Bible Thoughts August 26, 2001
"For I have no man likeminded who will care
truly for your state"(Philippians
2:20).
What a marvelous description of Timothy. He cared! Paul knew his character and his life so he did not hesitate to tellbthose brethren about this young man. There was no doubt in the apostles' mind concerning the attitude of Timothy. He would "care truly for your state." This young man had the nature of a Christian: he was interested in the welfare of others. The example of concern is evident in his life by his actions. Timothy did not merely talk about the interest and concerns he had for others--he practiced what he preached! Do we not need to be like Timothy?
Timothy does not stand by himself in the concern that folks should have for one another. The Lord spoke of a man who was despised by the Jews(Luke 10:30-35). This Samaritan did what the priest and the Levite failed to do. They passed by an injured man and offered no aid but the despised Samaritan bound up his wounds and took him to a place of refuge. Why? Because he cared. The compassion of his heart moved him to care for one who needed his help. Don't you think we need to be more like him?
Paul also thanked God for Titus, who had put "the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus"(II Corinthians 8:16). He was a self-motivated disciple who was "very earnest"(v. 17) in his effort to assist not only the brethren in Corinth, but in traveling among other churches(v. 19). Paul would refer to him as "our brother...my partner and my fellow worker"(v. 22-23). Don't you think we need more like him?
There was one who cared enough for you to send His Son to die on a cruel cross almost two thousand years ago. Jehovah did not have to send his only Son as a sacrifice for our sins. But he cared enough to send the best! The apostle Peter revealed that we can be "casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you"(I Peter 5:7). When you feel like there is no hope and no one cares, always remember, God does! Don't you think you need to accept and obey Him?
When you care enough, you will do your
best!
"But I fear, lest by any means, as
the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be
corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward
Christ"(II Corinthians
11:3).
Men have a tendency to complicate matters in this life. They also try to do such in regard to spiritual applications. And some, who are gullible, will be impressed with the "knowledge" such individuals display. However, Paul said that even Satan was crafty("unscrupulous conduct, craftiness, is always used in a bad sense"-W. E. Vine). The golden tongue of an orator may impress, but such a gift for language does not make one right. While his approach may be attractive to many, the content of one's speech is what counts.
Paul spoke to the beguiling(deceiving) of Eve by the Devil. His cunning approaches have, through the ages that followed, deceived many into believing and accepting that which will cause men and women to be lost. He never sleeps but is constantly working to entice the unwary.
The efforts of Satan are deceptive because he uses the attractiveness of sin to entice men to do evil. The fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil was "good for food...a delight to the eyes...desirable to make one wise"(Genesis 3:6). The attractiveness of the fruit was so strong that Eve was blind to the consequences of eating that which was forbidden. How like humans through the ages! What becomes so attractive to a person that one must have such, often blinds the mind to the results. If we could look into the future and see the consequences of what we are doing, perhaps we would be more careful in regard to our actions.
In the case of Adam and Eve, they had been warned, "...the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat"(Genesis 2:17). Jehovah also pointed out the consequence, "...in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." The craftiness of Satan won out, however, and both tasted of the fruit. You know the rest of the story.
Satan was at work in Paul's day. Paul
was concerned that there would be those who preach another gospel,
leading the saints at Corinth away from the Lord and His word. False
teachers do not come dressed up as false teachers. They use
craftiness to capture the unwary. Through persuasive words of "man's
wisdom," many followed their ways. Christians of the present are not
immune to the wiles of Satan. Through glowing words and deceptive
speech, the deceivers lead astray those who should belong to the
Lord. Let each disciple of Christ heed the simplicity of the New
Testament in order to be prepared to face those who would lead astray
the elect through their "craftiness and vain deceit."
An unknown author said, "When you go into an orchard and see lots of
sticks and stones under a tree you know that tree has borne some
fruit. This little observation should be consolation to those who
tend to get discouraged under criticism. No one bothers much about
throwing verbal brickbats at people who are doing nothing. The more
active and fruitful your life, the more you will receive criticism."
Out of the past: "Truth is indestructible; it will abide forever.
But whether it abides in one group or party of people is always
problematical. It did not abide with the first churches long; they
departed from the truth, and went into Catholicism. We can lose the
truth today, and there are signs of departure in many congregations;
there are trends and tendencies which indicate another apostasy
unless people study more and contend more earnestly for the faith."
(1950 Lesson Commentary published by the Gospel Advocate Company).
Do you wonder why those churches who have departed from the ancient
order did not give heed to these words? One wonders if these words
would be found in present day Gospel Advocate publications.
Attendance at services is determined more by desire than distance.
Folks go when they desire to go, where they desire to go...."If you
feel that you are living farther from God, just remember that you are
the one who moved."