By Edd Sterchi
A preacher phoned the home of some recent visitors to church
services. A voice answered very softly and quietly,
“Hello?” The preacher asked, “Who is this?” The whisper on the
other end said, “This is Jimmy.” The preacher asked, “How old
are you, Jimmy?” “I’m four years old,” the boy replied.
The conversation continued. “Jimmy, may I please speak to your
Mother?” “No, not right now; she’s very busy.” “Well
then can I speak to your Dad?” “No, he’s really busy,
too.” The preacher, wondering why this little boy was taking
the calls, began to get concerned that perhaps the boy was home
alone, so he asked, “Are there any other adults at your
house?” “Yes, the police,” said Jimmy. The
preacher was really worried now. Was this little boy in
trouble? Did something happen to his parents? What could
be going on? So he asked, “Well, Jimmy, could I speak to one
of the police officers?” “No, they’re all very busy
too.” The preacher, really worried now declared, “Jimmy,
what’s happening? What are they all busy doing?” The
little whispering voice came back and said proudly, “They’re all
looking for me. I’m playing hide and seek, and I’m
winning; Bye.”
Sadly, many people are like little Jimmy. They are living in
secret sin, thinking they are hiding it from their families, or even
worse, from the Lord. Jimmy got found (or should I say
“caught”), I’m sure. And for those who think they have
committed the perfect secret sin, be warned: “your sin will find you
out” (Num. 32:23).
The Bible declares that God will one day judge the secrets of every
heart (Rom. 2:16). He “will bring every work into judgment,
including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecc.
12:14). Note one more admonishment concerning this
matter from the lips of our Savior: “For there is nothing covered
that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known” (Luke
12:2). Friend, take notice: There is no thing as the perfect
cover-up when it comes to sin. Those who think they can evade
shame by sinning in secret will discover one day that open
disclosure of their secrets before the very throne of God is the
worst shame of all.
It is folly to think we can mitigate our sin by keeping it secret.
It is double folly to tell ourselves that we are better than others
because we sin in private rather than in public. And it is the
very height of folly to convince ourselves that we can get away with
sin by covering it up. “He who covers his sins will not
prosper” (Pro. 28:13).
But there is good news. The rest of Pro. 28:13 reveals
it. Here’s the verse in it’s entirety: “He who covers his sins
will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have
mercy.” If we, as children of God, will acknowledge and
confess our sins (1 John 1:9), repent of them and pray for
forgiveness (Acts 8:22), we are promised that those sins will never
be held against us. But then, as the Proverbs text suggests,
we must also forsake those sins.
All sin is an assault against our holy God, whether it is done in
public or in secret. And God, who beholds even the innermost
secrets of the heart, sees our sin clearly, no matter how well we
think we have covered it. The best thing to do with secret
sins is get them “out in the open” before God, get them forgiven,
abandon them, and change our lifestyle.
“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not
hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the
LORD,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” (Psa. 32:5)
- Edd Sterchi preaches for the Broadway Church of Christ in
Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted at eddsterchi@comcast.net
ByAlan Smith
Winston Churchill exemplified integrity and
respect in the face of opposition. During his last year in
office, he attended an official ceremony. Several rows behind
him two gentlemen began whispering. "That's Winston
Churchill." "They say he is getting senile." "They say
he should step aside and leave the running of the nation to more
dynamic and capable men."
When the ceremony was over, Churchill turned to
the men and said, "Gentlemen, they also say he is deaf!"
Criticism. Nobody enjoys being criticized,
even if it's done in a kind, loving way. But it's even more
difficult to accept when the criticism is harsh or unfair. The
fact is, however, that we all find ourselves from time to time in a
position of being unfairly criticized.
Criticism -- even destructive criticism -- may
serve a useful purpose. We need to listen to it and, if
possible, profit by it. We ought to be humble enough to
recognize that some criticisms are justly deserved. Even when
critics are unkind and when they exaggerate our failures, there may
still be some truth in what they say.
So, when faced with criticism, we need to look at
the situation honestly and ask these questions: Is it
true? If so, how can I overcome the condition that caused
it? If not, is there something I can do to eliminate future
criticism of the same type?
It was reported to Abraham Lincoln once that one
of his cabinet members had called him a fool. Having verified
the fact that Mr. Stanton had indeed referred to him in this manner,
Lincoln said, "Mr Stanton is a wise man. If he said I am a
fool, then I had better look into the matter."
It has been said, "We learn much from the
disagreeable things people say, for they make us think, whereas the
good things only make us glad."
For Christians, criticism should be a stepping
stone to spiritual growth! It's an opportunity to learn what
we're doing wrong and what we need to correct. It provides us
with the motivation we need to change and mature.
"If you listen to correction to improve your
life, you will live among the wise. Those who refuse correction hate
themselves, but those who accept correction gain understanding."
(Proverbs 15:31-32, NCV)
Have a great day!
- 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
By Alan Smith
As he was drilling a batch of recruits, the
sergeant saw that one of them was marching out of step. Walking up
next to the man as they marched, he said sarcastically: "Do you know
they are all out of step except you?"
"What?" asked the recruit innocently.
"I said -- they are all out of step except you!"
thundered the sergeant.
The recruit replied, "Well, sarge, you're in
charge -- you tell them!"
I understand how that recruit felt because there
are times that we as Christians look around at the world and we are
out of step with everyone else. As we walk with Christ and
live by the Spirit, that causes us to say and do things that are
very different from what the world does. Everyone else seems
to be agreed on how to walk, but we are out of step.
We may be tempted to think (like the sergeant
above) that we are the ones who need to change to get in step with
everyone else. But (like the recruit above) we aren't the ones
who need to change. And we need to continue to walk in step
with the Spirit regardless of how those around us walk.
"For you were once darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Eph. 5:8)
"Of course, your former friends are surprised
when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive
things they do. So they slander you." (I Peter 4:4, NLT)
"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also
to walk just as He walked." (I John 2:6)
If you feel like you're out of step with the
world, don't let it bother you. Just make sure you're in step
with God.
Have a great day!
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
"The church should be known not as a courtroom of
prosecuting attorneys, but as a hospital for the world God
loves." (Knefel Staton)
"Kindness is a language which the blind can see and the deaf
can hear."
Worry does not exempt tomorrow from its griefs, but it does
empty today of its joys."
"The most expensive piece of furniture in the church
building is the empty pew."
"Character is much easier kept than recovered."
Source:
The Sower, Sharpe Church of Christ, Benton, KY,
March 25, 2001.
The census taker knocked on the lady's door. She
answered all his questions except one. She refused to tell him her age.
"But everyone tells their age to the census
taker," he said.
"Did Miss Maisy Hill, and Miss Daisy Hill tell you
their ages?" she asked.
"Certainly," he replied.
"Well, I'm the same age as they are," she snapped.
The census taker simply wrote on the form, "As old as
the Hills."
You may have heard that our nation's oldest person, a
113-year-old woman, died recently just weeks before her 114th birthday.
The world's oldest person in the world, according to the Gerontology Research
Group, is a Japanese man, who will turn 116 next week. The oldest person ever
on record was a Frenchwoman who was 122 when she died in 1997. All of
these could easily be described with the phrase, "As old as the
hills."
But they are all babies when compared with Methuselah.
You recognize his name. He's known in the Bible for one thing -- being
the oldest person mentioned. 969 years old! That's a lot of
years. And I think it's sad. Not that he was so old, but because that's
what he is known for. He's not known for his great faith, for his moral
courage, or for his righteousness. He's known for being old.
In fact, if you do the math, you come up with an interesting
fact -- Methuselah died the year it started flooding. Was it just a
coincidence, or was Methuselah one of the many who perished in that judgment of
God? We don't know.
I just pray that some day I'll be remembered, not for the
number of years I lived upon this earth, but for the way that I lived while I
was here.
"The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is
found in the way of righteousness." (Proverbs 16:31)
Have a great day!
- 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
For so many blessings we owe a great debt.
The trouble with us is we quickly forget.
The trouble may be we do not really know
The cost of our comfort and how much we owe
To others for benefits freely received.
We spend time complaining and feel greatly grieved
When we do not get things we think we deserve.
We ought to be looking for ways we can serve,
Expecting no praise, but being content to
“Do unto others what you want done for you.”
The one who has much must be willing to share
With those who have little. We must learn to care.
The Lord proved His love by living and dying
For us, and our love for others means trying
To be like the Lord, and to give as He gives,
To prove by our lives that the Savior still lives.
By living for Him we acknowledge the debt
We can never repay, and must not forget.
- Gerald Cowan preaches for the Dongola Church of Christ in Dongola,
IL. He may be contacted at Geraldcowan1931@aol.com
By Alan Smith
Sam, an old man, was a witness in a burglary case. The defense
lawyer asked Sam, "Did you see my client commit this burglary?"
"Yes," said Sam , "I saw him plainly take the goods."
The lawyer asked Sam again, "Sam, this happened at night. Are you sure you saw my client commit this crime?"
"Yes" said Sam, "I saw him do it."
Then the lawyer asked Sam, "Sam listen, you are 80 years old and
your eyesight probably is bad. Just how far can you see at night?"
Sam said, "I can see the moon, how far is that?"
Now I'm not prepared to discuss the validity of such a statement in
court. But this story does serve as a reminder that some people are
content to be concerned with what they can see up close and forget what
they can see from afar. For example, it is a common sight to see
someone walking along with their eyes focused only on the ground a few
feet in front of them. They end up seeing all sorts of things -- coins,
buttons, pieces of trash. But they miss out on all the beauty of the
world around them.
And yet we all tend to do the same thing spiritually. We keep our
eyes on television ads, store displays and our next door neighbors and
focus on all the "things" we think we need, and fail to see the
spiritual things that really matter. I challenge you to walk through a
shopping mall and look not in the store windows, but at the number of
souls you pass by who need Jesus. I challenge you to drive through a
busy part of town without focusing on the Lexuses in front of you and
behind you, but on the physical and spiritual needs of the people to
your right and your left. I challenge you to look beyond the things of
this world to those things on a higher plane.
"Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the
things that are above -- where Christ holds the highest position. Keep
your mind on things above, not on worldly things." (Colossians 3:1-2)
How far can YOU see?
Have a great day!
- 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
