April 28^th 2024

10:30 am ------------------------------------ The Sweet Savour of Christ – 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Wednesday: 7:00 pm

Guarding Our Brother’s Reputation

Those we truly love we guard their reputation. We do not slander nor allow others to slander them in anyway. We do not want their sins and faults exposed, but rather covered, not spoken of, forgiven and forgotten. That is what the Lord does to those He loves and we are told to do the same, to ‘love as brethren.’ We ought to zealously defend the name, character and reputation of our brother and take issue with anyone who would dishonor them. When anything is said to scandalize or slander our brother we should rise to their defense and silence the slanderer. Love rejoiceth not in iniquity . . . hopeth all things… Even if there is some truth in what is said, we do not want others talking about the one we love. We should not let the gossiper, tale bearer, and whisperer go on without insisting our brother be allowed to defend himself and the one who related the story give an account to the one accused. How much gossip, tale bearing and slander would this put to an end.

The Longsuffering Of God

A proud atheist once stood with a group of people, shook his fist toward the sky and said, “If there is a God, may he prove himself by striking me dead right now”. After a long pause, in which nothing happened, the atheist smiled and said, “You see, I’ve proved there is no God.”

One man in the crowd responded, “All you have proved is that God is longsuffering to put up with such arrogance and unbelief in such puny creatures as we are.”

The apostle Paul wrote of God’s longsuffering towards the wicked – “What if God, willing to shew His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction;” (Romans 9:22). God may put up with the proud boastings of unbelieving men for a while, but His wrath is certain to come upon all who continue in such arrogance unto death. Our only hope is God’s mercy in Christ. Paul went on to write – “And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,” (Romans 9:23). Sinner, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth,” (Proverbs 27:1). Run to Christ and beg for mercy! -- unknown

Two Important Areas

The two most important areas in our religion are faith and life. Spurgeon said: "He who understands these two words is not far from being a master in true theology." Faith and union with Christ; these are the two vital points to a Christian; they cannot be separated! You will never find true faith where you do not find true godliness and union with Christ and you will never find true godliness where there is no saving faith. True faith results in a living union with Christ and true godliness has for its root and foundation a sincere and continuing faith in the person and work of Christ Jesus. – Henry Mahan

An old preacher once said, “If you wish to be disappointed, look at others; if you wish to be disheartened, look at yourself; if you wish to be encouraged, look to Jesus Christ.”

Some People . . .