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| Volume 24 Number 10 October 2022 |
Page 7 |
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| Volume 24 Number 10 October 2022 |
Page 7 |
Kenneth Forrest
Moses was a great leader of God’s people, keeping them aware of God and His will for their lives. Joshua succeeded him, and he also led the people in the way of the Lord. Under the leadership of these two men, Israel was freed from slavery in Egypt, led across the Sinai desert and ushered into the Promised Land of Canaan. However, when Joshua died, a great change took place in Israel. “When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10 NKJV). God had convincingly led Israel through one of the darkest periods of its history. Yet, they did not know the Lord.
Why did they not know Him? Why did their parents not tell them? Hardly had Israel left Egypt when they began to complain and to forget what God had done for them (Exodus 15:23; 16:1; etc.). In reflection, the psalmist wrote, “They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert” (Psalm 106:13-14).
The potential threat of forgetfulness is as real today as it was for the Israelites. In order to minimize the threat, each member of the Lord’s church must get involved. Not only are we told to “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God…” (2 Timothy 2:15), but we also have the responsibility to continually remind ourselves of what we have learned. We do this through our regular assemblies (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:25), as well as by our joint commemoration of the Lord’s death “on the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7). When our children and the children of others see us faithfully attending all the services of the church and eating the Lord’s Supper each week, they see the importance of the knowledge of God in our lives.
The apostle Paul exhorted, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). We must remind ourselves continually of what God does for us. We must instill that in our children and in the generations that follow. Then, perhaps, we can avoid what happened in Israel. “Another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD.” God forbid that it should happen to us!
[Editor’s Note: It has happened already! Our children know more about and spend more of their time and money on the personages and the things of this ungodly world (1 John 2:15-17) than do they have a meaningful knowledge of Almighty God, their Creator, Lawgiver and someday their Judge. Losing our children to the world, evidenced by assemblies overpopulated with senior saints and underpopulated by their offspring and their offsprings’ offspring, has affected virtually every congregation of the Lord’s church. History repeats itself, it is said, and it is true religiously as well. It's time for history to repeat itself with a religious revival (Josiah, 2 Kings 22-23; Restoration History). The churches of Christ need to be converted (again) to Christ (Matthew 6:33; 16:16) and to renew their (biblical) conviction (Acts 4:19-20). ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
Consideration
Bob Howton
Proper consideration for God’s clear instructions would have prevented transgression in the Garden of Eden. Then, who is there who has not been deeply touched by the righteous consideration of Queen Esther, who put her life on the line as she entreated the King for her people the Jews (Esther 4)? In this moving disclosure of the providence of Almighty God, we see righteous principle rising victoriously over the wicked schemes of evil men. It still does, today!
The prophet Haggai exhorted the stiff-necked and self-satisfied Jews of his day , “…Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5, 7). He made that declaration because the people were eating, drinking and striving for personal gratification, but they were never satisfied. While they were pursuing what pleased them, they were satisfied to allow the House of God to lie in ruins before their very eyes. In essence, the prophet Haggai asked them, ‘Don’t you know why you are eating and drinking, but are never filled? Can’t you discern why you are always empty and unfulfilled? It is because you are always pushing God out of your lives! You disregard Him!’ The result is always the same where there is not proper consideration of God’s Holy Word! That is disrespect for the holy commandments of God and the failure to love and consider others and their needs.
In his delightful book, Mule Musings, Brother Basil Overton told of an old redneck who rode into town on his mule while his wife walked a few paces behind. A woman who saw the spectacle railed upon the redneck with the question, “Why ain’t ye wife riding, Mister?” He retorted, “She ain’t got no mule!” Apparently, this fellow was not aware of Paul’s words, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25 NKJV). Nor, did he appear to have ever heard of the Golden Rule of the Bible, which enjoins, “Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (Luke 6:31).
Plain, human consideration would have one bridle his tongue when sharp words might bring a measure of personal satisfaction but would surely wound a trusting heart. Humble, thankful consideration for others will almost always promote kind words, loving deeds and unselfish sharing of blessings. Little children who witness daily consideration between their parents, with kind words and gratitude for things done for them, will surely grow up into well-adjusted and considerate young men and women. A child, on the other hand, who sees and hears bickering and distrust between those closest to him, is sure to grow up and emulate the same sort of things in his own adult life. The old adage “As a twig is bent, so is the tree inclined!” never fit better than here. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…” (Proverbs 18:24) if he wishes to have friendship shown to him. This is nothing, more or less, than an extension of the Golden Rule we mentioned earlier. A farmer knows that the kind of harvest he will reap is determined by what kind of seeds he plants. Like begets like! Just so, if we deal with others in a kind and considerate way, we should expect to receive in kind!
Someone has observed, “If you treat a dog with kindness, pet him often and feed him regularly, he’ll never leave you!” Just think! That might even work with husbands and wives!