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from pater father\ related by blood] 

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Useful

March 16, 2003

Ever felt useless or like running away? Onesimus must have felt that way. After all, what use is a slave, even if you're name is Useful. Yes, Onesimus wasn't quite living up to his name. From the book of Philemon we learn that Onesimus (call him Useful) had possibly stolen from his master and then fled. Somehow, this run away slave meets Paul and is converted.
            Useful begins to live up to his name and serves Paul, but still has some unfinished business to attend to. His repentance means going back to put things right with his owner. (A lesson many need today) So Paul sends him back to Philemon with a letter asking him to welcome Useful back and to debit any losses from his account: "I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel" (Phile.1:10-13). In fact, Paul finds Useful so useful that he wants him back. He’s willing to pay for any damages and appeals for reconciliation.

            Why Useful ran, we will never know. But he evidently sought out Paul, who was in prison. There, he found a greater aid than he imagined possible. He found salvation. And he discovered how to live up to his name. By serving! What he was unwilling to do in his natural state, he gladly did as a disciple of Christ. Whenever life has you feeling useless and ineffective, remember our brother Useful. In his desperation, he ran in the right direction, found not only an apostle but a Savior, and discovered the joy of service. May we all wear his name. [Doug Post]

When the chief priests sent officers to bring Jesus, the officers explained their failure to obey by saying, "No man ever spoke like this man" (John. 7:46). Their words were of broader application than they had intended. Let’s notice some areas in which their words were true.
No man ever spoke with such authority. Those hearing the Sermon on the Mount perceived that "He taught them as one having authority" (Mt. 7:28). In this great discourse He repeated, "You have heard... but I say." He demonstrated authority not only in His teaching, but authority over nature and even death itself.
No man ever spoke such truths with such simplicity. Imparting spiritual truths to men is no easy matter. Jesus was unsurpassed in taking heavenly matters and putting them into human language. His parables are prime examples of His superb, yet simple, teaching. Who can fail to understand the parables of the sower, the good Samaritan and the prodigal son? And who can forget?
No man spoke such scathing rebukes. Read his words to Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, cities unrepentant after seeing His mighty works, hearing His strong words (Mt. 11:20-24). Read His denunciation of the "scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites" in Matthew 23.
No man spoke such words of tenderness, love and compassion. Imagine the tone of His voice as He uttered, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem..." (Mt. 23:37). See Him draw a little child to himself and say, "Suffer the little children to come unto me" (Mk. 10:13-16). On the cross hear His prayer, "Father, forgive them" (Lk.23:34).
No man spoke such promises. He promised, "But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Mt. 6:33) and "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mk 16:16). He further promises, "I go to prepare a place for you... I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also" (Jn.14:1-3). Who else could make such promises? Truly, "No man ever spoke like this man." [Doug]  

How Not to Contend for the Faith

The following is an excerpt from Tuesday night’s Larry King Live:

 

KING: Fair question. Max, what is your view of Islam?
LUCADO: Well, I guess it depends on if he's asking it from a political or religious point of view.
KING: I guess from religious.
LUCADO: Religious point of view, it is a different approach to God than the Christian approach to God. My understanding as a Christian is that we're saved by what Christ did for us whereas the Islamic faith we're saved by what we do for God. So you've got two different angles, two different approaches to God. I prefer to trust God to save me than to depend on my words to save myself.  

I watched with utter disgust as Max Lucado said these things. Brother Max Lucado, of San Antonio, Texas, is a prolific writer, however, he is a terrible spokesman for the truth. Joining Lucado on the show were two denominational preachers, John MacArthur (Grace Community Church) and Bob Jones (Bob Jones University). Both MacArthur and Jones spoke out against Islam and rightly proclaimed that the “god” of Islam is not the God of the Bible and is not the true God! They provided Scripture and were sound in their arguments. Lucado would not enter the argument until Larry King pressed him. And as you can see, he failed at the opportunity to teach the truth. Regarding Jesus, John 14:6 still says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Islam denies the Deity of Christ.

Last year, Lucado was interviewed in the Christian Chronicle and during that interview he refused to teach the necessity of baptism. However, he said it was important but he would not come close to saying it was necessary for salvation. Even Ben Bogard, the great Baptist debater, declared baptism to be important but could never bring himself to saying it was necessary for salvation. There is a vast difference between something being important and something being necessary. I believe both Lucado and Bogard know/knew that difference. Unfortunately, many of our brethren fail to see it too!

            Lucado has not and will not admit the necessity of baptism. Evidently, as was seen by all on Larry King, Lucado is even unwilling to admit the exclusivity of Christianity. Now, if brethren are still not willing to admit that Lucado is in error, especially after Larry King, then they simply love men more than our Lord! Max is a pseudo pluralist with no convictions and certainly no respect for the gospel of Christ. Unfortunately, at this point in time, I have greater respect for John MacArthur and Bob Jones, and they are not even my brothers! [Doug]