by Michael E. Brooks

"Again, the devil took him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, 'All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Away with you Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only you shall serve"'" (Matthew 4:8-11).

I have never been a very effective bargainer. I usually don't have a proper idea of the true value of goods, and am easily intimidated by sellers who seem to know just what they deserve and who may seem offended by my offers. Since I have been traveling in areas where bargaining in the open market is a way of life, however, I have learned not only to participate but even to enjoy it.

Once on the streets of Kathmandu I was offered a "Kukhuri" (Gorka soldier's knife) at 3,500 Nepali rupees (about $50). I was actually planning to purchase one of them at some point, and having shopped a little I knew that their true price was closer to 600 or 700 rupees, or about $10. I offered 600, then kept walking. The vender followed me all the way to my hotel, gradually reducing his asking price, until just before I walked through the door and out of his reach he finally said, "Okay, I will take 600." I felt good about having succeeded in buying something I wanted at what I felt to be a fair price.

In many stores, however, bargaining is not practiced. One offers less than the listed price only to hear the storekeeper respond, "Fixed Price". Since that is the system that prevails in American retail business, I am usually pretty comfortable with it. Take it or leave it, the price is what it is. This system reflects a view of reality and a philosophy that is easily transferable to other matters.

Certain things are, or at least should be, non-negotiable. One's honor, a nation's security, truth, justice, genuine love -- there is no price on these things, no bargaining or negotiating them away. Jesus' reaction to Satan's attempt to buy his adoration was the appropriate response. Jesus' worship did not have a price -- it could not be purchased. He worshipped God, and only God; no one else could receive his devotion. Not all the kingdoms of the world nor any other enticement could change his allegiance.

Cynics claim, "Everyone has his price." Is that really true? Can we be bought? Can our faith, our love be purchased by enough money, or pleasure, or power? Or is it given to God who made us and to him alone?

Let us follow the example of our Lord and cry, "Away with you Satan! For it is written ...."

by Tim Hall

"I don't know why I ever married you!" shouted Tom as he slammed the door behind him. He and Lisa had been arguing again, and morning fights seemed to be growing more frequent. Still, as Tom drove to work he regretted saying those hurtful words. It was bad enough to say those things, but for them to be the last words she would hear from his lips for several hours was just wrong. He vowed to call her from work to apologize.

Parting words seem to have a power unlike other things we might say. When friends part for prolonged periods, they strive to speak words that will leave a lasting impression of their emotions. The final words of a dying loved one are given almost sacred status, repeated often among family members. When individuals go separate ways, the last words spoken will usually replay in our minds for days and weeks to come.

In Numbers 6:23-27, God dictated to Moses the words he wanted to ring in people's hearts as they departed from the tabernacle (later, the temple). "This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel" God said (New King James Version). The words that follow are said to have been recited by the priests following the daily morning worship throughout the generations.

Here is what God wanted people to hear as they left the place of worship: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace."

Much could be said about each part of this benediction, but suffice it to say that it is a blessing imparted by God Himself. By saying "the Lord" three times, the priests affirmed that God was the one responsible for blessing. If God was smiling upon them (the meaning of "make his face shine upon you"), surely goodness and mercy would follow them all the days of their lives.

Even God's final words of instruction to Moses in that passage bear reflection: "So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them" (v. 27). While many might use the Lord's name in vain, God emphasized that his name be used properly. Let no one leave the impression that God is capricious and vindictive. Rather, let them make clear that God longs to bless his people, if only they will let him. Let this be the parting impression people are given every time they leave the house of God.

How we need this portrayal of God! Many in our day stereotype Christianity as a revocation of happiness. Many Christians have bought into the stereotype and show no visible signs of joy as they carry out the "duties" of their religion. God's priests today (i.e. every Christian - 1 Peter 2:5, 9) should consider carefully the impression they leave on others, the way God's name is placed upon those who glance curiously at our faith.

For every faithful Israelite, there came a day when each would visit the house of worship for the last time. Whether by reason of age, illness, or accident, they never again made that journey to the tabernacle. But when they left for the last time, the parting words heard from the priest (if he fulfilled his God-given responsibility) were words of blessing. "Our God is truly a wonderful God!" would be the natural response of all who heard.

by Mike Benson

Question: "I am concerned about religious division. Surely the Lord isn't pleased with so many religious groups teaching different doctrines, wearing different names, and worshipping in different ways. What can we all do to become one in Christ?"

Answer: You are correct. Jesus is not pleased with religious diversity. In fact, nearly two thousand years ago He prayed, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one..." (John 17:20, 21a). To produce true unity we must:

1. Sow the SAME seed. In the parable of the soils, Jesus said the "seed" was the word of God (Luke 8:11). That being so, preachers must plant the same seed/word into the hearts of men in order to reap unity. "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). As long as different seeds are sown, we can expect to reap a bumper crop of denominationalism and division.

2. Sow the RIGHT seed. Since the seed is the word, and the word of Christ is truth (John 17:17), preachers must plant the right seed (John 1:17; 14:6) into the hearts of men in order to enjoy oneness in Christ. Sowing the seeds of human opinion will never produce the kind of crop for which Jesus petitioned His Father. Only the seed of truth (John 8:32) will yield unity (Ephesians 4:3).

3. Harvest the SAME crop. If I plant "Big Boy" tomato seeds in my garden in the Spring, I should expect to reap Big Boy tomatoes in the Summer, right (cf. Galatians 6:7)? Tomato seeds will not produce cucumbers, cantaloupes, okra, corn, beans, onions, spinach, or potatoes; they will only produce after their own kind (Genesis 1:11). This same principle is true in religion.

"The seed of the kingdom will produce the kingdom; it will not produce anything different from the kingdom... It has never been known to produce anything other than the kingdom of God, the church of the Lord. The Word of God preached in this community always produced exactly what is produced in another community when preached there. But we see several hundred different religious denominations in the world today, differing from each other in name, doctrine and practice.

Why are all of these different bodies in existence? They have been produced by the sowing of the seed, the preaching of religious doctrines. Just as sure as there are bodies differing from each other, seeds differing from each other have been sown. If the same kind of seed had been sown in every community, the same results would have been produced... So the Gospel preached in Jerusalem which produced the kingdom of God, the church of Christ, will not when preached in America produce a hundred different denominations. The fact that the many denominations are in existence is positive proof that something different from the Gospel, the Word of God, has been preached."/1

When the apostles planted the seed of God into the fertile hearts of men (1 Corinthians 3:5), what kind of crop did they harvest (1 Peter 1:23; Acts 11:26)? Did Paul and Peter sow the same seed and yet reap radically different crops? Did they reap religious diversity (Philippians 2:2)? Did they reap different religious groups, who wore different names, and who worshiped God in different ways? Did they reap corn, beans, and potatoes (1 Corinthians 1:13)?

I appreciate this thoughtful question. May we all strive for the unity which Christ desires.

1/Roy H. Lanier, Sr., "Why We Preach the Word," Gospel Advocate, June 1991, 17-18.

Abel, Enoch & Noah by Mitchell Skelton

Reading Hebrews 11 is like walking through a portrait gallery full of all your favorite heroes. It is here we see a portrait of our heroes of faith. Beginning our walk through Faith's Hall of Fame, the Hebrew writer reminds us that God does not expect us to believe without evidence. Biblical faith is not blind faith. God has not asked us to believe without evidence of his power and proof that he will do what he says he will do.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith (Hebrews 11:1—7).

Abel's Faith in Worship

The Hebrew writer informs us that Abel's offering was accepted because it was offered in faith. Does this mean that Abel's brother, Cain, did not believe in God? We know that Cain believed in God, so what was the difference between the two. Paul explains how one comes to faith in this way, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). From Paul's explanation, we realize that Abel's offering was made in accordance to God's revealed will or "by faith." Cain obviously ignored God's instructions as is evident from God's rejection of his offering. Abel's example of faith speaks to us yet today. In all matters, we should listen to God's word. We certainly should worship God according to his will. "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23,24).

Enoch's Faith in Life

Enoch's life was lived according to the will of God. "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away" (Genesis 5:24). The praise of Enoch by the Hebrew writer shows that faith in God and living a Godly life are requisite to please God. "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:3-5).

Noah's Faith in God's Word

Noah took God at his word, no matter how unbelievable it seemed. God told Noah some unbelievable things. The earth had never flooded before and destruction of this type was unheard of. Yet, Noah's faith moved him to act.

It is our faith that moves us to do good works. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:8-10). A faith without works is no faith at all. "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do" (James 2:14-18).

It has been said, "There are thousands of ways of pleasing God, but not one without faith." A faith that pleases God is one that worships him, walks with him and works for him.

by Stan Mitchell

"We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, the power, and wonders he has done" (Psalm 78:4).

On the way home the little boy sat quietly in the back seat. Then mom noticed he had started to cry.

"Why Johnny, whatever can be the matter?"

"Today," the distraught boy began, "the preacher said all children should be in a Christian family."

"So why did that upset you?"

"Because," the little fellow answered, "I want to stay with you and dad!"

What makes a family "Christian"? There are, apparently, some families that assume they are Christian. To this young fellow, his parent's Christianity wasn't obvious; do you suppose he was wrong, or do our kids have a pretty good idea about what is first in our lives?

Who is first in your life? Jesus Christ, you say? Then do you move your weekly schedule around to accommodate him at worship and Bible class? When the heat of summer rolls around, does your attendance cool off? When someone in church says something you don't like, do you abandon Christ and his church? Do you read your Bible and pray to God daily? Are there habits within your home life that would contradict your fine words and actions on a Sunday, such as profanity, alcoholism, anger, or constant derision directed at the church?

Don't answer those question. Ask them to your children. They will know. The Lord does, too.