A Minute With The Bible Aired during December, 2001 The wise man said, "Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart"(Proverbs 3:3). Every age of mankind could use this admonition. Kindness and truth are needed now, as they have been in past generations. Kindness and truth would go a long way toward solving problems between nations, between neighbors, between friends, and yes--even between enemies. In order for kindness and truth to happen, it must start with me and with you. They must, as Solomon stated, engulf our bodies and control our hearts. After all, kindness originates in the heart; truth is in the heart as a result of one's willingness to accept such into one's thinking. There needs to be, in each of us, an attitude that makes us kinder to others while cultivating a greater desire for truth. Kindness and truth work together to solve problems.
Why not follow the wise man's advice? "Do not let kindness and truth leave you."
Solomon advised, in Proverbs 3:7, "Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil." Most of us believe we know more than what we do. A little self-examination does not hurt. It will make each of us to be humbled when we recognize how limited is our knowledge. The wise man recognizes that he cannot save himself; that he cannot devise a way of life free of problems and strife; that he must depend upon a higher being in order to become wise enough to see his needs. Solomon, the wisest of all mortal men, stated that one is wise when he learns to "Fear the Lord and turn away from evil." It is sad that many in our age, as in ages past, let their own human wisdom guide them into evil, learning too late the price that must be paid for such foolishness. The wise man will seek the good, plan his future with righteousness in mind, and strive to live a life that sets an example to others. Want to be wise? Follow the Lord's word.
Solomon observed, in Proverbs 3:13, "How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding." How man does seek after wisdom, especially the wisdom of this world. It is hard to believe that man is wise enough to send other men to the moon; to make it possible for men to fly as do birds; to be as mobile as the swiftest lion, yet the wisdom of man has achieved such lofty ambitions. How wise is the one who can discover the cure for a disease and save a person from death. Such an understanding of the physical has made our age a wonderment to all past. There is, however, a greater wisdom than these mortal accomplishments. It is the knowledge of the Word of God. The Bible is not designed to impart human knowledge, but to reveal the divine truths that will grant one eternal life. Man can live on the earth but a short time; he can live eternally in heaven if he is wise and obedient to the Lord's word.
Proverbs 3:27 reveals, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it." During the recent tragedies, the generosity of the people of our nation has been demonstrated multiple times. When they learned of people suffering, they responded. When they saw the need for food, they provided it. It was in the power of the people of America(and other nations) t respond to their needs. The principle that motivated such actions was taught many years before by Solomon. Kindness and generosity have always marked the people who serve Jehovah. Servants of Jesus Christ are liberal with their funds and their goods. When those who composed the early church heard of the needs of others, they sent "once and again to their needs." Whether it was the apostle Paul or the needy disciples in other places, they practiced their religion by serving the needs of others
"Then were gathered together the chief priests, and the elders of the people, unto the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas; and they took counsel together that they might take Jesus by subtlety and kill him"(Matthew 26:3-4). Earthly leaders do not want to lose their power. When they encounter someone who is infringing upon their domain, they react in unpleasant ways. In the case of Jesus Christ, they saw him as an enemy that would destroy their influence over the people. These religious teachers believed the way to stop him was to kill him. Jesus had done nothing to deserve such treatment. He had healed the sick, encouraged the fainthearted, exposed their religious errors, and taught only the truth. Christ did nothing that would justify that he die. He harmed no one; he desired only that men would respect the ways of God. Yet, he represented a threat to the power the false teachers had over the multitude. They had one desire: kill him!
"Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster cruise of ointment and she poured it upon his head, as he sat at meat"(Matthew 26:6-7). The disciples did not understand the purpose of the ointment. In their minds, they considered such a waste. Their conclusion was that it could have been sold and the funds be "given to the poor." Jesus pointed out, "she hath wrought a good work upon me." The Lord told the disciples that the opportunities to help the poor would continue "always." Christ would reveal to them the purpose, "For in that she poured this ointment upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial"(Matthew 26:12). However, they still did not fully understand what would shortly occur. The action of Mary should have given sufficient evidence to know that Jesus would not be upon the earth much longer. As they needed faith to accept Jesus words, so do we.
"Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said, What are you willing to give me and I will deliver him unto you? And they weighed unto him thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to deliver him unto them"(Matthew 26:14-16). No decent person likes the idea of one being a traitor. Whether among friends, among relatives, among associates, or among citizens. A traitor is a hypocrite! Judas had walked beside the Lord; he ate with the Lord; and he associated with the other disciples. He was not only a traitor, he was a thief. How one could be of such a nature while being with the Lord, seeing His miracles and listening to His word is difficult to understand. Judas found the opportunity he looked for and betrayed the Son of God with a kiss. When he realized what he had done, he tried to return the pieces of silver. In his remorse, he went out and "hanged himself." Be honest; be truthful; be faithful.
"And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people"(Matthew 26:47). Jesus Christ had no weapons; his message had been a message of truth. They could approach him at any time, if they so desired. The leaders of the Jews had enticed Judas to betray the Lord and, now, they are come to destroy the very one who could help them the most. He had no armor and no weapons; the multitude came with "swords and staves." Jesus is the most humble of all; they were going to use violence against one who had walked with them, healing their sick and raising their dead. Now--they had every intention of putting the most meek of all to death. Jesus would not resist them; he would even replace the severed ear of one who was a servant of the high priest. While Jesus could call legions of angels to his rescue, he willingly submitted to the crowd.
"...what think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death. Then did they spit in his face and buffet him: and some smote him with the palms of their hands"(Matthew 26:66-67). The false charges of the Jewish leaders accused the Lord of blasphemy. They listened to the false charges of two witnesses. The charges were based on lies. They did not understand the prophecy in the scriptures, but gave their own meaning to what had been revealed so they could rid their society of this one who is called Jesus. To add insult to injury, they tried to injure him physically. The trial was a mockery of justice. The leaders provided no protection for the accused; they, in fact, had sought false witnesses that were used to further their own ambitions in order to rid themselves of this one who claimed to be the Messiah. How blind can men be! They did not realize Jesus would die for their sins and of all mankind. If you had been present, where would you have stood?
"And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice"(Matthew 26:75). The apostle had been told of his mistake before it happened. Now, as the Lord has been arrested and Peter realizes what he has done, it is too late. It was inevitable that one would deny the Lord. Peter denied him three times. Yet, as the apostle remembered the words of the Lord, Peter "wept bitterly." If one is wrong; it is right to be sorrowful. When one is wrong; it is right to change. And Peter changed! It would be his privilege to preach the gospel on Pentecost as he told the Hebrews of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. He would charge those with guilt who had participated, but would preach Christ's way of salvation to each one of them who would obey the gospel now being preached by the apostles. Peter would author two of the epistles of the New Testament. According to some historians, he was crucified upside down.
"Pilate said unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified"(Matthew 27:22). The weaknesses of human beings is evident in this passage. Not only the weakness of the multitude, but of the leader who had more interest in pleasing his subjects than in the truth! The religious leaders of Jesus' day did not have the power to put him to death. However, they could use their influence to see that others would put him to death. The weak ruler from Rome, Pilate, offered to release Barabbas, a prisoner, or Jesus Christ. The leaders of the Jews asked for Barabbas. The spineless Pilate did as they desired and consented to the Lord being scourged and crucified. The leaders of the Hebrews could find no fault(they lied); Pilate could find no fault. Jesus did not come to our planet to be an earthly ruler. His sole purpose was to die for the sins of all, including those who plotted and planned his death.
"He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay"(Matthew 28:6). Jesus had been crucified; placed in a tomb; now--he was resurrected from the dead. By the power of God, he experienced something none had experienced before: He arose, never to die again. Born of a woman, living as a man, and dying as a human, he came back to this earth never to die again. The eternal Christ had suffered the agony of death for each of us; he now offers the glory of heaven to those who will follow his ways. On the first day of each week, Christians remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Lord's Supper. As the disciple eats the bread and drinks of the fruit of the vine, in remembrance of his death, burial and resurrection such becomes the focus in the minds of the faithful. The Bible does not teach us to remember his birth through a special observance, but to remember, each Sunday, Jesus' great sacrifice on Calvary.
"Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven"(Acts. 1:11). Jesus had been crucified; he had been laid in a tomb; he had been raised by the power of God. In many appearances he proved his resurrection from the dead. After his ascension, the disciples gathered and were praying, as well as discussing the events that had transpired. They had walked and talked with the Saviour; they had eaten with him; they had seen him crucified; they saw him after his victory over death; they beheld him as he ascended into heaven. They would now be prepared to live as His disciples, sharing with the world the message of eternal life. The message of the cross would be taught in Jerusalem and throughout the world. This same message can be found today in the New Testament. Have you read the Word of God lately?
"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place"(Acts 2:1). The disciples had witnessed the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Their hope, and the hope of every person who has since lived, rested in the faith that would lead them to obedience. As they gathered on the day of Pentecost, they would experience a new beginning. Now, they would have the opportunity to be saved. That same opportunity would be extended to all men, from the days of the apostles until today, and so long as the world shall stand. They were no longer under a law of bondage(the Law of Moses), but under the new law, the gospel of Jesus Christ. The good news would begin in Jerusalem as those who gathered listened to the words of truth spoken by the apostles. This gospel is the same message for those of us today. The requirements to please God have continued for almost 2000 years. From the richest king to the poorest beggar, all are subject to the message of the apostles.
"And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance"(Acts 2:25). To the amazement of the crowd, who "were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language," the apostles were preaching the message of Jesus Christ. Peter's sermon is recorded for all generations to come. Starting with the prophet Joel, he preached the message of hope to all those assembled. Reminding them of the events that had just occurred, the death of Christ and his resurrection, he pointed out "that God had made him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified"(Acts 2:36). This same message is found in your New Testament. From Pentecost to today, the instructions of God have not changed. The churches of Christ preach the same truths as did the apostles on Pentecost. We respect the same message they delivered. The gospel is not outdated; the gospel has not lost its power; will you follow the gospel?
When the people on Pentecost asked, "Brethren, what shall we do?"(Acts 2:37), the apostle Peter replied, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit"(Acts 2:38). The preaching of the gospel had convicted them of their sins. They were repenting of their sins as evidence by their inquiry. Their question implied they were confessing their belief in Jesus Christ. Then, they would submit to immersion in water in order to wash away their transgressions. In that day, 3000 souls responded to the Lord's commands and became Christians. The process of conversion is the same today as it was on the day of Pentecost. The church of Christ teaches the plan of salvation that was preached on Pentecost and the days of the apostles. The message has not been changed; the conditions are the same; have you obeyed what Peter taught on the day of Pentecost? If not, why not?
"Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned men, they marveled: and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus"(Acts 4:13). Association with others influences one's character and behavior. When the people observed Peter and John, they identified them as having been with the Lord. Knowing they lacked the worldly knowledge of many, they saw in them something different: they were serving the Lord and teaching the truth. Peter and John lived and taught the ways of the Lord. Those whom I choose to be with will influence me either in the right path or in the wrong path. If I allow those who have no love for the Lord or care for truth to regulate my life, I will be unacceptable to the Lord. However, if I search out those who are righteous and desire to follow the Lord's will, it will have a position affect on my thinking and my life. Since your friends influence your thinking and behavior, with whom do you associate?July, 1999 August, 1999 September, 1999 October, 1999 November, 1999 December, 1999 January, 2000 June, 2000 July, 2000 August, 2000 September, 2000 October, 2000 November, 2000 January, 2001 February, 2001 March, 2001 April, 2001 May, 2001 June, 2001 July, 2001 August, 2001 September, 2001 October, 2001 November, 2001 January, 2002 February, 2002 March, 2002 April, 2002 May, 2002