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What Can I Do?
Life is
difficult at best. There are problems in the church. The world is very wicked.
There is confusion and turmoil everywhere. What can I do to change our world?
Paul gave some answers as he wrote to Timothy. "Let no one despise your
youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in
spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was
given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress
may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in
them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear
you." (I Timothy 4:12-16)
What can I do?
Let us observe that:
I can be a good and
faithful example of Christianity. The world and its influences should
not be allowed to make us a hindrance rather than a help in daily life. Our conduct
should serve as an example to others. Paul told Timothy to, "Let no one
despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in
love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (I Timothy 4:12) Paul gave Timothy the task of setting an
example for believers in the whole of his life. If we are to make a difference in the world
our lives must be such as back up what our words say. As spiritually minded
people, teaching and practicing correct doctrine, in love and purity we make
our world better. The way we conduct ourselves will either lead souls to
Christ, or drive them away from Him.
I can read, study and learn God's will: Paul told Timothy, "Till I come, give attention
to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." (I Timothy 4:13) In a world with
so much religious confusion we must study diligently. Reading the scriptures
can have a powerful impact on our lives. We are only able to teach that which
we have learned ourselves. The world will do better only when it is taught
better. The goal of preaching certainly is to proclaim the truth and make God's
word clear to all. "But it at the same time should stimulate you to want
to take up the sword for yourself, take advantage of the tremendous opportunity
you do have to come to grips with the great truth of Scripture."
I can do
what I can for God: Each person has certain talents or abilities. Take
time to find what your talents are and then use them for God. Paul admonished
Timothy, "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you
by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership." (I Timothy
4:14) Timothy had special gifts to uses in the service of God. We too have
talents given to us by God that must not be neglected. If those talents are
neglected they will wither away. God has given us talent and He expects
something of us! "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much
required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the
more." (Luke 12:48) Are you using the talents that God has given you?
I can be
faithful and dedicated in God's service: Timothy was encouraged to give himself completely in God's service.
"Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your
progress may be evident to all." (I Timothy 4:15) Faithfulness grows out
of meditating on spiritual things day and night. (Psalm 1:2) Those that
meditate on God's great truths and commit themselves to obedience to those
truths can make a difference in our world. Others will be impressed by the fact
that you have learned right and are doing right. They will likewise be
discouraged and hindered if you fail to learn and do right. God actively looks
for faithfulness in His servants. Faithfulness is one of the qualities upon
which He judges His people. God has a great interest in our faithfulness. He
wants to be able to say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou
hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:
enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:21)
I can be
sure that my influence is good: As Christians we must continue in the
teachings of God. Paul told Timothy, "Take heed to yourself
and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both
yourself and those who hear you." (I Timothy 4:16) "Take heed to
yourself." If our influence is not good we are useless in God's service. “You
are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be
seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot
by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify
your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16) My attitude, words, disposition and
conduct show the world what I really am. Those that are truly converted have
Christ living in them. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer
I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which
I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Paul said, "Let everyone who
names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (II Timothy 2:19)
I can
strive to save others: Obviously we cannot save others in the sense
that we can obey for them. Each person is responsible to obey for themselves.
Peter told the people on the day of Pentecost to "save themselves"
(King James Version) or to "be saved" from this evil generation.
(Acts 2:36-40) Paul wanted Timothy to be careful about his doctrine or about
what he taught. "Take heed to yourself and to the
doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and
those who hear you." (I Timothy 4:16) The gospel that we believe must be
shared with others. We must take care to teach truth and only truth. But we
must also be sure we are teaching others. The
God has always
had a place in His service for those that are willing to be used. If we have
not started the Christian life "Today is the day of salvation." (II
Corinthians 6:2) To become a Christian hear the gospel (Romans
- - - - Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer List:
2.
Please Pray For: Pray for Paul
Findley, Ben Newton and Jason Godwin as they serve in
3.
Pray For Permission To Build: Pray that we can obtain permission to build a
building in
4.
Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to Cheryl
Pierce and her family in the death of her uncle, Lawrence Tanner Jr.
5. Birthday: Celebrating birthdays this week are: August
4th Vickie Clark, August 5th Lydia Ann
Raybon, August 6th Randy Bagents, August 8th Doyle
Bender, Roy Bender, and Birdie Lee Godwin, and August 9th Dawn
Fullington.
6.
Write To Jason Godwin:
His address is: Jason E. Godwin, C Company 1-244th ASLT BN, APO AE
09391.
7.
School Supplies For
8. Web-Site: Check out our website: http:\\www.walnutstreetchurchofchrist.org. New material is added each week and you can also
access many teaching articles and past issues of The Reporter.
9. Thank You:
10.
Back To School Time:
It is time for our teachers and many of our young people to go back to school.
We love you all and pray that this will be a safe, happy, and successful year
for you. Keep God as your focus and all will be well.
11.
Put These Dates On Your Calendar:
(a) August 3rd – 6th
– Gospel Meeting – Flatwoods Church of Christ – Speakers see bulletin board –
Time Sunday 10 a.m. Bible Study, 11 a.m. Worship, 2 p.m. Singing and Weeknights
7:30 p.m. (b) August 10th – 13th
– Gospel Meeting – Georgia Road Church of Christ – Speaker Alan Watkins – Time
Sunday Singing 1:00 p.m., Worship 2:00 p.m. and Weeknights 7:30 p.m. (c) August 17th – 3rd
Annual Youth Rally – Ariton Church of Christ – Speaker Kyle Butt – Time 4 until
6. (d) September 13th –
Ladies Day –
The Old Paths
“Were they
ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they
shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish
them, They shall be cast down," says the Lord.
Thus says the Lord: "Stand
in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will
not walk in it” (Jeremiah
Here we find some things that are easily applied to our world today. First of all, we see that the hearts of these people had become so hardened to sin that they were not even “ashamed when they had disgraced” the one true God. In fact, the text says that they did not even “know how to blush.” Mama always said when I’d done wrong: “Are you ashamed…then look ashamed!” Certain things just ought to make a person red faced & embarrassed so that we’ll change! (II Corinthians 7:10).
Then God offers the cure to the depravity that existed there: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it.’” The Lord wanted His people to walk in His ways again. The “old paths” for us would surely be found in the examples found in God’s Word, but we might not need to look quite that far back to find examples worth following.
If you went
back in time even 50 years, you’d find an American nation that in many ways was
worth following. People were more
generous: “Whoever asks you to go with them one mile, go with them two”
(Matthew
- - - - Darrell Powell
You are not
finished when you lose. You are finished when you quit.
Don’t just own a Bible; read it!
(334-382-3001)