Lord, you speak the truth which saves. Through it we have such a hope which allows us to speak frankly and boldly. Not a frankness frustrated at human foibles, but inspired by divine glory seen in Christ. Not a frankness which berates and depresses, but explores the frontiers of our hope and points to the splendor of our Savior.

So we thank you for the glory which remains for all eternity. In him who brought it near. Amen.

[Pertinent passage: 2 Cor. 3.12]

by Tim Hall

Certain scriptures give emphasis to preaching God's word. Paul's familiar "Preach the word!" (2 Timothy 4:2, NKJV) is a notable example. Passages like these give clear guidance to those who venture to proclaim to others what God expects.

Another passage often cited when speaking of the responsibilities of preachers is 1 Peter 4:11: "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God ..." This writer believes that preachers are to be guided by this principle. But are preachers the only ones Peter had in mind? Could Peter have been thinking of other Christians when he wrote those words?

Peter's thought began in verse 7: "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." The apostle gave advice in view of the seriousness of conditions. Distress was looming over the church, and Peter urged them to give attention to prayers, love, and hospitality. No one questions the audience Peter had in mind when he wrote those things; he was writing to all Christians.

The thought continues in verse 10: "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." How important it would be to minister to one another! When the enemy attacks, it's time to circle the wagons and band together. Christians must watch out for their sisters and brothers in Christ. God had equipped each of them with various gifts, and they were to use them to strengthen one another.

What kinds of gifts did Peter have in mind? He mentions two in verse 11: speaking and serving. But it's not so much the acts Peter wanted to emphasize as the spirit in which they were to be exercised. Those who served others were to do so "as with the ability which God supplies", i.e., zealously and gladly. And those who would speak words to encourage their brethren were to speak "as the oracles of God."

"Oracles" simply means "words." Peter's idea seems to have been that we should speak only after considering how God would convey our message. Are we about to speak the truth? Will we speak it with a spirit that imitates Christ? Care must be taken when we speak to others about God's will, for it's possible we could make things worse.

Paul addressed the same issue in Galatians 6:1: "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." It's commendable that some Christians want to restore their erring brethren. But are they heeding Paul's admonition to do so "in a spirit of gentleness"? Are they truly speaking "as the oracles of God"?

The surgeon who found a tumor in the patient's body has offered to remove it in order to prolong life. It's wonderful that this physician has the desire to help. But will he be gentle in removing the tumor? Or will he, by clumsy actions and blunt instruments, make matters worse?

Yes, Peter's words are for all of us. We ought to reach out to one another in order to encourage and exhort. And those of us who speak must be careful to speak "as the oracles of God."

by Don Ruhl

Read Ecclesiastes 1--3

Learn from Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Why go through the sorrows of life without understanding life and its purpose. For what are you looking in life? Solomon will take you on his journey through life, looking for its meaning, showing where happiness and pleasure are not, but giving hints along the way of what life and man are all about.

One of his observations along the way is the following,

11 [God] has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end (Ecc. 3:11, NKJV).

What God has made, He made beautiful. If man has not corrupted something, but you do not find it beautiful, then learn to see what God sees in it and you will see its beauty.

We have the desire for eternity. We want to live forever, looking for anything that will prolong our lives. Gradually we sense that this life is not all that there is. Why do we have this desire and why do we sense that our existence is more than what we have on this earth? God put eternity in our hearts!

Yet, we cannot discover every beautiful thing that God has made. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Therefore, I would love to see every part of His earthly creation, but, as Solomon says, no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

The Bible says we shall be in heaven forever. The beauties there far surpass the beauties here. We are restricted by time as we attempt to see all of God's beauties on the earth, but God has put eternity into our hearts and when we arrive in heaven, our hearts will have an eternity to search the beauties of God's work. Everything is beautiful in its time here, but over there everything is beautiful in eternity; how vast are the beauties of eternity?