A Moment With Your Minister...
Several years ago when I served as the pulpit minister of the Piedmont Road Church of Christ in Marietta, GA, the city o f Atlanta received the dubious distinction of being name: “The Most Dangerous City in the U.S.A. in which to live.” This was based on crime statistics released by the F.B.I. Today, with the number of murders, stabbings and other crimes reported on a daily basis by the news media here in Nashville, one has to wonder if Nashville is about as dangerous now as Atlanta was back in 1995.
I mention the foregoing things in order to make this point: The cynic observes this and then concludes that in all probability the situation is going to get worse instead of better. The cynic may be right, but those who know God also know that a better day is coming. Jesus came into this world to provide us with life, peace and hope! (John 10:10; Romans 5:1-2; Hebrews 6:17-20). Outwardly we may be called upon to suffer tribulation, but with the strength our Lord supplies, we can have peace within (John 16:33).
Since I am fully convinced that God wants us to “love life and see good days,” I intend to refrain from speaking evil of those who are not walking according to God's will. With God being my help, I will instead seek after His peace! I will pursue it. (1 Pet. 3:10-12). I pray that you will resolve to do the same and in the space remaining, I want to share some practical suggestions for our mutual pursuit of good days:
Several years ago when I served as the pulpit minister of the Piedmont Road Church of Christ in Marietta, GA, the city o f Atlanta received the dubious distinction of being name: “The Most Dangerous City in the U.S.A. in which to live.” This was based on crime statistics released by the F.B.I. Today, with the number of murders, stabbings and other crimes reported on a daily basis by the news media here in Nashville, one has to wonder if Nashville is about as dangerous now as Atlanta was back in 1995.
I mention the foregoing things in order to make this point: The cynic observes this and then concludes that in all probability the situation is going to get worse instead of better. The cynic may be right, but those who know God also know that a better day is coming. Jesus came into this world to provide us with life, peace and hope! (John 10:10; Romans 5:1-2; Hebrews 6:17-20). Outwardly we may be called upon to suffer tribulation, but with the strength our Lord supplies, we can have peace within (John 16:33).
Since I am fully convinced that God wants us to “love life and see good days,” I intend to refrain from speaking evil of those who are not walking according to God's will. With God being my help, I will instead seek after His peace! I will pursue it. (1 Pet. 3:10-12). I pray that you will resolve to do the same and in the space remaining, I want to share some practical suggestions for our mutual pursuit of good days:
- “KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE” by emptying it of anger, wrath and malice, and by filling it with love for God and your neighbor. A failure to do this will rob us of happiness and peace of mind, because hate-like a cancerous tumor-consumes every good thing! (Col. 3:8; 1 John 4:20-21).
- “KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE” by keeping it free from worry! In the sermon on the mount, our Lord said unto those who were worried, or overly anxious about the things of this world; “...take no thought saying what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, wherewithal shall we be clothed?” His solution? “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33). It will also help if we will humble ourselves before God in prayer, as Paul said in Philippians 4:6-7.
- “KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE” by expecting little while demonstrating a willingness to live much. The cynic that we mentioned earlier, also says: “Expect little,' but then he adds, “that way you won't be disappointed.” When I speak of expecting little, I refer to eliminating an exaggerated view of one's own worth that always expects praise from others. Those with inflated egos will always be disappointed with the level of praise received. But, our Lord showed us that the royal road to happiness is the one that leads us to humbly serve others. Now, are you happy and fulfilled as a child of God? If you are not happy, try to forget “self” for a time, as you concentrate on doing some deed of kindness for someone else And, best of all try to do that deed of kindness without the beneficiary finding out who did it. God will bless.