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Monday, 21. July 2003
We Touched Him randal, July 21, 2003 at 2:25:00 PM BST
by J. Randal Matheny "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life-- ... we proclaim to you also" (1 John 1:1, 3a, NASU). We touched him, John writes. Most writers want to talk about how Jesus has touched them. John writes to say "WE touched HIM." Literally. With our hands. The living, breathing, walking, resurrected Son of God, Son of Man. It's a doctrinal statement. Some were saying Christ had not come in the flesh (1 John 4:1-2). John makes it clear the Lord was no ghost, phantom, or figment of imagination. The gospel is based on facts. Hard facts. Divine-human facts. John refuses to let anyone retell or re-interpret the story and twist the facts. The facts mean salvation, grace, strength; they were divinely interpreted and explained, with truths, commands, principles, examples. Those same facts still stand today to explain the meaning of the coming of the Son of God. The faith is always a truth matter. It's a personal statement. John must have marveled to think that he had actually touched the Son of God, when in the OT the Jews believed that one would die if God appeared. Uzzah died when he touched the ark, just the ark, mind you. John is amazed that they had "touched [the Lord] with our hands." We today are not eyewitnesses as was John and the other apostles. But is it not as marvelous that Jesus accompanies us to every part when we do and preach his word? Is it not just as amazing that his Spirit abides within us? The faith is always a heart matter. It's a resurrection statement. To startled and frightened disciples, Jesus appears and tells them, "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have" (Luke 24:39). "Touch me." The same word as 1 John 4:2, "we touched him." This flesh-and-blood Savior promised to return to claim his own and carry them to eternal abodes. The faith is always a hope matter. Truth. Heart. Hope. John binds them all together in one wonderful statement. He touched the Christ, and as a result was left with indelible prints on his soul. Have you touched the Christ lately? |
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Update on FMag Forthright Magazine continues, more dynamic than ever! We have groups created for FMag on Facebook and the Churches of Christ Network. Announcement blog is up and going on Preachers Files. Email lists about FMag and FPress are available both on Yahoo and GoogleGroups. And, to top it all off, we're twittering for both on Twitter.com. by randal @ 1/20/09, 11:55 AM How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:24--47 How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless Yes, it is popular to say that we are not supposed to judge, but the truth is we all make judgments about many things daily. Otherwise, we would never succeed in life. The real question is what is our guide for judging. Why can we not simply follow the example of our Master and Lord? He said, 30 "I can of Myself ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:08 AM Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read First Chronicles 1--3 Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? Think on the manner, in which the Book of First Chronicles begins, 1 Adam, Seth, Enosh (1 Chr. 1:1). In this way begins the longest genealogy in the Bible. The names continue to the end of the ninth chapter! Were these just names? Adam; who is he? You know there is more in the Bible than the mere mention of his name in ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:05 AM ...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:1--23 Jesus healed a man. Praise God! However, Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. Uh oh. Some people were ready to kill Jesus for this perceived violation of the Sabbath Law. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath (Joh. 5:16). Jesus did a good thing. Yet, people criticized Him severely for it. And they were not people ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:03 AM They Were His Servants by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 24 and 25 They Were His Servants As the writer of Second Kings explains whom the Lord sent against Judah, the writer said that this was 2 ...according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets (2 Kin. 24:2). Those great men we have honored for centuries were nothing more than servants of the Lord God. What does that make us? Do you do something ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:01 AM ...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 4:30--54 The disciples went into a town to buy food while Jesus remained out of the town. There He engaged a woman in conversation. When the disciples returned, here is what happened, 31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." 32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know" (Joh. 4:31, 32). As you read the Gospel According to John, watch ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:59 AM Having a Tender Heart by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 22 and 23 Having a Tender Heart When Josiah heard the word of God for the first time, he tore his clothes, knowing of the wrath that was upon Jerusalem for the idolatry of his forefathers. Therefore, he sent messengers to a prophetess to inquire of the Lord. He did have a message for Josiah. God said through the prophetess, 19 "...because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:56 AM
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