by Don Ruhl

Tearing and Healing

Why are there times when we are torn and struck down? Hosea 6:1 addresses this question.

Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. (Hos. 6:1, ESV).

God struck Israel that He might heal her. She would not listen any other way. When she suffered severely, she was ready to hear the Lord. That shows that He was not taking pleasure in hurting her, but it was to get her attention and then He was able to heal her.

Does this mean that every time we suffer it is God trying to get our attention? No, for there are plenty of examples in the Bible showing that suffering is just a part of this life, but we can use those times, nevertheless, to gain valuable insight into our own lives.

What should you do when you suffer? Do we have to fret over whether it is God doing it to us? No, but do what Hosea said at the beginning of the verse sited above. That is, look at your life and see if you have strayed from the Lord, and if so, return to Him. If you have strayed from Him, see what other things you can learn from your experience.

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

by Don Ruhl

I know that sounds oxymoronic, but that is the picture of Jesus Christ in Revelation 6:16, 17. Speaking of the enemies of Christ, John writes that they will say,

16 to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand? (Rev. 6:16, 17).

Look at the almost comical scene. The world's most powerful men running from a Lamb! They see His wrath and know that they have no power to stand before Him.

Even more interesting is that these powerful people put their trust in a beast that seems invincible. In fact, Revelation 13:4 shows what is said about that beast.

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? (Rev. 13:4).

The Book of Revelation shows the war between these two competing forces, the Lamb of God and the Beast. Who is able to stand against these awesome powers? This is the great paradox of the last Book of the Bible and the paradox of the world. A Lamb defeats the ferocious Beast.

On whose side are you?

by Don Ruhl

God speaks severely in the Book of Hosea, prophesying what He was going to do to Israel for her persistent sin. Did He enjoy speaking this way? Did He take pleasure in punishing Israel? No and no. Just listen to Hosea 8:11.

8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. (Hos. 8:11, ESV).

My normal study Bible is the New King James Version, but this morning I read Hosea chapters 9 through 11 in the English Standard Version and this verse caught my attention more than usual. When I came to the part that says, My heart recoils within me, I literally recoiled. Out loud I said, Whoa! God's heart recoils at the thought of giving up the people whom He loves!

When I read that some of my first thoughts were of firing a rifle and the experience of the recoil. Even as the gun jumps back, so God jumps back at the thought of handing over those whom He loves to their enemies.

Friends, God's compassion is warm and tender toward you. Please worship Him that you not experience rejection from Him.

by Don Ruhl

Picture this promise of Jesus.

21 “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Rev. 3:21).

In Romans 8:37 Paul speaks of Christians being more than conquerors. A conqueror is rewarded with a throne, but he who is more than a conqueror sits with the Lord of the universe on His throne!

Get an image of Jesus on His throne. Now see yourself seated next Him. Wow! Carry that image with you for the rest of the day. See if it motivates you to overcome.

by Richard Mansel

An exhausted Dad on Christmas Eve found the perfect gift for his little baby girl and stilled his frayed nerves as the clerk finished wrapping the burgundy box. The crowd pressed against him as he took the parcel and exited the mob scene. Soon he would see her eyes brighten with joy at his gift. It made the terrible ordeal of shopping worth the abuse.

The morning came and the clumsy fingers of his daughter tore at the beautiful paper and bow. Squealing, she opened the box, removed the expensive gift and put the box on her head. In her innocence, she had eyes only for the box, while the gift was lost in the clutter.

God must feel like that Dad as people dabble in religion, invigorated by the box while the gift is forgotten. Christianity without Christ and the Bible has become the new vogue.

In John 6:1ff, Jesus fed the multitude with five barley loaves and two small fish. Afterwards, Jesus dismissed the crowd. The next day they came back to Jesus for more bread and miracles (6:30,31). Jesus offered them spiritual bread and they misunderstood his intentions. When Jesus explained further they "went back and walked with Him no more" (6:66, NKJV).

They wanted Christ for the wrong reasons. They wanted pleasure and entertainment rather than the salvation Christ offered. Jesus rebuffed their insults and let them walk away. He had more serious work to do. His offering is the world's most valuable gift and only those ready to receive it will be blessed (Ephesians 2:8,9; Hebrews 4:16).

People come to Jesus for temporary fixes rather than the rebirth and reformation required of a child of God (John 3:3-5). People come to God to ease turmoil in their hearts and lives. When the problem is fixed, Christ is forgotten. They want the medicine, not the doctor.

Pain management is one of the greatest challenges in the medical field. Pain, though, is not the problem, but the symptom. When it is treated as the former, people fail to get well. Instead, we must address the real problem. Sin is the illness and the blood of Christ is the only cure (Romans 5:6-11). Jesus is the Great Physician, but he does not simply dispense prescriptions. He cures problems by focusing on the sin and hollowness of a sinful life (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus prescribes a lifetime regimen that is difficult and consuming and few will accept the challenge (Matthew 7:13,14).

For example, the worship of angels is an ancient practice (Colossians 2:18). It has an appeal to those who would play with the box and discard the gift. The worship of angels provides the comfort and exhilaration of religion without the complications of commandments. Angels appear to ask nothing of us, so they provide a very enticing opportunity for those who wish to remain in their sinful life, appear righteous and enjoy the thrill of spirituality.

Jesus offers spiritual life and discipleship. He calls us to take up our cross, which is too difficult for many to bear (Matthew 16:24-26). Jesus cannot be separated from the Bible, Church, Doctrine and God. Jesus will be King of our life or he will be a stranger to us (Matthew 7:21-23).

As we approach the new year, please take Christ and discard the box. Jesus calls us to repentance (Acts 2:38). Please accept his invitation.