by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Matthew 24:29--51

Always Be Prepared

When is Jesus returning? We have no idea. That is why He says,

44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him (Mat. 24:44).

If we can know when He is returning, then He is coming when we expect Him, and what He says above makes no sense. However, the truth is we have no idea of the timing of His return, only that He is returning. What then shall we do about it? He said what we are to do, and that is being ready, the implication being that we are to be ready always. What are you doing to be prepared for His coming?

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 Leviticus 4 and 5

Praise God for Simplicity!

Something that I gain from the Book of Leviticus is that seeking God's favor after sinning is complicated, whereas in the New Testament seeking God's favor after sinning is simple. Consider the following,

3 If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering (Lev. 4:3).

That is just the beginning of the instructions, but it is enough to make the point. If the priest sinned, he had to take the time to get a perfect young bull, and then bring it as a sin offering. He is going to have to kill it. There are more instructions that follow, but already we can tell that it is far more than when we sin now. We simply go to God in confession and, of course, we must repent of the sin.

The Book of Leviticus makes us praise God for the simplicity of the New Testament.

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 Matthew 24:1--28

On Some Matters, Have a Closed Mind

To be open-minded is a virtue, at least on some matters. On other matters, it is not a virtue. For example, Jesus warns in Matthew 24:23, 24 of the arrival of false christs. In verse 27, He explains that when He returns, it will be a visible event for all living on the earth, that is, He will not be hidden somewhere. When He returns, you will know it. No one will have to tell you. Therefore, He says in verse 26,

26 Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it (Mat. 24:26).

We know beforehand what His return shall be like. If someone says that he has found the Christ, then right away we know that something is wrong. Do not say that you want to have an open mind, so you will go to see if it is Jesus. You are wasting your time. It is not the Christ.

Do I know when to have an open mind and when to have a closed mind?

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 Leviticus 1--3

Leviticus?

The Book of Leviticus begins,

2 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of the livestock--of the herd and of the flock' (Lev. 1:2).

What follows is a detailed book of the Bible that seems to have application only for ancient Israel. Leviticus is a tedious read for sure. A man asked me, Don, do I have to read Leviticus? To which I responded, Yes, brother, you have to read Leviticus. The basis for my answer is that it is the word of God, and He wanted it in the Bible for Christians to read. Therefore, start reading Leviticus, asking, why does God want me to read this. See what you discover.

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 Matthew 23:23--39

Tombs Are Deceiving

Jesus illustrates the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, when He rebukes them, saying,

27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness (Mat. 23:27).

When I was growing up in Southern California, the only cemetery that I knew was Rose Hills in Whittier. At one time, it was said that it is the world's largest cemetery. It is a beautiful place. People go there just to see the magnificent rose gardens. However, why does this place exist? It is full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Dig up the beautiful grounds, and what is underneath? It is not a pretty sight.

Jesus reveals that some people are the same way. Outwardly, we believe that they are beautiful people, but inside, it is not a pretty sight. If people could see inside of me, what would they see? God can see inside of me. What does He see?

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