The Encourager
Devoted to Worship - Jeff Curtis
Saturday, March 30, 2024Devoted to Worship
By Jeff Curtis
The early Christians were devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. There is a great lesson here for us: Worship is at the heart of our expressing our commitment to the Lord, at the heart of our growing as Christians, at the heart of our remaining faithful to God. Are we as eager as those early Christians to learn God’s will? Do we really devote ourselves to reading and studying the Word? Do we do it continually? We need to ask ourselves whether or not we are as concerned about our relationship with our fellow Christians as they were. Are we committed to getting to know our brothers and sisters in Christ and to express our oneness? We also must consider our attitude toward the Lord’s Supper. As we observe how haphazardly some today come together to remember the Lord’s death, we should long for a renewal of the spirit of those who continually devoted themselves to the breaking of bread. We must also consider the communication with God, our Power Source, through the avenue of prayer. Are we continually in prayer? Let’s notice 1Thessalonians 5:16-18; “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Church Growth
By Jeff Curtis
Today countless words are flooding from platforms, pulpits, and papers on “how to make the church grow.” If we want know how to effect God-pleasing church growth, we can do no better than to take a crash course in Acts 2:42-47; “42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Just because a congregation increases in size doesn’t mean its “growth” pleases God. God-pleasing growth doesn’t involve compromise of the truth. God wants us to grow numerically as well as spiritually, but faithfulness to God always takes precedence over growth in numbers. A cancerous tumor is a growth, but it is an unhealthy, life-threatening growth.
Wouldn’t it wonderful to part of a congregation like the one described in Acts 2:42-47? Before you nod your head with too much excitement, we should note that we can be part of such a congregation if each of us will be what we should be: worshiping, reverent, unselfish, happy, and sharing. Remember that the Bible is a mirror to help us inspect ourselves, not a magnifying glass to allow us to inspect others. Pray that God would help us to be the kind of Christians who would fit in “the church we would love to be members of.”
Meditate on these things:
Proverbs 19:11
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.
Life is Difficult, but Take Heart - Jeff Curtis
Saturday, March 23, 2024Life is Difficult, but Take Heart
By Jeff Curtis
M. Scott Peck wrote a book titled; “The Road Less Traveled” with a thought-provoking and powerful declaration: “Life is difficult.” One teacher, in an eloquent way, used to tell his students that life is full of “trials and tribulations, heartaches and heartbreaks, pressures, perils and problems.” In John 16:33, Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world”
Because we are fallen people who live in a fallen world that is dominated by sin and the evil one, hardships will come to all of us; but we can take heart. Life is difficult, but reading through and studying the principles in the book of Job can help us in several ways.
First, the book of Job can help us see that God is still God. Regardless of what happens to us and regardless of the hand that we have been dealt, God is still God. There is nothing that happens in this book without God allowing it to happen or standing in the way of it happening. Regardless of what happens to us in life, God is still God. He is still on His throne, He is still in control, He is still for us (Romans 8:31), and He is counting on us to praise Him and to be faithful to Him.
Second, the Book of Job can help us to have a deeper relationship with God. When tragedies occur, isn’t it interesting that some people are driven toward God while others are driven from God? Job was driven toward God; and he asked questions and expressed his hurts, his anger, and frustrations to God – and that was okay. God could handle it. Ultimately, Job was left with a sense of God’s power and awesomeness, and he was drawn closer to God as a result of going through this terrible experience. Romans 5:3-4 says that “tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Third, the Book of Job can help us to praise God and to never take our blessings for granted. Who gave Job the cattle, his children, his wealth, and his health? It was God. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” What a blessing to have a wife and ten precious children. What a blessing to live close to your children. What a blessing to have children who enjoyed being together. What a blessing to be able to approach the throne of God freely on behalf of your family. Job was a blessed man, and we are also blessed people.
The words of a familiar hymn can teach us a lot: “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Our God has opened up the windows of heaven and poured out His blessings upon us. We should never take those blessings for granted, and we should thank Him daily for being so good to us. What we have today may be gone tomorrow, so it’s important to have a daily appreciation for our blessings and express that appreciation daily to our God. Are you more like the nine lepers who were cleansed and didn’t return to give thanks, or are you like the one leper who returned to thank and praise Jesus for His blessing? (Luke 17:11-19). Rather than blaming God for his troubles, Job praise God and said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
Fourth, the book of Job can help us to preserve and remain faithful. Perseverance is a major biblical theme. James 5:11 says, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job…” Jesus told the church in Smyrna, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer…be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
Meditate on these things:
Proverbs 18:24
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.