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The Struggle
03/25/2001
"Through many tribulations we
must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Paul got up from
being stoned and went right back into Lystra. What did he say to those new
converts? "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of
God."
The next day he and Barnabas preached the gospel in Derbe. What did he
preach to the many disciples? "Through many tribulations we must
enter the kingdom of God." After that, they returned to Lystra,
Iconium, and Antioch to strengthen the disciples and encourage them to
continue in the faith. What did they say to them? "Through many
tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." It would
seem to be a bad message to encourage fidelity to God. "We shall
suffer and struggle and then there are more trials to come before we may
enter God's eternal kingdom!" But it is the very message of the
cross. It’s the word of the Savior, "If they have called the
Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more those of his household?"
(Matthew 10:25).
The struggle for the kingdom must be engaged. To enter the spiritual fray,
God places his entire treasure of power and blessing at our disposal. But
if not used to pass through tribulations on our way to the kingdom, even
these will be lost upon us. The struggle for the kingdom must be pressed
upon every Christian. Only when each one knows he must take up the trials
of Jesus will he be able to reach the other side. On our part, there must
be no soft soap, no pretending, no hiding to protect. The call to be a
follower of Jesus is the call to die daily and suffer in his steps.
The struggle for the kingdom must be evident in us. If others can see our
afflictions, they will know the kingdom is real. But if we pretend a false
perfection, a fake profession, a sugarcoated Christianity, they will never
see in us the glory of the eternal reign of God.
Douglas L Post
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The Avenue of Prayer
The story is told of the ship's captain who became dangerously ill
while at sea. He had a well-supplied medicine chest, but he had
failed to bring along a doctor.
He set the ship's telegraph to work until a doctor could be found. North, south, east and west until finally a doctor was found. The
doctor prescribed medicine and the captain's life was saved.
Now, let’s notice a striking difference between the operator of the
wireless and the Christian who prays to God. The former sends a
message "hoping" someone will hear. He knows not where the
message is going. He knows not if it will be received. However,
when we pray, we know who will hear and we know that our
request will be considered by a loving Father.
Brethren, let’s take full confidence in the avenue of prayer which
God has given. As the Solomon says, "the prayers of the
righteous
avail much" (Prov. 15:29). This is wisdom for the ages.
(Doug Post)
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Matthew Henry Robbed
As an old man, Matthew Henry, author of a well-known commentary
of the Bible, was once robbed. That night the elderly scholar entered
the following into his diary: "Let me be thankful. First,
because I was never robbed before. Second, because although they took
my purse, they did not take my life. Third, though they took my all,
it was not much. And fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I
who robbed."
In adversity all of us have much more to be thankful for than we
sometimes think. The admonition of the old song is good: "Count
your blessings, Name them one by one, And it will surprise you what
the Lord hath done."
Creek (Michigan)
church of Christ
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