by Don Ruhl

Read Matthew 13:31--58

To Understand, That Is the Goal

After speaking several parables and explaining some, Jesus wants to know something from His apostles,

51 Jesus said to them, Have you understood all these things? They said to Him, Yes, Lord (Mat. 13:51).

To know is good, but to understand is better. To know brings the power to refute error and rebuke others, but to understand brings the power to refute your own error and to rebuke yourself. Few things are more repulsive than a Christian who refutes and rebukes only, leaving him with a contrary spirit. Few things are more delightful than a Christian who is open to his own faults, and refutes and rebukes himself before he attempts to do so with others.

What kind of Christian are you? Do you only tear down others without also seeking zealously to build them up? Do you lack the zeal to tear down your own faults? On the other hand, do you tear down what is ugly in your spirit first, and then work compassionately to help your brother?

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

by Don Ruhl

Read Genesis 49 and 50

Digging His Own Grave

After Jacob dies, Joseph approaches Pharaoh seeking permission to bury the old patriarch. Joseph says to Pharaoh,

5 My father made me swear, saying, 'Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me' (Gen. 50:5b).

Jacob dug his own grave! We use a similar expression to say that someone is digging his own grave, and that is because the person is doing something bad. With Jacob, this is not the case. He makes proper preparations for his burial, which included actually digging his grave.

Can you imagine digging your own grave? It would certainly drive home the point that you are not going to live forever. If we do not dig our own graves, do we avoid death? Death is a reality no matter what we do to try to avoid it. This may not be a pleasant thought for the day, but ask yourself whether you are prepared to die. If not, find out why not. Do what you can to make the time of your death easier for your family, and be prepared to meet your God.

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

by Don Ruhl

Read Matthew 13:1--30

Plant the Word Deep Within Yourself

In the parable of the sower, Jesus says that some seed falls on stony ground. The plant grows fast, but when the sun hits it, the plant withers. Here is the interpretation,

20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles (Mat. 13:20, 21).

Notice that Jesus says tribulation or persecution will arise because of the word. Be prepared for it right now, my friends. It is going to happen. You have received the word. Therefore, you are going to be attacked. It will come from likely and unlikely sources. Be prepared for it. The best preparation is to take the word of God deep within your soul. Do this by meditating on it daily.

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

by Don Ruhl

Read Genesis 46--48

Humility to Receive a Blessing

Jacob is a great man, but so is the Pharaoh who invited Jacob to live in Egypt. Here is why I say that. Genesis 47:7 shows Pharaoh doing something that is unimaginable for the king of a people who despise shepherds,

7 Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh (Gen. 47:7).

Jacob is a shepherd, but Pharaoh despises shepherds, yet, he receives a blessing from Jacob. In Egypt, Pharaoh was great therefore, he did the giving, but here this Pharaoh receives. I hope Pharaoh continued in humility. If so, we can look forward to meeting this man.

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

by Don Ruhl

Read Matthew 14:1-21

During the first Persian Gulf War, America and her allies dropped leaflets over the population of Iraq, letting them know that the dispute was not with them, but with their leader Saddam Hussein. At that time, I was preaching in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and in a sermon about evil rulers mentioned in the Bible, I made the point that evil men, even dictators, rule because their people allow him to rule. That may seem odd, but while many, perhaps even most people, in Iraq are glad Hussein is gone, as you know there are plenty of people who still want his type of dictatorship to exist. A man like Saddam Hussein cannot rule by himself.

Consider this same truth as revealed in the Bible. In Matthew chapter 14, Herod jails John the Baptist, since John with his preaching offended the king. For the most part, Herod liked John. Yet, Herod made a foolish oath to a girl who pleased him when she danced that he would give her whatever she wanted, and she requested the head of John the Baptist. Here is the way that Matthew presents Herod's situation,

9 And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him at the table, he commanded it to be given to her (Mat. 14:9).

Yes, Herod was angry enough to want to kill John earlier, but Herod did not do it. Now, he places himself in a situation where he promises to give a girl whatever she wants. She asks for John's head on a platter. Herod has the power to put her head on a platter for making such a request, but why does he not resist her and why does he fulfill her request? He, a king/dictator, wants to please his people. Saddam Hussein was in power because he gave the people what they wanted, and of course, some things that they did not want. Herod was the same way.

What shall we learn from this? First, learn to see everything in life through the lenses of the Bible. Help others to see things this way also. Watch what happens to those people.