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When Good Turns Sour BNewton, November 24, 2004 at 4:37:00 PM GMT
by Barry Newton At one time or another, while happily chatting with someone, many of us probably have opened the refrigerator and poured ourselves a nice, tall, cool glass of milk. Without giving it much attention, we took a large mouthful. Then the stench and the taste of thoroughly rancid milk overpowered our senses. If we were lucky we made it to the kitchen sink. Not just milk turns repugnant. Can you imagine God gagging and being absolutely repulsed at something which was good? It has happened. Through Isaiah, God told his people, "stop bringing meaningless sacrifices! Your incense is detestable to me. ... I can not bear your evil assemblies."\1 Through song, David acknowledged the same truth. "You do not delight in sacrifice ... you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings."\2 What? Had not God requested these very aspects of worship? Does God play mind games with his people by asking for something he does not want? Through the poetry of Isaiah and David, God explained, "Take your evil deeds out of my sight. Stop doing wrong, learn to do right."\3 Although God's people were going through the right rituals of worship, their hearts were far from him, as evidenced by their sinful and rebellious lifestyle. Furthermore, David recognized, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise. ... Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar."\4 The message is clear. Unless we are first changed, our worship is transformed into something repugnant to God. This message is as vital today as it was then. While Christians do not offer animal sacrifices, we do offer up a sacrifice of praise from the fruit of our lips.\5 Is it not wonderful that what God asks of us is not beyond any of us? Let's be humble and repentant, a people whose lives are shaped by God's love, not darkness. As such, let's gather with grateful hearts to worship our merciful Almighty God. 1/ Isaiah 1:13 2/ Psalm 51:16 3/ Isaiah 1:16,17 4/ Psalm 51:17,19 5/ Hebrews 12:15 ... subscribe
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Update on FMag Forthright Magazine continues, more dynamic than ever! We have groups created for FMag on Facebook and the Churches of Christ Network. Announcement blog is up and going on Preachers Files. Email lists about FMag and FPress are available both on Yahoo and GoogleGroups. And, to top it all off, we're twittering for both on Twitter.com. by randal @ 1/20/09, 11:55 AM How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:24--47 How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless Yes, it is popular to say that we are not supposed to judge, but the truth is we all make judgments about many things daily. Otherwise, we would never succeed in life. The real question is what is our guide for judging. Why can we not simply follow the example of our Master and Lord? He said, 30 "I can of Myself ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:08 AM Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read First Chronicles 1--3 Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? Think on the manner, in which the Book of First Chronicles begins, 1 Adam, Seth, Enosh (1 Chr. 1:1). In this way begins the longest genealogy in the Bible. The names continue to the end of the ninth chapter! Were these just names? Adam; who is he? You know there is more in the Bible than the mere mention of his name in ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:05 AM ...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:1--23 Jesus healed a man. Praise God! However, Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. Uh oh. Some people were ready to kill Jesus for this perceived violation of the Sabbath Law. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath (Joh. 5:16). Jesus did a good thing. Yet, people criticized Him severely for it. And they were not people ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:03 AM They Were His Servants by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 24 and 25 They Were His Servants As the writer of Second Kings explains whom the Lord sent against Judah, the writer said that this was 2 ...according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets (2 Kin. 24:2). Those great men we have honored for centuries were nothing more than servants of the Lord God. What does that make us? Do you do something ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:01 AM ...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 4:30--54 The disciples went into a town to buy food while Jesus remained out of the town. There He engaged a woman in conversation. When the disciples returned, here is what happened, 31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." 32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know" (Joh. 4:31, 32). As you read the Gospel According to John, watch ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:59 AM Having a Tender Heart by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 22 and 23 Having a Tender Heart When Josiah heard the word of God for the first time, he tore his clothes, knowing of the wrath that was upon Jerusalem for the idolatry of his forefathers. Therefore, he sent messengers to a prophetess to inquire of the Lord. He did have a message for Josiah. God said through the prophetess, 19 "...because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:56 AM
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