Going straight to the Cross
 

Why Eliminate One Sin, But Not Another?

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 10--12

Why Eliminate One Sin, But Not Another?

Jehu wiped out Baal worship in Israel. Yet, here is what the Bible says about his efforts at eliminating idolatry.

28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel. 29 However Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, that is, from the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan (2 Kin. 10:28, 29).

Therefore, the Lord commended Jehu for ridding Israel of Baal worship in verse 30. Then we read that first word in verse 29, "However," and we shake our heads. Why did Jehu eliminate one sin, but not the other? Why did his motivation for removing Baal worship not also move him to remove golden calf worship? Why did he think that he had to remove one sin, but not the other? It does not make sense!

Why do I avoid one sin in my life, but not another? Think about that today, then with all your might remove all sin from your life.

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

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by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 1:1--28

Jesus Declared the Father

John wrote,

18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him (Joh. 1:18).

Have you ever heard of the word "exegesis"? In brief, it is a detailed description. Exegesis is actually an English form of a Greek word. That Greek word is found in John 1:18, where we have "declared." Jesus exegeted the Father, that is, Jesus gave a detailed description of the Father. Keep this in mind as we read the Gospel According to John. Jesus mentions the Father constantly in this Gospel Account. Now, look at the verse above to see why or how Jesus was able to exegete the Father. Jesus is in the bosom of the Father. Jesus is as close to the Father as you can get. This fact Jesus will also refer to constantly. Keep your eyes open from now until June 13 as we meditate in the Gospel According to John.

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

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What Shall You Do, If You Find Something Good?

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 7--9

What Shall You Do, If You Find Something Good?

Four leprous men discovered all the spoils of the Syrians who had been attacking Israel. The four men started collecting the stuff for themselves, while their brethren were in Samaria starving.

9 Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household" (2 Kin. 7:9).

They found something good and did not think that it was right to be quiet about it. Therefore, they went into the city and told the gatekeepers of the city.

If you find something good, tell someone about it. That is why I started these e-mail devotionals years ago. I was reading my Bible daily and always found things that I wanted to share with others. Hence, I began this mailing list. It is just that simple. I do not mean that you need to start an e-mail devotional list, but just tell someone what you have discovered. People will be delighted to know what you have discovered.

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

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Do You Have a Hard Time Understanding the Scriptures?

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Luke 24:36--53

Do You Have a Hard Time Understanding the Scriptures?

If you do, do not get too frustrated, because even the apostles, the ones who gave us parts of the New Testament, took a long time to understand the Old Testament Scriptures, especially the prophecies about Christ. After meditating on the Scriptures all their lives, and after spending three and a half years with the Master Teacher Himself, they still needed helped.

45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures (Luk. 24:45).

Therefore, keep reading, meditating, asking questions, praying, and doing whatever you have to do to understand the word of God. Do not get discouraged; many others have been in your place, even the apostles of Jesus Christ.

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

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Gehazi Might Have Been Famous

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 4--6

Gehazi Might Have Been Famous

There are many people in the Bible, who if they had not fallen, would have been well known for their righteousness or quoted by modern preachers in their sermons. Sadly, it is not the case. Judas is one. If he had not betrayed the Lord, there may have been a Book in the New Testament bearing his name (as in the case of Peter) or there may have been a letter written by Judas to a church from which we would quote, as we do with Paul's writings to the Corinthians.

Gehazi was a man who could have been a famous prophet, and we might have quoted him as he denounced a wicked king or as he made a prediction about God's Christ. Unfortunately, that did not happen. This man served the great prophet Elisha, who was grooming Gehazi perhaps to be a prophet to replace him as Elisha replaced Elijah.

After Elisha turned down a large reward for having healed Naaman, here is what Gehazi did,

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him" (2 Kin. 5:20).

This was the beginning of Gehazi's ruin. Naaman's leprosy went to Gehazi and he no longer served Elisha. It is so sad. This happens all the time, that is, a child of God gets caught up in some sin and falls. Some never repent.

Are you doing everything that you can to keep from becoming entangled in sin?

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

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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
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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
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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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