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| Volume 22 Number 10 October 2020 | Page 10 |
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| Volume 22 Number 10 October 2020 | Page 10 |
Our Spiritual Walk
Jay Jones
When I think of a person who believes or says all one needs to do in order to go to Heaven is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, his or her prayer might sound something like this:
My heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you sent your Son from Heaven. He came here and lived an obedient life as an example for me, suffered and died a horrible death, and shed His blood for me that I can have forgiveness of my sins. Father, I am so thankful for this, and to show you just how thankful and appreciative I am, here is what I plan to do for the remainder of my physical life. I plan to do nothing. Father, I have read in your Word about the parables of the talents and the sower in Matthew 13 and 25, but my preacher told me that I don’t need to do anything but to believe. So, that’s what I plan to do. I know I will hear you say at judgment, “Enter in my good, faithful, productive servant.“
The apostle Paul in writing to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 15:58 penned, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” When we take spiritual inventory, we could ask ourselves this question, “Am I a productive worker in the kingdom or am I like the one talent man, wicked and lazy?”
Matthew 7:19 records, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Romans 2:6 reads, “Who will render to each according to his deeds.” Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Two verses later reads, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not loose heart.”
Working in God’s kingdom is not a dread for a real Christian. It is one’s expression of love and appreciation to God for all He has done for him or her. “Till Jesus comes, I’ll sing His praise and then to glory go and reign with Him through endless days because He loved me so.” There is a song we sing titled, “We’ll Work Till Jesus Comes.” It has a line in it that says, “We’ll work till Jesus comes and we’ll be gathered home.” May God help us to be strong, productive servants in our Lord’s kingdom. “Every branch in Me [Jesus Christ] that does not bear fruit He takes away…” (John 15:2).
When We Differ
Cecil May, Jr.
“When brothers and sisters differ with one another, how we differ is just as important as the fact that we differ or as the subject about which we differ” (Joshua Fullman, Chapel, Faulkner University).
A dog owner was trying to force-feed his dog some cod liver oil. The dog was resisting violently. As the “fight” continued, some of the oil was spilled on the floor. The dog eagerly lapped the cod liver oil off the floor. It wasn’t the medicine the dog was rejecting, but it was the method of delivery to which he objected.
Some of us seem to feel that one honestly mistaken about some doctrine needs to be rebuked and condemned rather than taught. When we do this, we often do more harm than good, solidifying people in their error.
When we are correcting a brother overtaken in a fault, we are to do so with gentleness and humility (Galatians 6:1). When we answer those who ask for a reason for our hope, we are to answer them with gentleness and respect (2 Peter 3:16). Whenever we speak, we are to speak truth with love (Ephesians 4:15).
[Editor’s Note: There is a difference between an impenitent false teacher (Romans 16:17-18) or divisive person (Titus 3:10) and someone who did not know something and who is teachable (Acts 18:26). ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]