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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 6, NUMBER 45, NOVEMBER 12, 2006 LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tried to teach his disciples some responsibilities they would have as faithful children of God. Among other things he taught them about the importance of being an influence for good in their community. In his prayer in John 17 he prayed that they would not be taken from the world, but that they would not be overcome by evil (vv. 14-17). They were to be sanctified (set apart) by the word so as to lead others to God. Among other things in this sermon, he said they were to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16) and were to use their influence to help others glorify God. This need is ever present with us. Too many who call themselves children of God have little respect for his word and show this in their lives. Following are four ways our lights are to shine each day. We Believe All The Bible It is not ours to pick the passages we are to believe. Penknives are for whittling and not for cutting up God’s word. All of the Bible (2 Pet. 1:19-21; 1 Cor. 2:1-13; 2 Tim. 3:14-17) came from God and must be believed! The hard must be believed as well as the easy. We must learn rightly to divide (2 Tim. 2:15) and thus properly apply it to our present day problems and situations. We must let it condemn our own sins (when we have such) as well as the sins of our neighbors. And we must accept the remedy it presents regarding such. Sexual Purity Must Be Maintained Loose morals may continue to abound in the world. It will be worse some times and in some places than in others. Saints at Corinth turned from fornication and adultery to serve the Lord (1 Cor. 6:9-11). These are still works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21) and condemned by God, even when accepted by society. We must realize sexual relationships are proper only in marriage, that marriage is for life, and that fidelity in marriage is necessary to be right with God. This had to be demonstrated to the world in Corinth, in Rome, in Galatia, and in our community today! And God’s people should be the best examples of such in any community in any age. Things Must Be Provided Honest In The Sight Of All Men Liars will have their part in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8). Thieves cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:10). All debts are to be paid when they are due (Rom. 13:7,8). Saints must learn never to make rash promises and to keep their word when it is given. Braggarts are ridiculed by men and condemned by God. In a land of free speech and easy credit too many think little of what they promise or of what they say. Paul wrote to saints at Rome and Corinth that they were to provide things honest in the sight of all men (Rom. 12:17) and before God (2 Cor. 8:21). That was not something peculiar to them. It is bound upon all children of God. We are to live so men can see Christ in us, and Jesus was never careless or dishonest, and we must not be! Faithful Saints Assemble When Able Some in the early church got into a habit of doing something else when the time came for saints to gather (Heb. 10:23-25). I don’t know what they did or where they went. I don’t know what excuses they were making for not gathering with the people of God, but some forsook those gatherings and by doing such were not a good influence upon others and stood condemned by God. Our family and our friends must learn that when assembly time comes we will be “going to church.” They may or may not think it necessary, but they must learn that we enjoy it and want to go and intend to do so. When I insist that salvation is found only in Christ, and those around me know that I don’t find joy in worshipping God or studying his word with others, they know that I am not fully committed to what I teach. “Going to church” is not all there is to being a good influence, but it is a part of it, and I can’t be that good influence when I can go and don’t. These four ways are not all there is to being a faithful child of God. But they are some areas in which our light must shine if we are to lead others to Christ. We cannot just pick out one way and say that we will let our light shine in this and not care about other areas. Serving the Lord is a commitment that is to be seen in every aspect of our life. We must be fully committed or we had just as well quit. We cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6:24), but we must remember that Jesus said that if one was not with him, he stood against him (Matt. 12:30). Let us truly become the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” J. F. Dancer, Jr. Gospel Guide Brother Dancer is the individual from whom the church purchased the library. Make good use of the materials that are available there, always bearing in mind that the only infallible book is the Bible. PRAYER Every week the bulletin contains a partial list of those who are physically suffering in some way – most of the time it is sickness of some sort – with the request that prayer be made on their behalf. Generally speaking most of the people on that list are going to get better. We know a number of people who are spiritually sick and they are not going to “get better” if they do not repent. They need our prayers desperately. Make it a point to think of those you know who are spiritually sick – especially those who have known the truth, practiced the truth, only to turn away from it; and pray that their hearts will be touched, their pride and arrogance laid aside, and that they will return to faithfully and lovingly serve the Lord.
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