by Tim Hall

A fellow Christian told a powerful story from a mission trip to Haiti. The medical team was traveling by flatbed truck to a remote village. Along the way they stopped to give a ride to an old man walking in the same direction. The two Haitian preachers with the group began talking fervently with the old man in their native Creole tongue. When asked what they were telling the man so excitedly, one looked at the Americans and said, "We're telling him about Jesus, of course."

The part that hits hardest is "of course". It was as if the man was saying to most American Christians, "Duh!" Why did you need to ask? Isn't that what any Christian would want to do?

We are often distracted from what is truly important. We become involved in church projects, building programs, Bible camps, special days and retreats. There's nothing wrong with any of these. They are important in their own ways, and attention should be given to them at times.

Our problem is that we don't always put first things first. The very first thing a Christian should be thinking about is telling friends or family members about Jesus. They need a Savior, don't they? We know the Savior. So isn't it up to us to tell them about Him?

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies" (Psalm 107:1,2, NLT).

by Greg Tidwell

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12, ESV)

God has called us both to a life of peace and to a life of conflict. This paradox exists because of the difficulties of the sinful world in which we live.

In a perfect world, the way God intended the world to be, there would be no conflict; there would be only peace.

Such a state of perfect harmony has not existed since Eden and will not exist again until we enter the world to come. In this life there will always be conflict.

The Apostle Paul instructs the young evangelist to "fight the good fight of the faith." He does not in this passage identify against what we are fighting, but clearly he is describing the great struggle against the forces of Satan.

The lines of battle are drawn on many fronts, in the lives of individuals dealing with despair, in families feeling the pressures of the secular world, in congregations grappling with remaining faithful against the tide of apostasy. In literally every area of life we are called to engage the forces of darkness and to fight the good fight.

While our struggle against Satan takes many forms, the conflict on a personal level comes down to one thing: remain faithful to the gospel of Christ. It was this gospel which provides us with eternal life, and which forms the substance of "the good confession." Paul instructs Timothy to take hold of this truth in order to fight the good fight.

Daily, in whatever form our struggle with evil may take, we must return to the one source of spiritual power. We must continually look to Jesus, for only in faith can we find victory.

by Don Ruhl

Read First Corinthians 14:21--40 Ignore, Be Ignored

 Paul writes to the church at Corinth, emphasizing that he is speaking the Lord's command. However, if someone refuses to believe this, by the Holy Spirit, Paul says, 

 38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored (1 Cor. 14:38, NIV). 

 What man or woman of God wants to be ignored by God? Yet, if we ignore what He says through His inspired writers, we are rejecting God Himself and in time He will reject us. Let us, therefore, give diligent attention to the things He has spoken. 

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read Psalms 140--142 Protect My Heart, O Lord

 If you love God, if He is your everything, if He is your all, it surely upsets you when you sin, knowing how it offends the One whom you love and who loves you. You will appreciate the words of Psalm 141:4, 

4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. (Psa. 141:4, NKJV).

 Pray the words of this verse and you will do better in your life-service to God. 

Don Ruhl 3535 Elk Lane Grants Pass, Oregon 97527