Thoughts Worth Thinking

“Happy New Year”

It’s always “dangerous” to write such articles in advance: at least in my judgment, it “assumes” God’s blessings of entrance to another year. However, with confidence of God doing things in His own time, (Eccl. 3:11), perhaps these thoughts will benefit the reader.

Most regard “new” things with a type of care and keeping that bespeaks a desire of “retaining the new for as long as possible.” Especially toward the more expensive items we extend such a concern, as we simply have no desire to repeat the expenditure in any “immediate future.” We wash and wax the car, polish the furniture, shine the glass, make sure to remove our shoes from walking on the carpet, clean the tool after every use, handle the book with extra care, and even brush the fur on the young puppy – all in order to retain that “newness” of the item. Granted, such care and keeping wane after time, and instead of extreme care, we lean toward the “take it for granted” attitude, until finally we concede, “Oh, that old thing?” All within the material world of existence spirals downward into age, decay and ruin. Even our best of efforts will not stifle forever the impact of time and use: it’s simply the “nature” of things. (See Solomon’s book of Ecclesiastes.)

Maybe we’re looking at newness with too broad a vision. Nothing lives more than a moment at a time. Any future, even our next heart beat, is within the control of God only (Acts 17:31). It is only by His mercy that time on earth continues: He dwells eternally and without the allegiance to “time” as man must live (Ps. 90:2; 10). Jesus cautioned us to live “one day at a time,” as we would say, (Matt. 6:30 – 34). This lends more credence to Paul’s repeated word from Isaiah 49:8: “Today is the time accepted, today is the day of salvation.” (See also 2Cor. 6:2). As someone wisely observed, “Today is the dream of tomorrow you thought about yesterday.” How then may we keep each day “new” and thus keep ourselves as fresh and vibrant as our zeal is in the beginning of all things new?

First, APPRECIATE THE NEWNESS. Consider 2 Corinthians 5:17, with Romans 6:1-6, and 1 Corinthians 6:9 – 11. Baptism MAKES us “new,” and FAITHFULNESS keeps us “new.” (2 Cor. 4:16; Eph. 5:25 – 27; Titus 3: 1 – 7; et al).

Second, REMEMBER WHO OWNS US. While the “newness of life” is your soul, it belongs to God! (1 Cor. 6:19 – 20; 2 Cor. 6:14 – 18; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 1:18 – 25) Just like responsible people take extreme care of those items they possess but do not own, that they might be returned in as fine of shape as when we gained possession, the soul will be returned to God who gave it to us unti judgment (Eccl 12:7; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:12; Matt. 25:31 – 46). In what condition will you return your soul to Him?

Third, CONSIDER LIFE AND HOW TO MAKE IT GOOD. That’s not a difficult task provided we do it God’s way. Examine 1 Peter 3:8 – 12 for the conditions: 1. BE YE ALL OF ONE MIND, HAVING COMPASSION ONE OF ANOTHER, LOVE AS BRETHREN, BE PITIFUL, BE COURTEOUS, NOT RENDERING EVIL FOR EVIL, RAILING FOR RAILING, BUT CONTRARIWISE, BLESSING. 2. REFRAIN THE TONGUE FROM EVIL, AND THE LIPS THAT THEY SPEAK NO GUILE. 3. ESCHEW EVIL AND DO GOOD. 4. SEEK PEACE AND ENSUE IT. 5. KEEP PRAYING! Simply stated, examine verse 15 of that chapter: “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

Fourth, STAY DETERMINED TO STAY NEW. We can’t stop the body from aging; that’s the natural process God designed. But we can and must keep the soul vibrant (new), while simultaneously helping it mature. The instructions for this process are found at Hebrews 5:12 through 6:12. God’s children are active in His service (1 Cor. 15:58), thus exercising their minds/souls unto godliness (1 Tim. 4:6 – 16).

Fifth, CONSIDER ETERNITY. As stated, everything in this temporal world spirals downward into decay and ruin. Only three things involving man are eternal: THE WORD OF GOD (involving man in that man must obey it – Col. 3:16), THE CHURCH (involving man in that the obedient comprise it – 1 Pet. 2:1-10), and THE SOUL (involving man in that it is the very life returned to God for it is from God – Gen. 2:7; Eccl. 12:7). Of these three eternal items, man has control of only one: his soul! It is man’s responsibility to keep it pure before God, ready for the second coming of Jesus, His Son (Heb. 9:27 – 28; 2 Pet. 3:13 – 14.)

Such is a pretty “tall order” for anyone in 2010. But it is “doable” when the faithful considers Philippians 4:17 and Hebrews 13:5 – 6. Further, we must understand that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). This doesn’t say all WILL do so, but rather all should. Frankly, doing so depends on your respect for the “new things” and your desire to keep them as “new” as possible!

If indeed God has granted us the entrance to 2010, it is a blessing from Him (James 1:17). We only receive one day at a time. Within that gift are just enough hours and minutes to accomplish one day’s work for Him: no more, but no less! So when finished, we can “polish it up” with fervent prayer of thanks for its use, and trust in its prosperity for His cause. Then, if He wills, we do it all again the next day – for Him!

ttttt

Mike’s Musings ….

Looking Ahead

Planning properly is a principle proven in many passages of Scripture (ex. Lk. 14:28 -33). As someone wisely stated, “Plan your work, then work your plan.” With such encouragement (and orderliness) and mind, we have made some plans for this coming year. Prayerfully, we can accomplish much in these endeavors for our Lord.

This local work has been extremely gracious in permitting my absence in order to oblige the requests of others in gospel meeting efforts. Therefore, if the Lord wills, we’re to be with the church at Hazel Dell, IL., January 8 – 10 for a short meeting. March 7 – 12, we are scheduled to work a week’s meeting with the Lord’s people meeting at Hartshorn Ridge, Monroe County, OH. In the fall of 2010, the brethren at Glendale, AZ. asked us to return for a gospel meeting. Two other rural places have spoken an interest in such work, but have not yet established a time. These announcements are not meant to “brag” on my part at all: it is merely confession of the work at our hands and the fact plans have been established to make concentrated efforts in preaching the gospel within these places.

Here, our work increases as well. We have intentions of returning to a monthly “men’s bible study.” Originally, this study came as the result of interested preachers in this area desiring to study a topic or two. If the Lord wills, we want to encourage other men to join us for these studies. The first is planned for 9:30 A.M., Tuesday, January 19. Additionally, we will gladly establish times in the evening to study with anyone who might be interested in diligently examining a particular subject matter of God’s Word.

The spreading of God’s Word should increase as we intend to make some changes to the web site; including additional teaching/study material and endeavoring to make the site more “user friendly” in gaining the answers readers have concerning God’s Word. Already there is an “Ask Us” page.

We hope to involve more individuals in various works of this place. Among these works are preparation of the communion, personal work (all types of righteous visiting, teaching, etc.), and sharing the duties of leadership in worship (singing, prayer, teaching/preaching, reading, communion duties). Things work best when everyone is involved to some extent: doing what they can and should do in building up one another!

If one were to summarize our plans for this New Year, perhaps INCREASED DILIGENCE would be a good term. We still have this request of each member: If each member would diligently work to convert just one soul to Christ this year, what great encouragement that would be for all and what glory it would give to our Father! Can it be done? ABSOLUTELY – but it takes the action of planning your work, then working that plan. God already did half the work: He planned the work! Now it is our duty to work His plan! (Matthew 28:19 – 20)