The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
October 30, 2005
In
This Issue:
Jesus:
The Live-in Lord
by
Steve Klein
Mark
These People
by
Bill Hall
Jesus: The Live-in Lord
Jim Everett tells a story about a Bible class teacher who told her five year olds that Jesus was not simply a man who lived hundreds of years ago, but that He is alive and well today. One of the little boys in the class decided to begin knocking doors in his neighborhood to see if Jesus could be found. Up and down his street he went, looking for Jesus. Knocking at each door, he would ask, "Does Jesus live here?" What would you have said if the young boy had visited your house looking for Jesus? Is Jesus living with you? It is God's will that His Son "dwell in your heart through faith" (Ephesians 3:17).
I have seen the following inscribed on plaques displayed in homes: "Christ is the Head of this house, the Unseen Guest at every meal, the Silent Listener to every conversation." I appreciate the sentiment of the inscription. If Jesus lives with us, He is aware of everything we do. But I think that if Jesus is living with us He is not always "unseen" and "silent." Wouldn't it be odd to have someone living in your house without there being any tangible signs of him? If someone lives with you everyday, you hear him speak. You experience his presence. His existence alters your existence.
In John 14:23 Jesus said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." Jesus and the Heavenly Father want to live in your home and in your life. But notice that Jesus will only live with us if we keep His word.
In Revelation 3:20 Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Jesus comes to dwell with those who hear and heed His voice. He is not living with us if we merely hear His voice in church on Sunday and ignore it the rest of the week.
In the next verse, Revelation 3:21, Jesus promised that, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." If we will allow the Lord to dwell with us now, we will get to dwell with Him in eternity. Jesus promised: "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:2-3).
When you leave this worship assembly today, take Jesus home with you. You'll be eternally grateful that you did.
--Steve Klein
Quickly now - What type of people are to be marked by Christians according to the scriptures? Those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to Christ's doctrines? Yes, for so we are taught in Romans 16:17.
There is another type of person to be marked, however. "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample" (Philippians 3:17 KJV). The word "mark" is not synonymous with the word "withdraw." According to W.E. Vine, the word means "to look at, behold, watch, contemplate." Those who are evil, then, are to be marked and avoided; while those who walk in God's way are to be marked and followed.
Godly elders should be marked. Elders are to be examples to the flock (I Peter 5:3). They are to be men whose character is above reproach, who rule their own house well, who are hospitable, and whose sound teaching can convict the gainsayers. We know such elders, and their example is priceless. Even after such men have passed on, they are to be remembered: "Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow (a similar word to mark-BH), considering the outcome of their conduct" (Hebrews 13:7). Thank God for godly elders; mark them and follow their good example.
Godly women should be marked. If there are women in the congregation who stand out for their piety and humility, whose major attractiveness is their "meek and quiet spirit," who have adorned themselves with good works, who love their husband and children, who find joy and contentment in being a wife and mother and keeper at home, who feel no resentment toward their position of subjection to man, who have devoted their lives to doing God's will - and there are such women in every congregation - then mark these godly women and follow their example. In these days when the women's liberation movement is affecting so many and actually intimidating many women who want to do right, it is wonderful to have godly women in the church who are able to lead the way and provide a role model for other women who are Christians. Thank God for godly women; mark them and follow their example.
Godly preachers should be marked. Not all preachers are godly, but most of the gospel preachers of our acquaintance are godly men whose lives speak as effectively as do their lips. They do their work, not as hirelings, but as men concerned for the truth and the souls of men and women. Mark such men and follow their example!
Godly parents, godly young people, godly older people, godly suffering people, godly dying people - the godly faithful! How sad that some are so blinded by the faults of the few that they cannot see the virtues of the many. Good people are all around us. Let's look for them, contemplate their good qualities, mark them, and follow their example.
-- Bill Hall