THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
(Yes, the following is an old joke. But it fits with the subject of the thought for today.)
The churches in the town were having a difficult time with bats gathering in the attics.
Some churches had exterminators spray, but the bats kept coming back.
But the Baptist churches had the answer. They baptized the bats, and put them on the church roll. And, like most of their other members, they never saw them again.
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________SCRIPTURE____________________________________________________________________
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
KJV
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_______THOUGHT______________________________________________________________________
There are three very important parts of this verse.
First, there is "confirming the souls of the disciples." Yes. Confirming! The Greek word is episterizo, which means to reestablish or strengthen. Paul and Barnabas went to places they had preached before and saw people who had surrendered to Christ during their preaching. And they confirmed that they were still faithful.
Seems we need this desperately in our churches today! About 1/3 of our churches rolls contain names of people whom we cannot even contact. If mail were sent to them, it would come back! And fewer than 1/2 of our membership rolls attend any service once per year!
There are principles too which we should be held accountable: church attendance, Bible study, prayer, ministry, and giving. Perhaps, if someone had been confirming our church rolls, the missing members would still be active.
Second, there is "exhorting them to continue in the faith" is another action in which churches need desperately to engage. As individual members, we are responsible to God to "NOT forsake the assembling of ourselves together," (Hebrews 10:25) and to "provoke" one another "unto love and to good works." (Hebrews 10:24)
People need encouragement! Too many people make church attendance a habit instead of a commitment! Habits are easily broken, commitments aren't.
Perhaps if our missing members had been encouraged "to continue in the faith," by other individual members, they would not be missing!
Third, there is "that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." MUST we? YES! There is "much tribulation" in this world! Some tribulation we suffer because of our own sin. Some we suffer because of other's sins.
But it is through the tribulation that our born again souls grow in strength of faith and character! We experience difficulty, and cry out to the Lord for help. Then, He calms the storm and brings us through it to "the desired haven." (See Psalm 107:24-30)
Perhaps, if someone had taken time to explain this to our missing members, they would not have gone missing!
Let us not read the Word of God for our own gratification only. Let us take the Word of God and apply it to our lives.
Let us confirm the commitment of faith in fellow believers.
Let us exhort them to continue in the faith.
And let us explain that through the difficult moments of life, we depend upon God, and He carries us through them by His presence and love.
Love ya,
Bruce