“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Mt. 13:44) Joy is comparable to gladness, cheer, and delight. Different sources of joy are available but three in particular catch our attention: Jesus, His church, and Heaven. When Jesus arrived, the wise men had “exceedingly great joy” (Mt. 2:1-11). This great joy was announced by the angel of the Lord to the shepherds at the birth of Christ (Lk. 2:8-20). Though sorrow would accompany the crucifixion of Jesus, joy was soon to come by His resurrection and ascension (Jn. 16:20-24; Mt. 28:1-8; Lk. 24:50-53). Not long after Christ’s ascension, His church was birthed on Earth (Acts 1-2). What cause for joy there is in finding the one, and only, church of Christ (Mt. 13:44; Eph. 1:22-23, 4:4)! The Ethiopian eunuch exemplified the joy of becoming a member of the Lord’s church (Acts 8:26-39). Such joy is an indicator of the joy that awaits the faithful. Christ endured the cross because He was looking forward to the joy that would follow (Heb. 12:1-2). We can look forward to that same joy because of what Christ did for everyone! That is not to say that everyone will have that joy because not everyone will obey Christ. The five and two talent servants were faithful to their lord and were able to enter into his joy (Mt. 25:14-23). The one talent servant was not faithful and was described as wicked, lazy, and unprofitable. There was no joy for him (Mt. 25:24-30). Christians should be the most joyful people there are. We have so much to be joyful about including Christ, his church, and a home with God in Heaven. Let us make our joy full (cf. 1 Jn. 1:1-4; 3 Jn. 4)! Trent Thrasher
“15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Pt. 1:15-16) Holy, holy, holy is the refrain of the seraphim in Isaiah 6:3 with regard to the God of Heaven. Holiness describes being set apart from the common or profane (cf. Ezek. 22:26). God is above all and is to be given the utmost reverence for holy is His very name (Ps. 111:9). The second person of the Godhead, the only begotten Son of God, is holy (Lk. 1:35, 2:23; Acts 3:14, 4:27). The third person of the Godhead is called the Holy Spirit (Mt. 1:18; Acts 5:3-4). God requires that each of us be holy because He is holy. Each member of the church is part of the holy priesthood. This shows the responsibility we have to offer acceptable sacrifices to God (1 Pt. 2:5). Tragedy comes to those who do not (cf. Lev. 10). We are a holy nation that has been called out of the world of wickedness (1 Pt. 2:9). Tragedy comes to those who go back to the pigpen of sin (cf. 2 Pt. 2:20-22). We are those that dedicate our hearts to God making sure He controls all in our lives (1 Pt. 3:15). Tragedy comes when God is rejected from His rightful position (cf. Rm. 1:20-32). The material world that captures so much attention and time is temporary (2 Cor. 4:18). It will be burned up when Christ returns (2 Pt. 3:10). What is our reaction? We practice holy living, we keep our eyes on the goal, and we keep on growing (2 Pt. 3:11-18). God is holy and so must we be! Trent Thrasher
“You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes.” (Ps. 119:68) The Psalmist stated the fact that God is good or benevolent. Indeed, good is who God is (Ps. 25:8). During the creation, God saw that His creation was good (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). After God created man, He saw everything that He made was very good (Gen. 1:31). When Moses wished to see God’s glory, God told him that He would make all His goodness pass before him (Ex. 33:18-19) and He did (Ex. 34:5-8). Every good and perfect gift comes from the All-Benevolent One (Jm. 1:17). God’s goodness blesses us materially (Mt. 5:45; Acts 14:17). God’s goodness is seen in His good and perfect law which is for our benefit (Rm. 7:12; Jm. 1:25; Dt. 6:24; 1 Jn. 5:3). The gospel is itself good news centered on Christ and His kingdom (Rm. 10:15; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; Acts 8:5, 12). The fact that God gave us His Son is not only a reflection of His love but also His goodness (Jn. 3:13-17). God placed all spiritual blessings in His Son who is good (Eph. 1:3; Mt. 19:16-17). God’s goodness demands that we be good in a number of ways (Eph. 2:10; Gal. 6:10; Rm. 12:17-21; 3 Jn. 11). God’s goodness also demands that He hates and punishes wickedness (Ex. 34:7). We must also hate evil and love good (Am. 5:15). Do not forget that we are in spiritual warfare against the forces of evil (2 Cor. 10:3-6; Eph. 6:10-18). God is perfect in His goodness and if we listen to and love Him, all things will work together for good ultimately (Rm. 8:28). Trent Thrasher
“in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thes. 5:18) We all must be a people of thanksgiving:
My family is certainly grateful to be laboring here in Big Spring with the 14th and Main church of Christ. Y’all are indeed a blessing and we thank God for each of you! Trent Thrasher
“Do you know how the clouds are balanced, Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?” (Job 37:16) Elihu asked a rhetorical question to Job which informs us of the perfection [fullness; completeness] of God’s knowledge. The fancy term is “omniscience” meaning all-knowledge. God knows all the parameters that the Universe is governed by for He created it (cf. Job 38). He knows about all of the animals and other creatures (cf. Job 39:1-30; Job 40:15-41:34). He knows all of our thoughts [the contents of the heart] (cf. Job 42:1-3; Ezek. 11:5; 1 Kings 8:39). He knows about all our doings (cf. Ps. 139:1-6). He knows things which have not come to pass (cf. Isa. 46:10). He knows secret things (cf. Deut. 29:29; Ecc. 12:14; Heb. 4:13). This perfect knowledge coupled with His other attributes [holiness; righteousness; truthfulness] makes God the perfect Judge (cf. Gen. 18:25). He has all the evidence! We cannot hide anything from God. Ananias and Sapphira tried that and they paid the ultimate price (cf. Acts 5:1-11). Remember, God revealed His will for us so that we can follow it and be with Him forever in Heaven (Deut. 29:29; Eph. 5:17; Rom. 12:1-2). Let us be transparent, honest, and righteous before the All-Knowing One! Trent Thrasher
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