OLD STUFF

READING: ECCLESIASTES 1:1-11

Verse 9: “That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”

People have discovered the use of natural consequences as an effective way to discipline children.  The idea is that children are trained to make quality decisions by experiencing the results that follow their choices. This is well and good, but as the quote above helps us to understand, it is not new. This concept has been seen before! The reality is that the Lord has been using natural consequences with His people for thousands of years. This is demonstrated in 2 Chronicles 6:23. There the Bible speaks of servants being judged, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness. That is solid godly wisdom that, although it may not use today’s name, does clearly establish that this principle is an ancient expression of the way of the Lord. The Bible once again demonstrates that the best wisdom for our day and for all time, is that wisdom based on the divine practices inspired by our Master, God the Father. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What can you name that is considered recent in the world, but that is really a godly principle?

2. Are you aware of any situation that needs application of the Chronicles 6 principle?

THEY SAID SO

READING: 1 TIMOTHY 1:3-11

Verse 4: “nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith”

Thirteen years ago it was feared that that severe computer problems would paralyze the world’s economy when the year 2000 arrived. We remember the situation as the Y2K fright. There have been other situations like it since then, but that is the one that probably caused the greatest disturbance. They said this problem would be very serious, causing major disruptions and dysfunctions. However, they also said there would be nothing to warrant significant concern or anxiety. Those were conflicting opinions that brought about questions regarding which “they” to believe. And anyway, who were “they” in the first place? In truth, except by the wisdom of the Lord, there is no end to any serious effort to understand who “they” are. However, in 1 Timothy 1:4 as quoted above, this “they” are identified as “endless genealogies”. This verse promises that endless genealogies, in other words “they”, will always cause disputes. Since this is true, what is our alternative? Our option is also provided in the same verse. Instead of advice from the mysterious “they”, we have eternal wisdom from the mighty and glorious “He”. We are able to daily live in peace by godly edification. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What are some current fables that cause disputes?

2. What works best for you as a means of receiving godly edification?

SENTENCED FROM DEATH

READING: COLOSSIANS 2:11-15

Verse 13: “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made us alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,”

Following is a scene which, with many variations, has occurred in much fiction literature. The convicted criminal, who is actually innocent, is about to be executed. At the last minute the execution is stopped. Due to the unrelenting persistence of someone who cared, the truly guilty person was found and confessed to the crime. New life was given to the person for whom death had been pronounced. The conviction was dismissed! This common drama also represents reality for every Christian. Even though we are guilty, we still have been delivered from our death sentences and have been given life. Colossians 2:13 & 14 are verses that lay it all out before us. In the Contemporary English Version of the Bible, these verses are as follows: “You were dead because you were sinful  and were not God’s people. But God thru Christ made you alive when He forgave all our sins. He wiped out the charges that were against us.” That scripture is not fiction and it is not literature. It is the greatest of realities for all mankind. For everyone who accepts Jesus as Savior and Lord, the conviction is dismissed. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. If you lived out the fiction scenario described above, how would you respond at the time of reprieve?

2. How does that response relate to your spiritual reprieve?

RIGHTEOUS STRENGTH

READING: ROMANS 15:1-6

Verse 1: “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

Sometimes it is difficult for those who are strong to have much sympathy or understanding for those who are not. This is reflected buy a number of different responses. A strong person may be puzzled  and unable to accept that a weaker person doesn’t just stand up and do better. Other strong people are prone to despise weakness and become angry with those who seem weak. Still others who are strong simply step in and do for the weak whatever they think the weak need to have done. However, what the strong should do toward the weak, is to obey Romans 15:1. The strong should endure and help strengthen the weaknesses of those who lack their strength. The strong should relate to the needs of the weak instead of their own needs. In His strength, our Lord Jesus sacrificed himself to redeem all of our human weakness. May His example serve as the ultimate model for all who are strong. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What qualities do the strong need in order to obey the verse above?

2. This verse is written to address the behavior of the strong.
What does it communicate to the weak?

NO PLACE FOR RANDOM

READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 14:33-40

Verse 40: “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

The Lord is the God of order. This world that He has created surrounds us with His order. For example, our modern society would be completely impossible without the body of scientific knowledge that is the foundation for all technology. Science is possible only because of the predictability and consistency that result from God’s order. Even more basically, we could not even survive except by the natural order that He has set in place. It is His order that maintains all of the delicate balances in the universe, that are necessary to sustain its very existence and the life it supports. We learn from 1 Corinthians 14:33 that godly order is also necessary in order for the people of God to properly worship Him. That verse provides the wise counsel that the Lord is not the author of confusion, which is disorder, but of peace. If we are to dwell in peace, we must dwell in order. If we dwell in order, a product will be peace. Therefore, we benefit well from heartily agreement with Paul’s exhortation: “Let all things be done decently and in order”. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Are there times of exception when some things do not need to be done decently and in order?

2. Where in your life is more order needed?

BETTER THAN GOLD

READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-13

Verse 13: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13 lists a number of spiritual activities that are highly valued among Christians in the Church of Christ. Some of them, such as understanding all mysteries and all knowledge, are universally inviting to all whether Christian or not. In Chapter 13, the Apostle Paul goes on to inform his readers that, even as attractive as these as these activities may be, their maximized value is subject to one condition. They must be done in love! People have always tried to increase the value of what they have or what they do. For example, in medieval times alchemy was used to try to change common metals into gold. This type of thing, not linked to the love of God, has never worked. On the other hand, with spiritually motivated activities, there is a sure way to increase the value of what we have or do. Compared to the severe limitations and failure characteristic of human efforts, there is something that is far greater. The greater thing is the success that is always guaranteed when the quality of godly love is its source. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Why do you suppose it is that love is the greatest of the three?

2. What is the means by which love abides?

RAISING CAIN’S QUESTION

READING: ROMANS 14:14-23

Verse 21: “It is good to neither eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.”

In Genesis 4:9, with a sarcastic tone, Cain asked God a question. He said “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The context surrounding this verse responds to Cain’s question, but does not answer it directly. However, there are passages in the Bible that do fully answer the question about our responsibility for others. For example, Romans 14:12 demonstrates a manner in which we are to be our brothers’ keepers. We are instructed to do nothing that will induce another to sin, that will entice another to sin; or that will create doubt for another about what constitutes righteous behavior. Obedience to this verse can become very demanding. The standard it establishes positions a person to not stop with a relaxed level of seeing to the wellbeing of someone else. It can require that caring for another be done at a sacrificial cost. We must be prepared to give up what is comfortable, desirable, or even necessary, in order to faithfully care for others. Another way to put it is to state that the obedient Christian may need to go the second mile. This verse and others provide the answer to Cain’s question. Frequently we are to be our brothers’ keepers! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What should we expect to result from being a brother’s keeper?

2. How can a person know they are causing someone to stumble, be offended or made weak?