Stand Up!

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle ” – 2 Thessalonians 2:15

Some years ago, I was sitting in a pew, much like you are today.  It was a Sunday morning and in the midst of our worship service, we were singing the popular hymn titled “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus ”.  The reason that this particular instance has stayed with me all this time is because as we sang that hymn, everyone, including myself, was sitting.  I remember thinking to myself, “I should be standing!”  After all, we know that as we sing songs to God, we aren’t to focus so much on hitting all the right notes or making sure our voices are of the highest quality.  Rather, we are to focus on singing from the heart.  In other words, we are to focus on the words that we are speaking (Colossians 3:16).  I never did stand up as we sang that day, and I’ve always regretted it.

This rather “simple” event, for me, has carried great significance because I believe it speaks to a much greater truth.  While many people today claim to be standing for Christ, their claims are not supported by the way in which they are living their lives.  While their words speak of great faith and courage, their actions illustrate someone who is merely sitting in a pew.

Today, be honest with yourself in regards to your stand for Jesus Christ.  Are you truly taking a stand for the truth or are you only “pretending” to do so?  Are you studying and praying each day and striving to grasp at each and every opportunity to reach those lost in the world (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 5:18) or are those things you only talk about doing but never seem to get around to.  Determine today to take a stand for your Savior and live each and every moment to His glory (Colossians 3:17)!

1 Corinthians 16:13 – Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong .

-Devin Roush

Tools On God’s Anvil

Presented by Jason Hardin in the A.M. assembly of September 21, 2008 , this lesson revisited our theme of making 2008 a year of growth.  Having focused on membership and maturity in the first half of 2008, the third quarter was dedicated to developing greater dedication to the work of ministry.  Three lessons in September focused on being equipped for ministry, and this was the second.  We envisioned stepping into the shop of the Master Blacksmith.  Some tools lie on the anvil, being reshaped and sharpened…

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“Avoid Such Men As These”

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  For men will belovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. ” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5

There are many attributes that could describe a person, and these are used throughout the Bible for many different people.  Sometimes God through His writers praised individuals for the work that they did.  At other times, people were described as needing help and correction.  However, here in the passage above, people are depicted in some of the most evil ways as possible.  There is no equivocation in how God tells you to deal with these people–avoid them.

We come across so many people in our daily lives.  A segment of that group can be immediately identified as a person holding to these descriptions, and likely we won’t want to associate with them anyway, but not all are so obvious.

No one is going to come out and say, “I love money, am boastful, arrogant, without self-control, brutal and hateful”, but they might treat others that way.  Two questions must be asked:

1. Can I be described this way?
2. Do I associate with such people?

If the first is true, some deep introspection, reading, and prayer must be done.  If the second is, then plant the seed, and avoid those individuals.

-Jason Budd