Heartlight Articles - Timely Truths

Showing God's Love

alansmith.servant@gmail.com (Alan Smith) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Doug Nichols went to India to be a missionary, but while he was just starting to study the language he became infected with tuberculosis and had to be put in a sanitarium. It was not a very good place to be. It was not very clean and conditions were difficult because there were so many sick people there. But Doug decided to do the best he could in that situation. So he took a bunch of Christian books and tracts and tried to share the gospel with the other patients in the sanitarium.

But when he tried to pass out tracts, no one wanted them. He tried to hand out books, but no one would take them. He tried to talk with them, but he was handicapped because of his inability to communicate in their language, and he felt so discouraged. There he was. Because of his illness he would be there a long time. But it seemed like the work that he had been sent to do would not be done because no one would listen to him.

Because of his tuberculosis, every night at about 2 o'clock he would wake up with chronic coughing that wouldn't quit. Then one night when he awoke he noticed across the aisle an old man trying to get out of bed. He said the man would roll himself up into a little ball and teeter back and forth trying to get up the momentum to get up and stand on his feet. But he just couldn't do it. He was too weak. Finally, after several attempts the old man laid back and wept.

The next morning Doug understood why the man was weeping. He was trying to get up to go to the bathroom and didn't have enough strength to do that. So his bed was a mess and there was a smell in the air. The other patients made fun of the old man. The nurses came to clean up his bed and they weren't kind to him, either. In fact, one of them even slapped him in the face. Doug said that the old man just laid there and cried.

Doug said, "That next night about 2 o'clock I started coughing again. I looked across the way and there was the old man trying to get out of bed once more. I really didn't want to do it, but somehow I managed to get up and I walked across the aisle and I helped the old man stand up. But he was too weak to walk."

Doug said, "I took him in my arms and carried him like a baby. He was so light that it wasn't a difficult task. I took him into the bathroom, which was nothing more than a dirty hole in the floor, and I stood behind him and cradled him in my arms as he took care of himself. Then I carried him back to his bed and laid him down. As I turned to leave he reached up and grabbed my face and pulled me close and kissed me on the cheek and said what I think was 'Thank you.'"

Doug said, "The next morning there were patients waiting when I awoke and they asked if they could read some of the books and tracts that I had brought. Others had questions about the God I worshiped and His only begotten Son who came into the world to die for their sins." In the next few weeks Doug Nichols gave out all the literature that he had brought, and many of the doctors and nurses and patients in that sanitarium came to know Jesus Christ, too.

He said, "Now what did I do? I didn't preach a sermon. I couldn't even communicate in their language. I didn't have a great lesson to teach them. I didn't have wonderful things to offer. All I did was take an old man to the bathroom and anyone can do that."

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:7-8 NKJV).

What can you do to express the love of God to people around you today?

Alan Smith ministers with the Church of Christ in White House, Tennessee and publishes the email devotional "Thought for the Day."

Website: Thought for the Day

The Value Is the Owner

alansmith.servant@gmail.com (Alan Smith) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600

The story is told of an American tourist in Paris who picked up an amber necklace in a trinket shop.* When he arrived at New York and went through customs he was shocked at the high duty he had to pay for the necklace. So when he came home, he spoke with a jeweler and the jeweler told him he would give $25,000 for the necklace. The man was stunned and suspected that there was a reason for the offer. So he took the necklace to an expert who appraised it at an astronomical amount.

When he asked the appraiser what made the necklace so valuable, he told him to look into the magnifying glass and see for himself. When he placed his eye next to the glass, he saw an inscription which read: "From Napoleon to Josephine." It was the name on the necklace that gave it extraordinary worth.

We have no intrinsic value above others -- that is to say, we are not of great value because of who we are or what we've accomplished. Our value is determined by the One who made us, bought us, and owns us. Those of us who are Christians have the name of Christ "stamped" on our lives to remind us who we are and whose we are. Knowledge of this truth causes us to rethink what we do with our lives.

For example, if you have an old pair of ragged tennis shoes, you may think nothing of getting out in a muddy garden to do some work. But if you're wearing an expensive pair of dress shoes, you'll be hesitant to wear them in the mud. The value of what you're wearing will keep you from going certain places and doing certain things.

Paul says that's why we as Christians should avoid sexual immorality (as well as other misuses of the body). If our bodies were of little value (as some believe), we would think nothing of "dragging them through the mud." But knowing the value of our bodies, we're forced to think twice about where we go and what we do. Paul puts it this way:

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV).

Look closely at the inscription on your life. You'll notice the name of the One who bought you and owns you. Your value just went up!

* This story is based on a rumor that has not been able to be fully substantiated or denied about a missing necklace Napoleon gave to Josephine. The point of the story, however, is unmistakably true!

Alan Smith ministers with the Church of Christ in White House, Tennessee and publishes the email devotional "Thought for the Day."

Website: Thought for the Day

Learning from Trees

alansmith.servant@gmail.com (Alan Smith) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The following (edited) ideas are entitled "All I Need To Know About Life I Learned From Trees." The author is not known to me.

It's important to have roots.

In today's complex world, it pays to branch out.

If you really believe in something, don't be afraid to go out on a limb.

Be flexible so you don't break when a harsh wind blows.

Sometimes you have to shed your old bark in order to grow.

Grow where you're planted.

It's perfectly okay to be a late bloomer.

Avoid people who would like to cut you down.

Get all spruced up when you have a hot date.

If the party gets boring, just leaf.

You can't hide your true colors as you approach the autumn of your life.

It's more important to be honest than poplar.

Those are some good lessons. They remind me of some other lessons taught in the very first Psalm:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper (Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV).

The Psalmist says that a godly person is like a tree in three very important ways.

First, he is planted -- he's got his roots put down deep, he's fortified, stable.

Second, he bears fruit -- he develops godlike qualities in his character and life.

Third, he doesn't wither -- he is able to survive under all circumstances, even days of difficulty.

May your spiritual life take on the qualities of a tree planted by the rivers of water.

Alan Smith ministers with the Church of Christ in White House, Tennessee and publishes the email devotional "Thought for the Day."

Website: Thought for the Day

Unlocking the Mystery

alansmith.servant@gmail.com (Alan Smith) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

I heard recently about a man who filled his car with gas at a self-service gas station. After he had paid and driven away, he realized that he had left the gas cap on top of his car. He stopped and looked and, sure enough, it was lost.

He thought for a second and realized that other people must have done the same thing, and that it was worth going back to look by the side of the road since even if he couldn't find his own gas cap, he might be able to find another one that fit.

Sure enough, after only a short time of searching, he found a gas cap. He carefully wiped it off and slipped it into place with a satisfying click.

He told his wife as he climbed back into the car, "I may have lost my gas cap, but I found another one that fits and it's even a better cap than the one I had -- it locks!"

Oops! A locking gas cap is a great idea -- but only if you have the key that opens it! Understanding the Bible is much the same way. Remember when Jesus first began speaking in parables -- his apostles came to him for an explanation. They wanted the "key," and Jesus gave it to them. Jesus said, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God" (Mark 4:11).

The book of Revelation is a difficult (some would say impossible) book for people to understand. It becomes a much easier task when you have the "key" explaining the symbolism of the numbers, colors and images found in the book.

Sometimes the ministry of Jesus is referred to as a "mystery." Paul wrote often about the "mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19), the "mystery of Christ" (Colossians 4:3), or simply "the mystery" (Ephesians 3:9). The word "mystery" means that it was something that was "hidden" for a while. All through the Old Testament, God was preparing for Jesus Christ to come to this earth, but no one fully understood what that would mean. The prophets foretold his coming, but they didn't fully understand (1 Peter 1:10-12). Even the angels didn't know what God had in mind. But we do. We understand the significance of the crucifixion and the resurrection.

Give thanks to God for revealing the mystery:

[T]he mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:26-27 NKJV)

Alan Smith ministers with the Church of Christ in White House, Tennessee and publishes the email devotional "Thought for the Day."

Website: Thought for the Day

Don't Save It for the Funeral

alansmith.servant@gmail.com (Alan Smith) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

An elderly man lay dying in his bed. In death's agony, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies wafting up the stairs. He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands.

With labored breath, he leaned against the doorframe, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven: There, spread out on the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip cookies. Was it heaven? Or was it merely one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table. His aged and withered hand made its way to a cookie at the edge of the table, when his wife suddenly smacked it with a spatula.

"Stay out of those," she said. "They're for the funeral."

She's not the only person to save something for a funeral that should have been shared long before. It often seems a shame that flowers are sent at a funeral rather than beforehand when they could truly be enjoyed. Many of the comments made at a funeral reflect the realization that we didn't express our feelings adequately to those we love while they were alive: "What a wonderful friend she was. I never told her how much I appreciated what she meant to me!" "I hope he realizes how much I loved him!"

If someone means something special to you, don't save it for the funeral. Share it with them now!

Therefore comfort one another and edify one another, just as you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Alan Smith ministers with the Church of Christ in White House, Tennessee and publishes the email devotional "Thought for the Day."

Website: Thought for the Day

At Just the Right Time!

tomnorvell@mac.com (Tom Norvell) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6 NIV).

You see, at just the right time when it appeared that life could not get any worse, when you felt hopeless and when you wanted to give up, God stepped in and did something amazing and unexpected.

A friend showed up.

An envelope appeared in your mailbox with the exact amount of money you needed for that bill. No name. Just money.

Someone you had not heard from in years called because for some strange reason you were on her mind.

The job offer came.

Your husband realized he had made a terrible mistake and asked for another chance.

The contract was accepted.

The call came from your son ... he wants to come home.

The church you had visited started a ministry that reached out to you.

The urge to drink lessened.

The professor asked you to come by for a chat because he was concerned about you.

The doctor discovered a treatment he thought would work.

Did these things just happen? Was it a coincidence? Or, was God working to help you see that He cares and that He is working for good in your life ... even when you do not realize it. He wants you to see that He loves you. He wants you to know that He cares about you and is genuinely concerned about the day-to-day events in your life ... big and small. Not only is He concerned about you but, you see, He responds at just the right time. His timing is always right.

The guilt from your sins was so heavy that you wondered if you could be saved.

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."

Tom Norvell is the author of "A Norvell Note." He ministers at the Hermitage Church of Christ in Hermitage, Tennessee.

Website: A Norvell Note

Thoughtfulness

mbarres@dnet.net (Mike Barres) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Don't you love it when people are thoughtful? They think about others, and look for ways to be a blessing to them. Reminds me of what Paul said to some of his closest Christian friends:

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself (Philippians 2:3 NKJV).

Recently I was the recipient of some thoughtfulness. It was such a blessing to me. It was Father's Day. Someone left some banana nut bread on my desk at the church. My grandma McGrath used to make me banana nut bread. I not only love it, but it brings back pleasant memories of her. Also, someone handed me a little box wrapped in white tissue paper with a red ribbon. I opened it up and it was a box with four chocolate samplers in it. They were gone before I got home -- don't tell my wife. Then my daughter brought over an old homemade ice cream maker and made me banana pudding ice cream. I love banana pudding and I like ice cream, so this was a double treat.

It wasn't the food items that were the most important to me, even though they were all really good. The thoughtfulness behind those things warmed my heart.

We can get so busy, and often we are just looking out for ourselves. The world would be a much more enjoyable and pleasant place if we could be more thoughtful of one another.

I was even thoughtful one time. I was eating at a restaurant for a minister's meeting and as I was checking out I noticed something that I thought my wife would like. It was a great big chocolate bar in the shape of a 100 dollar bill. She is an admitted chocoholic. She has a large coffee (or hot chocolate) mug that says "God brings no stress that chocolate and prayer can't handle." When I gave it to her, she had a big smile on her face. I think that the fact that I was thinking about her, meant as much as all the chocolate (maybe).

Let's do what Paul encouraged Christians in Asia to do: let's be kind and tenderhearted toward one another (Ephesians 4:32). Think of a way to be a blessing to someone this week. They'll enjoy what you did, but even more, they'll be blessed to know that you were thinking of them.

Mike is a pastor and writer for a number of online publications.