THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 41, NOVEMBER 9, 2003

GETTING TOGETHER

            As we move into November, and it is hard to believe that November of 2003 is already here, we find ourselves rapidly approaching the time of year for family get-togethers.  Beginning with the national holiday of Thanksgiving and continuing through New Year’s Day, January 1, is the holiday season.  The state police tell us that this is the time of year when the highways are the most crowded.  The airlines tell us that if you want to fly during this period of time you had better buy your tickets early, with Thanksgiving being the busiest time of the year for people flying home.  Even the bus lines are crowded with holiday travelers, most of whom are heading for that most wonderful destination – home.  

            I love this time of year.  I like to see my family and I like to see the families of the brethren here who come to visit mom and dad, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.  It seems like each family at some time during this season of the year, will sit down together and enjoy a bountiful and happy family feast.

            All of this brings to mind a statement found in Revelation 19:9.  The passage says, “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.  And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”  This is of course figurative language, but what a beautiful picture in presents.  It symbolizes the intimate and blessed union of our Lord Jesus and the church.  As Foy E. Wallace stated it, “The marriage union of Christ and the church is not a single act or thing.  Every union of a believer with Christ in baptism is marriage to Christ, and is representative of the whole relation.  This marriage occurs every time one is baptized into Christ, and is therefore always in process and continuous.”  Thus, our relationship with Christ is depicted in this familial way, characteristic of a family, and what is more joyous than a family gathered around a table together for a feast?

            There was a time when Jesus was in the region of Perea, and He was invited to the house of a Pharisee on the Sabbath day to break bread.  At one point during that visit one of those present said, “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God” (Luke 14:15).  In response to that statement Jesus spoke the parable of the Great Supper.  At another time in Matthew 22, Jesus presented the parable of the Great Marriage Feast.  Both parables spoke of those bidden by the gospel and refusing the invitation.  However, what I want to notice is the continuing use of a supper, a feast, joyous occasions, to describe our relationship with the Lord.

            When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper in Matthew 26:26-29, we find, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

            Brethren, we are in that kingdom.  We are all participating in that marriage supper, in that great feast.  We do it on a daily basis if we view the marriage supper in the sense of illustrating our union with Christ; and we do it weekly when we partake of the Lord’s Supper.  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread.”

            I love my earthly family and I truly enjoy this time of year into which we are entering – but what a blessing to be part of a family the ties of which will not be severed even by death.  What a joy to have family get-togethers three times a week all year round!  What a wonderful thing it is to gather around the table together for a commemorative feast every week with the most important family of all.

                                                            Greg Litmer

JUST THINKING

          I guess the best way to be understanding of the short-comings of my brethren is to look first at myself.  When someone hurts my feelings, I need to ask if I have ever hurt someone’s feeling.  If a brother or sister fails to call me when I am sick, I need to ask if I have ever failed to call someone when they were sick.  If a brother or sister in Christ lets me down, I need to ask if I have ever let someone down.

Paul put it so well when he wrote, “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?”  When I do this, I just can’t stay mad or upset.

SLEEP AT YOUR OWN RISK

            The preacher in a small Texas congregation was becoming rather irritated with the song leader who slept through the sermon each week.  He noticed that the song leader seemed to rouse from his slumber at the words “as we stand and sing”, which customarily ended the sermon.  So the next Sunday the preacher began his sermon and waited until the song leader had dropped off to sleep. Then he said, “At the end of the sermon you may respond to the Lord’s invitation” and with a booming voice added, “as we stand and sing”.  Up came the song leader with a rousing rendition of “Trust and Obey” --- solo.  That ended the sermon snoozing.