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The Cornerstone
This is the Stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the Chief Conerstone." Acts 4:11
Pulbished to Support the Work of the West End Church of Christ, Richmond, Virginia
Volume 7 * Number 51* December 23, 2007
As Unto the Lord
Paul gave this instruction to the Christian who was a servant…“And whatsoever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Colossians 3:23
First and foremost we answer to our Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever it is that we find ourselves doing we need to do it with our heart behind it. The word heartily means with the soul. The soul is the seat of our affections, therefore the Christian is to give their best, to put their heart into the task.
When we labor we labor unto the Lord. We are not seeking to please men. We may be working for a hard man who is harsh taskmaster, but we give our best to please the Lord and not the man.
Laziness is condemned in Scripture. “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” II Thessalonians 3:10 “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.” Proverbs 20:4
Paul goes on to write in Colossians… “Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of person.” Colossians 3:24-25
Stacy Crim
Sunday Morning
Danny Boggs
It’s 7:30 Sunday morning. It’s time to get out of bed and on your feet. There are people we have to meet. It’s off to the church’s building but not just to occupy a seat or even to go out and eat. We go to do the things that makes our life complete and to humble ourselves down at God’s feet. So, It’s out of bed and on your feet.
Too many times in today’s world men are not taking the leadership in their homes. I believe that it is a man’s responsible to get his family to church. It’s the father, not the mother or the children, who must shoulder the primary responsibility. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy Father and Mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:1-4).
I have talked to some women and asked them “Where is your husband?” They say, “I can’t get him out of bed.” Well, the fact is, she shouldn’t have to. I have heard men say “Well my kids go to church all the time.” These fathers would do well to learn to take responsibility and be examples for their children by heeding the Scripture. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the rewards of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons (Colossians 3:17-25).
SO, MEN GET OUT OF BED AND ON YOUR FEET AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! &
The Tangled Web
Jay Taylor
It is easy. It is common. “Sin has many tools,” Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “but a lie is the handle that fits them all” (Autocrat of the Breakfast Table). God’s Word informs us that lying is designed to mislead and deceive whether by words or actions. Since lying is condemned by God, it is necessary to understand what the Bible teaches about this wicked act.
Satan - The Father Of Liars
Jesus said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof” (John 8:44).
Satan is the first liar. God instructed Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge. The penalty for eating the fruit was death (Genesis 2:17). Satan, however, lied when he told Eve, "Ye shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). Satan is the father of liars. Since Satan was the first liar, all who follow him in that activity become his children. Satan is the friend of liars. He takes pleasure when people follow his wicked ways.
The Dangers Of Lying
One of the dangers of lying is that it becomes a continual habit with some. Once a person deceives another it becomes easier to continue that activity. David spoke of those who “meditate deceits all the day long” (Psalm 38:12). These people practice deceit on a continual basis so that their thoughts are consumed with how they can deceive others.
A second danger of lying is that a person ceases to do good when he is involved in lying and falsehood. Again, David wrote, “The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: He hath ceased to be wise and to do good” (Psalm 36:3). As one travels down the road of falsehood. he ceases to do that which is good and right in the sight of God.
God’s Attitude Toward Lying
Lying is easy because our deceitful ways are usually hidden from others. However, God knows all. During the days of Isaiah, the rulers of Jerusalem had established lying as a way of life. They had made lies their refuge (Isa. 28:15, 17). God knew about their false ways and they would be punished for their deceit. He is against all liars (Ezekiel 13:8).
The Christian’s Attitude Toward Lying
We should have the same attitude toward lying that God does. God will not tolerate falsehood and neither should we. We should have the attitude of the wise man who said, “Remove far from me falsehood and lies” (Proverbs 30:8). The apostle Paul instructs us to “put away falsehood” and “speak ye truth each one with his neighbor” (Eph. 4:25). Lies, deceitfulness, and falsehood have no place in the life of the Christian.
The Punishment Of Liars
We might be able to get by with deceiving others for awhile. However, liars will not be able to escape judgment from God. The wise man said, “A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape” (Proverbs 19:5). The Psalmist said, “For the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped” (Psalm 63:11). The book of Revelation closes with a warning to all liars: “But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death” (Revelation 221:8).
The tangled web of lies offers nothing to me. Nothing good comes from a life of deceit and falsehood. Lying is a characteristic of the worldly minded individual, not the child of God. As Christians, we must live honestly and truthfully before God and man. Committed to this cause, we will be pleasing in the sight of Almighty God.
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