by Emmett Smith

In his letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 3:8-12) the Apostle Paul wrote that the “unsearchable riches of Christ” were the culmination of “the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God” and that the plan was “according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ”. In his letter to the Corinthians Paul said, “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7,8).

The Jewish rulers of Jesus’ day didn’t understand. Unfortunately most of every age have not understood. Jesus said that “many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). Surely He meant that in every age many won’t understand the plan.

It is mind-boggling when you think about it. Before He created the universe, God had already foreknown all of what would transpire, and had planned for our redemption! And yet, only a relative few will really understand God’s eternal plan.

Are you studying to understand the mystery?

To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:14)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

By Michael E. Brooks

“Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” (Genesis 11:7)

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18)

In trying to achieve at least a little competence in languages beyond English, I have been impressed with how many shared words there are in the various tongues. The word “cha” or variations thereof, will get you a cup of tea in many parts of Asia. The Latin “pater” (father) is recognizable in many languages, including some that are not of the Romance family. There are many other examples. In spite of different alphabets, different rules of grammar, different vocabularies, and other dissimilarities, there is still much held in common by the world’s tongues. This is comforting to those who must travel in various nations and cultures and who seek means of communication. Beyond language, there are expressions, gestures and the good old pointed finger to bridge gaps.

But more than ease of communication, these commonalities remind us that there are many other shared bonds between the diverse races and peoples of the earth. If our languages share words and rules of expression, so our experiences and our flesh itself know common ground. We may be European, Asia and American, but we are also and above all human. We share needs, desires, and problems. And we share one loving Father and one Lord (Ephesians 4:3-6).

Not since Babel have all people spoken the same tongue. Yet, all can understand the same message. “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Now more than ever we must preach and live the message of the love of Christ for fallen humanity. Never have there been so many humans on the earth. Never has there been so much strife and enmity. Our problems multiply as a direct result of the increasing population. Some speculate that we may one day reach a “critical mass” of population beyond which peace, stability - even survival - is impossible.

Into this expanding crisis comes the same simple message of God’s love and the hope of abundant, eternal life. This earth is temporary. It will end, disastrously. Yet this is not our end, or the end of hope. Jesus is coming again to reclaim his own, after preparing a place for them. That is our hope and our message. And that message meets a need perceived all over this earth, by people of every race and tongue. It is proclaimed not just in words of various languages, but also in the love and faith of those who follow Jesus. And that can be understood by all.

by Warren Baldwin

A man is stumbling through the woods drunk when he comes upon a preacher baptizing people in the river. He proceeds to walk into the water and bumps into the preacher. The preacher turns and is almost overcome by the smell of alcohol, whereupon he asks the drunk, "Are you ready to find Jesus?" The drunk answers, "Yes, I am." So the preacher grabs him and dunks him. He pulls him up and asks the drunk, "Brother, have you found Jesus?"

The drunk replies, "No, I haven't found Jesus." The preacher, shocked at the answer, dunks him again for a little longer. He pulls him out and asks again, "Have you found Jesus, my brother?" The drunk again answers, "No, I haven't found Jesus."

By this time the preacher is at his wits' end and dunks the drunk again -- but this time holds him down for about 30 seconds. When he begins flailing and kicking, the preacher pulls him up. The preacher again asks the drunk, "Finally, my friend, have you found Jesus?" The drunk wipes his eyes and catches his breath and says to the preacher, "Are you sure this is where he fell in?"

Humor sometimes is more serious than it is funny.

I wonder how many people have been baptized based on someone else's decision or influence? I bet the number is pretty high, actually. A child or young teen is baptized because "everyone else is" at this age. A young man or woman is baptized because the person they are dating strongly encourages it. A person is baptized because he has heard a stirring lesson about baptism and is convinced that "If I am baptized Jesus will take away all of my problems."

Some people being baptized may be as willing as the drunk in the story. And they may not have any more understanding than he did, either.

The Bible teaches that baptism is a response of faith of someone seeking a relationship with God. Preceding baptism is the conviction that Jesus is the son of God, and that he came from the Father to reach out to people who are lost and struggling in this life. Jesus is the offer of God to enter a saving relationship with the Father.

Baptism says, "Yes, I believe, and I am ready to act on that belief." Several statements in the Bible indicate how important this decision is ... and not just this decision, but rather this DESIRE to enter into relationship with God. Baptism is to wash away sins. It is to clothe oneself with Christ. To be granted a clear conscience for having obeyed God. To become part of the family of God.

None of these aspects of baptism are insignificant. They are all important, which is why baptism deserves more attention and thought than the drunk being dipped against his will by an overly zealous preacher.

One writer described baptism as the believer's wedding ceremony. Just as the wedding ceremony and the "I do" statement seal the marital relationship, so baptism is like the sealing of a relationship with God. Neither the wedding ceremony nor baptism IS the relationship. They are merely the public demonstration of the commitment to another taking place in one's life. But that public demonstration is incredibly important.

Don't just stumble into baptism. Don't let someone else decide FOR you when the proper time is for you to enter this relationship with God. The "I do" statement of marriage, followed by the kiss, and the "I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God" statement, followed by baptism, are entry points into two very important relationships. They are both decisions and relationships to be made and entered into BY YOU when you are ready. Enter prayerfully. But, please, enter.

by Mike Benson

From our twenty-first century perspective, Christian love is a sensate quality. It is something experiential; it is something that we feel internally. Love is a warm, affectionate, reciprocal bond that is shared by brethren.

When the apostle Paul petitioned God on behalf of the Philippian saints, he said,

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and discernment" (Phil. 1:9).

Did you catch that? "... [T]hat your love [Greek, agape] may abound ... in knowledge and discernment." Arthur Pink, in his work, Gleanings from Paul, made the following observation about this passage:

"The apostle longed that their love might be so informed and their understanding so guided by spiritual judgment and sense that on all occasions they would be able to distinguish between truth and error in doctrine" (209).

His point merits our attention. The modern concept of love, in at least some segments of the church today, is more of an emotional sentimentality (cf. Rom. 10:2), as opposed to the informed, judicial agape which Paul desired for his brethren in Philippi./1 For many, love is an unconditional, familial acceptance that overlooks, and even ignores, objective truth. In fact, it is frequently viewed as an acceptable substitute for soundness of doctrine (cf. 1 Tim. 1:10; 2 Tim. 1:13; 4:3; Titus 1:9, 13; 2:1). Brethren are afraid to offend anyone -- under any circumstance -- and so their relationship to a brother, family member or friend supercedes their allegiance to divine will (cf. Luke 14:26).

While there is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying warm feelings toward another child of God (cf. Phil. 1:3-8; 13-14), the real basis of any tie must be something much more tangible than the fleeting whims of emotion. Our love must not be a blind, unguided affection for any personality (cf. 1 Cor. 1:12), but one that is spiritually discriminating -- i.e., an "educated" devotion (cf. Heb. 5:14).

Give it some thought.

/1 It was a "knowing" (Greek, epignosis) love that enabled them to become better acquainted with the truth of Scripture (The New Strong's Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words, 1098), and it was a "judicial" (Greek, aesthesis) love that helped them to make proper moral decisions "in the vast array of differing and difficult choices" (Hawthorne, as quoted by Rogers, The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament, 448).

by J. J. Turner

The world is looking for a place where people aren't putting up fronts or wearing masks. "Be real" is a common expression in our day, and is some very good advice for all of us.

Hypocrisy is not confined to religion; it is everywhere. I've heard people reject religion because "There are too many hypocrites in the church." Yet these same people are not influenced by them in other areas of life. Society is crowded with them, and yet they never think of becoming hermits. There are hypocrites on the job, but they won't quit. Hell is full of them, and yet they don't do a thing to keep from going there.

During His ministry Jesus had a lot to say about the traits and destiny of hypocrites. In general, the Greek word "hupocrisis" means to play a part, act, false, deceptive, deceived; formally and outwardly religious and good, but inwardly insincere and unrighteous. The play actor may deceive himself as well as others.

This is why "the way of the hypocrite's hope shall perish" (Job 8:13). On no other class did our Lord pronounce such severe condemnation as on the "play actors" of his day. (See Matthew 23.)

Only God knows who is real and who is merely playing a part. John Milton, in Paradise Lost, Book III, wrote, "For neither man or angel can discern hypocrisy, the only evil that walks invisible, except to God alone."

If hypocrisy is part of your lifestyle, let me encourage you to lay it aside before it is too late (1 Peter 2:1).

It's okay to be real.

Adapted from Building a Positive Life, vol. 2 (J. C. Choate Publications), pp. 12-13.