Youth Prevails

Posted on March 6, 2012 by jesustrek

Rory McIlroy

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy held on to the lead and won the Honda Classic golf tournament this past weekend. He had to withstand a furious charge by Tiger Woods in order to claim the victory. The win enabled McIlroy to become the top-ranked golfer in the world, quite a feat for a young man who is only 22 years old.

The Bible says that we shouldn’t be surprised to see young people excel. Paul encouraged his young disciple Timothy with these words: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”—1 Timothy 4:12.

Do you know young people who are performing admirably in some way? Remember to let them know that you appreciate their efforts. Let’s encourage our youth to shine brightly!

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Just as He Wanted

Posted on March 5, 2012 by jesustrek

In a cartoon drawn by Hank Ketcham, Dennis the Menace was standing in front of his mother, who was sizing him up with her usual perplexed look. Dennis was wearing skates, a fireman’s hat and a super hero’s cape. He was holding a hockey stick and a guitar, and a soccer ball was right beside him. Dennis explained, “I couldn’t decide what I wanted to be today.”

While we have some decisions to make about how we use our spiritual gifts, we don’t have to worry about what to be today. 1 Corinthians 12 teaches us that the church is like a body that consists of many different parts. Verse 18 says, “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.”

God has taken a lot of pressure off of us by making us the way we are. As we use the gifts and talents that he has given us, we don’t have to be confused about who we are. We are just who he wanted us to be!

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True Hero

Posted on March 2, 2012 by jesustrek

Frank Hall, a teacher and assistant football coach, is credited with chasing a teenage gunman out of an Ohio school after a shooting rampage that left three students dead. 17-year-old T.J. Lane has been charged with killing the three students on Monday, February 27, at Chardon High School, which is about 30 miles east of Cleveland.

Perhaps Hall’s brave action saved more people from being killed. However, he has brushed aside the praise that has been lavished upon him, insisting, “I’m not a hero.”

Most of us would disagree with Hall’s modest assessment of himself. To willingly put your life on the line to spare others is truly an act of heroism.

Jesus is the ultimate humble hero. “…He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8).

By dying on the cross to pay for our sins, Jesus chased away the sin that threatened to destroy us. He is a true hero indeed!

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Willing to Share

Posted on March 1, 2012 by jesustrek

Did you hear about the church that is using advanced technology to try to encourage its members to give more generously? If you don’t put anything into the offering, the collection plate takes your picture and displays it on the big screen!

 

It’s a shame that so many Christians are reluctant to honor God and bless people by giving generously to kingdom work. We should be happy to give to such a great cause.

 

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”—1 Timothy 6:17-18.

 

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The Helper

Posted on February 29, 2012 by jesustrek

Years ago I used to visit an elderly lady in a nursing home. This dear saint was suffering from dementia. I had not known her before this awful disease robbed her of most of her mental capabilities, but I was told that she was a wonderful Christian woman.

At this point in her life, her vocabulary consisted of 4 or 5 short phrases that she repeated over and over. I only remember one of those phrases: “God’s the helper.”

The last thing that we should ever forget is that God is our helper. Psalm 54:4 says, “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.”

Regular participation in communion is an excellent way to remember the help that God has given us through his Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior.

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The Negotiator

Posted on February 28, 2012 by jesustrek

Did you hear about the son who faced an unexpected expense while away at college? He called home and told his father, “Dad, I need you to send me $100.”

The father exclaimed, “$50! Why in the world do you need $20?”

Some people are downright stingy. Even though God the Father commands tithing (Malachi 3:10) and Jesus the Son commends it (Matthew 23:23), only a small number of Christians give 10% of their earnings back to the Lord. One study puts the number of tithing Christians as low as 6%.

Maybe we need to stop negotiating with God and simply trust him. What do you think?

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Living in Unity

Posted on February 27, 2012 by jesustrek

“To live above with those we love, O that will be glory! But to live below with those we know, now that’s a different story!”—Unknown

Unity is hard to come by, even in the family of God. Paul had received word of quarrels in the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:11). He pleaded with a couple of ladies in Philippi to get along with each other (Philippians 4:2).

Whenever we begin to think that our own congregation has problems, we might take comfort in remembering that the churches mentioned in the New Testament had similar struggles.

However, that is no excuse for not striving for unity and harmony. Jesus says, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34). Paul wrote, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3).

Let’s do whatever we can to promote peace in our churches. Let’s be slow to anger and quick to forgive.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”—Psalm 133:1.

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Simplify

Posted on February 24, 2012 by jesustrek
Greg Smith

Greg Smith claims that a school speed limit sign in White Lake, Michigan is far too complicated to be effective. He says that drivers “practically have to come to a stop to read it.” Town officials have agreed to look into the matter.

Sometimes we make things much more complicated than they need to be. I have seen churches weigh themselves down with so many rules and regulations that it is nearly impossible to make important decisions.

Jesus warns against such legalism. He said of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, “They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” (Matthew 23:4).

I understand that sometimes written guidelines can be helpful, but I have seen some extremely burdensome systems adopted by churches. Therefore, I have become quite intentional about avoiding legalistic situations. Once I was interviewing for a preaching position with a church, and I asked the leaders about their constitution and by-laws. One of the elders reached over and put his hand on my Bible and said, “This is all the constitution and by-laws we have.”

I thought that was a pretty good answer. What do you think?  

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Urgency of the Cause

Posted on February 23, 2012 by jesustrek

In the days after September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush agonized over the decision to send U.S. troops into combat in the war against terror. He knew that there would be casualties and that each life lost would be devastating for the family involved. During that time, the president received a letter from a fourth-grade girl whose father was in the military. She said, “As much as I don’t want my dad to fight, I’m willing to give him to you.”

Bush later wrote, “My anxiety about the sacrifice was mitigated by the urgency of the cause.”

The need to set humanity free from their sin was urgent enough to send Jesus Christ to the cross. Jesus asked his Father if there was any other way (Matthew 26:36-42). But as Hebrews 9:22 says, “…Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

“So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”—Hebrews 9:28.

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Unexpected Victories

Posted on February 22, 2012 by jesustrek
1980 team celebrates

On this date (Feb.22) in 1980, the United States Olympic hockey team pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history when they defeated the Soviet Union 4-3 in the medal round of the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The underdog U.S. team was given virtually no chance to win. Their unlikely victory is still celebrated after all these years.

God seems to have a special place in his heart for underdogs. Armed only with a sling and a few stones, David defeated a well-armed giant. Gideon led a greatly outnumbered army to victory. And, against all odds, a carpenter-turned-preacher conquered death, not only for himself, but for all who put their trust in him.

Who would have ever imagined it would turn out that way? Thank God for unexpected victories!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”—1 Corinthians 15:57.    

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