Something Bugging Me

insect1_2182Last night I sat on the second row at a middle school basketball game. The game was a blowout, so the people in my area found something else to occupy our attention. Someone pointed out that there was a live insect crawling around on the floor in front of us. We watched to see if he would survive being in that dangerous situation, with players and referees rushing back and forth at high speeds.

A couple of people tried to save the bug during breaks in the action. They deposited him safely along the sideline, but each time he headed back out onto the floor, oblivious to the danger of being squished. The little creature was completely clueless as he scurried around in that precarious situation.

People who are outside of Jesus are often clueless to the danger of their position in life. Without Christ, they are only a moment away from going into an eternity without God. They scurry about in a perilous world, oblivious to their plight—unaware that they could be snuffed out at any moment. Even when people try to steer them to safety by sharing the gospel, they hurry back to their dangerous path.

We need to try to rescue those poor lost souls.

“Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire…”—Jude 22-23.

In case you are wondering, the bug didn’t make it.

 

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Just What I Needed

Grandfather and grandchild

I recently talked with a man whose cancer has reappeared after enjoying several years of remission. He says that things are going pretty well and that he considers himself to be blessed.

My friend pointed out that when he was going through treatments a few years ago, he had a two-year-old granddaughter who loved being by his side. He would often wake up from a nap to find her snuggled up against him.

Now, as he is going through treatments once again, guess what? He has another little granddaughter who adores being around her Papaw!

My friend summed up his experience with these words—“God gave me what I needed when I needed it.”

“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength…”—2 Timothy 4:17

 

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No Fair!

pigsA preacher once paid a visit to a farmer who was a member of his church. He was trying to convince the farmer that he should tithe.

“If you had 100 cows,” the preacher began, “would you give 10 of them to the church?”

“I reckon I would,” the farmer replied.

“If you had 50 sheep, would you give 5 of them to the church?”

“I sure would, preacher!”

“If you had 10 pigs, would you give 1 of them to the church?”

“Now that’s not a fair question!” the farmer complained.

“Why not?” the preacher asked.

“Because you know that I have 10 pigs!”

Have you ever noticed how generous people are with the money they might have someday? If they ever win a $10 million sweepstakes, they will give $1 million to the church. That’s just fine, but what are you doing with the money you already have?

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. ‘Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”’—Malachi 3:10.

 

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Keep Going!

URBAN TEXTURES © 1998 PhotoSpin www.powerphotos.com

A timid driver was so nervous about merging onto a busy highway that he actually came to a complete stop on the ramp, anxiously waiting for an opening. The impatient driver in the car behind him shouted, “The sign says ‘Yield’, not ‘Give Up’!”

The Bible continually reminds us that we are never to give up. We need to persevere in worshiping and serving the Lord. Rewards are only promised to those who finish the race.

“…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”—Revelation 2:10.

 

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Missing

people-in-church-doorway1Here is a poem someone wrote about people who miss church:

You missed the fellowship that’s there,

You missed the handshake, missed the prayer.

You missed the Word of God when read,

You missed the things the preacher said.

You missed the worship’s wondrous hour,

You missed the Holy Spirit’s power.

Not only did you miss the chance

Your life in Jesus to enhance,

You missed your chance to do your share,

To build His church, the house of prayer.

And so the loss is yours indeed,

God had no chance to meet your need.

–Unknown Author

“Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”—Hebrews 10:25.

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Still Competitive

Robert Marchand

Robert Marchand

Frenchman Robert Marchand recently set a new world record in his age group for bicycling the greatest distance in an hour. His age group? 105 and over.

Marchand doesn’t have much (any!?) competition in that age group. And the fact that he can go any distance at all on a bicycle is quite remarkable. In case you are wondering, the 5 feet, 115 pound athlete pedaled over 22 and a half kilometers in an hour. In appreciation of his feat, those in attendance gave him a standing ovation, and he was mobbed by dozens of cameramen and television crews.

Stories of perseverance like this one motivate us to continue to do our very best. As long as we have breath in us, let us run the race of life with perseverance, keeping our eyes on the finish line and the prize that awaits us at the end of the journey.

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 3:14.

 

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All My Bags Are Packed

Old suitcase

Jim Denison remembers something remarkable that happened while he was serving as a missionary in East Malaysia. At the end of a worship service at a small church, a teenage girl came forward to announce her decision to accept Christ by being baptized.

During the service, Denison had noticed some worn out luggage leaning against the wall of the church building. When he asked about it, he was told, “Her father said that if she was baptized as a Christian she could never go home again. So she brought her luggage.”

The Bible says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil.3:20).

I guess some people have a greater understanding of that than others.

 

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Who’s Better?

boy-and-girlIn the book Children’s Letters to God, one little girl wrote: “Dear God, are boys better than girls? I know you are one, but try to be fair.”

Sometimes we have to be reminded of the importance of women in the Bible. Deborah was a judge. Anna was a prophet. Several woman are listed in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. Women were the first ones to spread the good news that Jesus had risen from the dead. Priscilla was a key player in the evangelistic work of the early church. Phoebe was a special servant in the church.

The list goes on and on.

No, little girl. Boys are not better than girls!

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”—Galatians 3:26-28

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Not an Honor Student

George W. Bush

George W. Bush

President George W. Bush gave the 2001 commencement address at Yale University. He began by saying, “To the A students who are graduating with honors, I say: well done. And to the C students I say: you too can be president of the United States!”

Here are a couple of observations from this statement.

First, a humble, self-effacing attitude is good to see in someone who has become successful.

Second, let us remember that God sometimes uses “C students” to do great things. Many heroes in the Bible were simply ordinary people who were chosen to do extraordinary things. This should encourage us all to believe that God can use anybody—even us!

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.”—1 Corinthians 1:26.

 

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Constant Reminder

Kelly Carr

Kelly Carr

Kelly Carr, editor of the Lookout magazine, writes about a friend of hers who visited with a minister toward the end of summer. Entering the office, he noticed a decorated Christmas tree in the corner. When asked about the tree, the minister explained that he kept the tree up in his office year- round as a reminder of how God came to earth in response to our need for salvation.

It is not just in December that we need to be reminded of God’s love. We need to maintain a sense of gratitude all year long.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16.

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