The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
December 28, 2003
In
This Issue:
Interruptions
by
Jason Moore
Choosing
Sides
by
Steve Klein
Interruptions
Interruptions are not only a part of life, they are a necessary albeit an unpleasant part.
The unpleasantries we can all enumerate. Whose supper hasn't been disrupted by an MCI sales call? Who hasn't been delayed in traffic or road construction (or flood, for that matter)? Who hasn't been engaged in conversation only to have some one cut them off just as they were making their point?
We could all add to the list of daily interruptions that try our patience. Case in point, I've had to stop to answer the phone four times in the course of writing this article so far. But there are some benefits to be derived from life's interruptions.
Interruptions sometimes will bring opportunities. A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves who, after stripping and wounding him, left him half dead. And ``by chance,'' the Scripture says, there came down a certain priest, and likewise a Levite, and a certain Samaritan who was on a journey (Luke 10:30-33). Opportunities, like interruptions, often come ``by chance.'' Perhaps that is because the circumstances which bring opportunities (the thievery, in this case) are ``by chance.''
Note that all three men who encountered the victim of the theft were interrupted. Two of the men even changed course. They passed by on the other side. The Levite even stopped to look on him, to rubberneck, before moving on. It is interesting however that the text says that only the Samaritan who stopped to be a neighbor had some place to go. He was on a journey (verse 33). Interruptions then can become opportunities depending upon our reaction to them.
Some interruptions may even be providential. Jesus and the disciples withdrew to a deserted place to rest, only to be interrupted by the multitudes who followed Him there (Mark 6). Peter and John were stopped by a lame man at the Beautiful Gate as they were about to go into the temple (Acts 3). Paul's preaching efforts in Macedonia were interrupted first by the demon-possessed slave girl, then by her masters who saw Paul beaten and cast in prison (Acts 16).
All three of the occasions above, and numerous others which could be cited, provided audiences for the hearing of the gospel. So perhaps we should revise what we've said about interruptions being unplanned, chance ruptures of our schedules. For sometimes they're planned by God.
Interruptions teach us patience. Someone may interrupt you about something unimportant in your estimation, but it may be important to them. Have you not done the same? Could it not be that you'll need to call upon someone for help in the future and interrupt their schedule? Have you not interrupted another's conversation because you had something you thought so important to say? You may be the one in the stalled car holding up traffic tomorrow. Or the only job you may find someday to support your family may be as an MCI operator. So show some consideration for others in need.
Jesus had to deal with interruptions. Jesus had important work to do. But He had time for the children. "Suffer them to come to me," he said.
Jesus had places to go. He was leaving Jericho headed for the consummation of His work in Jerusalem when blind Bartimaeus cried for Him. The crowd tried to silence the blind beggar. But Jesus ``stood still'' and called for him (Mark 10:49).
Jesus had people to see. He was invited to dine with a certain Pharisee, Simon (Luke 7). The meal was interrupted by the woman, a sinner, who came and anointed his feet with her tears, and dried them with her hair. How would you feel to be singled out by someone of sordid reputation when in the company of some notable? The host was offended. Jesus was forgiving. Some of Jesus' greatest lessons and certainly greatest examples of conduct came when he was interrupted.
It occurs to me how often we must interrupt God. We call upon Him when we need help out of some fix into which we brought ourselves. We miss the point of the trial or the blessing or the opportunity that He has given us and use it for our own selfish devices rather than for His glory.
He speaks to us in His word and through His messengers and we cut Him off because we have other matters about which to think, other matters to attend, other opinions than His. We let sin come in and spoil our relations with Him. And yet He interrupts our lives only to help, to save.
May we let Him trouble us more, and may we turn life's interruptions into heaven's opportunities.
by Jason Moore
Via The Harvester, November 27, 1994
The Bible depicts the struggle between good and evil as a conflict between light and darkness, not between light gray and dark gray. The world we are living in is ever attempting to blur the distinction between right and wrong, good and evil. "They call evil good, and good evil" and "put darkness for light, and light for darkness" (Isaiah 5:20). Hence, men no longer know to "refuse the evil and choose the good" because they are unsure of the difference between the two, or even whether or not there is a difference.
Jesus came to clarify that. He said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). To follow Christ we must choose to walk in the light. That means avoiding some specific things described in the Scriptures as being in the darkness -- things such as hating a brother (1 John 2:9, 11), filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting, fornication, uncleanness and covetousness (Ephesians 5:3-11). If we continue to walk in such deeds of darkness, we are not following Christ, no matter what we may say. "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth" (1 John 1:6).
The choice we make between light and darkness will have a great impact upon our relationships with people. Jesus came to compel people to choose sides, and making such a choice will cause division and separation among people. Surely this is His meaning in Luke 12:51 when He asks, "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." (Matthew 10:34-39). Choosing the light may mean that we are on the opposing side of family and friends. And this, I think, is why many are unwilling to make the choice. But if we choose the light, we will be on the side of Christ and of others who have chosen light. "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another&ldots;" (1 John 1:7).
My friends, there is not nearly as much moral gray in the world as many would have us believe. "Let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:12b). Let us be valiant soldiers of light. I have seen many statues and paintings of great men astride horses, but I have never seen one of a great man astride a fence. Choose your side and stay on it!
by Steve Klein