by Don Ruhl

Read Titus Chapter 1

One of the things that attracted me to the Churches of Christ is that they say we should speak as the Bible speaks. I thought to myself, How could you go wrong with that? I encourage you to try this with everything. For example, when you write to a fellow Christian, speak as Paul does to Titus,

4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. (Tit. 1:4, NKJV).

Just try it and see how it affects people.

by Don Ruhl

Read Second Timothy Chapter 4

Paul wrote to Timothy,

16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them (2 Tim. 4:16, NKJV).

If someone speaks the word of God, he will surely be opposed. Do not let him stand alone in the opposition. Back him up. He will appreciate it. You will know that you have done the right thing. Most of all, God will honor you for it.

by Don Ruhl

Read Jeremiah 20 and 21

When we were young, we rejoiced at our birthdays. When we are old, rejoicing over birthdays fads. Jeremiah had another reason for not rejoicing on his birthday; in fact, he cursed the day he was born.

Cursed be the day in which I was born! Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me! (Jer. 20:14, NKJV).

Since he started telling others what the Lord says, the people started persecuting the prophet. The persecution became so severe that he even wished that he had never been born.

Is it a blessing to be a child of God and to announce to others what the Lord says? Oh, yes, it is the greatest blessing ever. Does it bring severe problems? Yes, it does. Look at Jesus Christ.

Therefore, let us be willing to accept both good and adversity from the Lord.

by Don Ruhl

Read Jeremiah 15-17

Hear the prophet Jeremiah,

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jer. 15:16, NKJV).

Jeremiah takes in the Scriptures, that is, He meditates on them. Here are the reasons that he does so.

1. The word of God is food for the prophet. Who does not see the need for food for the body? See Scripture as food for the soul. Therefore, hunger and thirst for it.

2. The word of God gives the prophet joy. When you start eating the proper foods for your body and make a lifetime habit of it, then eating those foods is a joy. It is the same with the word of God. Make the daily digestion of the word of God a lifetime habit and you will feel famished on those days when you do not eat from His word.

3. The prophet is called by the name of God. Therefore, he meditates in it. Are we not called by the name of the Son of God? What is the name Christian? I am a Christian. Therefore, I eat His word, and it is the joy and rejoicing of my heart. Failing to do so, denies the fact that I say I wear His name.

by Don Ruhl

Read Second Timothy Chapter 2

It is inevitable. Disputes will arise. They arise even among Christians. What do we do about disputes and how do we handle them and the people involved?

23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient... (2 Tim. 2:23, 24, NKJV).

If a dispute will only generate strife, why continue the discussion? End it. Why should we avoid such disputes? Quarreling is not the way of the servant of the Lord, but a gentle spirit is. We are to be teachers, not contentious people. Disputes often arise out of an impatient and intolerant spirit, but Paul says that we are to be patient. Please think on these things when you go to work, live with your family, read the newspaper or worship with the church.