BE RECONCILED

Two brothers shared adjoining farms. For 40 years they worked side by side, sharing equipment and helping each other whenever needed. One day a rift developed. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by months of angry silence.

One day a truck pulled up at Pete’s house (the older brother). A man approached Pete carrying a carpenter's toolbox. "I’m looking for some work" he said. "Perhaps you have a few small jobs I could do for you?" "Well, yes I do," said Peter. "That creek down there is the border between my brother's farm and mine. He keeps it nice and deep to stop me from setting one foot on his farm. I want you to take that timber over there by the barn and build me a new fence, a real tall one, so I don't have to look over at my stinkin' brother and his farm no more."

The carpenter was glad to have the work, "No worries. Just point me to your post-hole digger and I’ll get the job done." So the carpenter set about working. Meanwhile farmer Pete drove into town to the local cattle auction. When he returned at sunset he was shocked to see what the carpenter had done.

There was no fence. Instead the carpenter had built a bridge and walking across it was Pete's brother. He held out his hand and spoke to his brother, "After all I've done to you I can't believe you'd still reach out to me. You're right. It's time to bury the hatchet.”

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Vine says this about the word translated “reconcile:” “properly denotes to change, exchange; hence, of persons, to change from enmity to friendship, to reconcile” (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p.260).

Paul states that we were enemies of God (Romans 5:10). Isaiah 59:1-2 states, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” Sin has separated mankind from God. It has created a great chasm between man and God that man cannot cross.

Thanks be to God; however, He has extended His grace and mercy to sinful man to offer salvation. That offer is made through Jesus Christ. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through the sacrifice of His Son, God made possible our reconciliation with Him.
If we will be obedient to Christ (Hebrews 5:9), we can be reconciled to God, forgiven of our sins, and recipients of the promise of eternal life.
--Lamar

SUNDAY MORNING BEHAVIOR

We understand the concept of behavior and manners. There are acceptable and unacceptable ways to behave in various situations and settings. There is also the fact that our behavior often has an impact on the success or failure of the activity. I believe this is true concerning our worship. There are certain manners or behaviors that can contribute to our time together being effective.

ARRIVE BEFORE TIME TO BEGIN. If you are attending a sporting event, concert, or some other social event, how late do you arrive? Most of us get there early. Those who arrive right on time or a little late are generally unconcerned. This isn’t about those who are occasionally late for unforeseen reasons, but those who are habitually late. For example, the Bible class teacher who is seldom on time is saying to his or her students that the class is not really important when in reality every precious minute of a Bible class is most important.

GREET ONE ANOTHER. “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you” (Philippians 4:21). Greetings are a way of saying that you care about a person. Two-thirds of the epistles or letters of the New Testament speak about greetings either by sending them or by instruction. The apostle Paul spent nearly an entire chapter sending greetings to various ones (Rom. 16). All of this indicates the importance of greeting one another.

DRESS APPROPRIATELY. In our culture, we tend to underestimate the importance of proper dress. People with training and knowledge in this area can tell you a great deal about a person by the way he/she dresses. As we worship God, we should give Him our best. Should this not also include what we wear? Would you dress any differently for a funeral, a wedding, or other events than you do for worship? We show our respect and attitude by the things we wear.

HAVE A PROPER ATTITUDE. I would rather be anywhere than here. Has this ever been your attitude during Bible study and worship? The song leader was off key, the crying baby got on my nerves, the preacher was boring and long winded. In John 4:24 Jesus not only said that we must worship in truth (according to God’s word), but also in spirit (attitude).

PREPARE YOURSELF. Start early enough that you are not rushed (refer to previous remarks about arriving early). Sometimes we are so rushed and out of sorts coming to services that the last thing we are ready to do is worship God. Spend time in prayer beforehand. Pray for the teachers, song leader, preacher, and everyone else participating in the worship (including yourself). If you have a class book, study the lesson. If you know the topic or text, spend some time studying ahead of time. Finally, as you approach the doors to the building, leave the world and its cares outside. By focusing our minds on God we can improve our time together.

BE ATTENTIVE. Give God your undivided attention during this time. Why is it we want to sit as close to the action as possible at a baseball game, but as close to the back as possible at worship? As a general rule, those sitting closer to the front are more interested, more attentive and less distracted. How many times have you been distracted by the behavior of someone seated in front of you? Sitting closer to the front reduces the possibility of this simply because there are not as many people in front of you. Follow along in your Bible and take notes. These suggestions will help our concentration.
--Lamar

RECIPE FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR

How many times in the last week have you heard or said, “Happy New Year?” Is such a thing possible? I reminded of the elderly gentleman who saw a friend in town. As they concluded the conversation the friend said, “Have a good day.” The elderly man replied, “God made every day good, it’s what we put in them that counts.” I believe it is God’s will for us to have a happy new year and I believe the following ingredients will help.

Holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16 – “(B)ut as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” Holy is defined as separated to God, sacred, pure.

Attend. Hebrews 10:25 – “(N)ot forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” If we will be faithful in attendance our prospects for happiness will greatly increase.

Pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “(P)ray without ceasing.” Jesus was a man of prayer and we need to be such as well.

Patient. Vine defines this as “to be long-tempered.” Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). One who is quick-tempered and always angry isn’t likely to be happy.

Yield. “Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you” (2 Chronicles 30:8).

Needy. Be compassionate and helpful to those in need. It has been said that if you want to make yourself feel better, do something kind for someone else. Proverbs 28:27 – “He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses”.

Edify. We live in a self-centered world. Everybody wants to know what can you do for me. One of the greatest things we can do as Christians is to build up and encourage one another. Romans 14:19 – “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”

Work. Whether physical or spiritual, labor is on the road to happiness. Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”

Yearn. Have an overwhelming desire for the things of God. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

Eternity. Live everyday with eternity in mind. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 – “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

Assurance. 1 John 5:13 – “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” We do not have to doubt, we can know.

Rely upon God. We cannot save ourselves; rely upon God. We cannot know all the answers; rely upon God. Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
--Lamar