Son Remember

By: Keith McNeely

            Reminders to remember are on every corner; we hear them on the radio, read them in the news paper, the Bible even says “Son remember” (Luke 16:25). In this context Abraham is reminding the now dead rich man of how things were while he was alive. Have you ever thought what memories you will have after death; will they be pleasant or troubling?

            God actually wants us to remember some things it seems. Notice, Paul teaches us that the Lord’s Supper, which is the partaking of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, is given as a “remembrance” of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). He further advises that when we partake of it we “do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”

            God wants us to remember His name. The Psalmist advises “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalm 20:7). The Old Testament Jew was carried into captivity because of their sins against God.  Psalms reports that while in Babylon they remembered Zion, or Jerusalem, and perhaps they finally realized how blessed they had been while living in their former fair city (Psalm 137:1-6); a quick lesson to us as Christians. Hopefully, we do not have to be carried into the captivity of sin before we ourselves realize how blessed we are as servants in the kingdom.

Those that seek God would do well to remember Jerusalem, for it is there that the church was established, and where the Gospel began to be preached. (Acts 2). Paul advised that we “remember the words of the Lord” (Acts 20:35). John would write to those in the church at Ephesus that they “Remember...from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works” (Revelation 2:5); again, inspired advice to remember.

Often at the end of the year we are called to remember the past. Clearly Christians are not advised to dwell in the past; yet, we should be ever thankful for our God given ability to remember, and use it to God’s glory. “Son remember”.

A Preacher You Would Not Tolerate

By: Dub McClish

            He frequently arrives a few minutes late for his Bible class (even though he’s teaching), thus delaying the beginning of the class. He sometimes misses his class altogether because he stayed up so late on Saturday night that he just “could not” get up in time to attend.

            He and his wife sit silently during the singing of praise to God during the worship hour. He sometimes misses Sunday evening worship, especially in the fall and winter because his favorite NFL team’s game is not over in time for him to attend. He attends on Wednesday night once in awhile. Sometimes he “has a headache” or is “just too tired.” On other occasions there is a movie in town he wants to see or some program on television that appeals to him. He has also missed a few times on Sunday evening when friends or relatives “drop in” just before worship.

            He drives an expensive car and a late model pickup, owns a summer home on the lake, a travel trailer, and a fishing rig. He lives in a more-than-comfortable house, dresses his family well, eats sumptuously, and spends a minimum of $2,500 on the family vacation each year. However, he gives only $10.00 per week to the Lord, and he does that only when he sporadically attends and it is convenient. He sometimes refuses to give any amount.

            When he finds himself in the presence of those who drink, he drinks with them “to avoid offending them.” When he visits a denominational meeting, he sings spiritual songs with their instruments and calls their preacher “Reverend” “to avoid offending them.” His wife takes her daily walks in her halter top and short shorts during the warm months. They both smoke and smell like a tobacco barn. They allow their children to do, say and dress as they please.

            When asked to assist with the visitation program, he refuses because it conflicts with his bowling night. Besides, the last time he helped they would not do everything just like he thought it should be done.

            Such a preacher would and should not be tolerated. He could only have a damaging and depressing influence on the church. Any growth in the church would be in spite of his influence instead of because of it regardless of how powerful or “dynamic” he might be with words in the pulpit.

            While a congregation would not begin to tolerate such a preacher, it often tolerates other members of this sort without giving them any of the appropriate attention. When the faithful preacher applies the Word of God to such materialism and tries to root it out, brethren sometimes think he should be more tolerant. In fact, they will often listen much more to the stingy, selfish, worldly, materialistic brethren than they will to God’s messenger who calls for their repentance.

            The Bible does not teach a double standard (Acts 10:34-35). The “convenience-controlled” Christian should not be tolerated indefinitely be he preacher, elder, deacon, or any other saint.

 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Put Yourself in My Place

By: Bill McFarland

            You will sometimes hear a person who is bearing a responsibility or struggling with a problem make a plea similar to this: “Put yourself in my shoes for just a minute…What would you do…?” Implicit in such a request is the human need for understanding and compassion from our fellows. The thought is that if others could take into account the whole story in our lives, they would be gentler in their judgments and more considerate in their treatment of us.

            We are blessed in that God has recognized this need within us. One place where you can see that he has is in the experience of Ezekiel, the great prophet. Ezekiel was given an awe-inspiring vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. He was then sent to speak the word of the Almighty God to his countrymen who were living as exiles in Babylon. But when he got to where they were the hand of the LORD was strong upon him so that he “sat where they were dwelling…sat there overwhelmed among them seven days” (Ezekiel 3:15). God did not consider the prophet ready to fulfill his mission until he could see things from the perspective of the people and feel for them.

            What God did with that Son of man (the term he used repeatedly in addressing Ezekiel) was a shadow of what he intended to do for us in a more complete and wonderful way through his own Son. He sat down among us where we are dwelling. He put himself in our place. The Gospel says that “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14). Because he was made like us in every respect (Hebrews 2:17), all doubt about whether he can see things from our perspective is removed. He can sympathize with our weaknesses because he has been tempted as we are (Hebrews 4:15). He is able to help because he himself has suffered being tempted (Hebrews 2:18).

            That is the Lord’s way. What a comfort to us it is! But it must also be a model to us in our work. If we would help people, we must be willing to invest ourselves in knowing them well enough to understand what is going on in their lives. They have to know that we can see where they’re coming from, that we can feel with them, and that it matters to us.

            “Put yourself in my place” is actually just a plea by one person to be treated according to the golden rule by another person. May we have eyes that see, hearts that care, and hands that help.

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.                                         Matthew 5:41-48