Jesus and John Baptizing

By Paul Earnhart

Do you know what envy is?  It is one of the ugliest emotions of which we can be guilty.  It is displeasure in seeing another person prosper, or in seeing someone else more successful or popular than we are.  All one must do to become the object of envy is to do well.  Even in the church, individuals who excel in Bible knowledge, or in Christian service, are often the victims of hatred and gossip among other people.  Preachers are sometimes guilty of envying other preachers who may be more effective than they are.  John the Baptist is a fine example of a preacher who avoided envy.

John 3:22 tells us that after Jesus had spoken with Nicodemus in Jerusalem, He and His disciples came into the land of Judea and there He tarried and baptized.  John 4:1 even says that He was making and baptizing more disciples than John.  Some of John’s disciples apparently resented this fact, and they came reporting to John what Jesus was doing.  John could have been envious, but instead he responded with an illustration in which he spoke of Jesus as the groom in the wedding and of himself as the best man, the groom’s friend and helper.  Here is what John said: "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.  You yourselves bear me witness that I said, He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices because of the bridegroom’s voice.  Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled.  He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:27-30)

John here not only gives us a good example of one who avoided envy, but he also gives us a good example of our role as teachers.  Our duty is to bring people to Jesus, not to ourselves.  When they meet Jesus, we need to get out of the way quickly and let Him increase while we decrease.

Looking At Ourselves: Using Scriptures as the Mirror - Part 2

By Tom Rose

The cover story of Time (March 3, 1980) was about the actor Peter Sellers. Appearing on The Muppet Show, he was told by Kermit the Frog that it was all right to “just relax and be yourself.” To which Sellers replied, “I could never be myself. You see, there is no me. I do not exist.” Acknowledging that it was a good joke, Time saw a deeper significance. “The real Peter Sellers, at 54, is virtually a cipher.” The magazine then quoted a longtime friend claiming, “Peter is the accumulation of all the roles he’s played and all the people he’s met. He’s directing traffic inside all that!” Sellers died less than six months later. I don’t know if he ever found himself. Nor do I know if he ever searched for himself, although I suspect he may have.

There is something inside us that yearns for discovery – even when it has been submerged for years. In part, that is probably what the “mid-life crisis” is all about – the need to know ourselves before we go to our graves. One young man exclaimed, “I could know myself better if there weren’t so many of me.” Some of these multiple personalities inside us exist as simultaneous roles. Others have been covered over and forgotten as roles have changed. The recovering of authenticity means resolving the conflicting personalities as well as taking off the layers of “wallpaper.” Removing old wallpaper is, as anyone who has done it knows, a disagreeable task that yields only to persistence.

How do you go about recapturing one’s authentic, genuine self? First, it takes a trust in God’s presence and power. God leaves us free to be whatever we like. He does not clone human beings, but He gives each of us a unique self – and then encourages us to discover it, nurture it and expose it to others. However, we often find a familiar mask to be more secure than an unknown reality, especially if others approve of the mask. Would they like me equally as much, we wonder? Probably. But it takes stepping over the frightening threshold of vulnerability to discover that the other side offers not hidden terrors, but the beginning of security.

Second, no person can come to truly know himself except through the process of disclosing himself to others. But that self-disclosure – removing the mask(s) – can occur only in an atmosphere of love and trust. And while it seems scary at first, it is more frightening to consider the consequences of continued pretense. Thomas Merton, the monk who excelled in the inner search, warned, “If we have chosen the way of falsity, we must not be surprised that truth eludes us when we finally come to need it.”

Third, we need to gain perspective on how this life fits with the next one by becoming “doers of the word, and not hearers only...fully able to look into the perfect law of liberty (the scriptures) and continue in it” (Jas. 1:22, 25). Included in this process would be adopting a pilgrim existence toward our temporary and present life and reflecting on the words of Helen Lemmel’s popular hymn as we ponder the next. She writes, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

When genuineness is adopted as a way of life, it means no longer having to pretend, and that means freedom to grow and fully serve. And that also means unspeakable joy and serenity. When you know who you are, you don’t have to impress anyone. As an example, when Jesus was taken captive and placed before the high priest (Mk. 14:53-65) “some rose up and bore false witness against Him.” Then the high priest asks Jesus, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But, Jesus kept silent. Wrong question. The high priest then asks Jesus, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the God?” Jesus replies, “I am.” Right question. When you have discovered your identity, you need to say little else.

Several years ago, a Christian missionary, who had spent his life working with the poor and teaching others about Jesus, was speaking at Princeton. When he finished his talk, one student said to another, “He didn’t say much, did he?” A woman sitting nearby leaned over and quietly murmured, “When you’re hanging on a cross, you don’t have to say anything.”

Looking At Ourselves: Using Scriptures as the Mirror - Part 1

By Tom Rose

As nearly as I can tell, most Christians as well as secular people today are goal-oriented. It fits the American style. The less popular option is to be process-oriented. Just getting there is not all that counts, because how you get there and what happens to you and to others along the way are at least equally important.

Consider the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Lk. 10:25-37. The priest and Levite on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho were goal-oriented. On their minds were things other than a mugging victim, perhaps important things. The Samaritan of the parable was process-oriented. He, too, was on his way to Jericho, but for him getting there was not only less than half the fun but three-quarters of the pain. He saw not only the road, but the ditches alongside. He didn’t pretend that he had not seen what he saw. He didn’t try to convince himself that his goal down the road was more important than a deed of mercy to be transacted then and there. In stopping and stooping, he was not taking time out of his life; he was living life. Goals are points in time; process is time itself.

In one of his books, William Barclay tells the story of a group of people who were talking about heroism. Everyone, they said, sooner or later must practice some kind of heroism. A brash young man in the group turned to an old woman who looked ordinary and serene; he did not know that life for her had been a series of tragedies. “And what kind of heroism do you practice?” he asked lightly. “I?” she replied. “I practice the heroism of going on.” Recall that Jesus told Peter and Andrew, “Follow me and I will make you to become. ...fishers of men.” (Mk. 1:17), it was not an overnight transformation. Every step along dusty Galilean roads, every encounter with need, every response to happenings, would be a bit of “becoming.”

We generally demonstrate so little staying power. Most often what we do is to leapfrog, bypass the difficult or messy things in life in order to get on with it, when the process of everyday living is what life is mainly about. Even in our attempts to shortcut or anesthetize ourselves, we are “becoming.” When we shut our eyes, stop our ears, try to shield ourselves from feeling our own pain or that of others, we are “becoming.” By the road they traveled and their unique reaction to events along the way, the priest, the Levite–as well as the Samaritan–were in the process of becoming and thereby being shaped into their own respective personalities.

So where does individual responsibility begin? And end? When I look at the way Jesus ministered, He, like we, lived in a sea of need. In that hot land of Palestine, blindness was common, leprosy was a feared scourge, and sickness, hunger and sorrow abounded. Yet, Jesus did not heal all the sick, feed all the hungry, and raise all the dead. Surely Jesus knew He was only scratching the surface of need. How did He live with that knowledge? In searching for an answer, I find it instructive that in all the Gospel accounts, Jesus never turned away anyone who came within the scope of His awareness and ability to help.

Scope of awareness. It was this which placed an inescapable compulsion upon Him, and which places it upon us. When I see, when I hear, and when I know, then something happens to me that has not happened before. It is then that the problem, the concern becomes mine. When the knock comes to my door. When the empty hand reaches toward me. When the eyes look into my eyes. Then I must do something or surrender some piece of my Christian credibility.

Fortunately, awareness is an ability that can be cultivated. We hear what we need to hear, what we want to hear, in the same way that a mother immediately catches the first cry of her awakening baby. However, there are those who are afraid that they will hear something, who avert their eyes lest they see something. How lonely to walk the streets of life, afraid to look up, afraid of what might be seen in even a fleeting glance at another face. In truth, we avert not only our eyes, but also our hearts, lest some compulsion leap across the gap and forever bind us together. For, even from our own small experience, we know deep down that having seen, we cannot ever again unsee. Having heard, we will never again be able to unhear. And unless our conscience is dead, we will have to act.

Consider two scriptures: one paints a negative picture “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” Jas. 4:17. On the other hand, Jn. 3:16 reminds us of a singular, supremely positive event that changed everything, “For God so loved the world that He gave. . .” Let us continue to become and to give of ourselves, as unto the Lord, as that is the penalty, and the incomparable reward, for being a follower of His Son.

Every Day is Thanksgiving

By Mark McCrary

Gratitude often seems in short supply in a culture saturated with discontent. Our lives are filled with distractions, from consumerism to the 24-hour news cycle, all feeding a sense of dissatisfaction. 

Yet, Scripture calls us to rise above this discontent, urging a posture of thanksgiving as a transformative discipline. Philippians 4:6 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Similarly, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 commands, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Gratitude is not just a suggestion but central to a life lived in trust and relationship with God.

Imagine living in a world where thankfulness is the norm, not the exception—a world where gratitude transforms every day into Thanksgiving.

 The Thankful Leper

Luke’s account of Jesus and the ten lepers (Lk. 17:11-19) offers profound insight into the nature of gratitude. These ten men, ostracized by society due to their disease, cried out to Jesus for mercy. Their condition was desperate, marked by physical suffering, isolation, and hopelessness. In response, Jesus instructed them to go and show themselves to the priests according to the law (Leviticus 14:2-32).

The lepers obeyed Jesus before experiencing healing. As they went, they were cleansed. Yet only one—a Samaritan, doubly an outcast as a leper and foreigner—returned to thank Jesus. Falling at His feet, he praised God in gratitude. Jesus marveled, noting that only this one— the least expected— had returned to give thanks. 

 Four Truths About Thankfulness

From this story, first notice that thankfulness is an expression of faith—these men turned to Christ for healing. Faith is trust in God. Gratitude reflects a heart that acknowledges and honors God for His goodness (1 Peter 1:7). Recognizing our blessings motivates us to walk faithfully. Conversely, a complaining spirit often reveals a lack of trust in God’s provision.

Thankfulness also reminds us of God’s goodness—the man healed appreciated what was done for him. Gratitude shifts our focus from scarcity to abundance, highlighting God’s provision (James 1:17).  By choosing to reflect on God’s blessings, we cultivate a heart that is attuned to His faithfulness.

Importantly, thankfulness provides perspective in trials. When healed, the leper clearly saw the difference in his life. Life’s challenges often tempt us to despair, but thankfulness offers a different lens. Even when life is hard, all people can hold to the fact God loves them (John 3:16), and his children can have joy in the fact that Jesus is with them in all struggles, working what is ultimately good for them (Romans 8:28-39).

Finally, thankfulness brings peace. Anxiety often stems from focusing on what we cannot control. Philippians 4:6-7 offers the antidote: be thankful. As we present our concerns to God with thanksgiving, His peace guards our hearts and minds, grounding us in His provision.

All these being true, how can we start living as if every day were Thanksgiving?

 Four Ways to Cultivate Thankfulness

Let’s start with this: take time to embrace your blessings. Many of us grew up with the song, “Count Your Blessings.” What a message for us all! Thankfulness requires intentional reflection on the good God has done, does and will do in our lives (James 1:17). How often do we overlook these gifts? Slow down and consider God’s kindness, as encouraged in passages like Psalm 103:2, which urges us to “forget not all His benefits.”

Then, let’s embrace joy. A thankful heart is a joyful heart, anchored not in outward circumstances but in eternal truths. Paul’s words in Philippians 4:8 call us to focus on whatever is true, honorable, and praiseworthy. Similarly, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 reminds us to fix our eyes on what is unseen, finding hope even in affliction. Yes, there are hardships, Paul reminds us, but something better is waiting for us! Hold on to that every day!

This brings us to a needed practice— embrace humility. One of the number one phrases I hear (and have muttered myself…) when trials hit is, “Why me?” Do we think so highly of ourselves that we think we are immune to problems? That all must be well in our lives? The greats in scripture always dealt with struggles, yet so often expressed thanks! So must we! Pride and self-centeredness are enemies of gratitude. Philippians 2:5-8 reminds us, we are called to emulate Christ’s humility, focusing on serving others rather than ourselves.

Let’s wrap this up with one more: Embrace service. Gratitude is magnified when we turn outward, serving others in love. Galatians 6:10 exhorts us to “do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” When we meet the needs of others, we are reminded of God’s generosity toward us, shifting our focus from our problems to His purposes.

 Conclusion

The story of the ten lepers challenges us to consider whether we, like the Samaritan, will return to thank Jesus for His blessings. Let’s move thankfulness from momentary expression to daily practice.  As we do so, we will find peace, joy, and a deeper awareness of God’s blessings in every circumstance.

Men vs. Women

By Larry Coffey

Last week’s News & Notes mentioned there were about 70 ladies at the Ladies’ Bible Study Day on November 9.  That caused me to think about the Men’s Bible Study Day on November 2 for which I haven’t seen a count, but having been at that study would estimate there were about half that number present.  Why the large difference?

Then I thought about how the DH ladies have a weekly Bible class in the spring and the fall, but the men don’t have such classes. Do you think the women need more Bible study because they have a harder time learning than men do?  I doubt anyone would make that claim, especially the married men.

I recall when I first became a Christian at age 20, I was asked to go to a small church at the edge of Marion County, KY and preach one Sunday a month. Some of the Sundays I would be there when only women would be present.  Not only did I preach, if you could call it that, I taught the class, said all the prayers, led the singing and conducted the Lord’s Supper since the women couldn’t lead the public worship. (That is the only time I have ever led singing.  Can you imagine what those sisters thought about that?)

It reminds me of a story told by Robert Turner, one of the most effective gospel preachers of the 20th century, about a small church out west.  He said one of the sisters in that church had told him they only had women members, and they conducted the services.  However, occasionally an old mountain man would come to the services, but he would not take the lead.  So, being concerned for the proper Biblical order (1 Tim. 2:12; 1 Cor. 14:34-35), what should they do?  Robert told them to continue their services as they had been doing and ignore the old man.

I believe it is noteworthy that I have never heard of a church with only men.

As we teach about the need for Bible authority for what we practice, it is often mentioned there are many churches who ignore the pattern of men being the only ones to lead the public worship and have women preachers.  While they have no authority for so doing, it may be men are just not stepping forward to fulfil their responsibilities.  Some among our more liberal churches of Christ are now putting women in public leadership roles.  Even several of our more conservative churches who follow the scriptural pattern do not have men who will step up and serve as elders of the churches (1 Tim. 3:1).

In thinking about all of this, I wonder if there was a contest which could measure our “service to our Lord”, who would win, men or women?  To be fair, our paid preachers could not be considered, nor could public worship leaders because women are not permitted to participate in those services.  I don’t know who would win, but the evidence seems to be pointing toward the women.  Of course, there is no such contest.

What is certain is that men and women must serve our Lord faithfully.