[Biblemat] The Buckhorn Teacher 1/7/07

Fri Jan 5 22:17:52 CST 2007

THE BUCKHORN TEACHER

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2.Tim.4:2. 

Buckhorn church of Christ - Thomas Thornhill - editor. 13675 Hwy 341, Randolph MS 38864-9117. Tel. 662-568-2960. Cell 662-419-5378. E-mail Thornhill1 at frontiernet.net

Vol. 5                                              January 07,, 2007                                            No. 17

"FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO THE VERY END OF THE YEAR."

"Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord swore to give your fathers, to them and their descendents, 'a land flowing with milk and honey.' . a land for which the Lord cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year." Deut.11:8,9,12.  

The above passage was spoken by Moses as he reiterated the law to the children of Israel reminding them of their responsibility to remain faithful to God for His eyes were upon them at all times, "from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year." There was no way to escape the all-seeing eye of God. David later recognized this in writing both the 33rd and 139th Psalm. Centuries later a New Testament writer by inspiration wrote, "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." Heb.4:13.

The foregoing scriptures make it very clear that God's all-seeing eye has always been actively present since the creation of the world. Today, His eye is still on us, so we need to be conscious of that which God will see during the year 2007, "from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year."  Let's note some things He will be seeing this year, 2007.

During this year, GOD WILL KNOW MY PRESENCE. He will see my actions, regardless of where I am. He will see me, not only when I am at church services, but also as work, school, vacation, etc. Some seek to think they can hide their actions from God, since they can hide them from men, but such is not the case. Joseph, while being tempted from Potiphar's wife, was well aware of this. Note what he said in Gen.39:9. ".How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" David learned this same lesson when the prophet Nathan came to him and exposed his sin with Bathsheba. 2.Sam.12. 

During this year, GOD WILL KNOW MY PROBLEMS. During the year, I am sure you will have difficult problems to face and solve. Be aware that God knows about them, and He wants you to turn to Him for help. That is what prayer is for. Sometimes we get to thinking that God doesn't care about what we are going through, but He does, and when we pray we are acknowledge that awareness. We are taught to pray, asking Him for help, even though He already knows what we need. "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly . For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Matt.6:6, 8. Since God knows our problems we need to take them to Him. "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you,' so we may boldly say; 'The Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" Heb.13:6. See also Phil.4:6; 1.Pet.5:7.

Furthermore, during 2007, GOD WILL KNOW MY PROSPERITY. People have a tendency to forget God when all goes well. That is why we need to heed the advice given by Solomon, "Two things I request of you (Deprive me not before I die); Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches - Feed me with the food you prescribe for me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God." Prov.30:8-9. Remember that God is allowing you to be blessed with wealth and health. Be sure to show your appreciation to Him, by returning a portion of what He has given to you to use in His service. Ananias and Sapphira thought they could fool God, but they were the ones that got caught. Acts 5:1-12. The Laodiceans forgot God and thus were in danger of being spewed out of the Lord's mouth. Rev.3:15-18.

I must also be mindful that GOD WILL KNOW MY PRIVATE SINS. Oftimes people do things they think no one else sees. Yet God is always aware of such things. Daniel was in the land of Babylon, yet he knew the power of God. He wrote; "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever. For wisdom and might are His, and He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him." Dan.2:20-22. David recognized that God knows even the secret sins. Ps.90:8. So, during 2007, when you are tempted to do wrong, thinking that no one will ever find out, just remember the all-seeing eye of God. We sometimes think that the wicked get away with many things in this life, but they certainly will not escape the judgment of God. Job 34:21-22; Jer.16:17-18. 

I also realize that this year, as well as in all other years, GOD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE MY PERSECUTERS. When people seek to persecute me for being a Christian, God is aware of it. I pray that this year Christians will be willing to speak up more boldly for the Lord's cause. Let people know we have been with Jesus. Acts 4:13. In doing so, we may suffer for His cause now, but God will one day bring those who seek to provoke His people into judgment. Let God take care of the vengeance at the proper time. Rom.12:17-21; 2.Thes.1:7-9. 

Last of all, in this article, I want to mention that GOD KNOWS THOSE WHO PERVERT HIS WILL (false teachers, if you please). Even in 2007 there are those who will seek to pervert the true gospel of Christ. So, be careful. Examine carefully those who would bring in something new or strange. Jesus warned His disciples of those who would come into the flock, disguised as sheep, but in reality were wolves (false teachers). Matt.7:15. False teachers are not always easy to recognize since they are disguised as "angels of light." 2.Cor.11:13-15. We are taught to examine carefully what is being taught. 1.Jn.4:1; 1.Thes.5:21-22. Always demand a "thus says the Lord" i.e. scriptural authority Col.3:17; 1.Pet.4:11.  By the way, are you ready for heaven in two thousand and seven?
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070105/3daf72e4/attachment-0001.html 