Welcome. I’m very happy that January is behind us. Even though it has been very rainy and cool, 50 degrees is so much better than 5. We recently had to replace one of our heating and cooling systems in the main building and repair the other. Our classrooms are now much more comfortable, and our energy bills will be more manageable. At least that is the plan. Thank you to every member of the Harding Street Church of Christ for your support and generosity. May God bless us all as we move forward for the cause of Jesus our Savior.
It is our desire and prayer to honor God as we gather for Bible study, worship, and Christian fellowship on the Lord’s Day and every day. We are to read God’s word every day because the strength of our faith lies in our knowledge of the Bible. We have learned and know that “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The Psalmist David wrote in Psalms 1 about the prosperity of the person who delights in God’s law and meditates on it day and night. This person is pictured as a healthy tree growing and prospering year after year. Jesus finished His sermon on the mountain with statements about the importance of hearing and doing His word (Matthew 7:24-27). It is foolish to hear what needs to be done and then not do it. It is wise to hear and do.
This week our scripture reading was only one verse; ROMANS 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Do you believe this verse? Good things happen. Bad things happen. But are these things really good or bad? Joseph of old believed that God works everything (good and bad) out for good to those who love Him and live for His purpose (Genesis 37-45). Paul and Silas believed this principle. They were traveling from city to city preaching the gospel of Christ. They came to Philippi in Macedonia (Acts 16) and decided to stay there with a new Christian named Lydia. As they preached, a demon-possessed girl followed them. After “many days” Paul commanded the “spirit” to come out of her. The demon did. Some of the men of that place had enslaved this girl and profited from her. They became angry with Paul and Silas because now they couldn’t profit from her. They took Paul and Silas and beat them with rods, put them in prison, and fastened their feet in stocks. Read Acts 16:24-25 to see what happened at midnight. All things worked together for good. Jesus always knew this fact. He had to live, learn, suffer, and die but all things worked together for good because He loved His Father and lived His life for His Father’s purpose.
On the evening we concluded last week’s lesson, “Who is Jesus that anyone would follow Him? – Jesus is a Winner. Come and see. MB
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