December 13^th , 2015

9:30 am Bible Study-------------------- Every Good & Perfect Gift – James 1:17-20

10:00 am Service ------------------------ I Beseech You Brethren – Romans 12

Nursery Today: Second Service: Irene D. Alt. – Janine K.

Cleaning Schedule: This Week: Polks, Next Week: Fannins

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Birthdays: December: 17^th -- Wendy Bobbitt, 25^th—Earlene Sheesley, 29^th – Ron Fannin,

30^th – Polly Peters, 31^st – Kathryn Polk

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: thought it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” – Habakkuk 2:3

There is an appointed time. God has an appointed time for His appointed work, and will be sure to do the work when His time comes; it is not for us to anticipate His appointments, but to wait His time. And it is a great encouragement to wait with patience, that, though the promised favour be deferred long, it will come at last, and be an abundant recompence to us for our waiting; at the end it shall speak and not lie; we shall not be disappointed for it, for it will come at the time appointed, nor shall we be disappointed in it, for it will fully answer our believing expectations. – Matthew Henry

A Peculiar People – 1 Peter 2:9

Isn’t this what the people of the world say about God’s people, “What a peculiar people they are.” Do they not prove the truth of what God says rather than refute it; do they not unwittingly bear witness of those who are true believers by their scriptural insults and charges? The unbelieving irreligious and religious world thinks God’s true people to be odd, different, out of step with the rest of society, because of our beliefs. They say, “Why, they believe they are right and everyone else is wrong; they actually believe everything in the Bible; they reject all popular preachers and religions as false; they believe there are only a few preachers who preach the truth; they are exclusive, bigoted, and narrow minded. Their God is a monster, who hates people, a God we should ‘fear’; they think man is evil, they think God only chose some people and what they believe about Jesus is totally different from everyone else. They are a cult! Must be, since no one else believes anything like they do.”

Is this not what God’s Word says they will say about His people; a peculiar people, unlike anyone else. The peculiarity of His people is an evidence that they are . . . “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people that they should show forth the praises of Him Who hath called them out of darkness into His marvelous light”(1 Peter2:9). These peculiar people have lived in this world from the beginning; commencing with Abel, who was hated by his brother for believing he was saved by blood only, not works; continuing with Noah, who actually believed God was angry with the world and would destroy it. “What a strange God and strange beliefs”, they say.Strange, yes, but true. Peculiar, yes, but God’s true people.

Those who are so foolish as to allow ANYTHING IN THEIR LIFE to cause them to renounce their faith in Christ and neglect their duty and privileges as children of the living God will, like Esau, someday weep with bitter tears when it is beyond their power to recover what is lost. Guard against apostasy and fleshly appetites; guard against neglecting worship and daily communion with the Lord; guard against unwholesome companions and worldly social contacts; guard against covetousness and materialism lest you come, at last, to mourn bitterly your foolishness and wickedness.

We have entered A RACE. The prize goes to those who FINISH (Heb. 10:35-39). There will be difficult times, perhaps heavy trials; and along the way there will be tempting pastures of pleasure, which appeal to the flesh. We must go on! We may proceed rapidly or slowly; we may even stumble and fall; but, looking to Christ, we continue. I have a responsibility TO MY LORD and to the gospel of His grace. Neither the smiles nor the frowns of the world will cause me to surrender what I believe. I have a responsibility to the church, my brothers, my family, and to those whose lives I touch. By His grace, I must not allow anything to cause me to quit the race nor fail to see it through.