It’s late in the week, but the editor is still kicking with these sundry items.
¶ The little Concise Bible Dictionary by Holman calls the Antioch congregation “Paul’s sponsor on all three of his missionary journeys.” Can it really be called a sponsor? That’s a bit of a throwback.
¶ From a recent blog post:
Important decisions: trust in God when man speaks ill; sound sleep when the hounds are baying; not going beyond what is written; arriving boldly before the Throne of grace.
What others would you add to the list?
¶ Lack of humility plagues not a few expressions of faith. How many proclaimers of truth like to come across as the wise ones, certainly not know-nothings or airbags or ─ God forbid! ─ repeaters of popular notions. We’re the ones with our fingers on the sick pulse of the brotherhood! Do any seminaries or preacher schools offer courses in how to abase oneself? Would there be anyone qualified to teach them?
¶A quote by Ed Mathews: “In the missionary enterprise, saints should either go, let go, or help go.” Which are you doing?
¶ Constancy is not a word much used among us nowadays. Might it not be the right moment to rescue it from demise? All such words of virtue are sorely needed. Let us be men and women for all seasons. “I constantly trust in the Lord; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” Psalm 16.8.
¶ On some types of social media, those who have no God to thank have created the tag: “3goodthings”, to signal a list of three good things in their lives. Gratitude is no longer a thing; thanksgiving turned into a soupy sentiment. But the saints of God know better. “For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another” John 1.16.
¶ The popular idea of grace appears to be much more restricted than the teaching of the New Testament. Grace is not only salvation or some blessing. Pull out your concordance or other method of running down the word in the New Testament. No commentaries to color your conclusions.
¶ The easy yoke of Jesus produces people who move easily through the day as they rejoice in his kindness and bless the lives of those whose burdens oppress. The invitation they accepted from the Lord is the very one they offer. Isn’t this the essence of our mission?
¶ Tomorrow the Missus and I are off to the northeast for me to teach some 25 couples in a special marriage retreat, a couple of them non-Christians. Prayers are appreciated. We hope to be home by next Monday, so it will be a fast trip. It’s always a pleasure to be with the Bahia saints.
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