PAUL'S WRITINGS

Today is Thursday and it is snowing!!  Yes, it has been snowing this morning.  I'm at church now and school is still in session, but what a winter we have had with much snow and snowing at many times.  I'm just glad for "global warming", or we would be in deep snow!  Well, so much for my little insights.  Here is what I got from the Bible today: 1) RIGHTEOUS RECOMPENSE- The Bible tells us in II Thess. 1:6, that God deals with those who cause us trouble as we seek to live for the LORD and do His work.  It reads:  "Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you:"  God will handle our opposition, so don't lose your focus on Christ and our mission!  Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning!  God will count it a righteous act to recompense those who trouble us.  I've seen it happen many times.  I'm never happy to hear how God has recompensed some people, but I've never been surprised knowing the trouble they have tried to cause the work of God.  Keep faithful dear child, God is watching over us! 2) TAKE HEED- In I Timothy 4:16, we are told to "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them:  for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."  The key to productivity is to take heed to ourselves!  We want to focus on how everyone else is doing, or not doing, but the real answer is keeping the focus on what we are doing and making sure we are doing what is right and preaching and teaching in word and by our lives what is true and right in the sight of God.  This will help people!  This we can and must do! 3) THINGS THAT ARE WANTING- In Titus 1:5, Titus is told by Paul to "set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city,"  Now there are in every church, always "things that are wanting"!  That is the nature of a church run by humans.  There are always needs, there is always a need to restructure something, renew something, rebuild something, reorganize something, start something, end something, refresh something, correct something, etc.... the list goes on and on!!!  But, that is why a church has a Pastor!  It is his job in the sight of God to "set in order the things that are wanting".  Now, before you are too hard on him, realize that he works with people and people don't change each, don't take correction easy, don't like reproof, rebuke, etc.  But... it is still our job as a pastor to patiently "set in order the things that are wanting".  Let you pastor know things that you perceive to need changing, and then give him time to set things right.  Also, YOU be a part of the solution.  It your church needs to be more friendly, let it start with you!  You be the catalyst for change! 4) ONCE- This comes from Hebrews and we don't know who wrote Hebrews.  In chapter nine of Hebrews the word "once is mentioned five times".  Notice them:  verses 7,12,26,27,& 28.  Notice these phrases:  "he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (v.12); "now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." (v.26); "appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment;" (v.27); "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many;" (v. 27).  All that Jesus did for us in paying our sin debt, He did once!!  And.... once was enough!!  Praise God that once is all that was needed.  If you have trusted Christ as your personal Savior... once was enough!  If you have been cleansed from you sin.... once was enough!   When Christ paid the debt... once was enough!  Praise God!!! Well, have a blessed day.  Pastor Mike Mutchler