A Challenge

By Jeff Curtis

When Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth,” this was not only a compliment, but it was also a challenge. Salt has value and has the capacity to be a preservative because is had a distinctive quality. As Christians, we also, need to have a distinctive quality. One way of expressing this quality is to say that we must be different from the world.

Paul stated in Romans 12:2; “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

James said; “…do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

1John 2:15 tells us; “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

If salt had the same composition as meat, it couldn’t preserve the meat. If we are like the world, we have no preserving quality. This doesn’t mean that we are to be odd, but it does mean that we are to be distinctive.

Can people look at us and see that we are Christians – by what we do, by the way we talk, by the topics we discuss, by the way we dress, by the way we meet our difficulties? Being a Christian should affect how we treat our families, how we talk to shopkeepers, how we play our games.

Jesus didn’t say, “You are the salt of the church,” but rather, “You are the salt of the earth.” Polls indicate that most church activities take place in church buildings. We need to be “salt” where other people are: at the store, the schoolroom, in the office. Jesus was the friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19).

What is God Like?

By Jeff Curtis

All the truths evident in Numbers 31 can be related to the single most important subject of the Bible: the person of God. What is God like?

• He identifies Himself with His people.
• He punishes sin. No one can oppose God or His people with impunity.
• He is sovereign, and sometimes we cannot comprehend His ways, even then, we must believe in Him and obey Him.
• He is holy; no one who is unclean can approach Him. When we seek cleansing, we must do so in the way that He has set for us.
• He is gracious and good, worthy of all we can do for Him or give to Him.

Meetings for 2023

March 12-16 – Paul Smithson

June 18-23 (Song service on Friday evening) - Jim Deason

October 22-27 – Jarred Jacobs

Meetings for 2024

March - Heath Rogers

June – Jim Mickells

October – Leland Ping (early part of month)

                                             "LIVING YOUR TRUTH"

                                                    by Jesse A. Flowers

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).
A modern expression that seems to be gaining in popularity and acceptance is: "Live your truth." What does that mean exactly? Writer Carly Victoria expressed it this way: "To live in your truth simply means to live as your most authentic self, doing things daily that bring you happiness and joy, living as true to yourself as possible." Kamal Ravikant, author of the book, Live Your Truth, stated: "Whatever human endeavor we choose, as long as we live our truth, it is success." In other words, to "live your truth" suggests that truth is subjective and relative; that truth is personal for each individual; to live your truth is all about YOU; it's whatever you think, feel, desire, and makes you happy; it can evolve over time; and you are your own standard.

Granted, the expression may be new, but the mindset is quite ancient. "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). "And the LORD said, 'Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, nor walked according to it, but they have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts and after the Baals, which their fathers taught them'" (Jeremiah 9:13-14).

The Bible calls us to live God's truth, not our own. After all, it is His Word that is truth and that sanctifies us. Jesus declared to Satan: "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4). As Christ stood before Pontius Pilate, He stated: "For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice" (John 18:37).

Deep Roots

by Shane Williams

Have you ever tried to remove a tree or stump from your yard? How about something as simple as a big bush? Where I grew up in California, a quarter of our front yard was full of Junipers. We decided to replace them with a lawn and I still remember how much work was involved for that to be accomplished. Even with shovels, and axe, lots of rope and a half-ton pickup, it was still a whole lot of work! Who would have thought it would be so difficult? I sure did not. Strong, deep roots had anchored those bushes firmly in the ground.

In the Bible, godly people are often likened to trees with strong deep roots (Psalm 1:3; Prov. 12:3; Jer. 17:7-8).

The branches of growing trees not only reach higher, but their roots grow deeper. It’s impossible for a strong tree to have high branches without having deep roots. It would become top-heavy and topple over in the wind.

The same is true with Christians. It’s not possible for us to grow in the Lord without interweaving our roots around His Word and deepening our life in His instructions.

Would you like to be a tall, immovable tree? That comes only through a life of Bible study, discipline, and faith - conditions that produce deep roots