About Me

My photo
St Mary's, GA, United States
Weekly bulletin. Church Office Phone: (912) 882-5800

Friday, May 30, 2008

ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE TRUTH?

Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Please notice with me some thoughts about this statement.

First, Jesus said we can know the truth. Many today think truth is relative. They believe that truth changes based on time, circumstances, personal feeling, and interpretation. A popular idea promoted by man for many years is that there is no absolute truth. Truth is based on your personal experiences and current circumstances. What is true for you may or may not be true for someone else. If that is the case, then we cannot know the truth. But Jesus says we can. Therefore, there must be a standard of truth. Jesus tells us what that standard is. John 17:17 - “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” God’s word, the Bible is truth. Although the last words of Scripture were written almost 2000 years ago, it is as true today, and as relevant, as the day it was written. Jesus leaves no doubt. We can know the truth.

Second, the truth will make you free. Paul writes in Romans 6:17-18, “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Sin enslaves us to Satan and he is a cruel taskmaster. His only purpose is to see us assigned the same fate as him, eternal torment in hell. Jesus, however, loves us and wants us to be free from such a hateful master. The truth, God’s word will indeed set us free when we know it and obey it. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Third, some people are afraid of the truth. They believe what they believe and are comfortable. Any examination of what they believe scares them. Any scrutiny of their understanding of truth is a personal insult. Many simply shut down the process; they will not allow any examination of what they believe to be truth.

Some points of truth may be painful. Truth may cause us to examine our lives and realize we have come up short. However, the truth is still the truth. Running from it, hiding from it, denying it, or trying to change it does not alter the fact that it is still the truth. A person may suffer a broken leg in an accident. Denying it, refusing to be treated, does not change the truth that the leg is broken. Failure to accept the truth, instead of relieving the pain, will only make the pain and suffering worse.

Some deny the truth because they do not want to change their lifestyle. John 3:19-20 - “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” Some people are living in sin and rather than changing their lifestyle to comply with what is right, they deny the truth. Man has tried this through the centuries, but is simply does not work. The truth is still the truth.

“Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23).
--Lamar

Friday, May 23, 2008

MEMORIAL DAY

Tomorrow, our nation will celebrate Memorial Day to honor those who have given their lives in our nation’s service. There will be parades, programs, and fireworks as we honor and remember those who have given so much to keep this nation free for over 200 years. However, traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

Today is also Memorial Day, as is every Sunday. In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Paul writes, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes (emphasis mine –LR). When we partake of the Lord’s Supper we are remembering what He did for us.

We are to examine ourselves as we partake and partake of the memorial feast properly (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). I can remember as a child some Christians refusing to partake of the Lord’s Supper because they were not worthy. I am sure you have heard that Paul’s instructions here refer to the manner in which we partake, not the worthiness of the one partaking. No one is worthy in and of himself. However, Christ makes us worthy. It is true that Paul is speaking of our manner in partaking. We must be sure to observe this memorial with reverence and respect. It is not something to do casually or mockingly. It is not something to do to fill in time, or something to do between playing with the baby in front of you and thinking about who will win the game this afternoon. What we are doing during this part, and every part, of our worship is to be taken seriously.

Just as stated earlier about the observance of Memorial Day being neglected, Christ’s Memorial Day is as well. There are those who will sleep late, go fishing, stay home with company, etc. They will be doing these things when they should be assembling with other Christians to remember Christ and His sacrifice. Others will observe it, but not in the proper manner. Yes, it is a good thing to honor our fallen soldiers. How much more important is it that we remember and honor our fallen (crucified) and resurrected Savior. It is the right thing to do every first day of the week.
--Lamar