by Mike Benson

There's a creek that runs through Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. It's deep and cold and clear, and it serves as habitat for a fairly good size school of rainbow trout. I know that, you see, because I've fished there -- several times, in fact. And without sounding pretentious, I've had some pretty good success there. I've caught my daily limit of seven trout on many occasions. The reason for my good fortune is because I know what the fish like; I've learned what bait is most effective in the creek.

Satan is sort of a fisherman, and he knows what bait is most effective with you and me -- he knows what lure will work. Read passages like Genesis 3, Matthew 4 and James 1 (cf. Genesis 39; 1 John 2) and you'll discover that the Tempter has a "tackle box" full of lures (e.g., illicit sex, alcohol, drugs, food, internet pornography, etc.) that he can flash before us.

But as enticing as Satan's baits might appear, there's ALWAYS a hook embedded inside each of them. And if we ever actually take a "bite," we'll be hauled up on shore and fried (cf. James 1:14,15).

Think about it.

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Luke 1:57--80

An Old Mother to Be

This morning we read of an old warrior, now, we shall read of an old mother to be.

57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son (Luk. 1:57).

Remember back in verse 7, that Luke wrote of Elizabeth, who is well advanced in years. She is old. She is past the normal ability for a woman to be able to conceive and bring forth a child. Nevertheless, it happens. How does it happen? The Lord enables her, just as He enables Caleb, whom we read about this morning.

If there is something that God wants you to do, He will enable you, regardless of your circumstances. The question is, Do I believe it?

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 Joshua 13--15

An Eighty Five Year Old Warrior

Don't mess with Caleb. He approaches Joshua with a request to possess a certain mountain, but Caleb prefaces his request with this,

10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in (Jos. 14:10, 11).

He makes it sound as though being an 85 year old warrior is unusual, to which I agree. He credits God for this ability. Therefore, Caleb wants to keep doing what the Lord has enabled him to do. We all know that as we age, there are things that we just cannot do anymore, but there are things that we can do. What is it that I am able to do? Am I using that ability to bring glory to God?

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 Luke 1:39--56

The Humility of Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a woman well advanced in years, meaning that she is beyond the normal ability of a woman to have a child. Yet, when Mary visits Elizabeth, she says to Mary,

43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Luk. 1:43).

See the honor that this older woman gives to a younger woman. What can we learn from this? How shall we imitate her today? Think about that as you meet various people today, and see if it changes your method of dealing with others.

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 Luke 1:21--38

Imagine Being Mary

Imagine being Mary. You are alone when suddenly an angel of God appears to you. After the angel informs you that you are going to conceive and have a son, he says to you,

32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David (Luk. 1:32).

How magnificent! You have never had a child before, and now, your first child is going to be the Son of God! The son who will come from your body will sit on the throne of David! Everything that you have learned all your life about the Messiah is going to be fulfilled in your generation, before your very eyes, and you shall bring Him into the world!

What can you say? Mary questions how this shall be possible, since she has not yet known a man. After the angel gives the explanation, her humble heart shines forth, when she says, Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word (Luk. 1:38). Mary never planned for this in her life, yet, by godly living she prepared herself to be a servant of the Lord, to do and to accept whatever He wants from her.

What does God have in store for you and me? We probably have no idea. Let us be as Mary, and when the Lord needs us, we shall be prepared.

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