by Phil Sanders

“Reach!” The word means to stretch. It implies an inconvenience. It involves movement. You can’t lean back, relax, get comfortable and then reach. To reach means you must give up some of that comfort—at least for the moment.

Reaching involves a little extra effort to get to something you want. How much extra energy you are willing to spend depends on how badly you want what you’re reaching for. The more it means to you, the farther you are willing to stretch. You might even stretch until it hurts.

It’s not convenient to “reach” up to God to find the hand He so lovingly extends to us. It can be inconvenient to reach out to other people who so desperately need to know someone cares. It’s not even easy to reach within ourselves to find our true feelings and values.

There is, however, no more important way for us to spend our energy than to reach for a life that is pure, clean, and faithful to God. It may seem like a lot of trouble, but it’s worth it!

When we cease reaching, we stop growing. Paul said, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14).

This was the Paul who had become an apostle, was inspired by the Holy Spirit, had borne persecution and scars for Jesus, and who did not know whether he would die for Christ or not (Phil. 1:21-24).

Are you still growing? For what are you reaching and stretching? Do you press on? Have you learned all you wished to know? Have you prayed every prayer you should pray? Have you touched every neighbor? Have you taught every class you’ll ever teach?

There is yet so very much to accomplish for the Lord that none of us can afford to sit back and let the world go by. The lost are crying for you to reach out to them. The missionaries are crying for help. There is still so much truth to teach, so many souls to save, and so much kindness to give. Let us not live such easy lives that we forget to reach up and out.

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Deuteronomy 3 and 4

Our Wisdom

Listen to why Moses tells Israel to be careful to obey the commandments of God,

6 Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people' (Deu. 4:6).

Following God's word imparts wisdom and understanding. Moreover, Moses reveals to them, that other peoples will hear the Law, and they will observe Israel in action. When they see Israel doing what the Law says, then even those peoples will be able to see that Israel is a wise and understanding people.

According to Hebrews chapter 8, the New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant. How much more so is it true that if we follow the teachings of the New Covenant, the world will conclude that we are a wise and understanding people? Do you honestly believe that you are giving that care to observe the teachings of Christ that Moses said Israel should give to observe the commands that he delivered to them?

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

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Mark 10:1--31

Jesus and Children

Parents bring their children to Jesus that He might touch them. Yet, His disciples rebuke the adults bringing the children, thinking, I suppose, that Jesus is far too important of a man to be bothered by children. This displeased Him greatly, and He even told the disciples that the kingdom of God is composed of people like children, and that we adults must receive the kingdom of God as little children.

Finally, Mark writes,

16 And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them (Mar. 10:16).

Jesus loves the little children. He wants to hold them. He wants to touch them. He wants to bless them.

Jesus is our Master, Teacher and Example.

Therefore, let us love the little children. Let us hold them. Let us touch them. Let us bless them.

Try it. See how the children react to you.

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

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Deuteronomy 1 and 2

God Blesses Esau to Bless Israel

As Israel journeys through the wilderness, they pass through the territory of Esau. While passing through Esau, God says to Israel,

6 You shall buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them with money that you may drink (Deu. 2:6).

A conservative count of Israel during the wandering is 3 million! How much food and water will they buy from Esau in one day? What shall this sudden sale do to the resources of Esau? It must be that God had already blessed Esau with abundance or is about to, that Esau not lack, but that Esau has enough for itself and for Israel.

Why does God bless us with abundance?

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

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Mark 9:30--50

Cut It Off!

Jesus shows how radical we need to be to avoid sin, when He says,

43 And if your hand makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- (Mar. 9:43).

Whatever you have to do to stop sinning, do it. The place, the person, or the circumstance, might be dear to you, like your own hand, nevertheless, if it causes you to sin, get rid of it, now! Think about eternity. Would you not much rather go to heaven missing that thing you cherish, then to go to hell having it as part of your life? Remember hell is everlasting. The fire is never quenched there. Do you see how serious this is? Your eternity hinges upon your decision.

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