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

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

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

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

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