“In Him”

   Abraham Lincoln was walking into town one day when he was overtaken by a man in a wagon going in the same direction.  Lincoln hailed him and asked, “Will you have the goodness to take my overcoat to town for me?”
   “With pleasure,” responded the stranger, “but how will you get it again?”
   “Oh, very easily.  I intend to remain in it!”
   Mr. Lincoln’s humor aside, his idea for a ride roughly parallels what happens when we trust Christ as Savior.  We put on Christ and are clothed in His righteousness.  Because we are in Him, we are assured of reaching our destination: salvation and eternal life.  But apart from Christ we are left, as it were, standing by the side of the road—and no amount of good works or ritual-keeping can save us.
--Biblical Illustrator

   “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.  We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs, having the hope of eternal life..”  (Titus 3:3-7)

- via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur Church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com

How To Treat Others

        A young student named Sally relates an experience she had in class, given By her teacher, whom we'll call Brother Smith. She says Brother Smith was known for his elaborate graphic lessons. One particular day, Sally walked into class and knew they were in for another fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Brother Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry. He would then allow them to throw darts at their enemy's picture.

        Sally's girlfriend (on her right) drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend (on her left) drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of Brother Smith, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing. Sally was pleased at the overall effect she had achieved. The class lined up and began throwing darts, with much laughter and hilarity. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Brother Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats.

        As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Brother Smith began removing the target from the wall. Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A complete hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced out. Brother Smith said only these words, "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me." (Matthew 25:40) No other words were necessary; the tear-filled eyes of each student focused only on the picture of Christ. The students remained in their seats even after the bell rang, then slowly left the classroom, tears streaming down their faces.

Source:
- Alan Smith, author of the popular "Thought For Today," and minister for the Fayetteville Church of Christ in Fayetteville, NC, may be contacted at alansmith.servant@gmail.com - November 15, 2000.

Unrecognized Greatness

     It was the middle of the morning rush hour on Friday, January 12, 2007, when a young man in jeans, a T-shirt, and a Washington Nationals baseball cap stepped off the Metro at the L’Enfant Plaza Station in Washington, D.C.  Standing near a wall in the Plaza, he opened the case that he was carrying and removed a violin.  He placed the violin case on the floor and threw in a few dollars as change hoping to encourage passersby to contribute more.  Then he began to play the violin...
     The young man played feverishly for 43 minutes.  In that time, 1,097 people passed by.  Of those passing through L’Enfant Plaza that morning, only seven people stopped to listen.  Twenty-seven tossed some money into the violin case.  His total earnings totaled $32.17.
     What made this incident so unique?  How was this street musician different from others that would occasionally “set up shop” in similar locations?
     “No one knew it,” reports Gene Weingarten of The Washington Post, “but the fiddler standing against a bare wall outside the Metro in an indoor arcade at the top of the escalators was one of the finest classical musicians in the world, playing some of the most elegant music ever written, on one of the most valuable violins ever made.”
     The violinist was the internationally acclaimed virtuoso, Joshua Bell.  His performance in the L’Enfant Plaza Station was arranged by The Washington Post.  It was an experiment: In an unimpressive setting at an inconvenient time, would people stop to appreciate beauty?  Most did not!
     But Joshua Bell is not the only “master” that has gone unnoticed and unappreciated...
John wrote concerning Jesus Christ: “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:10-11).
     God “put on” flesh and lived among men in the person of Jesus Christ (Jn 1:14)  He was the Son of God, yet many did not recognize Him.  Many others rejected Him.
     Will YOU?
      Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 20:30-31) and the Savior of the World (Luke 2:11).  He will save those who believe in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).
      Study His life and teachings, recognize His greatness, trust His promises, and obey His commands.  Follow in His steps and He will lead you to glory.
      Won’t YOU?

- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled Living Water."  To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org

* Information gleaned from: “Pearls Before Breakfast” by Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Staff Writer, in The Washington Post, Sunday, April 8, 2007. 

Up From the Grave

     In a cemetery in Hanover, Germany, is a grave on which were placed huge slabs
of granite and marble cemented together and fastened with heavy steel clasps. 
     It belongs to a woman who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.  Yet strangely, she directed in her will that her grave be made so secure that if there were a resurrection, it could not reach her.  On the marker were inscribed these words:    
     "This burial place must NEVER be opened."
     In time, a seed, covered over by the stones, began to grow.  Slowly it pushed its way through the soil and out from beneath them.  As the trunk enlarged, the great slabs were gradually shifted so that the steel clasps were wrenched from their sockets... 
     A tiny seed had become a tree that had pushed aside the stones.
     The dynamic life force contained in that little seed is a faint reflection of the tremendous power of God's creative word that someday will call to life the bodies of ALL who are in their graves.  Jesus said, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29).
     The Divine Guarantee of our OWN resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s Son.        “But now Christ IS risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits [i.e., the first of many to follow] of those who have fallen asleep [died]. 
     For since by man [Adam] came death, by Man [Jesus] also came the resurrection of the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20-21).
      The resurrection of Jesus Christ is an integral part of the Gospel (“Good News”) of salvation through Christ (READ 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).  The GOOD NEWS is that the righteousness of God is imputed to (or credited to the account) “those of us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our offenses, and was raised for our justification” (Romans 3:24-25).
     Unbelief CANNOT deter the resurrection. But faith in and obedience to the risen Christ opens the door to blessings that His resurrection guarantees -- a glorious new spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:35-58) AND a home in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-5).
     Robert Lowry proclaimed the power of Jesus’ resurrection in the lyrics of the song,
“Up From the Grave He Arose”: “Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o’er His foes....”
     And because of Jesus, WE can share in His victory over sin and death!
     Won’t YOU, out of an obedient faith (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance
(2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess Christ (Romans 10:9-10), and be buried with Him in baptism so that you can be raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4)?

- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled Living Water."  To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org

The One Who Died for Me

By Charles Curtis

    Alexander the Great, with his arm, captured a small village. The citizens of the village were brought before Alexander at which time their future was determined.
    There appeared before him a young man, his bride and his bride's mother. As they stood before Alexander, the young man was asked, "What would you give for your life?" upon which he replied, "I would give all my gold and silver, Sir."
    Then Alexander asked, "What would you give for the life of your wife?" upon which he replied, "I would give my life, Sir." Alexander said, "Let them go free."
    As they left, the mother asked the daughter, "Did you see the golden coat Alexander had on?" "No," replied the daughter, "I could only see the one who said, 'I would die for her.'"
    As we run the Christian race, we must keep our eyes on the one who died for us.

Source:
Pulpit Helps, date unknown

True Treasure...

By David A. Sargent

    On November 16, 1992, Eric Hawes, a metal-detecting enthusiast, was asked to help a local farmer find his hammer, which had been lost in a field. Using his metal detector, Hawes found something else instead: coins and other gold and silver objects.  He immediately recognized it as something valuable, so he reported to the Suffolk County Council, owners of the land.  The Suffolk Archaeological Unit professionally removed the contents on the following day.  The collection is now in the British Museum.  The find consisted of “15,000 gold and silver coins, gold jewelry and numerous small items of silver tableware, including pepper pots, ladles and spoons" (www.britishmuseum.org).
    It is estimated that this Roman treasure, better known as the Hoxne (pronounced 'Hoxon') Hoard, was buried around 407-408 A.D. as Roman rule in Britain was deteriorating.  It may have been hidden due to the political turmoil of the time.  The hoard had been buried in a wooden box that had long since rotted away.  The careful burial of this treasure probably means that the owner intended to come back and recover it later, but for whatever reason was unable to do so. 
    It was thus declared “treasure trove,” that is, objects of gold or silver that had been hidden with the intention of recovery but for which the original owner could not be found. Such discovery is to be reported to the police and subject to a coroner's inquest. If the find is declared treasure trove, it reverts to the British Crown and can be acquired by a museum on payment of a sum equal to its full market value. This amount then is passed on to the finder as a reward.
    The British Museum purchased the treasure and a reward was paid to Hawes. Hawes gave the hammerless farmer, Peter Whatling, half of the 1.75 million British pounds paid him. *
    The Hoxne Hoard Treasure, however, is not the GREATEST treasure!
    LISTEN to the words of Jesus....
    "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” – Matthew 13:44
    The GREATEST TREASURE is to be a part of the kingdom of heaven, for therein are the greater, spiritual, and eternal blessings!
    Jesus Christ, God’s Son, gave His life on the cross to pay the price for the sins of the world (Ephesians 1:7).  Those who accept His offer of salvation through trusting faith (Acts 16:30-31), repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confession of His name before men (Romans 10:9-10), and baptism (immersion) into Christ (Acts 2:38), have their sins washed away by His blood and are added to the Kingdom of Christ, the church (Acts 2:41, 47; Colossians 1:13).
    Jesus DIED in order to PURCHASE His kingdom (see Acts 20:28).  It is worth much more than any sacrifice that we might make in order to be a part of His kingdom!
    Won’t YOU trust and obey the King of kings so that you can have True Treasure?

P.S.  Eric Hawes shared HIS treasure.  Won’t YOU share the True Treasure of Christ and His kingdom with others?  Why not share Living Water with someone today?

- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled Living Water."  To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org

* Sources: Neal Pollard, minister of the Bear Valley Church of Christ in Denver, CO, in his article entitled “The $3 Million Dollar Hammer.” Daily Bread, 8-12-10.  See http://www.bearvalleycofc.org/. 
Additional information gleaned from The Encyclopaedia Romana, the British Museum (www.britishmuseum.org), and www.hoxne.net

Let Nothing Distract

    Leonardo da Vinci took a friend to criticize his masterpiece of the "Last Supper," and the remark of the friend was, "The most striking thing in the picture is the cup!" The artist took his brush and wiped out the cup, as he said, "Nothing in my painting shall attract more attention than the face of my Master!"

Source:
Pulpit Helps, date unknown.

I Saw The Cross of Jesus

By Frederick Whitfield

I saw the cross of Jesus,
When burdened with my sin;
I sought the cross of Jesus,
To give me peace within;
I brought my soul to Jesus,
He cleansed it in His blood;
And in the cross of Jesus
I found my peace with God.

I trust the cross of Jesus,
In every trying hour,
My sure and certain refuge,
My never failing tower;
In every fear and conflict,
I more than conqueror am;
Living, I’m safe, or dying,
Thro' Christ, the risen Lamb.

Source:
Unknown

Consider the Plight of Christ

By Jim Bowers

He could speak,
    But He couldn't make people listen.
He could talk,
    But He couldn't make people hear.
He could explain,
    But He couldn't make people understand.
He could teach,
    But He couldn't make people learn.
He could call,
    But He can't make people come.
He could challenge,
    But He can't make people respond.
He could charge,
    But He can't make people obey.
He could commission,
    But He can't make people go.
He could be an example,
    But He can't make people follow Him.
He could humble Himself,
    But He can't make people humble themselves.
He can love,
    But He can't make people love.
He could die for others,
    But He can't make people die for Him.

Source:
The Friendly Visitor, bulletin of the Auburn Church of Christ, Auburn, AL; date unknown.