RIGHTEOUSNESS

“The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever" (Isa. 32:17 NKJV).

Here in this verse we have the solution for peace in our lives and in our land. There are many folks who are seeking peace in their lives and among the nations. However, they will never find peace apart from righteousness.

Peace in our lives – Today many folks are running to counselors to deal with troubles in their lives. Mental institutions are filled with those who have troubled minds and cannot find peace. Medicine to combat depression is making pharmaceutical companies wealthy. But counselors, mental institutions and pills will not bring the peace that righteousness can bring. It is sin which troubles and disturbs the hearts and minds of people. To find individual peace, righteousness is the solution. When our conduct is holy, there will be happiness. When it is pure there will be peace. The key to righteousness is Jesus Christ; when He comes into a person’s life, there be peace with God and peace of mind.

Peace in our land - Because war is a continual problem, national peace is elusive. Folks frequently blame God for war; but war is man’s fault. Men live unholy lives and that is the root cause of war. Some think political peace comes by financial help. But foreign aid is not the answer to peace. If our nation sent ambassadors of righteousness to other nations instead of ambassadors of riches, we would do a lot more for peace. Some think if we would disarm there would be political peace. But as long as there are hostile nations, disarmament will only bring bloodshed not peace. It is righteousness, not riches or disarmament that will bring peace to the nations. And that righteousness will come only when nations bow to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“You cannot have the peace of God until you know the God of peace!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Discuss

In Luke 22:23 we read, “And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing” (NASB).

Discuss is the Greek word suzēteō (συζητέω = sood-zay-teh'-o). It is made up of two words: “sun” which means together, and “zeteo” which means to seek, inquire. Thus the word means to discuss, to dispute, to speak with, to converse, to begin to question.

In classical Greek suzēteō carries the sense of discuss, carry on a discussion, from which develop the meaning to dispute, debate, argue. Suzēteō does not appear in the Septuagint. In the New Testament suzēteō was used to describe the activity of the people who stood amazed at Jesus’ exorcism of an evil spirit (Mark 1:27). Likewise, in Mark 9:10, after Jesus informed the disciples that He would have to die but then would rise again, the disciples kept “questioning (discussing) what the rising from the dead meant.” Suzēteō was also used to describe the discussion of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:15.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah will be called from the womb (Isa. 49:1)

New Testament Fulfillment – Matt. 1:18

Did You Know…

In the Bible, it states that Jesus discloses Himself to us (John 14:2)

Bible Quiz

How many copies of the Ten Commandments did God make?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: In Genesis, when the people decided to build a tower to reach heaven, God scattered them abroad and named the place “Babel” which means what? Confusion (Gen. 11:9).

Everyday Expressions Alluded to in the Bible

“Stink in your nostrils”

“I sent among you a plague after the manner of Egypt; your young men I killed with a sword, along with your captive horses; I made the stench of your camps come up into your nostrils; yet you have not returned to Me, says the LORD!” (Amos 4:10 NKJV).

“Stink in your nostrils” - The expression “stink in your nostrils” carries the idea of abhorring (disliking) something. In context, the Lord had brought judgment and great sorrow upon the Israelites. Yet in spite of all this, the people did not repent. This tells us that great destruction will not bring repentance. And when there is no repentance, folks should prepare to meet God (4:12). This means facing God’s final judgment; facing God as a foe.

Did You Know – Christian History

Horatius Bonar was born December 19th, 1808 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was a Scottish Preacher and Poet.

Bonar was educated at the High School and the University of Edinburgh. After completing his studies, he was ‘licensed’ to preach. Early on, he allied himself with three of the most spiritual men of his day: Thomas Chalmers, William C. Burns and Robert Murray McCheyne.

As a young pastor, Bonar earnestly preached in villages and farmhouses throughout his district. He saw evangelization in a different light from his contemporaries. “We think if we can but get men converted, it does not much matter how. Our whole anxiety is, not ‘How shall we secure the glory of Jehovah?’ but ‘How shall we multiply conversions?’” To Bonar, Christ had to come first.

Bonar not only produced many works, but was also very popular. He served as the editor for “The Quarterly journal of Prophecy” from 1848 to 1873 and for the “Christian Treasury” from 1859 to 1879. In addition to many books and tracts, Bonar was a prolific hymnodist and many of his hymns became known all over the English-speaking world. Bonar was also author of several biographies of ministers he had known, including “The Life of the Rev. John Milne of Perth” in 1869, and in 1884 “The Life and Works of the Rev. G. T. Dodds.”

Christ’s deliverance wakened happy songs in Bonar. Although many of his hymns were originally written for children, they were so brim full of sound teaching that adults loved to sing them, too.

In Great Britain and America nearly 100 of Dr. Bonar’s hymns are in common use. They are found in almost all modern hymnals. The most widely known are, “A few more years shall roll;” “Come, Lord, and tarry not;” “Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face;” “I heard the Voice of Jesus say;” “The Church has waited long;” and “Thy way, not mine, O Lord.”

When Horatius Bonar died on July 31, 1889, his wish was respected; no biography was written of him. Just a few memories and a short sketch of his life have come down to us.

A Little Humor

After starting a new diet, Mark altered his drive to work to avoid passing his favorite bakery. One morning, he accidentally drove by the bakery. As he approached, there in the window were a host of chocolates, donuts, and cheesecakes. He felt this was no accident, so he prayed … “Lord, it’s up to You. If You want me to have any of those delicious goodies, create a parking place for me directly in front of the bakery.” And sure enough, on the eighth time around the block, there it was!

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Jesus gives you a new life, when you trade in the old one!”