A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 3 NO. 25                                          August 13, 2006

“THEY SPAT ON HIM”

BY STEVE NIEMEIER

When I was a child I can remember being taught not to spit on anyone.  My wife and I taught our children not to spit on anyone.  Our children are teaching their children not to spit on anyone.  Most parents are teaching their children not to degrade another by spitting on them.  Yet, our Savior was spat upon!

Matthew 27:27-31 tells of the very sad story of Jesus the Christ being stripped and clothed in a scarlet robe. They then put a crown of thorns on His head and a reed in His right hand.  To further humiliate Him they would bow and mock Him calling Him the King of the Jews.  Then they spat upon Him and took the reed and struck Him on His head no doubt causing the crown of thorns to dig deep into His skin drawing blood.  After mocking Him they then put His own clothes on Him and led Him away to be crucified.

We would not want this to happen to any relative or friend of ours would we?  The humiliation of being spat upon and mocked is something that none of us want to happen to us either.  To think that grown men would act this way is almost unbelievable.  To think that it happened to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ seems unthinkable.

But my friend it did happen.  It happened and Jesus took it and went to the cross and bore the suffering and pain so that each one of us could be free from our sins.  He was spat upon because of me and you!  Thank you Jesus for your love and kindness and may I always remember you died for me!

TODAY'S LESSON

We will be continuing our thoughts about the type of attitude we are to have as we do the Lord's work.  Today, we will be concentrating on the proper attitude we should have toward our brethren.  Our memory verses for today (found just below the Bible Quiz) come from the 3^rd chapter of I^st John.  We also find John telling us in the 16^th verse of 3^rd John, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”  This is pretty straight and to the point isn't it?  We know what Christ did for us (see the previous article) and now He expects us to do that for each other.

Many of us say we love our brothers and sisters in Christ but laying our life down for them is not something that we would ever think we would have to do is it?  I can't imagine what it would be like to give up my life for another can you?  Life is precious to all of us isn't it?  There is so much that we want to do and places we want to go and things we want to see.  Who is it that would be so important that we would give up these opportunities for?

The answer is our brother or sister in Christ.  Jesus is not asking us to do anything that He wouldn't do or didn't do.  Jesus had a different view of life on this earth and He was able to put this life into proper perspective.  The question I must ask is can I do that?  This life is but a temporary dwelling place for my spiritual being and a final resting place for my physical body. I am just using this physical body while I am journeying through this life.  Would I be willing to give up this physical body, this physical life for my brother or sister in Christ?  That is the question and the answer according to John an inspired writer is “Yes”!

Our attitude towards one another must be proper or we will not be serving the Lord as we should.  Are we willing to listen when our brother or sister tries to teach us or even rebuke us?  Do we heed the needs of our fellow Christians by taking action to help?  Do we even talk to them when we come to services?  Do we seek to be with them every chance that we get?  Do we know every brother and sister in our own congregation?  If not, why not take the time today to meet them?  Have you ever thought about even going and sitting in a different area just so you can get to know a brother or sister better?  Hopefully today's lesson will help motivate us to look for opportunities to know our brethren better and to have a better attitude toward them.

“ASKING FOR THE OLD PATHS”

BY STEVE NIEMEIER

Jeremiah 6:16 states “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it.”  It seems that the “old paths” are not popular and are even looked down on by many today.  Generations grow up taking on their own “character” it seems.  The days of “yes sir and no sir” and referring to an older person as Mr. or Mrs. or even Miss seems to have drifted away.

There were times that I remember standing by the side of my parents or even having to stay seated in the pew while they visited after services.  Children were not allowed to run in the building and certainly could not “mess” around with the Lord's Supper trays or the pulpit area after the services.  Children were expected to behave and a quick “rap” on the back side brought that memory out of storage and quickly into use several times in my life.

Fathers were men who took control and commanded respect.  Mothers were women who respected and obeyed.  Together they made a set of parents who were “feared”, “loved” and “obeyed”.  Sparing the rod was believed to be spoiling the child.  Correcting the child was something that was done and the child was told why and back talking was not allowed.  (Ever tasted soap?)  Grounding came after the spanking and the television was turned off as it was part of the grounding process.

Our children are precious and a gift from God.  I long for the days when my children were young.  I did not appreciate them as I should have and I certainly did not take the time I should have in raising them.  Parents heed the pleas of those that are older. Now is the time to teach your child the ways of the “old paths” and they will honor and respect you for doing so.  Teach them the ways of the Lord not only vocally but by your example.  Your soul and their souls depend upon your teaching and your actions!