A Minute With The Bible Aired during June, 2000
Jesus said, "Search the scriptures; for in
them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify
of me"(John 5:39). IF a person desires to know of Jesus Christ and
His will, the source is the scriptures. Therein is revealed
prophesies of his coming, the facts about his life, his death, his
resurrection and his teaching. In the scriptures we can also find
what Christ expects of one who would please him. There is no other
source for accurate information. Hence, what any man teaches in
regard to the Lord's will must be found in the scriptures. While the
Old Testament has the history of God's dealing with mankind, many
moral messages, as well as those prophesies of the Messiah and His
kingdom, the standard for today is the New Testament. Always search
the scriptures for divine truth.
"Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; Bind them about thy neck;
write them on the tablet of thy heart"(Proverbs 3:3). No greater
treasure can a human find than to find the truth. Men search for it
in many ways. Some give their own bodies in sacrifice for what they
perceive as truth. The writer of Proverbs speaks to the "kindness and
truth" that comes from God. It is to be in a person's heart and bound
about "thy neck." Wear it and practice it would be a comment on
Solomon's wisdom. No doubt, as in our age, there were many who cared
little about the truth. It was fitting in that day, and in our day,
to be reminded of the necessity of seeking and finding the truth,
especially in religious matters. The word of God reveals divine
truth. All of our teachings and actions should be clothed with divine
truth.
"Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own
understanding"(Proverbs 3:5). Men trust in many things. Some in
treasure, some in themselves, some in mortal men, some in secular
knowledge, some in secular power, and the list could be endless. The
writer, Solomon, learned to trust in the one who created him. With
all of his heart he was to place his confidence in Jehovah. The wise
man understood, even though he was the wisest of the wise, that he
could not place confidence in those things that have to do with the
mortal flesh. The real trust is to look to Jehovah and His way for
all of our thoughts and actions. Only this kind of trust can sustain
one through the many temptations and trials of life. If you have
tried the rest, look to the best(and only way) to survive: trust in
God with all your might.
"Keep my commandments and live; and my law as the apple of thine
eye"(Proverbs 7:2). Solomon knew the value of walking in the paths of
righteousness. He desired to impart that value to his son, for it
would give him life. His eye should have a single vision, that is,
keeping the "law." The message of Solomon still rings clear in the
minds of those who would please the Lord. Keeping the commandments of
God enables one to live a life of holiness. Jesus said it, "If ye
love me, ye will keep my commandments"(John 14:15). There are many in
our age who do not like commandments; it has also been true in all
previous ages. As Solomon admonished, so Jesus admonished. One's love
for a superior is indicated by the willingness of the servant to
follow the instructions of the Master. Think on these things.
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a network of
silver"(Proverbs 25:11). The power of speech should never be
underestimated. Saying the right words at the right time is the mark
and aim of all those who would please the Creator of all humanity. As
gold and silver, through the years were counted of great value, so
proper words are valued by right-thinking humans. Jesus demonstrated
the power of appropriate speech while upon this earth. Such words did
not always satisfy men, in fact, they crucified him for what he said.
Yet, his words would be known throughout all the world through all
the ages. Truly, his words are of greater value than all of the
silver and gold this world can produce.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven"(Matthew 5:2). All men need to realize their dependence upon
God. We are literally "poor in spirit" because we cannot improve
ourselves spiritually without God's word. In the New Testament, he
provides us with the guidance that will lead us in the proper
direction. There is no other source for those who realize their needs
for spiritual health. Once it is accepted that the Lord can help me,
through his word, spiritual treasures are the result. The ultimate
goal is the Kingdom of Heaven. To reach that goal one must realize
the need for depending upon what God has revealed to us in His word.
We urge you to learn the messages of Christ as revealed through the
inspired men of the New Testament.
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted"(Matthew
5:4). Men are saddened over many things. They are hurt by their
families, by their associates, by friends, and the list could go on.
The ones of whom Jesus spoke are those that mourn about their own
spiritual needs. Christ is assuring them that he will care for them
and they will be comforted. While men seek to be comforted in many
areas by multiple approaches, to be truly comforted in the spirit is
to heed the teachings of Jesus Christ. One may search the works of
men; listen to the authorities of men; bow to the dictates of men;
but only Jesus Christ is the source of comfort in religious matters.
Only through acceptance of his teachings can one be truly be
comforted in spiritual matters. We urge you to seek the comfort in
Christ.
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth"(Matthew
5:5). An attitude of meekness is an attitude that pleases God. Such
indicates the willingness of the individual to follow the commands of
God and walk in a manner that pleases the one who made each of us.
The idea in meekness is that of being gentle and mild. Every person
needs to have the kind of spirit that will not only seek God daily,
but the person will do all that is possible in assisting others in
their times of need. In gentle actions and in a mild, but positive
manner, one who seeks to please God will be a servant of
righteousness. "Meekness is opposed to arrogance." In the
self-seeking society of today, such a characteristic is difficult to
find. Yet, this is the kind of attitude that pleases the God of
heaven and will lead to the triumph over the disappointments of this
life.
"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled"(Matthew 5:6). When one wants something badly
enough, the person will put forth efforts to obtain that desire.
Jesus wants men to hunger and thirst after what will make one
acceptable in God's sight. The desire for righteousness must be
present before one can become righteous. When the person reaches the
point where one longs to find the truth from God and apply it to
their lives, they can be filled. One is filled with righteousness,
not by the commandments of men, but by the words of the living God
who made each one of us. When you have tried the offerings of this
world and find they are not satisfying, try Jesus Christ and his
word. His word will supply you with every spiritual need.
"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy"(Matthew 5:7).
I know of no person who has not at times, needed the mercy of others.
The very nature of human beings implies their own fallibility.
Because of this, men and women need to accept mercy when it is
needed. By the same token, mercy is to be extended to others. In
fact, Jesus is teaching that one who would desire mercy must also be
willing to extend such to others. Mercy, then, cannot be one-sided;
it must be extended and it must be accepted. Through the mercy of
God, Jesus died on the cross. The mercy of forgiveness is extended to
every human; however, every human must be willing to accept that
mercy. How could one accept mercy in a good conscience if that one is
not willing to extend mercy? The answer is obvious.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God"(Matthew 5:7).
It is not always easy to think good thoughts. The efforts of Satan,
in fact, are to discourage righteous thoughts. When one is "pure in
heart," righteous actions follow. Ultimately, those who have a pure
heart will "see God." What greater reward could be offered than to be
with the Creator of all mankind in eternity? Pureness of heart is
within the power of each individual. One does not have to think evil;
he can resist such thoughts. One does not have to permit Satan to
influence him; he can turn to the Lord for help. One does not have to
engage in those activities that promote evil; by repentance and
obedience to God, one can give up evil. Just remember: How one thinks
within his heart is the determination of one's actions. Think evil;
practice evil. Think on things that are good; practice good.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of
God"(Matthew 6:9). Who can deny that we need peace in our time? Peace
in the world; peace in the nation; peace in the community; peace in
the home, and yes, peace in the religious world. Jesus pointedly said
that those who strive to make peace are "the sons of God." Peace can
come only when those who are at odds resolve their differences. When
we want peace in the world, the citizens must be willing to accept
it. When we want peace in the home, the members must accept it. It
takes everyone working together to have peace. So it is in the
religious world. Instead of the division that exists in religion, we
can find peace with one another through the application of the will
of Christ(the New Testament) in all matters of faith and morals.
"Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"(Matthew 5:10). Men have been
persecuted because of their support for different causes. Men have
been persecuted for what they were and for what they stood. Even
those who would do good have been persecuted for their efforts. Jesus
points out that truth. When one stands for what the Bible teaches,
there are those who would persecute such a one. When one stands for
the moral principles taught in the Bible, some would persecute those
who so stand. It was no different in the days of the Old Testament;
it is no different during the days of the apostles. Some lost all
they had: even their lives for the cause of righteousness. Yet, they
stood firm for the Word of God. Let each of us so stand today.
"Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and
say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake"(Matthew
5:11). It is not easy to suffer at the hands of others. Through the
centuries, there have been those who would ridicule Christians, even
charging them with evil; even blaming disciples for unpleasant
conditions that existed. Many falsehoods have been said about
Christians. Yet, Jesus said one should be happy(blessed) under such
circumstances. Why? Those who remain faithful can look forward to a
"great...reward in heaven." When it seems that the world is against
you and that nothing seems right and everyone seems to be after you,
do what God says and you can "rejoice and be exceeding glad" that you
can have that reward promised by Jesus Christ. It is worth it all.
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and
shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven:
but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in
the kingdom of heaven"(Matthew 5:19). Many do not like the idea of
commandments. Even some religious teachers would have you believe
that commandments do not matter. However, Jesus taught otherwise. The
one who is acceptable to him is the one who will "do and teach" the
commandments of God. Commands unimportant? Hardly. He contrasted the
obedient one with the scribes and Pharisees who ignored and/or
perverted what God had given. How can one stand before God and expect
to be rewarded if the commandments of God have been ignored?
Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind," in
Matthew 22:37. This statement is an eternal truth applicable in every
age of man. The focus of spiritual love should be on the Lord and His
way. When one has the proper affection for that which is from God and
that which belongs to God, the believer will concentrate on pleasing
God. The love that Jesus teaches is above all other kinds of love. It
will demand sacrifice, time, and effort for one to fulfill what the
Lord says. Love for the Lord must be from the heart, in the life, and
continue in the future. Once a person truly loves God, that
individual will walk in the paths that God has laid out for each and
every soul. Each of us must ask himself, "Do I truly love the Lord
with all of my heart and soul?"
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for
his friends"(John 14:13). The ultimate sacrifice that can be made by
a human is to give his/her life for another. Jesus defines such an
act as "greater love." Over time, there have been those who made such
a sacrifice. It may have been for a loved one, a relative, or a
friend--but the ultimate price was paid for someone else. Jesus has
even a greater love than was expressed in this verse. He gave his
life for all of mankind, from Adam to the most recent birth. That
includes the most sinful of individuals and the vilest of characters
to the upright and moral person who would not consider
himself/herself to be sinful. The Lord made the greatest sacrifice as
a man by being put to death for our sins; he made a greater sacrifice
by leaving heaven to come to this earth to live and suffer as a man.
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor
uncircumcision; but faith working through love"(Galatians 6:10). The
apostle Paul understood the role of the Old Testament law with its
ordinances. One could no longer be justified by following the
commands of the Law of Moses, but would be justified by faith working
through love. If one possesses the proper kind of love, it will cause
one to work for the Lord and His cause. In the absence of faith, one
cannot be motivated. In the absence of love, one cannot be
acceptable. When one does love the Lord and has a working faith, that
person will seek to please the Lord who created him. Faith only is
not enough; love only is not enough. It takes a working faith
activated by love for one to please the divine Creator, the result of
obeying the gospel.
"Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the
fulfillment of the law"(Romans 13:10). The principle expressed in
this passage would cure all mistreatment of one's fellow human
beings. It would empty the prisons; remove many sorrows; and create a
society in which one could truly live in a paradise. But,
unfortunately, it is not happening in our age. Nor has it happened in
any previous time. The one who taught men to love one another was a
victim of his neighbors' anger. They crucified Him. Oh, they had read
and studied the passages of the Law that spoke of love and the proper
treatment of others but they did not practice it. Even today, men
have a difficult time in understanding that the lack of love for
others produces the ill treatments found in our society. Proper love
leads to kindness and care for others.
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous"(I John 5:3). The inspired apostle tied
love and obedience in this passage. There are many who would reject
the idea that love includes following what the Lord teaches, but this
is exactly what this scripture is teaching. For the one who truly
loves the Lord, the commandments are not burdensome. For those who do
not want to follow the Lord's will, there is an absence of love. The
type of love that John addresses is the affection that one has for
the Lord and the Lord's way. Would you like to learn more of that
love and how it applies to you?