Some Questions To Ask BEFORE You Decide …

            Sometimes folks have a hard time deciding what to do in specific situations that call for a clear decision. When “peer pressure” enters in, some decisions to do what is right become even harder! What ought I do? What would Jesus do? These are thoughts folks have, but it doesn’t mean we always choose the right thing! In light of this fact, below are seven questions we can ask ourselves when trying to make a proper decision. Each one of these questions are based on specific passages from the Bible, so read them carefully and live them so that might make decisions that are pleasing to God.

            Before making that “final” decision, let us ask ….

            1. Can you ask God to bless your decision (Prov. 10:22)?

            2. Can you thank God for it (Col. 3:17)?

            3. Are you doing this to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:31)?

            4. Will your decision be a stumbling block to others (I Cor. 8:13)?

            5. Are you doing this to please God rather than people (Col. 3:23; Gal. 1:10)?

            6. Have you thought ahead about the consequences of your decision (Gal. 6:7)?

            7. Would you want to be doing whatever you decide when Jesus returns (I Thess. 5:2-3)?

            Think seriously about these things, friends. I am afraid we forget just how important our decisions can be, and how our decisions affect others even after we are gone (I Tim. 5:24-25; Rev. 14:13; Heb. 11:4; etc.). What decisions are you making? How will they affect your soul and the souls of others (Matt. 5:13-16)? Choose wisely!!

Control Is An Illusion!

            Does this title surprise you? I hope not. Yet, it is true that control in this life really is an illusion. If you do not believe this, then I ask what control do you have when a tornado rolls through your neighborhood? Further, what control do you have over the car that is in your lane and going to collide with you? Can we control a heartbeat? To make this even more personal, who can stop the aging process in our bodies (Matt. 5:36)? Who can control another’s thoughts about them?

            Friends, we have no control over matters in this life, really. The only control one has is the control over one’s mind and attitude (Prov. 4:23)! Thus the reason we need to think on godly and upright things (Phil. 4:8). Thus the reason we need to fill our minds with godliness and truth (Eph. 3:4; Ps. 119:97). This is because by controlling our thoughts, we can then control our actions and be blessed by God (Phil. 4:9; Matt. 7:21; Mk. 16:16).

            Since “control” in our lives is an illusion, let us determine to turn to the One who truly has control. The One who has control is the God of Heaven. Let us be obedient to Him and follow Him daily (Matt. 10:38). God has control over this world, and we do not! He has control, and His providence and patience has granted us the blessing of this day (II Pet. 3:9, 15; Rom. 2:4). Further, God’s control allows us the opportunity to hear the word of God, believe it, and be baptized so we can be saved (Mk. 16:16; Acts 18:8; etc.). Are we going to submit to the control of the Lord?

The following article was written by Bill Crews concerning the truth. I have enjoyed reading it through the years, and I hope that this is helpful to you....
 

If you are my friend, if you are concerned about my soul, give me the truth. Do not flatter me. Do not praise my virtues while remaining silent about my vices. Do not fear the truth will offend me. Do not treasure our friendship, our friendly relations, above my salvation. Do not think that by ignoring my sins, you can help me. Do not think that being blind to my sins will prove you charitable. However I may react to it, whatever may be my attitude toward you after you have done it, GIVE ME THE TRUTH!

For the truth, and only the truth, can make me free from the shackles of sin, strengthen me in the pathway of righteousness and lead me to the joys of heaven. If I am wavering, weak, lukewarm, indifferent, neglectful; if I have been overtaken in a trespass; if I have been drawn into the pleasures of the world; if I have left my first love; if I have been led astray by error, or, if I have done none of the these things, but simply need to grow in knowledge and then be edified, GIVE ME THE TRUTH!

 

Betrayed
(by D.J. Higgins)

Friend, I stand in judgment now

And feel that you’re to blame somehow.

On earth, I waited with you day by day,

And never did you point the way.

 

You knew the Lord in truth and glory

But never did you tell His story,

My knowledge then was very dim,

You could have led me safe to Him.

 

Yes, I knew He’d made the earth,

But knew not of that second birth.

And now I stand this day condemned,

Because you failed to mention Him.

 

You taught me many things that’s true.

I called you “friend” and trusted you.

I learn, now that it’s too late,

You could have kept me from this fate.

 

We walked by day and talked by night,

And yet you showed me not the Light.

You let me live, and love, and die,

And knew I’d never live on high.

 

Yes, I called you “friend” in life,

And trusted you in joy and strife.

And yet, on coming to this end,

I cannot, now call you “my friend.”

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Brethren, are we truly being a “friend” to those who do not know the Lord?

[See: II Timothy 2:2; I Timothy 4:6; I Peter 4:11]

 

Some people wish to teach us that faith and works are mutually exclusive. Not so! Faith and works are joined together, as we see in the book of Hebrews 11. Please read this chart below and see the connection between faith and works. -- Jarrod

 

                         Faith                                                          Works

Abel (v. 4)	Offered a more excellent sacrifice
Enoch (v. 5)	Pleased God
Noah (v. 7)	Moved with fear … Prepared An Ark
Abraham (v. 8-9)	Obeyed … Sojourned
Sarah (v. 11)	Conceived … delivered a child
Abraham (v. 17)	Offered up Isaac
Isaac (v. 20)	Blessed Jacob and Esau
Jacob (v. 21)	Blessed his sons … worshiped
Joseph (v. 22)	Gave commandment concerning his bones
Moses’ parents (v. 23)	Hid Moses as an infant … were not afraid of the king’s commandment
Moses (v. 24-28)	Refused Egypt … Choosing to suffer … Forsook Egypt … Kept the Passover
Israelite nation (v. 29-30)	Crossed the Red Sea … Compassed the walls of Jericho
Rahab (v. 31)	Received the spies
Numerous faith heroes (v. 32-38)	Subdued kingdoms … obtained promises … escaped the edge of the sword … many died for their faith!