Noteworthy News

(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Search Suspended For Pregnant Woman

(GLACIER) -- The search has been suspended for a pregnant woman who's believed drowned in the Nooksack River, near Bellingham. Deborah Langlois apparently slipped and fell while trying to get a closer look at the river's falls Monday night. The Whatcom County sheriff's office says the search is suspended indefinitely... but a helicopter will fly over the area today. A search yesterday turned up no sign of the 30-year-old woman, who's eight-months pregnant... and already the mother of an 18-month-old girl. (Reuters News Service)

We extend our sympathies to the family of Deborah Langlois as they face the days ahead. Without intending to be insensitive in anyway, please consider with me some spiritual truths we can take from this fatal incident.

1) The rocks of temptation are slippery. The Psalmist, when tempted by the prosperity of the wicked who give no thought to God, said, “Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psa. 73:1-3) Whenever we begin to envy wickedness we have forgotten the blessings of God upon the righteous as well as the ultimate result of all sin, which is eternal death (Psa. 73:15-28). Find the way of escape from the temptation to sin, and so stand upon solid ground (1 Cor. 10:13).

2) Trying to get too close to sin will surely cause our spiritual downfall. The Lord warns us to get far away from sin, not become entranced by its allurements until, not realizing how close we are to it, “fall from our own stedfastness” (Rom. 12:9; 2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Thess. 5:22; 1 Cor. 15:33-34). “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Cor. 10:12)

3) Time and chance happen to us all (Eccl. 9:11). It was not God’s fault that this young mother died a tragic and untimely death. We have a picture in our minds of how we think we will die, but I dare say that most of the time that picture is not what really happens. Death comes as an intruder into our lives and we are not prepared (Eccl. 9:12). From this young women’s misfortune, may we be convinced to prepare for death, for it often comes suddenly and unexpectedly. Are you a Christian yet? Are you a genuine disciple of Jesus? What are you waiting for? -jrp-

ASSIGNMENTS: June 28, 1998

Announcements: Rusty McGrew

Opening Prayer: Rusty McGrew / Aaron Bass

Closing Prayer: Charles Fair / Ed DeWispel.

Song Leader: Dan Head / Morris Bass

Scripture Reading: Shane Bass / Jess Bass

Lord’s Supper: C Gardner / T Haith / B Holt

Building Cleanup: Aaron & Ruby Bass

T HE SPIRIT’S SWORD

“And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17)

The Northside church of Christ

Meeting at the North Bellingham Grange Hall · 5201 Northwest Road · Bellingham, WA

Visit our Web Site on the Internet: http:// www.davisinet.com/northsidecofc

Volume II, No. 19 June 28, 1998

Loving God and Each Other

Joe R. Price

Love is surely one of the least understood subjects in the Bible. Therein, we learn that "God is love," and that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...." How desper­ately this world needs to learn about God's love and live it toward others. Crime runs rampant, selfishness abounds and harm is regularly dispensed by man upon his fellow man. God is held in irreverence and mockery. Mankind must learn to love God and one another if things are to ever change.

When Jesus was asked what commandment was "first of all," He said, "The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There in none other commandment greater than these" (Mk. 12:29-31). This is the foundation for keeping all the commandments of God (whether those of the law of Moses by Israel when it was in force, or the gospel of Christ by all men today). We must understand that proper obedience will only occur as a result of proper love for God (Jno. 14:15). A thorough description of love is given in 1 Corinthians 13, and it deserves to be implemented into our lives. Without love motivating us, we are nothing.

The object of our love must first be God. Not ourselves, our family, our friends, or anybody else (Matt. 10:37). Quoting from Deuteron­omy 6:4, Jesus makes this clear. The sovereignty and majesty of God compels every thoughtful human being to love Him. And, as the scribe noted, "Of a truth...there is none other but he" (Mk. 12:32). His singular presence and might is a compelling reason to lay our full love and devotion at His feet.

(continued on page 2)

LOVING GOD AND EACH OTHER.......

In Deuteronomy 6:5, the Israelites were taught the depth of love they were to have for the Lord, and Jesus quoted it in Mark 12:30 to describe the type of love we must have for God. Our love for God must not be divided. We cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6:24). Our love for God must reach the very depth of our heart and soul ("with all thy heart, and...soul"). It must affect our mind, too. All of our under­standing should be directed toward loving God ("with all thy mind"). And, every fiber of our being must be focused upon loving God ("with all thy strength"). Jesus calls upon each of us to offer a full and complete expression of love to God. We must remember that loving God means obeying Him and conforming our lives to His will (Jno. 14:15; 1 Jno. 4:16; 5:2-3).

What a different place this world would be if everybody loved God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength! For you see, when a man truly loves God it will effect the way he treats his neighbor. For that reason, Jesus said the second great commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mk. 12:31). Honestly, how many of us genuinely love our neighbors like we love ourselves? Before answering that question, consider how we love ourselves. First, we do not hate ourselves. Instead, we nourish and cherish ourselves (Eph. 5:29). We take care of ourselves, making sure to provide ourselves with good things. Secondly, we do not work evil against ourselves. "Love worketh no ill to his neighbor" (Rom. 13:10). We do not harm ourselves, and loving our neighbor means we do not harm him, either. We love ourselves by doing good things for ourselves. In like manner, we should love each other "in deed and truth" (1 Jno. 3:18). When we love our neighbor as ourselves, we will consider his well being as readily and completely as we do our own. We all have room for improvement in that area!

Loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves are the commandments which support all of God's commands. It was so with "the law and the prophets" (Matt. 22:40), and it remains true today. Love for God and others undergirds all of God's commandments. As a door hangs by its hinges, God's commands are supported by and put into motion when we love God and others (Matt. 22:40). McGarvey put it this way when comment­ing on Matthew 22:40: "Love without law is power without direction, and law without love is machinery without a motor."

Every action of our lives ought to grow out of loving God and others. When they do, then abuse, selfishness, arrogance and every sort of evil will be erased from our conduct. Sacrifice, humility and service will compel our every deed. Yes, the world needs to learn to love God and others. And, so do we.

Do I Have To? Notes

(Scripture Reading: Galatians 6:6-10)

-We are creatures of choice - Deut. 30:19-20; Josh. 24:15; Matt. 11:28-

I. DO I HAVE TO ATTEND ALL THE WORSHIP SERVICES?

-Consequences: Heb. 10:24-26; 1 Cor. 14:26; Jno. 4:23-24.

II. DO I HAVE TO STUDY MY BIBLE?

-Consequences: Jno. 6:68; 2 Pet. 3:16-18; Acts 20:32; 2 Tim. 2:15.

III. DO I HAVE TO ASSOCIATE WITH CHRISTIANS? - Rom. 12:10 (1 Pet. 1:22; Heb. 13:1).

-Consequences: 1 Cor. 15:33-34; 1 Ths. 5:14; Matt. 5:13-16; 1 Jno. 2:15.

IV. DO I HAVE TO THINK SO MUCH ABOUT SPIRITUAL THINGS? - Col. 3:1

-Consequences: Matt. 12:34-35; Phil. 4:8; Matt. 6:19-21; Phil. 3:17-19.

V. DO I HAVE TO TEACH OTHERS? - Heb. 5:12.

-Consequences: Prov. 11:30; Acts 4:12; 2 Cor. 5:10.

Sins of the Tongue: Against Others (Part 1)

(Scripture Reading: James 3:8-12)

I. SOME SINS OF THE TONGUE WHICH ARE AGAINST OTHERS.

A. Gossip - 1 Tim. 5:13. Busybody (tattler) - “busy about other folks' affairs” (Ibid.) - Driven by

curiosity, not concern to help - cf. 1 Pet. 4:15; Phil. 2:3-4. Gossip is empty, idle talk about

others w/ no intention of speaking to the one being spoken about.

B. Talebearing [“scandal-monger (as travelling about)]” - A trafficker in scandalous reports about

others - Lev. 19:16. The talebearer is: Untrustworthy, Prov. 11:13; 20:19 (reveals confidences);

Stirs up strife, Prov. 26:20; Hurtful, Prov. 18:8. Prov. 16:28

C. Slander - to utter a false report with the idea of injuring the reputation of another (accuse, defame).

- Prov. 10:18; Psa. 101:5; 41:7; Rom. 1:29; 3:8.

D. Backbiting - speaking evil of one who is absent and not being will to accuse him to his face.

-Rom. 1:30; 2 Cor. 12:20 - A cowardly sin! (Matt. 18:15); Psa. 15:3.

II. How can I avoid these sins ?

A. Know The Dangers - Prov. 26:20, 22; 21:23; Rev. 21:8 (strife, pain, trouble, hell!).

B. Ask Yourself Four Questions:

1. Is it true? Eph. 4:25 - check to be sure!

2. Will it do any good to tell it? Eph. 4:29

3. Will it help the persons or person spoken of?

4. Have I told that person myself? Matt. 18:15