Putting Life into Focus August 31, 2025

Jared Boser

1. Life is a Temporary Assignment

The Bible often describes life as fleeting and temporary, using metaphors like a mist, a fast runner, a breath, and a wisp of smoke. Job 8:9 reminds us of the brevity of life, and King David prayed for God to help him see life from a divine perspective (Psalm 39:4). We are described as aliens, pilgrims, foreigners, strangers, and visitors in this world (Psalm 119:19; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 Peter 2:11). This perspective helps us remember that our time on earth is short and that we are just passing through. The Devil, however, wants us to believe that this world is our permanent home.

2. Your Identity is in Eternity, and Your Homeland is Heaven

God calls His children to think differently about life compared to unbelievers (Philippians 3:18-20). He warns against living for the here and now and adopting worldly values, priorities, and lifestyles (James 4:4). Instead, we are to be role models and ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), focusing on the eternal rather than the temporary (2 Corinthians 4:18). As C.S. Lewis aptly put it, “All that is not eternal is eternally useless.”

3. We Were Created for Something Much Better

The fact that earth is not our ultimate home explains why followers of Christ often experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection. We are not completely happy here because we were made for more (John 16:33; John 16:20; John 15:18-19). The Bible’s “hall of fame” of faith, including Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Moses, shows that it takes faith to live as a foreigner in this world, not extreme riches and power (Hebrews 11:13, 16). We need to desire something better, something eternal.

An often-repeated story illustrates this point well. A retiring missionary or preacher returns to America on the same boat as the president of the United States. While the president is welcomed with cheering crowds, a military band, a red carpet, banners, and media coverage, the preacher slips off the ship unnoticed. Feeling self-pity and resentment, he complains to God, who gently reminds him, “But my child, you’re not home yet.” Keeping this thought in our hearts and minds can help us see life as less trivial and overwhelming.

If you are not a Christian, remember that this life is almost over; it is a vapor. God has a home prepared for you if you simply obey His commands.  We are not promised tomorrow, and our eternal home is prepared. Let’s get ready to go home.

Spiritual Success for One Another August 24, 2025

In the benediction of the letter to the Hebrew Christians, the Writer concluded saying…

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.  “(Hebrews 13:20–21)

Within this final passage of the letter, we see an example of a prayer for the spiritual success of others. We all know that we should pray for each other, it’s a Christian privilege and duty. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.”  (James 5:16) Yes, we are quick to pray for each other when we are sick or facing a serious health crisis. We pray for the brother or sister who has fallen on hard times and needs employment. We pray for the church in general and the success of the congregation. But do we ask the Lord to build up those individuals who struggle with their spirituality?

When the Hebrew Writer prayed that these Christians be “made complete”, he is asking the Lord to help them mature spiritually. As we pray, we must not forget the Christian who struggles in their relationships. The one who has difficulty with self-control and a sharp tongue. We should pray for the Christian who chooses pleasure over service and neglects weekly worship.  It is God’s truth that we help the spiritually weak. (Rom. 15:1) So as you pray today, please include a request for the spiritual success of one another.  

Jay Launius – 2025
Maud Church of Christ
Maud, Texas

Steadfast in the Faith July, 7 2025 

Surprisingly, many Christians do not understand the concept of “steadfastness.” The word “steadfast” means to be firmly fixed in place, immovable and not subject to change. In a religious sense, it means to remain firm in belief and doctrine. The bible encourages Christians to be steadfast in their faith and service to the Lord, not wavering, not wishy-washy, or lukewarm. Believers are not to be moved about by the latest religious trend. (Eph. 4:14) Christians must be steadfast and consistent in their worship and benevolence. The Christian must stand firm against the devil and his world, much like a man standing in hurricane-force winds. If the man is not anchored steadfastly the wind will carry him away. Christians must have their faith anchored in the hope which is in Christ lest they be swept away. (Heb. 2:1; 3:12; 6:19)

Are you steadfast in the faith? 

• We Must Possess a Steadfast Heart (Ps. 57:7) 
• We are Partakers with Christ if We Hold Steadfast (Heb. 3:14) 
• We Must Continue Steadfastly in Prayer (Rom. 12:12) 
• Continue Steadfastly in the Apostle’s Teaching (Acts 2:42) 
• We Must Resist the Devil, Steadfast in the Faith (1 Pet. 5:8-9) 
• Beware Lest We Fall from Our Steadfastness (2 Pet. 3:7) 
• Stand Grounded and Steadfast in the Hope of the Gospel (Col. 1:23)

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 
(1 Corinthians 15:58) 

Jay Launius – 2025 
Maud Church of Christ 
Maud, Texas

Resurrection and the First Day of the Week April 20, 2025
One of the greatest reasons we gather on the first day of the week is in honor of our resurrected Lord. We gather to take the Lord’s Supper, which does commemorate His death, but it is more than that. He was raised again, and this gives meaning to His death that could not otherwise be seen. Death could not have the final word, God defeated it through Christ. The first day gathering is not arbitrary, but full of meaning for a number of reasons. Here we wish to focus briefly on why the resurrection is front and center.

The Day of Christ’s Resurrection was the first day of the week. “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1). This fact alone should make us think of the importance of this day as the Lord’s Day. This is one of the reasons we meet on this day to celebrate His death and resurrection. Jesus didn’t just die, and if that’s all that happened, we have no traction for our faith. Paul indicates this in I Corinthians 15:12-19. The first day of the week was the day that victory was declared, the devil was defeated, and God’s people arose from the dust of the slavery of sin and death.

In Psalms 2, the anointed king of Yahweh is brought forth as a response to those who wanted to cast off God’s fetters: “He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You’” (Vs 7). Paul quotes this and applies it to the resurrection of Jesus in Acts 13:32-33: “And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He has raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You.’” The resurrection was God’s proclamation of victory, of Christ’s kingship over all (I Peter 3:18-21). He “was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,” and “declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:3-4). This proclamation was made on the first day of the week when our Lord arose. This day, then, should remind us of the power of God, which is that “strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named” (Ephesians 1:19-21). Though we remember His death, we also cannot think of His death without knowing that death wasn’t all there was. We do this “until He comes,” which tells us that He is alive, raised, and coming again.

As a pointer to the resurrection, the Feast of First Fruits is connected. Here is something else about the timing of the resurrection that contains great significance. Due to the time of the year and the connection to the Passover, then later Pentecost, the day of the resurrection of Jesus was connected to the Feast of First Fruits (Leviticus 23:9ff; another was Pentecost, Numbers 28:26, also filled with meaning). The “sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest” was to be waved before the Lord the day after the Passover Sabbath. This was to be done when they entered the land and they begin to reap the first fruits of the harvest, which would demonstrate their reliance on God who brought them into the land and show their thankfulness.

Paul references this in speaking about the resurrection Christ: “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep” (I Corinthians 15:20). Paul also said that Christ our Passover has been sacrificed (I Corinthians 5:7). Notice the typology appealed to here based on the timing of the events – Christ is sacrificed as our Passover lamb who takes away the sins of the world, and raised up as first fruits to God. This leads to the harvest on Pentecost. That first harvest was an indicator of a greater harvest yet to come (the Feast of Weeks). In our case, Christ as our first fruits is the guarantee of the greater harvest of God’s people who would also be raised from the dead. This is the argument Paul is making in I Corinthians 15. Because Christ was raised, we will be raised.
When we gather on the first day of the week, we ought to think of Christ’s death and resurrection, and we ought to think of the first fruits harvest. Consequently, we are offering up to God our sacrifice of praise, showing our faith that we, too, will follow in the resurrection of our Lord.

By Doy Moyer

A Family With Favor April 13, 2025

When we read the early chapters of Acts, one striking aspect is the quality of the early family of God. They not only spent time together but also had “favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47). They were well-respected by the community for their actions and attitudes.

This raises an important question for us: Are we well-respected by our community? I do not believe the answer lies in trying to please as many people as possible. Peter clearly teaches that “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). If our primary goal becomes pleasing others in hopes of attracting them to our church or faith, we risk compromising the truth and obeying man instead of God. Peter and the Apostles certainly did not compromise their beliefs to meet the expectations or demands of non-believers. However, the example in Acts shows us that there is power in being a people who are well-respected. They worshipped together, fellowshipped, supported one another, and were overall glad and generous (Acts 2:44–47).

Are we perhaps ashamed to share about our church or faith because of our reputation? Do people see us as honest and kind? Are we known for crude jokes? Do we stand up for what is right or for going along with the majority? Do they see us as hard-working or lazy? Would people look favorably upon the church because of us? This is one reason elders “must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil” (1 Tim 3:7). While not everyone will respect the truth, there is a general expectation that the way we carry ourselves should reflect Christ and his church.

Are we living as a family that is respected by our community? If not, perhaps we have work to do individually and collectively to shine the light of Christ into the dark corners of the world rather than hiding there ourselves.

Spencer Clark

New Year’s Resolutions December 29, 2024

“I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your laws” (Psalm 119:30).

The term “resolution” (as we often think of it) basically means “firm determination to take a course of action.” With each new year people all around the nation make their new year’s resolutions. With some it is to quit smoking; with others its to go on a diet or to get more exercise (etc.). Though intentions are usually very good, for many it seems that their determination loses steam in just a short while.

The same kind of frustration can be seen in our spiritual lives. It’s not good enough to just talk the talk, we must also walk the walk. There is little good in making noble plans if we will not put those plans into action and see them through.

God (our most perfect example) says of Himself, “…Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it” (Isaiah 46:11).

Let me encourage you to follow God’s example. And let us not only resolve to do the Lord’s will, let us actually do it.
Aaron Veyon, Fredericktown Church of Christ, Fredericktown, OH

Would Roses Cost A Lot, Mister?” September 1, 2024

By Mike Riley

The following bulletin article was written by Brother Morris Thurman, former preacher for the Memorial Road congregation, on June 26, 1977. It’s a great human interest story about sacrifice that bears repeating today:

Henry Penn, the Boston florist who originated the slogan, “Say It With Flowers,” told how one morning two boys and a girl came into his florist shop and said: “We’re the flower committee and we would like some nice yellow flowers, sir. Do you have any yellow flowers? He would like them better if they were yellow. He had a yellow sweater.”

“Are they for a funeral?” asked Penn.

The children nodded “yes” and kept back the tears. “She’s his sister,” one of the boys explained. “He was good kid, a truck yesterday — we were playing in the street — we saw it happen.”
Then the other boy added, “Us kids took up a collection. We got eighteen cents — would roses cost a lot, mister? Yellow roses?”

Touched by the story of the tragedy and the loyalty of the kids, Henry Penn replied, “I have some nice yellow roses here that I am selling for eighteen cents a dozen just this morning.” The sympathetic florist accepted the eighteen cents and the committee carried away the flowers they had chosen. Said Penn, “I felt uplifted for days. I had been given the inexpressible privilege of sharing something.”
As Christians, we too have that inexpressible privilege of sharing. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Corinthians 4:7). “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us.” To share the glorious Good News of salvation in Christ, “we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

We want all to know “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). In love and compassion, we share the knowledge of Christ.

The Oracles of God                          August 25, 2024

First Peter 4:11 says, “If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

The word “oracles” in this verse appears three other times in the New Testament. In Acts 7:38, “the lively (living) oracles” refers to the Mosaic law. “The oracles of God” in Romans 3:2 speaks of all the written utterances of God through Old Testament writers. “The first principles of the oracles of God” is used to indicate the entire substance of Bible doctrine in Hebrews 5:12. The thought in 1 Peter 4:11 is that if any man (neuter: anyone, whomsoever) speaks, let him speak as the oracles (utterances, word) of God.

The most powerful influence in all the world is the Word of God. It is God’s power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). Therefore, when we speak, we are commanded to speak the Word of God. We read in Titus 2:1, “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.” The Old Testament prophet Micaiah said, “As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak” (1 Kings 22:14). Paul instructed Timothy to “preach the word; be instant in season out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort…” (2 Tim. 4:2). We have no authority but the word of God and when we speak, it must be from the Scriptures which are inspired of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Even in the common daily conversation of any and all Christians (men and women), we are to be governed by what God has said and as He has commanded.

To “speak as the oracles of God” also means that we respect what God did not say, i.e. the silence of the Scriptures. What God has not said is very importance. Nadab and Abihu were destroyed by fire for their disrespect of the silence of God’s Word (Lev. 10:1-2). God instructed them as to which fire to use, thus eliminating any other fire (Lev. 6:1-2). When God says something, it is final. And, when God does not say something, that is final! Everything else is eliminated! We cannot speak where God has not spoken.

We respect silence every day of our lives. For example: When we go out to eat we tell the waiter what we want, not what we do not want. By specifying what we want, we eliminate everything we do not want. The Bible is no different, God has given us exactly what He wants, no more and no less. That is why God’s people say: “We will do only what the Bible authorizes” (commands), while denominations say: “We will do everything the Bible does not specifically condemn.” There’s a world of difference between the two!

God said to Jeremiah, “Whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak” (Jer. 1:7). He commands the same of us in 1 Peter 4:11

Written by Garland M. Robinson

A Forgiving Spirit

by Gene Taylor

There is no more important characteristic found in the human heart than forgiveness. It’s importance is seen in the home, church, community and nation. Someone has said there are “three kindred spirits in the heart—giving, thanksgiving and forgiving. Usually where one is found, all are found.” A forgiving heart is an essential quality every child of God should have (Eph. 4:32).

Reasons To Be Forgiving

God commands it (Mark 11:25). This should be sufficient reason for any right-thinking person to be forgiving because God’s promises rest upon obedience to His word. But forgiveness on mere obedience to command usually falls short of what it should be. Anything done out of a sense of duty or necessity is usually not from the heart (cf. 2 Cor. 9:5-7). Consider the parent who makes the child say “I’m sorry” when, in reality, he is not sorry at all. He says it but only to appease his parent.

The example of Jesus (I Pet. 2:21; Phil. 2:3-5; Luke 23:34). As our example in all things, He would not require of us that which He would not do Himself. Even when His life was taken from Him, He had a forgiving attitude. It is said of Him, “He gave all, then forgave.”

We have been forgiven. God, in Christ, has forgiven the sins of the Christian (Eph. 4:32). As Christ has forgiven him, he is to forgive others (Col. 3:13). One who is unwilling to forgive after he has been forgiven is viewed disdainfully by the God of heaven (Matt. 18:21-35).

In order to have future forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15).

What It Means To Forgive

Forgiveness is more than just speaking the words. It must be sincere and from the heart. It must be patterned after the forgiveness God has granted to us. It must be accompanied by actions which befit true forgiveness.

Forgiveness involves a kind attitude—abandoning all animosity and hatred. All bitterness, anger, wrath, clamor and evil speaking should be put away (Eph. 4:31). We can hold no grudges. One must deny the impulse to get even and seek to do the forgiven one good.

Forgiveness involves forgetting (Heb. 8:12), but what does it mean to forget? It is impossible for a person to completely obliterate the wrong from his mind. Rather it means to not hold the person accountable for it anymore. When forgiveness is granted that should end the matter. It should never again be dredged up or held against the one who has been forgiven.

Forgiveness should be given by the “golden rule” (Matt. 7:12).

One should always be willing to forgive—even at repeated offenses. Matthew 18:21-22 has the apostle Peter asking, “‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'”

Jesus was willing to forgive those who crucified Him, but they were not forgiven until they acknowledged their wrong and repented of it (Luke 23:34; Acts 2:36-39). When one refuses to repent, he is to be regarded as a “heathen and a tax collector to you” (Matt. 18:15-17).

I recently watched a video clip from an interview about gender identification. The interviewer asked the female guest, “Is it true that only a female chicken can lay an egg?” After a volley of comments back and forth, the interviewer said, “Isn’t it the truth that female chickens lay eggs?” to which the guest replied with a smile, “Whose truth?” Her response reflects a popular belief in our society that truth is relative to an individual’s point of view. Thus, what may be true to one person may not be true to another. So then, the conclusion to this viewpoint is that there is no absolute truth. However, nothing could be further from the truth!

The fact is that there are absolutes that are true regardless of what an individual may believe or feel in one’s heart. It is the absolute truth that the sun exists and even though I may believe that it isn’t there, hide in a cave and never see it again, the sun is still there. It is an absolute truth that a human must breathe oxygen to survive. Even though one may think that it’s not necessary, or that because you can’t see it that it doesn’t exist, still it is true that without it, a person will suffocate and die. Speaking of dying, all people will die a physical death, even if that is not “true” to me, I will someday breathe my last and die. That’s the absolute truth.

When it comes to matters of faith, there are absolute truths. First and foremost, God is absolute, eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, and perfect. He is the Creator of all things and it is evident in the marvelously complex and wondrous universe He spoke into being. God’s word is truth as stated by Jesus in John 17:17. The bible is God breathed, inspired and it is good for doctrine, for reprimand, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the people of God may be spiritually mature, thoroughly prepared for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Because the bible narrative is true, Jesus came, lived, died, was resurrected and now resides on the right hand of God. Because one believes in this truth and obeys the gospel plan, they can have eternal life once they pass from this present life. And that my friends, is the absolute truth.

Jay Launius – 2022 Maud church of Christ Maud, Texas