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| Volume 24 Number 7 July 2022 |
Page 10 |
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| Volume 24 Number 7 July 2022 |
Page 10 |
And Then Some #2
T. Pierce Brown
May I share with you what I tried to teach my grandson about how to live an abundant, successful life? He was about ready for his final little league game. When his daddy was that age, I never saw him play, I shamefully confess. I always had a Bible study or some such thing. However, I decided I would try to help my grandson face the game, and the game of life. I said, “Bryan, do you want to know how to be a winner in every game you play?” He replied, “Yes.” Notice that I did not say, “Win every game you play.” Nobody wins every game, but I wanted him to know that he could be a winner, even if his team made the lowest score. I said, “Remember, and learn how to practice three little words.” Of course, he wanted to know what they were. Do you? I told him, “The words are ‘And then some.’”
Then, I tried to explain to him something of what that means. In the life of every man who is judged great by almost any standard one wants to use, we find the practice of that formula. They did all the things that might normally be expected of them – and then some.
The principle was taught and exemplified best by the One who always taught and exemplified everything the best way. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:41, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (NKJV). Our Lord always practiced what he taught! Those of you who preach can find illustrations and examples in and out of the Bible for several 15 minutes sermonettes! This one will “lather.”
Find an outstanding eldership. It will be doing all that most elders are expected to do – and then some. The preachers who are truly great will never get around to doing what everyone expects of them, for that would take at least 175 [of the 168] hours per week, plus the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job, the courage of Daniel and the faith of Abraham. Nevertheless, they will be found doing what might reasonably be expected of them – and then some. Any Christian who truly follows Christ in example and teaching will never be satisfied to do only what all Christians are normally expected to do, such as being present at all the regular services and participating meaningfully in acts of worship. He will find himself doing all that is expected of him – and then some. One reason is found in Luke 17:10, which reads, “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”
I do not mean to imply that we should go beyond what we are commanded except in the sense of the Macedonian church in 2 Corinthians 8:3. The key to it is that when a person does what he can, where he is, with what he has, God will enable him to do what he cannot, where he is not and with what he does not have, as He did with a lad in John 6, whose five loaves and two fish fed 5,000. [No, God will not work something miraculous today, but He will work providentially through willing servants. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
Boys and girls who read this, listen: When you are assigned five math problems, do those five – and then some. When your coach says, “Do ten push-ups,” do them – and then some. Practice this principle in every aspect of life, and I guarantee you will be happy and successful here and for eternity.
The first inning was 8-0 in favor of the other team. I held up three fingers to Bryan. This meant three words – “and then some.” He scored the first run for his team, and then they won the play-off game with the final score of 18-9. It may be that he will remember – “and then some.” Will you?
It Is More Than
Just Fake News
Aaron Cozort
God Hates Lies.
“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness” (Exodus 23:1 NKJV). “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19). Twice in the Proverbs list of abominations before God are the lies of men. It can be stated no more clearly that a liar’s actions and speech are abominable before the Lord.
We Hate Lies.
“One of them, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons’” (Titus 1:12). Not all people all hate lies all the time. Often people rejoice in lies when they support their cause, enrich themselves or cause problems for their enemies, but there comes a day when all the tables are turned, and the lies oppose them. Then, we all will hate lies. The truth of the matter is that lies are detrimental for humanity no matter how they are used and who they “help.”
Sin Came into the World by Lies.
“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). Satan made his entrance into the Sacred Scriptures with a lie. Jesus accused him of being the father of all lies and condemned liars as being of their father. “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).
Ananias and Saphira
Killed Themselves with Lies.
“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, …Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’ Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last” (Acts 5:1-5a). It is possible to believe we are just deceiving men, just lying to Christians, only to find out too late that we were lying to God Himself. Ananias and Saphira perished and entered eternity guilty of lying to God.
Jesus Was Condemned by Lies.
“Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, ‘This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days’” (Matthew 26:60-61).
All Liars Have their Part
in Eternal Punishment.
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
Lying is a scourge on all humanity, and a lying tongue should be cut off from the mouths of all Christians. May we ever speak the truth and be like the Lord so that it could be said of us that it is impossible for us to lie.