Service and class time change: Bible class now begins at 9:30 a.m. and worship begins at 10:30 a.m.
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Two Hundred and Thirty Words
By Charles Bishop
What could I tell you in 230 words that would make a difference? That’s approximately the number of words in my articles. What could be said that would make a difference in your life? Could anything? Better yet, what if you could write 230 words? What would you say to the congregation? If you had one chance to say the most important things you could imagine, what would they be?
Would you tell everyone that you love them? Maybe you would encourage them to love God more or to be more faithful in serving one another. Perhaps you would encourage each one to love his or her family more. After all, it seems that our families are more and more stressed and scattered.
It could be you have some Biblical theme in mind that you think would be encouraging or instructive to us all. What would it be that could accomplish that purpose? How about saying that God loves you? Or maybe you could say to all, “Be faithful in all things.”
Words are powerful. In our fellowship, I think that it could be said we err in what is unsaid rather than in what we verbally communicate. Building up one another is our task. Maybe each of us has something left unsaid that would make a difference to others. What could it be?
SONSHINE
By Gordon Rogers
At the end of the gospel of Matthew, there is a very interesting verse that we often overlook. We jump straight to the great commission and fail to look closely at verse 17. The resurrected Lord appeared to the apostles. Notice what Matthew says: “When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted.”
This passage is an amazing passage. The apostles were in the presence of the living Lord. He had risen from the dead but some of the apostles doubted.
We are not talking about people who were unaware of Jesus. This passage is referring to the remaining eleven apostles.
The Scripture tells us that modern people are not the only ones who struggle with faith. Their response was like any group of people. Some believed their eyes and some did not.
I think this verse is an encouragement to those who—at times—struggle with faith. The apostles became mighty men for God. Each of them, except for John, according to ancient history, died the death of a martyr. They found an unshakeable faith, a faith that was strong and meaningful. Faith may be difficult. If faith does not come easily, continue to seek God. Open your eyes and seek the Lord. Be receptive to God working in your life. Remember, faith did not come easily for some of the apostles.
We need to mention one other important part of this verse. The faith that the apostles had was not only a cognitive belief, but it was a faith that touched their hearts. They worshipped Him. When we come to faith, when we understand the glory and the grace of God that faith drives us to our knees in acknowledgment of this divine presence and our great need for Him. It is then that we praise Him with our lives.
