THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

One of the most neglected things in the lives of many Christians is personal worship. Most of us find the time to attend the public assemblies, but how many of us find the time for private communications with God. We are seemingly so busy with our goings-on that we have not the time to stop and extend to Him the kind of reverential respect He deserves. And when we have time to do so, we are very often so tired from our mundane pursuits that our effort dies for a want of energy.

We miss something special when we don’t take the time to extol and venerate God as our Creator, our Sustainer. Every person needs a close, personal relationship with God, one where, without timidity or hesitation, he can pour out his heart in total freedom of expression, and give to Him for a little while, the total attention and adulation He deserves. After all it is “...in Him we live and move, and have our very being” (Acts 17:28).

The Psalms are chock-full of statements of praise and worship for Jehovah God. It’s good to sit in a quiet place occasionally, and with full realization of who we are and Who He Is, to meditate on Psalms such as the 148th or the 19th – songs of praise and adoration which, with great expressions, exalt His grandeur and glory, the kind He deserves from the likes of each of us.

All God’s creatures praise Him. All God’s creation praises Him. But man is special. His worship is different because it comes from a free will; because it is an expression of volition, not necessity. Every man dishonors God when he neglects to praise and worship Him. Every man honors God when he offers his voluntary praise and devotion to Him. Every man’s worship is special.

By accepting His majesty and power. The power of God is seen in the creation. How foolish to observe the world in which we live and the manner in which it operates and give no praise to Him who makes it all hold together. How foolish to draw blessings from all He has made without any recognition or thanksgiving for His power and majesty. “Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created” (Psalm 148:5).

By total respect and regard for His will. It is by the will of God that we exist in the first place. “In His own image created He them,” we are told. He gave to all “life and breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25). We each exist by His divine will. Is that not ample reason for praising and adoring Him, for according to him the most high and noble feelings of our hearts? Surely it is! And, furthermore, is that not reason enough to subscribe to and maintain the purity of His word–the expression of His will– at all cost, knowing that we, in the ultimate reality, cannot change or alter it, seeing from whence it came? It’s His will. We should honor and praise Him for it.

By complete submission to His Son. Oh, how we should praise Him for Jesus Christ! What joy it should bring to our heart to give to Him the adoring reverence and thanksgiving for the gift of His Son, Jesus the Christ of God, the personification of His will (John 1:17-18; 3:16), the total gift of His love, a will expressed and extended “ while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8). Is that not ample reason for thanksgiving, for praise, for exclamations of veneration and respect?

In view of such magnificent expressions of love, in view of such graceful manifestations of care and concern, doesn’t it just make good sense that we take a few minutes each day and let Him hear our personal conveyances of love and respect, of awe, adoration, and appreciation? Let us resolve that before this day is over we will make time to find a quiet place, bow our heads, and honor and praise Him with whom we have to do, Him who is our Great God.

Believe it or not, I was young once. I remember some things about being young that were not easy; in fact, downright perplexing. I remember when I reached puberty. I didn’t understand what was happening to me. I didn’t understand all these new feelings I was having. New things popped into my mind without permission, stuff that had never been there before. I began to notice things I had never even thought of before. It was a difficult time for me. I think it must be so for most all youngsters–if they’d just admit it.

Times were about as difficult when I began dating. Confusion set in with a vengeance. Who should I date? Why did I feel an attachment to some and not to others? Why was I not as attractive to the ones who were attractive to me? Why did Johnny Green get all the looks? And why did Waydelle Hill get all the athletic ability? And why did some of the more “earthy” girls seem to have the most attraction? My head was a mess.

Decisions are hard when you’re young. I suppose I’m taking somewhat of a chance, but I want to give some advice. You can take it or leave it; but it would be wise for you to consider it–for a little while anyhow. I wish someone would have impressed these things on my mind when I was young.

Be careful about making decisions based on physical characteristics. Just became someone is good looking doesn’t mean they are good. Look for someone with character. That person will look good longer. Character lasts, looks don’t.

Be careful not to confuse lust with love. Lust is fleeting; love is lasting. Lust will deceive; love is always honorable. Lust is temporary; love endures. Lust disappears; love never does. Lust is sometimes confusing; love is easy to explain.

Be careful about moving too quickly. Many a good life has been ruined because someone made a hasty decision. Take your time. Make sure.

Be careful about promises. When someone says, “I love you,” make sure it’s so before you do anything about it. There’s more to love than a mere affirmation.

Be careful where you’re headed. A good relationship is based on common interests, common pursuits, common hopes and dreams. Most of all, it’s based on common sense. Don’t be deceived into seeing only what’s in front of you. Look out. And, above all, look up.

Be careful about priorities. Is this person interested in spiritual matters? Is this person faithful to spiritual obligations; does he/she pray? Does he/she often discuss spiritual matters? Does this person have a Bible and does it show some wear? These are important questions.

Find someone to help you go to heaven. Remember, “If you miss heaven, you’ve just missed all there is.”

Crying comes from a deep emotional bonding of heart, soul and mind in grief over the loss or hurt of someone precious. Shedding tears of sorrow is an overwhelming sadness that surrounds the heart of one bowed down in anguish. The death of a parent brings life-long heartaches of precious memories. When a mate dies the grief is nearly too much to bear. A child’s death is the most tragic of all and inconsolable. Our lives are acquainted with grief; how can we comprehend the Son of God weeping?

Jesus had been called to the home of Mary and Martha whose brother, Lazarus was sick unto death (John 11:1-6). The Lord tarried a few days before beginning the journey and upon arrival was told that Lazarus had died and had been in the tomb four days (John 11:17). “When Jesus therefore saw [Mary] weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept” (John 11:33-35). How can we imagine the Son of God weeping? In the gospel of divinity declaring “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2); and yet He was crying.

This was not the first time Jesus cried. As with all humanity He had shared in the grief of death. His earthly father who took Him in as his own son (Luke 3:2) had died before His ministry. In the thirty years before He had seen death in friends, neighbors and families. But here Jesus stands as the Son of God and tears are flowing down His cheek. Our Lord was showing His compassion for the human frailties that so often invade our lives.

Jesus wept because of His love in human terms for Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He felt the same sting of pain we feel when our loved ones die. The voice is quiet, the hands lie folded in rest, the heart that beat the warmth of love is now hollow and the face is pale in the veil of death. All of the joys of life are taken from our spirit when death takes our loved one. Jesus felt this pain in the death of Lazarus.

Jesus wept because of the tragedy of death. It was not meant to be. Death came as a result of sin when God prohibited man from living in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-24). Every monument raised to honor a loved one in death is a testimony of the penalty for sin. The sadness of death is the sting of death. Our Lord knew why He had come and He understood clearly His path was pointing to His own death on the cross. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).

Jesus wept because He truly cared for others. Our hearts are not as tender to the death of others because we share none or little relationship to their lives. Jesus wept because he was not only a friend of the family of Lazarus; He was a friend of everyone on earth. His death on the cross would be a single act of love for every person from Adam to the last baby born on earth. He cares for each one – He cares for you and He cares for me. It is hard to imagine that God has a name for every star (Psalm 147:4) and yet His Son weeps for every person and the struggles they face daily (Hebrews 4:15).

A church was in need of a preacher. One of the elders was interested in finding out just what kind of a preacher the church wanted. In order to do this he composed a letter as though it had been received from a preacher and read it to the committee selecting a new preacher.

"Gentlemen: Understanding that you need a preacher, I would like to apply for the position. I have many qualifications that I think you would appreciate. I have been blessed to preach with power and have some success as a writer. Some say that I am a good organizer. I have been a leader in most places I have gone.”

“Some folks, however, have some things against me. I am over fifty years of age. I have never preached in one place for more than three years at a time. In some places I have left town after my work caused riots and disturbances. I have to admit that I have been in jail three or four times, but not because of any wrong-doing. My health is not too good, though I still get a good deal done. I have had to work at my trade to help pay my way.”

“The churches I have preached in have been small, though located in several large cities. I have not gotten along too well with the religious leaders in different towns where I have preached, and I am sure that they will not recommend me. In fact, some of them have threatened me, taken me to court, and even attacked me physically. I'm not too good at keeping records. I have been known even to forget whom I have baptized. However, if you can use me, I shall do my best for you, even if I have to work to help with my support."

The elder read this letter to the committee, and asked if they were interested in the applicant. They replied that he would never do for their church. They were not interested in an unhealthy, trouble-making, contentious, ex-jailbird; and were insulted that his application had ever been presented! But one of them did ask the preacher's name and the elder replied, "The Apostle Paul.”

The Gospel hidden in mystery should arouse our best and most active faculties. That is why we are commanded to search the Scripture, not simply to read it. It is the great repository of all the truths and mysteries of our faith. It is a rich mine that we ought to dig into and shall never exhaust. Just as gold and diamonds and most other precious stones and metals lie concealed in the depths of the earth, so the most valued things of revelation are concealed by the great Creator and Redeemer from the common view of the world. Only as this mystery stimulates us to dig into the Word shall we unearth the treasures that God has there for us.

My heart stands in awe of Your word. I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.