The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
January 7, 2007
In
This Issue:
Keys
to a Happy New Year
by
Steve Klein
Strength
to say "NO"
by
David Cox
Keys to a Happy New Year
How many times have you been wished a "Happy New Year" over the past week? If you're like me, you've heard those words a few times at least. It is a nice sentiment. But wishing for it won't make it happen. Have we ever stopped to consider what it would take for us to actually have a happy new year? Do we realize that, apart from God Himself, the one person who has the most control over how happy the coming year will be for us is the person we see when we look in the mirror? What can you and I do to make a happy new year. The Scriptures give the following suggestions:
1) Serve God and others. Jesus taught that happiness is found in serving. After He had washed the disciples feet he said, "I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you. . . If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (John 13:15, 17). The wise man said, "He who has mercy on the poor, happy is he" (Proverbs 14:21).
2) Control Your Thoughts. We can change our lives by changing our attitudes. We are what we think (cf. Proverbs 23:7). If we think happy and wholesome thoughts, we will be happy. This is the secret to happiness that Paul shared with the Philippians in Philippians 4:8-9 when he said, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."
3) Avoid sin and guilt. Sin promises pleasure but brings misery. When David was entangled in sin he described it this way: "There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. My iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me" (Psalms 38:4). If we fail to avoid sin, all is not lost; we can still find happiness by finding forgiveness. This is exactly what David did. In Psalm 51:7-8 he prayed, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice."
4) Learn to be content. Those who trust God learn to be content with their current physical circumstances. They do not desire more than or other than what they have. The Scriptures teach, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5).
5) Keep focus on spiritual things. Earthly things will always fade away and disappoint. Our earthly achievements and possessions cannot provide lasting happiness. Faith, hope and love are three things that bring abiding joy. So, "Do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are heavenly, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18).
--Steve Klein
Paul wrote: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:12-14).
In our day and age people have a real problem saying, "No." In the early 1980's Nancy Reagan, First Lady of the United States, learning the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse launched a campaign called, "Just Say No." The problem of not saying "no" is perpetuated by parents when they raise their children and do not teach them what "No" means. In "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts," each of us must be able to say "no" in order to be pleasing to God.
Denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts: It is a foolish person who gives his life over to the things of the world and its lusts. God's grace will save man, but it will only do so if we learn to say to say "no" to sin. In Rom. 6:1 Paul asks, "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" He then answers his own question in verse 2, "God forbid." Paul stresses to the Romans that we must say no to sin. Paul writing to the Corinthians said, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:9-11). Notice that the unrighteous (ungodly) will not be saved. Why? Because they failed to say "no" to the various sins that are listed by Paul. The grace of God brings salvation to all men, but only those that live according to the teaching of God's will and say "no" to evil.
How Can We Have Strength To Say "No"? The strength to say "no" to the lusts of the world is found in the attitude of living "soberly, righteously and godly." To live soberly means to live a self-controlled life. Righteously means to live upright which will cause our lives to be godly. Focusing on the eternal things and not on the temporary. Strength in our lives comes when we give ourselves to things that cause our faith to be strong. Reading, studying, and meditating upon the word of God. Praying for wisdom and strength to face the things of life.
The grace of God has come to man that all can be saved, but do not think that means that all will be saved. The rich man in Luke. 12:16-21 lived his life for himself. We must understand that God gave His Son so that we might be saved and that we must give our lives to righteousness and godliness if we are to be saved. Therefore, let us live our lives recognizing that what we do and how we live will determine where we will spend our eternity.
-- David Cox
In Gospel Power, Vol. 10, No. 40, Oct. 5, 2003.