Just Some Nails Hammered Into Something?

Likely each of us has used the expression "Nail scared hands of Jesus." Thomas said. "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." (John 20:25) The nail scars were left in Jesus' hands as proof that He was resurrected and also to remind us of His sacrifice for our sins. Jesus came to earth as our Savior and left here with the souvenir of nail scared hands and feet. "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." (Zechariah 13:6) While extending our Lord's invitation preachers have said, "Place your hands in the nail scarred hands of Jesus as you lovingly obey Him." "Have you failed in your plan of your storm caused life? Place your hand in the nail scarred hand. Are you weary and worn from its toil and strife? Place your hand in the nail scarred hand. He will keep to the end; He's your dearest friend Place your hand in the nail scarred hand. Are you walking alone through the shadows dim? Place your hand in the nail scarred hand. Christ will comfort your heart, put your trust in Him. Place your hand in the nail scarred hand. Would you follow the will of the risen Lord? Place your hand in the nail scarred hand. Would you live in the light of His blessed word? Place your hand in the nail scared hand. Is you soul burdened down with the load of sin? Place your hand in the nail scarred hand. Throw your heart open wide, let the Savior in. Place your hand in the nail scarred hand."

Nails have played a vital role in the history of mankind. There are many different types of nails, the types depending on the material that they are driven into and the degree of holding power that they must have. Wire-nail presses can produce nails at speeds of up to 800 per minute. There is not a day in our life that we are not affected by nails. Take for example the houses we live in. To build a small, three bedroom house would require about 250 pounds of nails. Have you ever stepped on a nail and had it stick into your foot. Nails are also in our Bible. The term "Nail" is in 9 verses in our King James Bible. The plural word "Nails" is found in 9 more verses and the word "Nailing" is found in 1 Bible Verse. Your body has enough iron in it to make a nail 3 inches long. Just some nails hammered into something? No! Nails play a vital role in both our physical life and our spiritual life.      

 Just some nails hammered into something? No! This nail went into the head of an enemy of God. Enemies of God face sever judgment. In Judges 4 we read the story of Deborah and her unlikely victory over the superior Canaanite forces. This account allows us to look at the power of the God of Israel and the defeat of a strong enemy. Sisera was the leader of the army that was the enemy of God. "Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite." (Judges 4:17) When Sisera went into her tent she gave him milk to drink and covered him with a mantle. Sisera was exhausted and soon fell fast asleep. Jael took a hammer and drove a tent-peg through his head into the ground and he died. Enemies of God will face a sad end here, and if not here then that sadness will come in eternity. Those who know not God and those who obey not the gospel will face certain punishment. Most people have no idea what it means to obey the gospel. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, Romans 6:1-5) Have you obeyed the gospel or are you still an enemy of God? Just some nails hammered into something? No! This nail went into the head of an enemy of God.

Just some nails hammered into something? No! These were nails David prepared for the building of the Temple. David wanted to build God a house or Temple. But God said, "Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in." (1 Chronicles 17:4) David knew that he could not build the house but he did what he could. He gathered and prepared the material. One thing he prepared for was "nails." "And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight." (1 Chronicles 22:3) There were also nails of gold for the temple. "And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold." (2 Chronicles 3:9) David could not build the Temple, but he did what he could. We need the same attitude. The Lord wants us to do what we can for Him. When we give what we have then God can use us to do great things. The Lord does not ask us to do what we cannot do. He does not ask us to give what we do not have. He just expects us to do what we can for His cause. Do what you can for the Lord; teach a Bible class, if you are a man preach a sermon or lead a song, visit the sick, teach someone the gospel or find other ways to serve. Just some nails hammered into something? No! These were nails David prepared for the building of the Temple.

Just some nails hammered into something? No! These were things that were nailed to the cross. The first thing that was nailed to the cross was not a thing, but a person, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled." (Colossians 1:20-21) Jesus endured the cross, not for His well-being but for ours and all who suffer in the world. Jesus died for our sins. "And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take." (Mark 15:22-24) The Old Covenant law was nailed to the cross. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." (Colossians 2:14) Our old sinful man was nailed to the cross. "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6:6) The power of the Devil was nailed to the cross. "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:15) Just some nails hammered into something? No! These were things that were nailed to the cross.

Our Lord Jesus is as a nail in a sure place: His kingdom cannot be shaken, and He Himself is still the same. (Isaiah 22:23) To be saved from sin hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Mark 16:16), repent of sins (Luke 13:5), confess Jesus as Lord (Matthew 10:32), and be baptized into Christ. (Romans 6:3-4) After baptism, live in Christ and have Christ in you. (Galatians 4:19) As we remember Jesus' faithfulness to endure the cross, let us commit ourselves again to remain faithful in the face of the sinful world that we confront daily.

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes1.

Prayer List: In Need Of Prayer: LeRoy Boutwell, Bryson Box, Brenda Burkett, Bonnie Croley, Debbie Cunningham, Nell Davis, Marietta Faulkenberry (Neil's Mother) Hilton Gorum (surgery 27^th), Felice Kendrick, Patrica Kennemore, Peggy Lassitter, Alice Little, Carolena Long, Larry Lucas, Annie McKee, Jewel McNaughton, Charlotte Miller, Jeff Miller, Ray Moore, Jeff Mustin (father of Ashley Pierce), Jane Owen, Candice Parker, Emma Peterson, Payton Pierce, William Pierce, Tina Pouncey, Shane Prater, Jack Queener, Amber Raines, Dan Raybon, Peggy Rice, Brenda Richburg, Billy Rodger, Timothy Rowell, Rosie Rudolph, Jerry Sanders, Katie Sanders, L.D. Sessions (surgery), Chuck Shepherd, Nathan Simmons, Rick Sirmon, Margaret Skipper, Debbie Stone, Sylvia Taylor (surgery), Mary Lou Terrell, Arlene Thomas, Frank Thomas, Alice Thompson (aunt of Annie Webb), Corrine Till, Jenny Traywick (sister of Cheryl Pierce), Dannie Waller (son of Leroy), Jimmy Walker, Gladys Warren, Jim Watts, John Watts, Mary Ann Wilkes and Jim Wood. Crowne Health Care: Helen Autrey, Dorothy Buck, Jewel Cauthen, Gladys Childs, Arlene Coltrane, Betty Findley, Kathy Johnson, Sarah Knight, Nelda Sanders, and Annie Ruth Tetter.

2. Congratulations: Congratulations to Eleanor Stabler and Elease Brown on the birth of their great-granddaughter, Charley Elease. She was born August 20^th. She weighed 7 pounds and 4 ounces and was 19 l/2inches long. Her parents are Jenny and Josh Waters.

3. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to (a) Lynn Sessions and her family in the death of her mother, Ruth Duncan and (b) Emily McCreary in death of her grandfather, P.J. Northern.

4. Birthdays: Celebrating a birthday this week: August 26^th Lisa Bagents and Alicia Sexton, and August 2&^H Lanigah Ray.

5. Ambridge University Spiritual Enrichment

Forum: The Spiritual Enrichment Forum will be held downtown Montgomery at the Embassy

Suites Hotel on October l^st-3^rd. On Tuesday night October 2^nd the Annual Appreciation Dinner will be held honoring Bobby and Mary Lou Terrell along with George and Nina Herring. Please attend if possible. See Bobby Terrell for more information.

6. Mission work in Guyana: Please pray for our mission work in Guyana, South America. Pray that we can build the building in Annai soon. That nation, like our nation needs our daily prayers. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:15-16)

7. Pray for our nation and her leaders. God said, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34) PRAY "For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." (1 Timothy 2:2)

8. Bible Classes: If you are not attending Bible Classes Sunday at 9:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:00 pm, you are missing out on some great blessings. Thanks to those who teach and to those who attend these Bible classes.

9. Back to School: Please say a special prayer for all of our Children as they are now back in school. Pray both for their safety and their success. Our children are so precious and we love them all. “Children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” (Psalms 127:3)

10. Area Events: (a) September 15^th - Ladies Day 2012 - College Street Church of Christ -Speaker Windell Ross - Theme "Portraying Mrs. Right, But Living As Mrs. Wrong" (Matthew 7:15-23) - Time 9:00 am through lunch, (b) September 15^th - Youth Rally -Sylacauga Church of Christ - Speakers David Bass and Chad Dollahite - Time 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, (c) September 29^th - Ladies Day -Luverne Church of Christ - Speaker Janice Claunch, (d) October 1^st - 3^rd - Spiritual Enrichment Forum - Hosted by Amridge University at the Embassy Suites downtown Montgomery, and (e) October 7^th - 10^th -Homecoming & Gospel Meeting — Luverne Church of Christ - Speaker Lee Jamieson.

Drop Outs

    Adults who care about young people begin to encourage them at a young age to be diligent in their school work, and to stick with their education through high school and even college. Education can help young people grow up to be more productive in their communities, get better jobs, and become better providers for their families. But I remember some of my classmates who quickly became bored or dissatisfied with schooling, and who decided that life had more to offer than classrooms, teachers, and administrators. They walked out the school doors and never returned...drop outs. This is sad because of the missed opportunities that likely resulted, and the problems that may have been caused. But as I bring to mind those who quit their worldly education, I realize how much more severe and detrimental it is when people, young or old, "drop out" of the Lord's church. Sometimes it seems to work the same way that dropping out of school does. Specifically young people may begin attending church services upon the wishes of their parents, and later be added by the Lord to His body (Acts 2:41, 47). But soon they begin imagining what worldly (Titus 2:12) living would be like, and they start the turn away from the Lord and His children, towards sinful life.                                                     

    It is much like the mindset that the prodigal son exemplified in Luke 15. The son was oblivious to the riches he had at his very fingertips, and he longed to explore the "far country," where the sinful pleasures of the world awaited him. But his eyes were opened by the harsh reality of worldly living. Devoid of food, friends, and family, he cast his mind back to his home where his devoted father had loved and cared for him his entire young life.

     Maybe you have been yearning for the far country, or perhaps you are residing there now. I beg you to cast your mind back to the rock-solid reality of Christ's love, and the inevitability of an eternity in either heaven or hell. If you've dropped out of the life you once lived for God, the door is still wide open, and the father stands watching, waiting for your return (Luke 15:20).

 - - - - Darrell Powell

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551

(334-382-3001)