DOING GOOD TO ALL - By Al Diestelkamp (continued from THINK page 1)
Jesus recognized that we have differing means and opportunities for doing good. When an unnamed woman was criticized for doing good to Jesus by anointing His head with an expensive oil, Jesus said, "She has done what she could" (Mk. 14:8). The critics of this woman claimed she should have sold the oil and the proceeds given to the poor, but Jesus justified her actions by noting that "you have the poor with you always" (Mk. 14:7).

While Jesus' statement shows that there are other priorities which may limit one's help to the poor, care must be taken not to use this as an excuse to neglect the needs of the poor and unfortunate.

Let's look at a couple of other opportunities we have to do good:

Doing Good As "Heirs Together"
The apostlic instruction for the husband to "give honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel" follows closely behind the admonition for wives to "be submissive to your own husbands." To the extend that both heed these instructions, they become "heirs together of the grace of life" (1 Pet. 3:1,7).

Clearly implied is that the ideal marriage is one in which both are Christians, working together as partners for happiness in this life, and toward a reward in heaven.

Of course, not all marriages enjoy this advantage, with only one being a Christian. In some cases this is because one of the partners has come to know the Lord after being married, but the other does not. In other cases, a Christian has chosen to marry one who does not share his or her faith and commitment to Christ. In either case, the most "good" the Christian can do for the unbeliving spouse is to remain faithful to the Lord, being a great husband or wife, in the hope of leading the unbeliever to Christ.

Doing Good As Parents
The old saying, "Charity begins at home" is not from the Bible, but it is consistent with biblical principles. It is "at home" where we first learn to "be good" and hopefully where we learn to "do good." Many of the greatest opportunities we have for doing good are within our own families.

Parents must lead the way in doing what is good for every family member. The way fathers and mothers treat each other is a training ground for their children. When children witness their parents treating each other with loving honor and respect they are more likely to respond in kind.

Speaking of which, as children, we need to make sure to care for elderly parents and grandparents, and look for opportunities to do good to other elderly people--especially those who lack nearby children to look after their needs.

To Be Continued
The apostle Paul said we are "created in Christ Jesus for good works" (Eph. 2:10). In this brief article I have only scratched the surface of the many opportunities out there to do good. For that reason, I'm planning future articles in which we will explore good we can do in many other areas of life--some of which we may have forgotten. Among other things, I want us to look at opportunities to "do good" for our brethren, as well as the good we can do in the workplace, for our nation, the lost, the poor, our enemies and even ourselves.

AL DIESTELKAMP
P.O. Box 891, Cortland, Illinois 60112
Email: al@thinkonthesethings.com

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MY BODY, MY SLAVE - By Rick Liggin (continued from THINK page 1)
Unfortunately, too many of us have this exactly backward! We let our bodies control us! Instead of telling our body what it must do, we let the body tell us what to do! Instead of making "my body my slave," we let our body make us its slave! Instead of controlling the flesh, we indulge the flesh!

Let me tell you: the man who "vents all his feelings" or "always speaks his mind"--that man is letting his body rule him (Prov. 29:11). The guy who gets angry or gets his feelings hurt every time someone looks at him cross ways--that guy's body has made him its slave! The person who says, "I couldn't help it! It felt so good, I just couldn't help myself"--again, that man is one whose body (passion) has taken control of him! In fact, anyone who "can't stop it" or "can't control it" is really just allowing his own body to enslave and rule over him.

"Well, it's my body! I'll do with it what I want to!" Not if you're a Christian, it's not! If you're a Christian, your body now belongs to God! "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

Now that we're Christians, we are "under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh," but to God, to live as He wants (Rom. 8:12). And if it's now God's will that we must do, then we're going to have to stop indulging the flesh and start making our bodies our slaveseven if that means we will have to do some serious body buffeting to get it under control!

How serious are you about making sure that you're not somehow disqualified from receiving the incorruptible crown of life (1 Cor. 9:24-27)? If you're really serious about it, then you'd better take steps to get your body under control! Your body cannot control you unless you let it control you! Don't do that! I know it might hurt, but buffet your body and make it your slave, lest possibly, after you have served others, you yourself should be disqualified!

RICK LIGGIN
315 Almond Drive, Washington, Illinois 61571
Email: rcliggin@gmail.com

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PUTTING CHRIST BACK IN CHRISTIAN
By Andy Diestelkamp
(continued from THINK page 1)
They are synonymous. Therefore, whatever Christ taught about being His disciple is what it means to be a Christian.

A disciple is not above his teacher. A disciple is satisfied to be like his teacher. The world rejected Jesus. Putting Christ back into Christian means being content to be treated like Christ and, therefore, to not be above being rejected (Matt. 10:24,25).

A disciple follows his teacher. To follow Jesus we have to deny ourselves. We are not following our own selfish inclinations, but Christ, as Lord. We have to follow Him to the cross. That means bearing the burdens of this life, the burdens of others, and being willing to die with Christ (Matt. 16:24,25).

The extent of what it means to bear a cross and follow Jesus is clear. Our love and loyalty to all others (family, country, com-munity, self) must be less than our love for Christ (Lk. 14:25-27).Putting Christ back into Chris-tian means forsaking all that we have to be His disciples (vs. 33).

True disciples of Jesus Christ abide in His word because the truth He taught has the power to make us free (Jn. 8:30-36). When Jesus taught this to His fellow Jews, they protested, "We've never been in bondage to anyone." In other words, they thought they were already free and didn't need to be given freedom. Americans in this so-called "Christian nation" might have a similar response. However, Jesus is not talking about civil liberties but freedom from the bondage of sin. Unfortunately, even many who call themselves Christians believe they are at liberty to live as they wish and ignore Christ's word. Putting Christ back into Christian means obeying His word.

A disciple views himself as part of Christ as a branch is to a vine (Jn. 15:1-8). If we are not willing to be connected with Christ, then we will wither up and be destined for the burn pile. Yet, even those that claim such a connection but do not bear fruit will be cast into the same fire as those who reject the Name. Putting Christ back into Christian means bearing good fruit to God's glory.

The word Christian appears in Scripture a second time when used by King Agrippa in response to Paul's powerful message about the resurrection from the dead (Ac. 26:21-29). Festus had interrupted Paul to declare him crazy. Paul countered that he spoke words of truth and reason and subsequently pressed Agrippa about his faith in the prophets of old concerning the Messiah. When Paul expressed confidence in Agrippa's belief, Agrippa said, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."

It must be observed that PauL takes no offense at the term Christian, but takes the name for himself by equating the term Christian with what he was. The only clarification that Paul makes in his response to Agrippa is over the word "almost." Almost a Christian is not sufficient.

"Altogether" a Christian is what Paul wanted him and others to become. Paul also takes no exception to the idea of one becoming a Christian through persuasion. Paul knew that the gospel was God's power to save those who believe (Rom. 1:16) and that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). Jesus had told His apostles to "make" disciples (Matt. 28:19), and this is what they and those whom they taught did (Ac. 8:1; 1 Cor. 1:21; 2 Tim. 2:2).

Christians are not made by fleshly birth. We are not Christians because our parents were, or our spouses are, or because we associate with Christians, attend their assemblies, and/or embrace their lifestyle. A Christian is one who has been persuaded and, therefore, believes and is obedient to the gospel. This is a spiritual birth (Jn. 3:3-5). Putting Christ back into Christian means believing in the power of Jesus' atoning sacrifice on the cross, His subsequent burial, and His resurrection from the dead. It means being buried with Him through baptism into His death and rising to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3,4).

The final time in Scripture the word Christian is used is in connection with suffering as one (1 Pet. 4:14-16). It should not come as a surprise that we might be called upon to suffer for the name we wear (vss. 12,13). It is to this that we have been called (2:20-24). Like our Lord, we have not been called to be served but to serve (Matt. 20:24-28; Jn. 13:1-17) and glorify God in this Name. If that be through persecution, let us rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for the Name (Ac. 5:41).

There will be those who will blaspheme the noble name by which we are called (Jas. 2:7), but let it not be because we are Christians in name only. Putting Christ back into Christian means departing from sin (2 Tim. 2:19) and living lives of selfless service to the glory of God.

ANDY DIESTELKAMP
323 E. Indiana Ave., Pontiac, Illinois 61764
Email: adiestel@verizon.net

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