In so far as the believer’s acceptance with God is concerned, he has no more confidence in the best work he ever performed, than in the greatest sin he ever committed. Christ is our Righteousness, our only Righteousness, all our Righteousness.

Pastor Don Fortner

UNTHINKABLE

More and more I am made aware of the importance of worship, prayer, Bible study, and the fellowship of other believers during our earthly journey. “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the LORD hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name” (Malachi 3:16). I need Him, His Word, and His people! By His grace I shall not forsake the assembly of believers for any reason; and being like Joshua, the spokesman for my family, I can say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” To be involved with this world in such a way that week after week, Sunday after Sunday passes by without worship, instruction in righteousness, and fellowship with other believers is unthinkable! Such would be a miserable existence for His sheep.

Pastor Henry Mahan

BE YE THANKFUL

Believers are sinners saved by God’s grace. A sinner saved by grace should be, at every moment and in every way, a very thankful person.

There are two great blessings that a sinner saved by grace should take time to thank God for every day. The first is the forgiveness of sin. The only way our sin can be forgiven is through the sacrifice of God’s Son. How thankful we should be that God would sacrifice His only Son so that He could forgive the sin of His people!

The second great blessing a sinner saved by grace should take time to thank God for every day is righteousness. A sinner cannot earn righteousness for himself. A sinner can only be made righteous in Christ. How thankful we should be that God would send His Son to be the righteousness of His people!

“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25.40)

Each of us might say or think, “I would do anything for the Lord Jesus Christ.” And that is true if, indeed, He has saved our souls. But what can we do for Him? Actually, there is nothing we can do that would benefit Him for He is in need of nothing. He is not hungry, naked, or in prison. He is not sick, poor or lonely. He is not weak and in need of help. He is not bewildered and in need of counsel. He is not wandering and in need of our guidance. So what could we possibly do for Him?

There is only one way to “do something for the Lord Jesus”– do something for His people! To do good for the Lord’s brethren is to do good for the Lord. In fact, it is the only way we can “help” the Lord. When we comfort one another, it is as though we comfort the Lord, Himself. When we feed one of the Lord’s brethren, it is as though we have fed the Lord, Himself. When we love one another, we love the Lord, Himself.

It is one thing to profess an inward love for the Lord and announce a willingness to serve Him. It is another thing altogether to actually love Him by “works of faith and labors of love” visited on those the Lord calls “brethren.” Let us be constrained by our love for Christ to love the brethren and be zealous to do good works in their behalf!