Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” (Mark 3:4-5)
 
The occasion was the Sabbath, and on this particular Sabbath, Jesus had encountered a man with a withered hand.  Jesus commanded the man to stand in the midst of the crowd.  The critics began to question,  “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”  The response of Jesus to the critics is revealed in the verses above.
 
In this story Jesus displays an attitude of anger and grief.  Such grief is not directed toward those involved, but toward the sin itself.  Jesus was grieved by their hypocrisy and hardness of heart.  Instead of accepting the impetus behind the miracle (i.e. proof that He is the Son of God), their prejudiced minds found reason to criticize.  The very “blessing of God” was in their midst, but they turned the blessing into a curse!  Jesus was sick and tired of this heinous attitude!
 
Do you ever feel like Jesus?  Are you sick and tired of this world and its lawlessness?  Do you get tired of reading and hearing about violence and immorality?  Are you fed up with dishonest businessmen and politicians?  Have you had it with delinquent parents and torn marriages?   Are you weary of selfish brethren?  Does it grieve you to hear of another false doctrine?  Why does the world make life so difficult when the will of God is so simple and easy to accomplish?
 
If you have such feelings, then congratulations!  You may be in the elite remnant!  You could be God’'s child!  You share the same feelings as the Christ, the Son of God!
 
by George Slover

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)
 
It is impossible for one to claim fellowship with God and to pattern their life after the world.  John repeats this theme throughout this letter.  He informs us that we must (I John 1:7)  “walk in the light” and that we cannot simultaneously walk in the light and walk in darkness.   “Don’t love the world’s ways or the world’s goods”, John says.  To John, the “world” represents everything that is contrary to keeping the faith.
 
Indeed, the world has a different view of how we should live.  Our postmodern culture believes that all ideas are valid.  We are free to believe and practice whatever we desire, in the name of diversity and tolerance.  In our broadminded world more and more folks have gravitated toward the hedonistic view – “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die”.  It is easy for the Christian, in this environment, to have a Playboy view of the world rather than a biblical view.
 
Before his departure, Jesus told his disciples,  “"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)   James said, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”(James 4:4-5)  Looking, dressing, acting, and talking like the world are not the marks of followers of Christ.
 
If I intend to be all that God wants me to be, I must hear and do what he says day by day, and moment by moment.  So determine to stop that affair you’ve been having with sin.  Get busy enjoying the rewards of living for God.
 
by George Slover

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

The letter to the Thessalonians begins with a reminder that they had received the gospel in much affliction. (1:6) To encourage the brethren, Paul pens this letter full of faith, hope, and love. (1:3). We may not be facing death or affliction due to our profession of Christ, but surely every disciple should find comfort in the verses we are considering.

First, our Divine appointment is not to receive wrath. The Bible says that the wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness and sin. (Romans 1:18) For this reason, all believers were once children of wrath. (Ephesians 2:3) Paul has been contrasting the condition of the sons of light with the children of darkness.  Among the later are those who under the cloak of night, stoop to debauchery and shame. Unlike these, Christians are not destined to wrath.  

Second, our Divine appointment is to salvation.  The word “appointment” signifies an arrangement or definite order. The redemption of the sinner is not due to the hasty after thought of God.  God determined long ago to provide a way for reconciliation and fellowship with him.  Though salvation has been ordained by God, it cannot be enjoyed unless it is received and accepted.  

Third, the means of our salvation is through the Lord Jesus Christ.  The redemption of every believer was purchased by the blood of Christ.  “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3) Because he died for us, we will not die. The person united to Christ by an obedient faith “does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life”. (John 5: 24). There is no wrath or condemnation because Christ has appeased God’s wrath.  

Finally, the end of this Divine appointment is that whether we are dead or alive we may live with Jesus. Life with Christ is not solely about our final reward, but enjoying the fellowship with him while we live in this world.  Faithful disciples who walk in the way of God are offered communion and the consolation of Christ.  And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 1:6)

These amazing truths afford disciples of Christ a basis for mutual comfort and edification. There is no need for despondency, but encouragement and hope. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)


By George Slover 

”Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.”  (2 Corinthians 8:1-2)

Due to an urgent benevolent need in Jerusalem, the churches were called upon to send relief to these destitute saints. In the verses above Paul seeks to motivate love in the Corinthians by pointing to the amazing generosity of the Macedonian Christians. 

Before considering the aspects of their generosity, please note at least two matters that could have hindered their benevolent spirit.  A heavy affliction was imposed on the Macedonian churches, chiefly through the jealousy of the Jews, who excited the hatred of the Gentiles. In addition to this persecution, the Macedonians were poor. The Holy Spirit tells us they were in deep poverty. These two factors mark the amazing spirit of these Macedonian Christians. 

Though afflicted and poor, they gave liberally. Their problem was not that they might give too little, but that they might give too much. Their affliction and poverty could not cramp their large hearts. The Macedonians were not pressed into giving by outward appeals. Their only pressure was a love from within. They gave voluntarily. They longed to help, and insisted on having a share in this good work. And by this grace, they reaped the rewards of the joy of giving.

The text also tells us these Christians had given themselves to the Lord. (Vs. 5).  This relationship with God was due to his grace that was given to them. Their sins were forgiven. The wrath of God had been replaced with everlasting favor. Guilt was gone. Hope was in their hearts.These thoughts had led to their spirit of generosity.

These thoughts led to an abundance of joy that became a fountain of love for other saints. Paul called it a love that was genuine. (Vs.8) It was a God exalting love that first found joy solely in a relationship with God, and led to meeting the needs of others.   

It has been said that true happiness requires love for people. Which is true to some extent. However, disciples must not seek to love in order to be happy, but seek to be happy in God in order to love.  There is a difference between the two.  The one who gives cheerfully is the one who is so full of joy in God that it overflows in their service to others.

Let us learn to have the spirit of the Macedonians. But it is more important for us to emulate the spirit of our Savior.  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”  (2 Corinthians 8:9)

By George Slover

Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
 
Ecclesiastes is full of wisdom that will help “life under the sun” to be more tolerable.  Life in this oppressive, competitive world is full of challenges and disappointments.  One soon realizes that it is not wise to try to make it through this journey alone.  Thus, Solomon bluntly states that one needs a companion, one that will give us perspective and objectivity.  Why are two better than one?  Consider three answers to the question.
 
First, a companion can offer encouragement when we are weak.  “For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:10)  This passage always reminds me of my days in the corps at Texas A&M when our First Sergeant was determined to “make us run until we dropped.”   On those occasions when a fellow classmate started to fall the rest of us would pick him up and carry him along.  What a valuable lesson!  I should never be shamed to refuse help when needed.  I must ever be diligent to consider the needs of my fellows!
 
Second, a companion can offer support when we are vulnerable.  “Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?” (Ecclesiastes 4:11).  The thought here may represent more than a spouse keeping another warm on a wintry night.  It may represent anytime we are exposed and unguarded.  All are vulnerable, but “two are better than one”.
 
Third, a friend can provide protection when attacked.  “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12) We all have a common adversary – the devil!  Our adversary may be one who has manufactured vicious rumors about us. But, there is power in the unity and support that we receive from friends.
 
There is no promise of tomorrow and exactly what it will bring, but chances are good that some of those days will be times of adversity.  The secret to your success is having good friends. 
 
by George Slover