God WILL Work Things Out

One day a farmer's donkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried pitifully as the farmer tried to figure out how to get him out. After fretting in vain for a solution, the farmer decided that the humane thing to do was to fill the well with dirt. The donkey would be out of his misery; moreover the farmer had previously planned to fill in the well.

He asked his neighbors to come over and help. They presently grabbed shovels and began dumping dirt into the well. Realizing that he was being buried alive, the donkey cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down.

As the neighbors continued shoveling dirt into the well, the farmer glumly glanced down at the doomed donkey. What he saw, however, flabbergasted him. Whenever a shovel full of dirt fell on the donkey, he shook it off and stepped up on the growing heap. Within an hour, the farmer and his neighbors happily witnessed the donkey step over the edge of the well and trot over to his water trough. In the end, the farmer had his donkey back AND was able to fill in the abandoned well.

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The aforementioned story brings to mind a well-known Bible passage – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” [Rom. 8:28]

Which is another way of saying that God is able to turn even the most challenging problems into positive blessings for the faithful. Below are two Bible examples:

Due to the jealousy of his brothers, Joseph was nearly murdered, and then sold into slavery. Things only got worse when he arrived in Egypt. He ended up being imprisoned for a crime for which he was wrongly accused. Despite overwhelming hardship, Joseph later commented, “…you meant evil against me; but GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” [Gen. 50:20]

In Acts 7, a courageous Christian named Stephen preached to a group of hostile Jews. Not liking the message, they turned on Stephen, stoning the defenseless disciple to death. One of the Jews that witnessed the slaying was Saul of Tarsus. Despite the fact that Stevens’s execution led to even more persecution, it sparked something inside of Saul. That spark fanned into an inferno of guilt when Saul heard the voice of Jesus while he was traveling to Damascus. Although the martyrdom of Stephen was tragic, he went to a better place, and Saul became one of the world's greatest gospel preachers!

Trials, adversities and persecutions will afflict every believer – Jn. 16:33, 2 Tim. 3:12. But God not only can work things out for good, He has promised to do so!

Jesus, always Jesus!

Dennis

THE TAXI DRIVER & THE PREACHER


A preacher and a taxi driver died on the same day, and soon arrived in heaven. An angel stood waiting at the pearly gates. 

"Come with me", said the angel to the taxi driver.

The taxi driver gladly complied and followed the angel to a huge, sparkling mansion. It contained virtually everything imaginable, from a huge bowling alley to an Olympic size pool. "Wow, I'm overwhelmed!" said the astonished taxi driver.

Next, the angel led the preacher to another area of heaven. But instead of a sparkling mansion, the angel led him to a dilapidated shack, equipped with a bunk bed, camp stove and a black & white television.

"Hold on", protested the preacher. "Perhaps you mixed us up. Shouldn't I be the one who gets the luxurious mansion? After all, I preached every Sunday and taught Bible classes for nearly 50 years."

"That's true", replied the angel. "But during your sermons and classes, many members fell asleep." "Okay", retorted the preacher, "But what entitles the taxi driver to a far superior reward?" The angel replied, "Because whenever he drove passengers around, they cried out for mercy and prayed without ceasing!"
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Sometimes we preachers misunderstand our task. Someone has said, “We should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” Paul wrote, “…Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” [Col. 1:28]  If we take our preaching duties seriously, few will fall asleep.

Yet all too many preachers “soften up ” their messages, striving to pacify the members. Pacifiers, however, are designed to put babies to sleep. We shouldn't be surprised, therefore, if members fall asleep to lukewarm lessons.

Preachers ought to preach the truth, regardless of whom might be offended. “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” [2 Timothy 4:2-4] 

May we who preach do so to please God, not men. [Gal. 1:10] That is the only way God will use us to save souls and glorify Him.

Jesus, always Jesus!

Dennis

ARE WE CONVINCING?

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” [Prov. 22:6]

As Christian parents, nothing should matter more than the spiritual welfare of our children. After all, regardless of what else they accomplish in life, if they die unprepared to face Jesus, every earthly achievement will be futile. So, what kind of example are we setting for them – realizing that they learn more from our behavior than from our words?

Are we convincing our children that worshiping God is essential if we neglect church services in order to do other things?

Are we convincing our children that studying the Bible is vital if we allow them to miss Bible class because they stay up too late on Saturday night?

Are we convincing our children that at swearing and/or taking God’s name in vain is wrong if we occasionally say “damn” or  “Oh my God” (or worse)?

Are we convincing our children that modesty in appearance is important if we routinely wear revealing attire (or allow them to do so)?

Are we convincing our children that pornography is wicked if we periodically watch movies that depict nudity or couples having sex?

Are we convincing our children that that lying is wrong if we occasionally tell “white lies” or deliberately deceive others?

Awe convincing our children that Jesus is our Savior, Lord and King if we rarely talk about Him at home (or anywhere else)?

Are we convincing our children that the most important thing in this life is preparing for the next (eternity) if we are not making preparations ourselves?

Our children our learning from our example every day! So what are we teaching them? How tragic that some children from "Christian" homes will eventually lose their souls because of what they learned – or fail to learn – at home.

Jesus, always Jesus!

Dennis