Month February 2022

Love your NEIGHBOR

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While challenging Jesus, a certain lawyer seeking to justify himself, asked, “who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with the parable of the good Samaritan to make him and us consider the answer to that question. (Luke 10:25-37)

Who is my neighbor?

What a great question! Seeing that the second great command is to love thy neighbor as thyself, we ought to ask it of ourselves today. (Matt 22:39; cf Lev 19:18)

It reminds me of NAAMAN’S stolen little maid (2King 5:1-14). Who was her neighbor?

It was the one that STOLE HER!!

From the parable and the story of the little maid we learn that EVERYONE we come in contact with is our neighbor, and let’s not forget about our online neighbor.

Do we have the love to INVITE our neighbor to the healing power of Jesus? Another question, would they accept or decline the invitation based on our GOOD works or lack thereof? “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:16). The story of the healing of Naaman hinges on an invitation from the stolen little maid. What does Naaman’s acceptance of her word speak about her good behavior?

Jesus speaks of love for, rather than HATRED of our enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your 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” (Matt 5:43-44). It makes me think of the server that had wronged a Christian. After he exacted his pound of flesh through a verbal assault, I wonder if the server would be open to an invitation to a home bible study with that Christian? (Ouch, that hurt.)

What about our BORDER neighbors, the ones with whom we share a fence line? If history is indicative of future possibilities, what would their answer be to our invitation to worship after our current land dispute? Let alone the Proverbs wisdom about being friendly with our property neighbors. “Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.” (Prov 27:10; cf. Prov 3:29)

It can be difficult to be at peace with everyone, but we OUGHT to try. “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.” (Rom 15:2) “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” (Rom 12:18) We OUGHT to pursue peace with our neighbor if for no other reason than it interferes with both of us going to heaven. (cf. Mark 9:50; Rom 14:19; Heb 12:14) “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1Tim 2:3-4).

Lastly, let’s also think of our less fortunate neighbors without showing RESPECT of persons. Jesus said, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.” (Luke 14:12; cf. James 2:1-13). After disregarding our poor neighbors, or those different from us, could we invite them to worship and would they accept?

Who is our neighbor? Great question. The take away for me is to live in such a way as to not make enemies. This doesn’t mean to ignore nor to whitewash the truth of the gospel. Rather it’s about avoiding situations where we might create lifelong enemies that will hinder the spreading of the gospel. “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (1Cor 9:22)

—spencer

Spencer is an evangelist for the Franklin & Juniper St church of Christ in Borger Texas. If you live in the Borger area and would like a personal bible study, please reach out & let us know how we can help you know more of God’s word.

If there had been more love…

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…there would not be any division.” You’ve probably heard something like this before. Another way of saying this is, “Let’s unite over the things we have in common and not divide over our differences.”

They contend that love will prevent any division among us. I would agree, but not in the way that they use love.

If love for the truth is what is meant by “more love” then I’m all in. However, it is evident that not everyone will love and accept the truth on some matters of faith.

“…because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2Thess. 2:10)

LOVE for the truth motivates the servants of the Lord to preach it and to exhort all to follow it (cf. 2Tim 4:2). Sadly, there are those who refuse to submit to the will of the Lord, and do not have the doctrine of Christ. “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.” (2John 1:9a)

When some say that love will prevent division, they are using their definition of love which OVERLOOKS practices that are not found in the doctrine of Christ. These will place the blame of division on those laboring to practice the truth rather on those who will not accept it. Paul wrote, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph 5:11). Love of the truth would have adherents practicing the divine pattern of the truth, rather than advocating an umbrella of love that ignores it.

Certainly, the truth is to be spoken in love. “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Eph 4:15). We have a responsibility to speak the truth in love. Perhaps, those who cry that love would prevent divisions, dwell on the manner of presentation. Every preacher ought to work on the manner of presenting the truth in love (1Cor 13), but what right does anyone have to reject the word of God based on the manner of presentation? Salvation comes through obeying the gospel of Christ, and any failure should be placed on the hearts of the hearers (cf. Luke 8:11-15; 2Thess 1:8).

All the love in the world is not going to result in some people accepting the truth whereby brethren can walk together in truth. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) “So there was a division among the people because of him” (John 7:43).

VIOLATION of God’s word is to be blamed for division, not a lack of love. Are we prepared to say that a lack of love from Christ resulted in division? May it never be!!

Was there a lack of love on the part of John toward Diotrephes that caused division? No, it’s the following of EVIL that causes the division. It was the lack of love for the truth on the part of Diotrephes that caused the division. “but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not” (2John 9-11). [emph mine seb]

Yes, we need more love “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment” (Phil 1:9; cf. 1Thess 3:12). May there be more love of the truth that we may walk together in unity of the Spirit and have fellowship with God through Jesus Christ our Savior. “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph 4:4-6)

—spencer

Spencer is an evangelist for the Franklin & Juniper St church of Christ in Borger Texas. If you live in the Borger area and would like a personal bible study, please reach out & let us know how we can help you know more of God’s word.

Love One ANOTHER

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“7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” [1John 4:7-11]

Since most are focused on the commercialized version of Love shown through the giving of chocolate filled cardboard hearts, let us also talk about what it means to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

“And the Lord make you to increase and ABOUND in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:” (1Thess 3:12).

“NO MAN hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” (1John 4:12)

“OWE no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” (Rom 13:8)

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

(Galatians 5:13).

“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are TAUGHT of God to love one another.” (1Thessalonians 4:9).

“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure HEART FERVENTLY.” “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” (1Peter 1:22, 1Peter 4:8).

“For I have given you an EXAMPLE, that ye should do as I have done to you.” “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (John 13:15; 34-35; 15:12; Eph 4:32; 1John 4:11)

“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” “And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.” (Matt 22:39; 1John 3:11, 23, 4:7, 12, 2John 1:5) To love one another is a Requirement of God.

(emph mine seb)

As opposed to our former life…

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” (Titus 3:3)

—spencer

Spencer is an evangelist for the Franklin & Juniper St church of Christ in Borger Texas. If you live in the Borger area and would like a personal bible study, please reach out & let us know how we can help you know more of God’s word.

No CORRUPT communication

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Last week we looked at how we are to walk, today we’ll look at how we TALK.

A quick reading of James 3 is an eye opener to the dangers of an uncontrolled tongue. There it’s called a, “fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” (Jas 3:6)

Even under ideal conditions, it’s often difficult to communicate.

This is serious business. Not only is it difficult to find the right thing to say, it’s equally difficult to say it the right way.

Paul gives some instruction about our communication in Ephesians 4:29.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

Three things are Immediately seen. 1) no corrupt speech, 2) rather, edifying speech, and 3) speech that may minister grace to the hearer. The last 2 are somewhat easy; we are to speak those things that will teach (edify) and those things that are a blessing, or helpful (grace). But what is corrupt communication? Not surprisingly, the scripture has a lot to say about what we say.

Firstly, we ought to be careful about COMPLAINING. “Do all things without murmurings and questionings:” (Phil 2:14-15) We’re not discussing the type of communication that tries to right wrongs. We are talking about complaining that is sinful. The OT shows us what happens when we complain against God (Num 11:1). Complaining to people that cannot improve a condition is ungodly and borders on gossip. Rather, we should communicate to others our CONTENTMENT. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.” (Phil 4:11).

A second type of corrupt communication is OVER TALKING. “In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.” (Prov 10:19). Instead, we ought to be ORDERLY & SLOW to speak. “But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” (Jas. 1:19 cf. 1:26

We all know the warnings about REPEATING & RECEIVING Gossip. (Prov 20:19; 11:13; 2Cor. 12:20; 1Tim 5:13) Instead of repeating gossip, how about we REPORT good things about our brethren. Look at chapter 16 of Romans for a list where Paul is giving a good REPORT of some fine men & women.

Then there’s the warning from Christ. “Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.” (Matt 5:22) “RACA” is a form of contempt toward another. Literally it means, “o empty one; thou worthless.”  Instead, we should say words that have REGARD for the other person; esteeming them better than self (Phil 2:3).

Then there are words that are UNLOVING and divisive. (Job 19:19; Rom 1:31; 2Tim 3:3). Instead, we ought to seek words of UNITY (Eph 4:13). Not unity in tolerance of sin, but “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph 4:3)

Looking again at James, we see there are words that are POISONOUS. “It (the tongue) is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (3:8). Instead, we can be PLEASING in speech & PROVOKE to love. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” (Heb 10:24; Prov 15:26; 16:24)

Lastly, there are words that is TALKING FOOLISHLY. These are crude humor and indecent language. Paul instructs us to replace these with words of THANKS. “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” (Eph 5:4)

This article was very thought provoking for me. It’s very easy to get caught up in using the words of our culture, on our TV’s and in the workplace. I’m unable to speak for you, but for me, CORRUPT communication is very much the norm among those in the world and it’s so easy to be influenced by it. I’ll strive to do better so that my words do not give occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme.

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— spencer

Spencer is an evangelist for the Franklin & Juniper St church of Christ in Borger Texas. If you live in the Borger area and would like a personal bible study, please reach out & let us know how we can help you know more of God’s word.