by Mike Benson

In his epistle to the church at Philippi Paul wrote, "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state" (Phil. 2:19 - emphasis mine, mb).

Paul was deeply concerned about the churches' welfare, and with good reason. The brethren had false (Judiazing) teachers in their midst, they had personal problems within the congregation, and they were facing severe persecution. So, the apostle was eager to hear how his family in the faith was managing under these difficulties. Hopefully, he could send Timothy to Philippi, who would then return with a positive report.

Don't you find it noteworthy that even Paul, an apostle, a renowned gospel preacher, great as he was, needed to be encouraged from time to time?

Beloved, elders, deacons, Bible class teachers, and yes - even preachers need periodic encouragement.

What are you doing to lift up your brethren (cf. Heb. 10:24)? Give it some thought.

by Barry Newton

When making plans for the future, everybody likes to receive approval. And the stakes become even more intense when it is not just someone else's opinion but God's commendation which is desired. The more important our plans are to us, the stronger will be the desire to hear Scripture affirming that we are at least justified in our plans.

One subject which can stir very strong feelings is, after divorce then what? For young people, those who are married as well as those who are divorced, the study of godly options after divorce is beneficial.

It is imperative that you, the reader, understand that this article only seeks to address the question, "as a child of God who is divorced, what does God want me to do?" Reread the last sentence until it clearly sinks into your mind that this article omits any attempt to answer any aspect about what has already happened whether it be divorce or remarriage. This is only about looking at what biblical options are available to a Christian who is currently divorced. Ready?

God's people embedded within the permissive city of Corinth had a question or two for Paul about marriage. Starting with 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul responded to their concerns. To these people who were wanting to serve God, we discover Paul recounting Jesus' commands regarding what a divorced person seeking to do God's will can do (1 Cor. 7:10,11). Later in 1 Corinthians 7:39, by inference we also discover a third option. These three options are:

1. Remain single

2. Be reconciled to your spouse

3. After the former spouse dies, the Christian could remarry someone who is in the Lord.

To a church which was so tolerant in its thinking that it was proud to have a man who was married to his father's wife (1 Cor. 5:1,2) and who needed to be told that Christians ought not to join themselves with harlots (1 Cor. 6:15,16), these teachings might have sounded quite extreme. Perhaps this will also seem severe to the ears of our permissive generation. But as hard as it might be to hear, scripture consistently proclaims that to remarry before a spouse dies involves adultery, unless someone has divorced the other for the cause of infidelity (Mk. 10:11,12; Rom. 7:3; Matt. 5:32; 19:9; 1 Cor. 7:39; Matt. 5:32; 19:9).

It is also noteworthy that enmeshed within the marital context of 1 Corinthians 7, Paul informs us of the universal principle he had recommended in all the churches. This principle involved a person remaining in that situation in which God had called him (1 Cor. 7:17,20,24). The idea is to "bloom where you are planted." Applying this to a divorced person who responds to the gospel, Paul would be underscoring that the divorcee can serve God as someone who is single.

This study about options after divorce contains lessons for all of us. To the young person dedicated to serving God, before you marry someone, thoughtfully consider whether this Christian you want to marry has the godly character and commitment to go the distance with you until you die. If you have doubts about it lasting that long, realize what your options will be as a divorcee who desires to follow God's ways. To those who are married, do not look at divorce as an easy way out of a difficult situation which can provide you with an automatic divinely approved "Get Married Again" card. To those who are divorced, Scripture provides three options as well as a fourth one if your spouse was unchaste.

None of us can change the past. Praise God that sins can be forgiven. What we have control over today is what we will choose to do today and what plans we make for tomorrow. As disciples dedicated to serving God, let's determine to act in a manner today which will uphold God's will. And for those who are married or for whom contemplating marriage is within God's will for them, weigh seriously what it would mean to faithfully serve God as a divorced individual in order to help you act responsibly and appropriately today.

by Jimmy Jividen

Some who claim to follow Christ are questioning that the Scriptures are an absolute, objective standard for faith and practice. They seek, under the guise of intellectual freedom, cultural conformity, and political expediency, to intimidate those who regard the Scriptures as a religious standard.

These questioners often use the correct religious terms, but they define the terms to fit what they want to believe. It is hypocritical to hide one’s own doubts under the cover of language. Truth does not fear the light.

When these doubters say they believe the Scriptures are inspired, they may mean something different from what a Bible believer regards as inspiration.

They may believe the Bible is inspired in the sense a poet is inspired to write a poem. It is true, as they say, that the Scriptures contain great spiritual literary compositions; but, so also do the Gita and the Koran.

These doubters may believe that the Scriptures are inspired for the time in which they were written, but are not relevant today. The Scriptures, they believe, are so shackled by cultural traditions that they are not applicable today.

These doubters may believe the Scriptures are inspired only if one perceives them to be so. They would suggest that a passage might be inspired to you, but not to another, and that inspiration is in the reader rather than in the text.

Unbelief comes in different forms. The above points are all popular forms of unbelief that can be found in most churches today. The fundamental religious issues confronting our times are not over doctrine, politics, and practice, but whether or not the Scriptures are the guide for faith and practice. We are in a battle for the Bible.

To call into question the inspiration of the Scriptures is to also call in question the Divinity of Christ, since only through Scripture can one know about Jesus Christ.

Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol 12, p. 35.

by J. Randal Matheny

[Author's note: This article is translated from Portuguese and comes from a magazine column that presents basic spiritual concepts to those new to the Way.]

Our meetings as a church are marked by Bible references, readings, citations, and explanations. Our conversations are peppered with phrases, words, and thoughts taken from the Bible. The goal of our educational material and study courses is to clarify the meaning of the Bible and apply its message to our lives.

That's a lot of Bible in the head and - we hope - in practice. For we want the Bible not only under the armpit but inside the heart.

Why so much emphasis on the Bible?

(1) The Bible is the true Word of God. The Lord used the most trustworthy means of delivering his message to humanity. This means it is the written word. In spite of attempts in the popular media to undermine confidence in the Bible, facts show that no ancient document - without exception - is as well attested as genuine and true as is the Bible. Read 2 Timothy 2:16,17.

(2) No other book besides the Bible brings us God's message. Only the Bible has the inner unity, the freedom from errors, the fulfilled prophecies, and other evidences that show it to be a divine product. Read 2 Peter 1:16-21.

(3) Man's need is the same since Adam and Eve. Our great problem is disobedience to God and our distance from him. The Bible shows the way back to God. Read 2 Timothy 3:14,15.

(4) The Bible is our only trustworthy source of information about Jesus. Everything that God wanted us to know about Christ is in the Bible. Read John 20:30,31.

(5) The Bible contains the whole plan of God for our life, godliness, joy, peace, fullness, and purpose. It is the complete guide to life on earth and for eternity. Read 2 Peter 1:3-11.

For these reasons and many more, we continually investigate the Bible for the foundations of our faith. We read and study book, chapter, and verse - in other words, the entire Bible in detail, in order that we may understand its message as a whole.

We invite you to accompany us in this investigation.

by Bill Dillon

In the classic tale, The Wizard of Oz, a young lady named Dorothy was told to follow the yellow brick road, which would lead her to the great and mighty Wizard of Oz, who could send her home again. In the expectation of having all her fears relieved and all her hopes realized, Dorothy traveled down the yellow brick road — but at the last — the Wizard was a fake, and the yellow brick road was misleading.

Unfortunately, the world of today is filled with souls who are searching for a god like the Wizard was supposed to be. They look for churches and religious groups who will serve as their yellow brick road. In the end, they suffer the multiple heartache of disillusionment, discouragement, and deception.

On May 3, l993, U.S. News & World Report ran a story captioned "The Final Days of Ranch Apocalypse." It was the story of David Koresh and the fall of the Branch Davidian cult in Waco, Texas. This, and other stories, remind us that religious deception is as much a part of our present day as it was in the 1st century.

Bible warnings about false teachers are in abundance:

"Little children, let no man deceive you" (1 Jn. 3:7).

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God" (1 Jn. 4:1).

The church at Ephesus was commended because they had "tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars" (Rev. 2:2).

Paul, the apostle, admonished early believers to "prove all things; hold fast to that which is good" (1 Thess. 5:21).

It is good to be reminded that truth is to be held in importance above all things. Jesus said that only the truth will set us free (Jn. 8:32). It is also essential to place our confidence in the strong cord of God's Word (Jn. 17:17), and not in the teachings of men, which are but whispy webs, blowing in the winds of life.

Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol 19.