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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 8 * Number 6* February 10, 2008
A Battle Within
Uneasiness, trouble, anguish, confusion and sorrow occur within the mind of the sinner. This is so because there is a battle that is raging within the recesses of our mind. It is a battle engaged between the carnal mind and the spiritual mind.
We desire to do what is good and right, but then we do that which is evil and our heartache begins again. It seems it is a never ending cycle. “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Romans 7:19
We understand that the carnal way of thinking brings death and is enmity against God, but the spiritual mind is life and peace. It is “life and peace” that we long to achieve but that battle wages on. (See Romans 8:1-10)
“Who shall deliver us from the body of death?” (Romans 7:25) Our answer is Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are IN CHIRST JESUS…” We must be “in Christ” and we must “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
To win this battle we have to be “in Christ” and we have to walk after the Spirit. It takes every bit of our strength to win the battle within and conquer our desire to do that which is evil, but fight we must everyday.
Stacy Crim
The Power Of Influence
David Padfield
Webster defines the word influence as "the power of persons or things to affect others, seen only in its effects." Though the word influence is only found one time in the King James Version, its meaning is on every page.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his disciples that they are the "salt of the earth" (Matt. 5:13-16). There are many interesting things you can say about this figure of speech. Salt is totally worthless while sitting on a shelf, it has to be applied. Salt can also loose its "saltiness." When it looses its power to flavor, it is good for nothing and must be discarded.
Paul told the brethren at Corinth they were an "epistle of Christ known and read by all men" (2 Cor. 3:1-3). Whether we like it or not, every Christian is an advertisement for Christ. It is rather scary to think the honor of Christ is in the hands of his disciples. Men of the world will judge Christ by the character of his followers.
Have you ever considered what type of an advertisement you are? One of our songs suggests that "We are the only Bible the careless world will read, We are the sinners gospel, we are the scoffers creed, We are the Lord's last message, given in deed and word, What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?"
Much of the book of Proverbs is devoted to warning young men about their choosing their companions. "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed" (Prov. 13:20).
The majority of worldly people will pay very little attention to what we say, but our actions will always be scrutinized. When they think of our character and reputation, our actions will speak louder than our words.
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Epaphroditus, Model of Selflessness
One reads of our title character only in the New Testament book of Philippians. Though only seven verses speak of the man, there is much to be gained by noting his example.
Mike Noble
Epaphroditus was a member of the church at Philippi who had been chosen as the church’s “messenger” to bear “aid” for Paul’s “necessities,” as the apostle awaited trial in Rome (4:16-18). Paul sums up with these words the attitude of Epaphroditus towards the Lord’s work: “...because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service to me” (2:30). Epaphroditus was a selfless individual.
But what seems to especially proclaim the selflessness of this man is a statement made in the 26th verse of chapter 2 -- that while he lay deathly ill in Rome, he “was longing for” the church at Philippi, “and was distressed because” they “had heard that he was sick.” Think on that for a moment.
What goes through our minds when tragedy strikes our own lives? Financial hardship is felt... A devastating disease cripples our body... And about who or what are we thinking? Or perhaps things are not quite so tragic. We didn’t get that bonus we desired... or things aren’t going at work as we wished... or that fellow-member didn’t invite me over for dinner last week... or...
The truth is, too many of us get so wrapped up in our own little world (and how the world affects us) that we think little or none about how our world might affect our brethren -- or, for that matter, how the world in general is affecting them. (Be objective: how much care have you shown recently toward those who really are afflicted? For those who have lost a parent? For those who for some reason or another must deal with the hardship of raising a child without the help of their spouse? For those who are widows or fatherless? James 1:27). Are we able to take our eyes off ourselves for just a few moments to notice the genuine cares of others about us? Such was the spirit of Epaphroditus. His only concern as he lay on his deathbed was as to what effect his illness -- the hearing of it -- would have on the Philippian brethren.
In this Epaphroditus proved to be a true follower of Jesus. Paul had previously said, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...” (2:3-5). This humble “messenger” had such a “mind.”
There are too many of God’s children today who “seek their own” interests and welfare (2:20). The Lord’s cause sorely needs more men and women to imitate the example of self-denial as seen in Epaphroditus. &
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