July 17^th 2022

9:30 am-- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- - Christ: The Blessed Man – Psalm 1

10:00 am -----------------------------------------------The Christ Who Came Down – John 4:43-54

Wednesday: 7:00 pm ----------------------------------- Christ: God’s King, God’s Son – Psalm 2

Truth and Righteousness

God’s people must have the truth for they are begotten of it; therefore they love it, though it often cuts to the very heart. They also hunger and thirst after righteousness, because they are aware of how desperate their need of it is; for in themselves they know they are destitute of it. Do you love and desire the truth? Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? –Don Bell

Trusting God

Most of us don't know God well enough to trust Him. Are you persuaded that God has complete control in reference to the things, which excite our anxiety? Are you persuaded that He will use this control in the best way as far as we are concerned? If I am to cast my cares on Him, I must know Him to be my Father; I must know Him to be my Friend; I must know Him to be my Protector, my Shepherd, my Guide, my Righteousness, and my Salvation.

I must believe His testimony that He loves me for Christ's sake. He careth for you. It's a small thing for God to care for us. He provides for the cattle on a thousand hills, all the wild beasts, an army of birds, fish and insects. Your needs and mine are scarcely a crumb from God's table. If He says, "I will care for you," then He WILL. --Scott Richardson

Be Bold, Be Ready, Be Light in This Dark World

“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.” -- Acts 17:16-17

We cannot help but be distressed at the sight of false religion. Believers are surrounded by it in their day-to-day lives. Their families practice it and their co-workers and friends are involved in it. What should we do in response? Exactly what Paul did: correct error with truth! Displace the idols of false religion with the God of true religion. Be bold. Be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within you. Be light in this dark world. Do not let the honor of Christ go undefended. Do not let your families, friends and co-workers die in ignorance. If they persist in their way to judgment, you cannot stop them; but you can at least render the duty of love to correct and warn them. You may make a few enemies along the way – Paul did. But think of the friends, even brothers in the Lord, you may find along the way! – Joseph Terrell

DIVORCE

"And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife" (but and if he put her away, let him remain unmarried, or be reconciled to his wife) --I Cor. 7:10-11.

Divorce and remarriage have become the accepted practice in our country. But it is not now and has never been condoned nor accepted among believers! Neither husband nor wife is at liberty to separate from nor cast aside the other. Our marriage vows are unto God, and they are not to be taken lightly. When believers divorce, they declare to the world, "The God and gospel we preach is not sufficient to enable us to love one another more than we love ourselves, to enable us to deny our desires and flesh for the sake of our homes and our children, to consider the reproach our divorce will bring upon our church and its fellowship!"

ONE QUESTION REMAINS: If our command is "whatever you do, do all for the GLORY OF GOD" (I Cor. 10: 31), can you cast aside your wife and children for the glory of God? or is God's glory better served by being faithful unto death?