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Hindrances By
Michael W. McLemore We
must fully accept the fact that, here on earth, God Paul
wrote to the Corinthians of his reason for tarrying at Ephesus. He
related, “For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are
many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9, ESV). Truly,
it seems with every door — opportunity —
comes an adversary — hinderer.
In life we always find that the “open door” and the “many hinderers” go
together. Very seldom can we have the one without the other. With
Paul we share a common problem, the hindrance of progress in the cause. When
Paul first came to Paul
did much good in his lifetime. We read of the opportunities afforded him.
We see him, time and again, passing through those open doors to lead others to
Christ and build up the weak and faint of heart. Yet, who faced more
challenges than he? Frail health, difficulties and dangers in traveling,
the willfulness of his traveling companions, men of base character, sudden and
unexpected demands for his time and teaching, his persecuting enemies, even the
sometimes difficult restraints and limitations placed upon his work by the Holy
Spirit all seemed very real hinderers to opportunity. He never fainted.
He pressed on. We
must follow his example. But, how do we meet the hinderers? First,
we must fully accept the fact that, here on earth, God has put open doors before
us. The faithful are his agents among men. Stepping through those
doors, embracing the task, God will multiply the opportunity. But, at the
same time, we must prepare for conflict. It will come. The hinderers
are always with us and they have many forms. It may be our own human
frailty. It might be a brother or sister of base character. It could
be overwork, difficult
circumstances. Whatever the hinderer, it will come. We need to be
prepared! Remember, no “hinderer” can prevent God’s people from
embracing their opportunities. & The
End and Aim of Life By
Michael W. McLemore What
an individual is will largely be determined by that which is the end and aim of
his life. It is ever true that men are shaped by the goals to which they
aspire. Paul said, “. . .this one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”
(Phil. 3:13-14). The
following pithy paragraph was written in poetic prose more than two generations
ago. It suggests the importance of proper goals: “What
would we do in this world of ours were it not for the dreams ahead? For
thorns are mixed with the blooming flowers no matter which path we tread.
And each of us has his golden goal, stretching far into the years, and ever he
climbs with a hopeful soul with alternate smiles and tears. The dream
ahead is what holds him up through the storms of a ceaseless fight, when his
lips are pressed to the wormwood’s cup and the clouds shut out the light.
To some it’s a dream of high estate, to some it’s a home and wife; to some
it’s a crown above; the dreams ahead are what makes each life, the dreams —
and faith — and love!” (Anon). What
is your dream — your golden goal? Solomon said: “Hear the conclusion
of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole
duty of man” (Ecclesiastes. 12:13).
& Mom’s
Are Special By
Michael W. McLemore A
first grade teacher seated her students in a circle. She asked them what
they wanted to be when they grew up. One by one, each child got up and
announced, “I’d like to be a nurse like my mother,” or “I want to be a
banker like my father,” or “I want to be a teacher like you, Miss Smith.” The
last child to speak was the most shy and timid little boy in the class. He
said, “When I get big, I’m going to be a lion tamer in the circus.
I’m going to face those animals with my whip and chair and make them leap
through hoops of fire and obey all of my commands.” Seeing
the disbelieving looks on the faces of his classmates that he could ever act so
boldly or bravely, he was quick to reassure them, “Well, of course, I’ll
have my mother with me.” I
remember a similar incident during a Mother’s Day class project when my
Amanda, now 26 and married, was in the first grade. Amanda’s paper was
entitled: My
Mom is Special My
mom is special because... I
like it when my mom hugs me. My
mom can do many things! I
think she’s best at cooking. My
mom has a pretty smile! I
like to make her smile by My
mom is as pretty as a rose. My
mom is smart! She
even knows the Bible! Children
have a keen perspective don’t they? They seem to know what’s
important. Paul told Titus, “Older women are to be reverent in
behavior… they are to teach the younger women to love their husbands and
children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind. And submissive to
their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled” (Titus 2:3-6, ESV).
&
“In
the Image of God” By
Bob Myhan The
Bible says that “God created man in his own image; in the image of God He
created him; male and female He created them” (Gen. 1:27). This means that, in
some respects, man is like God. Of course, it is impossible for the creature to
be more virtuous than the Creator. Therefore, whatever virtuous traits man may
possess must be possessed by God. Is
the love of a father for his children virtuous? Then God must love those whom He
considers His children. If God does not love, man could not love. For how could
an unloving Creator create a loving creature? He would have nothing in Himself
to draw from. The
Bible teaches us to love our enemies as well as our neighbors (Matt. 5:43-48).
Is this virtuous? Then God must love those whom He considers His enemies. One
proof of this is that “He makes the sun shine on the evil and on the good, and
sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt. 5:47) Jesus
said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for
his friends.” (John 15:13) Would this be virtuous? Then, surely God has done
so. Wherein has He done it? He did it in the sacrifice of His only begotten Son
on the Cross.
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