by Tim Hall

"I think a lot of people believe I'm going to fall flat on my face." The quote is from Christine Wren, taken from an interview in WomenSports magazine, October 1975. She was the second female umpire in professional baseball, and was vowing not to fail in her quest. It's a phrase often heard; it seems no one wants to fall flat on their faces.

Maybe we should reconsider. Such an action might lead to a commendation from the Lord.

Luke recorded the incident in which ten men afflicted with leprosy cried out to Jesus for cleansing. Jesus responded graciously, and sent them on their way to see the priest. As they left, they still bore the marks of their illness. Along the way, however, "they were cleansed" (Luke 17:14, New King James Version). The men must have been overjoyed; who wouldn't be delirious with happiness after being cured of so dreadful a disease?

Only one, however, returned to Jesus. Luke says of him, "Now one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan" (vv. 15,16). Look again, and fix the scene in your mind: The man was lying on the ground with his face in the sand at the feet of Jesus. Such was his expression of gratitude to the Lord.

Jesus commented first on the fact that nine lepers had not returned to give thanks. Then he spoke directly to the one who had not forgotten from whence his blessings came: "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well" (v. 19).

It is an act of faith to give thanks to God. Our neighbors attribute their bounty to the labor of their hands, or perhaps to "good fortune". Christ's disciples know better. We realize that all our good gifts come from the Father. We cannot continue on our way until we have taken time to give Him thanks.

And how shall that thanks be given? As a friend might casually thank his pal? Preposterous! This is the Lord of Glory! This is the One to Whom we owe our very lives. It is a privilege just to lie prostrate at His feet. Our humility is strong, but our sense of thanksgiving constrains us to come to Him. We must give Him thanks!

Yes, I need to learn to fall flat on my face, if it is the example of the Samaritan I have in mind. It shows the kind of response to blessings that the Lord seeks.

by Phil Sanders

The Christian Chronicle reported this month that churches of Christ declined 2.1 percent nationwide during the final decade of the twentieth century. This marks the only decade during the last century churches of Christ failed to grow. We ask why.

I don’t believe we can attribute the problem to just one thing. Several things have hindered the cause of Christ.

(1) We are losing preachers. Each year we lose nearly 300 preachers more than we gain from our universities and schools of preaching. In the last decade we have lost 3,000 preachers, who could have served the 13,000 congregations among us. Let us beseech the Lord of Harvest to send forth workers (Matt. 9:36-38).

(2) We began fussing more. The radical right and radical left constantly criticize and condemn the mainstream middle. If we continue to bite and devour one another, we should not be surprised that we are consumed by one another (Gal. 5:15).

(3) When the Boston movement was no longer counted among us in 1994, we lost 46 churches and 18,816 members.

(4) Our churches began “graying.” When the average age of the members of a congregation exceeds 70, it is very hard to keep them growing. Older congregations of 50 or less often decline, because they are not able to care for the needs of young families.

(5) We stopped training soul winners. We don’t hear much about evangelism today, though we hear much about “church growth.” They are not always the same thing.

(6) With the onslaught of postmodern thinking, we have lost our “theology of lostness.” When large and prominent churches support teachers of false doctrine, give a false sense of security, and fellowship those outside the body of Christ, our people no longer see the need for evangelism. When we don’t see others as lost, we don’t see a need to take the gospel to them.

We should not be pessimistic, however, for the Lord will restore and bless those who are His. I find many, many congregations thriving and growing. Those who are working hard may not be able to overcome the numerical losses of those who are dying, but they will survive and prosper as they hold to the Word of God.

by Phil Sanders

This last week has been an enormous roller coaster ride. My mother suffered a debilitating stroke to her brain stem, which left her unable to swallow or to talk. We do not know how much she can perceive and understand when we speak to her. She cannot respond with words and usually not even with a nod or blink of an eye. She can move her limbs some. Mom has a high likelihood of additional strokes and could easily develop pneumonia. For her, both life and improvement are uncertain.

Thanksgiving this year will not be the same. We can only begin to think how wonderful God has been to us. We can see and perceive, hear and understand, eat and enjoy, talk and communicate. We can express love to our families and friends. We can use our hands and feet; we can clean ourselves. We can use our minds. We can pray.

How easily we take for granted all our blessings. God is so good to us and gives us so very much. Never, never forget the good things.

May God bless you.

[Editor's note: Here's a great guest article today, again on the needed topic of spiritual growth.]

Growing in the Faith by Wayne Pope

Even in the midst of trouble and trials, the church in Thessalonica was making spiritual progress. Many of us today are facing issues and problems, and the question may be asked, “Are we growing in the faith?” Growing in faith is both necessary and vital to our salvation. Many ask the question of what it means to grow in faith. Three basic elements are involved.

First, growing in faith demands that we listen to the will of God. Paul wrote that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), so in order to grow in faith we must study the Word. It is difficult to ever possess assurance or confidant trust in God if we do not practice a diligent study of the Bible.

Additionally, we will never grow if we do not desire to be fed with the Word. Saving, active, and growing faith cannot be sustained without a steady diet of Bible Study.

Growing in faith also demands we live the will of God. Faith apart from works is useless and dead (James 2:14-26). If we want to make our calling and election sure, then our faith must grow by adding to it the Christian graces (2 Peter 1:5-7).

As knowledge is acquired, we must learn to use it wisely and with all patience, godliness, and brotherly kindness. Only those who exercise their faith can be said to possess a growing faith.

Third, growing in faith demands that we love the will of God. Each of us should grow in faith enough to serve God because of our love for Him, not entirely motivated out of a fear of punishment. One who has grown in faith does not view the commandments of God as grievous or burdensome, but he views them as an honor and a privilege (1 John 5:3).

Growing faith learns the joy and happiness of serving God while hungering and thirsting for its precepts. “Oh, how I love thy law! It is my mediation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

Has your faith grown? Are you progressing in faith to say you listen to, live, and love the will of God? If not, begin today to awaken your dormant faith.

“Continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel.” (Colossians 1:23)

Wayne is the minister of involvement at the Broken Arrow, Olka., church. Article used by permission.