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Classic Articles
Riddle N Rhymes From Bible Times
Jesus The Captain of Our Salvation
SUMMER FAVORITES
LINKS OF INTEREST
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Motives
Psalm 139:23-24
" Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."It matters to the courts of this country. Every criminal case has a prosecuting attorney who is very interested in establishing a motive for the crime, whether great or small, motives are important to the courts.
Is it right to consider not only whether a law has been broken, but why? I’ve been wondering about this after reading how a German court handled the ticketing of a motorist caught speeding by a traffic control camera. When the court learned why the driver had broken the speed limit, charges were waived. Instead, officials sent the driver a doll of a policeman holding a radar camera.
It mattered to someone in the system that the man was speeding to get his wife to the hospital for the birth of their first child. This man’s motive for speeding mattered in the mind of the court.
In the same sense, motives matter in the mind of God, not that they give us an excuse to sin, but God expects that we should have the right reasons for doing things.
What difference do motives make? If we are not careful, we can do some of the best things for the worst reasons. Our purposes combine with what we believe and do, to shape the character of our faith, our love, and our laughter. They also, fuel blind ambition and feed bitter envy, to determine whether we use our knowledge of the Bible to help others, or to control, condemn, or con them out of their money.
Bad motives can put honorable actions to shame just as good motives can turn the most menial task into something noble. I fear that the literary world has made undeserving heroes out of many, such as Jessie James and Robin Hood who, supposedly robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. Acts such as these are still wrong and can never be made right no matter what the motives are. We are prone to say, “The end justifies the means.“ No, no matter how noble our thoughts, wrong is still wrong and it is sin. No matter what the situation, there is always a right way to accomplish what is needful and good.
I believe, according to all I have studied and know, concerning the Judgment Seat of Christ, where all believers in Christ will be judged and rewarded according to their works, that this will be a judgment of motives as well as deeds, or works for the Lord. For example, if we do service for Him for recognition to ourselves, to get attention, or for any other reason than for His glory, we will not be rewarded. Matthew 6:1-4 tells us “Take heed that ye do not your alms (gift giving) before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Yes, motives or the reason for doing things do matter. Let us consider the things we do for God and others and be sure that our motives are right, for God’s glory and the help for others.As we bring this article to a close, I remind you once again, if our thoughts are kept right in obedience to the Word of God “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:5, our desires and motives will certainly be right.
From The Pulpit
HOW TO HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR
Psalm 13:5 says, “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.”
This new year can be one of the best you have ever experienced.
I. Listening- See Psalm. 85:8. The Psalmist said, “I will hear what God the Lord will speak....”
· This new year should be a time of listening to the Lord.
· He will speak when He has listeners (Psm. 50:7).II. Laughing- Consider Psalm. 126:2. It says, “Then was our mouth filled with laughter....”
· Some folks do not laugh enough.
· They take themselves too seriously.
· No laughter means one lacks a merry heart.
· The Bible says ---”A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Prov. 17:22).
· Laughter is cheap medicine.
· It often does us good to trust God and then laugh at our problems.
· Laughter is what bodily exercise is to health it can relieve tension, sooth pains of disappointment, and strengthen the spirit for the tasks ahead.III. Learning- Think about Psalm. 119:73. “Give me understanding that I may learn thy commandments....” · The key to learning is understanding.
· The Lord will give the teachable heart understanding. IV. Laboring- Psalm.100:2 says, “Serve the Lord with gladness...”
· Saved people are called and commanded to service to the One who saved us by His grace.
· Christ lives for us, so we should live for Him.V. Loving- I John. 4:21 says, "He that loveth God loveth His brother also."
· One proof of your love for God is love for your brethren. · God’s love works out through us.
Life is To Short Friend … Let Us In 2010 The Year Of Our Lord
Listen
Laugh
Learn
Labor Together For The Lord
Love One Another
As we well know, September 11th marks the Anniversary of the World Trade Center. Back on this day in 2001, we came together as a nation in mourning. We closed our eyes in thought of those we've sadly lost, and we prayed hard for the families of the victims that they could continue to find strength in their hearts to continue the march through lifes' journey.
Please continue your prayers and support for all of these people, as they will need your help in this manner for years and years to come. We also pray for our military personnel, as well, who are (or have) fought bravely for our freedom. Words just cannot express enough of our gratitude that we should have for our military. They fight for our rights everyday without them we would not have the freedom that we are blessed with each day.
Wise Men Still Seek Him
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you". John 15:12 – 13 - 14
Our Indispensable Bible
GEORGE WASHINGTON: It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book upon reason that you can, and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man.
WOODROW WILSON: I have a very simple thing to ask of you. I ask every man and woman in this audience that from this day on they will realize that part of the destiny of America lies in their daily perusal of this great Book.
HELEN KELLER: Unless we form the habit of going to the Bible in bright moments as well as in trouble, we cannot fully respond to its consolations, because we lack equilibrium between light and darkness.
CAPTAIN EDDIE RICKENBACKER: The Bible is the One Book for One World. ... today I realize that I probably would not be here, had it not been for the spiritual light and the moral power learned from this Book, which has carried me through the many crises of my life.
JOHN FOSTER DULLES: The Bible means to me that there is a God, that He has purposes for men and that each of us has the task to find and immerse himself in the stream of the divine purpose.
DOUGLAS MacARTHUR: Believe me, sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of god before I go to bed.
HERBERT HOOVER: The whole of the inspiration of our civilization springs from the teachings of Christ and the lessons of the Prophets. to read the bible for these fundamentals is a necessity of American life.
J. EDGAR HOOVER: The Bible is the unfailing guide which points the way for men to the perfect life. The lessons of charity, justice, and equality which enrich its pages should be learned well by all men in order that greed, avarice, and iniquity can be blotted out.
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER: To read the Bible is to take a trip to a fair land where the spirit is strengthened and faith renewed.
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