not. Why? Do they not understand what the Bible says? Does it tell one man that Jesus IS the Son of God and another that He is NOT? Some simply will not believe the Bible.
- The Bible tells us there is but one body (1 Corinthians 12:20), and that body is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). American people are as hard to convince concerning the oneness of the church as Romans and Greeks were concerning the oneness of God. Yet Ephesians 4:6 says there is one God. Ephesians 4:4 says there is one body. Does the word “one” have two meanings? It means ONE in both passages.
- Jesus tells us to believe in Him, John 3:16. The Bible tells us to repent, Acts 17:30. Peter commanded men to be baptized, Acts 10:48. Some will not obey. Is it because they are uncertain whether God wants them to repent and be baptized? Do we have trouble seeing these commands, or do men simply refuse to believe and obey God?
Conclusion
Since the Apostle Paul commanded us to see the Bible alike (1 Corinthians 1:10), and since Jesus prayed that all should be one (John 17:20-21), and since God does not require of us that which is impossible, we CAN see the Bible alike!
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You Can … But You Can’t
B.G. Hope
You can ignore God’s warnings: you can refuse His blessing; you can reject all his wondrous love; but you can’t go to heaven doing so.
You can believe any doctrine you choose; you can belong to the church of your choice; you can worship God as you please; but you can’t please God doing so (2 John 9; John 8:32; Matthew 15:9,13; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17).
It seems that Satan has done a remarkable job of convincing the people that their religion is a matter of their choice, not God’s; that it is a matter of their being pleased, not God; that is, if they are pleased, then God must be.
People insist, “I have a right to believe as I please. I have the right to join the church of my choice. I have a right to worship God as I see fit.” And I reply, “Yes, you most certainly do. Not only does the constitution of our great nation give us this privilege, but so does God himself. ‘Choose this day whom ye will serve’ is the way God would have it.”
God created man a free moral agent — that is, He made him with the power to choose. You are admonished to choose between right and wrong, between false doctrine and the truth, between worshiping God as He directs and thus please Him and worshiping God as you are pleased to have it, between being a member of some denomination started by man and being a member of the church, between heaven and hell — yes, you have a right to go to hell, but do you prefer to exercise that right?
Yes, YOU CAN do as you please — BUT YOU CAN’T please God at the same time.
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“Flying Off the Handle”
David Riggs
“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” (Prov. 16:32)
The expression, “Fly off the handle,” is used when one quickly loses his temper. The original expression comes to us from the use of tools. After tools have set in the shed for months, the wooden handle becomes dry and shrinks. When various tools, such as an ax, are used, the iron can easily fly off the handle because of the shrunken wood. When the blade of an ax flies off the handle, it is very dangerous to the user and everyone standing nearby. Similarly, when one “flies off the handle” (has a violent explosion of anger), it endangers everyone.
Let us learn to rule our spirits.
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