The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
July 19, 2009
In
This Issue:
Commitment
by
Steve Klein
Taking
Heed Lest We Fall
Bobby
Graham
Commitment
Luke 23:46 contains a sobering account of Jesus' last moments on the cross. "And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, 'Father, into your hands I commit My spirit.' Having said this, He breathed His last." Last words often tell a lot about a person. They certainly do here. Jesus had always trusted His Father. He only did what the Father said to do (John 8:28-29; 5:30). He only said what the Father wanted Him to say (John 12:49; 14:24). In John 6:57 He said, "the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father." Jesus' entire life was completely committed to His heavenly Father. And in death, His final words reflect that commitment -- complete trust, complete devotion, complete sacrifice.
It was Vince Lombardi who said, "There is only one way to succeed in anything and that is to give everything." Jesus exemplified that truth. He gave His all to the Father.
In 1 Peter 4:19 we are called upon to make that same kind of commitment. The righteous are to "commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator." We are to "commit" our souls just as Jesus committed His spirit. We are to give all of ourselves to God in doing all the good we can do in this life.
There is an old story about chicken and a pig that illustrates commitment. One version of the story goes like this: A Chicken and a pig were walking down the street one day and noticed some poor children who looked as if they hadn't eaten anything for days. Moved with compassion, the chicken said to the pig, "I have an idea! Let's give those children a nice breakfast of ham and eggs." The pig contemplated the chicken's suggestion and said, 'Well, for you, that would involve a small sacrifice; but for me, it would involve total commitment!"
Interestingly, the same Greek word translated "commit" in Luke 23:46 and 1 Peter 4:19 is elsewhere translated "set before," in the sense of putting something to eat before someone. In the miracles of feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000, it is said that the food was "set before" the multitude (Mark 6:61 8:6-7). One might say that the food was "committed" to the multitude. The Philippian jailor "set food before" Paul and Silas (Acts 16:34). Just as a meal might be wholly given to a guest, we are to set ourselves before God - giving ourselves in complete commitment to accomplishing His works.
Paul challenges us to present our bodies "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). And in Romans 12:6 he says, "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. . ." (Romans 12:6). Let us indeed determine to use all of ourselves in the Lord's service. To quote the late Erma Bombeck, "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'"
-- Steve Klein
"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).
In these few words the apostle says so much: that the child of God can fall from God's grace and promises; that there is the need to be careful to avoid falling; and that the person who especially needs to take heed is the one thinking that he is secure. In all areas of endeavor -- physical labor, mental effort, athletic competition, prevention and control of disease, there is the need for those who think themselves to be strong and immune from opposition to exercise vigilance. So it is in the realm of the spirit.
The question from the practical side poses itself: How can I take heed? Here the Word of the Lord supplies the answer that is designed by the Lord to serve not just as an answer to the question, but also as the solution to the problem of falling.
1. Buffeting of The Body: -- While the word here rendered buffet in 1 Corinthians 9:27 means to bruise, the Lord is not urging us actually to abuse our bodies. His emphasis is upon what the latter part of the verse refers to as "bringing it into subjection," lest we become castaways. It is extremely necessary for God's people to learn self-denial, even as our Lord said in Matthew 16:24. If I understand what the Lord is saying here, He wants us to give regard to spiritual considerations, not to the desires and concerns of the fleshly man. One who wrongfully hearkens to the call and cry of the fleshly man is preparing the ground for the seed sowed by Satan. He must learn to consider the body from the standpoint of its being useful for God's purpose rather than from the standpoint of physical gratification and satisfaction that is opposed to the standard of righteousness.
2. Using the Whole Armor of God: -- Ephesians 6 discusses the armor needed for successful combat in the spiritual realm. It is supplied by the Lord, to be used in its completeness, with the spiritual power that God supplies. A use of only a part of the complete armor constitutes a weakened effort in the battle against sin and a lack of appreciation for the Divine Provision. Using the complete armor and standing in the strength provided are to be done in conjunction with prayer and supplication, according to vs. 18. Is it any wonder that God's people so often fail? They fail to take heed in this matter which is so urgent in our effort to remain faithful.
3. Resisting the Devil: -- Active opposition is the idea of resisting, no passive drowsiness. God's children can best prepare themselves for the attacks of Satan and ultimately discourage their continuation by open resistance to the Devil. The promise of inspiration is that the Devil flees from such resistance (Jas. 4:7). The case of Jesus proves what the promise of James means. After Jesus had steadfastly resisted the Devil, "then the Devil leaveth Him, and angels came and ministered to Him" (Matt. 4:11).
In taking these measures, we take heed to ourselves, to God and His provisions, and to the attacks of the Devil. In doing so, we take heed lest we fall.
-- Bobby Graham