ACTIVE DUTY
 
“…not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some…” (Heb 10:25).
 
Facebook and other social media platforms contain more than their share of trivial and useless information, but now and then you may find something worthwhile.
 
Not long ago a Facebook meme portrayed a Christian man speaking to his wife as he held a letter in his hand. With a look of consternation he said, “Uh oh, it’s from the elders. We’ve been called up for active duty.”
 
In the armed forces you can serve in the "Reserves". As such, you can be called up for active duty in the case of a crisis or emergency. Until then, however, you carry on with life as any civilian would do. Barring emergencies, you are required to show up for duty a few weekends annually, but that’s the extent of it.
 
In the Lord’s army, however, there are no reserves. Every soldier is expected to “put on the whole armor of God” and engage in spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:11).
 
Although assembling with the troops (church) is only one aspect of Christian duty, it is a vital one. In our weekly assemblies we worship God, glorify Jesus Christ, partake of the Lord’s supper, sing praises, give, hear God’s word and encourage one another.
 
The aforementioned Facebook meme concluded with this admonition: 
“Don’t tell me your excuses . . .

• Tell it to the brethren who attend virtually every service despite physical disabilities, acute pain or chronic insomnia.
• Tell it to members who have the similar reasons (as you) for not attending, but find a way to come.
•  Tell it to the visitors who wonder why some members are unwilling to support their congregation.
• Tell it to the Lord who came to this earth and died for you.”

 “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psa. 122:1).
 
Be a Light for Christ in 2025!
 
Dennis

A Careful look at “Only”.
 
Words like “only” and “alone” appear over 100 times in the New Testament. Sometimes they indicate something exclusive. Other times they are joined with the word "not", thereby emphasizing a matter that isn’t exclusive.
 
Jesus, for example, showed exclusiveness when He said, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve” (Matt 4:10). Just six verses earlier He used “not” to show a matter that wasn’t exclusive: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (4:4).
 
Most people understand these uses of “alone” and “only.” Worship belongs exclusively to God. While people eat food, that’s not everything necessary for life, especially eternal life. Passages like these illustrate the need to be careful how we apply and understand words like “alone” and “only.”
 
A large religious group in Georgia posted the following message on their web site: “There are approximately 160 verses in the New Testament that clearly state that salvation is solely based on a person’s faith, trust, or belief in Jesus Christ as Savior.” Numerous passages that affirm salvation by faith were listed, but not one that states that salvation is acquired “only”, “solely” or “exclusively” by faith. Salvation by faith is eminently Biblical; but to insist that we are saved by “faith only” is a precarious assertion.
 
A careful study of the word “only” when associated with salvation reveals the following, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (Jas 2:24). James, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, does not minimize the crucial role of faith in our salvation; he declares that faith “only” is dead (useless). “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (Jas 2:19-20).
 
The word “only” is significant, thus we need to make certain that we understand and apply it correctly.
 
Be a light for Christ in 2025!
 
Dennis
​

The Wilderness Can be a Blessing


“I knew you in the wilderness, In the land of great drought. When they had pasture, they were filled; They were filled and their heart was exalted; Therefore they forgot Me” (Hosea 13:5-6).


Sometimes, life feels like a wilderness. Things may not work out the way we intended. We may encounter setbacks, failures, losses, distress and disappointments. When we are in a “wilderness” we typically feel helpless, weak, frustrated, unsure and even afraid.


What we may not realize, however, is that the “wilderness” is just where we need to be at times. After all, when we live in a land where the “milk and honey” are abundant, we feel strong. When everything seems to go our way and “life is good”, we feel full, satisfied, confident, bold and powerful.


But that can be a dangerous place to be.


When we find ourselves in a "wilderness", we tend to be more dependent on God. We pray more often and more fervently. We spend extra time in God’s word. And that is a good thing. Even Paul admitted that the “wilderness” is not a bad place to be. “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10).


Is your life going well? Be thankful to God and stay dependent upon Him. And when you enter a “wilderness” (as we all will at times) be thankful that God is near and that He will help you through it.


Be a Light for Christ in 2025!


Dennis

Who Moved?
 
"Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you…" Zechariah 1:3
 
There's an old story about a couple who had been married for many years sitting at a traffic light. Directly in front of them was a young couple in a pickup truck sitting very close to each other. (This was back when trucks had bench seats.)
 
The wife saw this young couple snuggling, then asked her husband, "Why don't we sit close like that anymore?"
 
The husband looked across the bench seat to his wife sitting way on the other side and replied, "I never moved."
 
Do you ever feel distant from God? Or suspect that something is lacking in your relationship with Him? Or feel alone because you think that He's abandoned you? Perhaps you have even been tempted to ask, "God, why aren’t we as close as we used to be? God would likely answer, "I never moved."
 
When it comes to our relationship with God, we need to remember that any problem or issue that arises is with us, not God. Distance between us is invariably caused by our moving away from Him due to worldliness, unconfessed sin, lack of spiritual focus or being spiritually lukewarm.
 
Don’t allow anything to move you away from God. If you suspect that something has interfered with your relationship with Him, examine your life, and if needed, confess and repent. God cannot wait for you to return to Him!
 
Be a Light for Christ in 2025!
 
Dennis