Sound Words (Page 34)

Getting Along With Others By Kent Heaton “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36). Human relationships are important and one of the key characteristics of how God’s children interact with others. The world does not view dealing with…

Life’s Little Lessons XXV Remembering the Sermon “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him” (John 6:27). Several years ago the British Weekly printed a letter to the editor: “Dear Sir: I notice that ministers seem to set a great deal of importance on their sermons and spend a great deal of time…

Keeping Watch We are not as familiar with the concept of keeping watch as were previous generations. Construction techniques and materials have made our lives more secure. Hi-tech cameras and sensors monitor our country, businesses, homes and even the baby’s crib. Technology has certainly reduced the human effort required but has in no wise eliminated the need for this essential function. We must keep watch against foreign invaders, homegrown terrorists, domestic criminals of all sorts, politicians, a multitude of natural…

Life’s Little Lessons XXIV Three Crosses “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’…

Am I Robbing God? By Ken Fleeman King David is described as a man after God’s own heart. As David contemplated his blessings as king he realized that he lived in a cedar house while God “lived” in a tent. The inequity weighed on David, so he purposed to build God a house. God had never asked for a house, yet He ultimately allowed it. David laid up treasures and supplies to build the temple. Solomon also provided abundantly for…

Life’s Little Lessons XXIII  Only One Citizen “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). The King of Abyssinia once took a British subject named Cameron prisoner and incarcerated him in the high fortress of Magdala. No cause was assigned for his confinement. When Great Britain found out, she demanded an immediate release for her citizen. King Theodore refused. Within ten days after the refusal was received, ten thousand…

Life’s Little Lessons XXII Well Motivated #1 “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). When Cortez landed at Vera Cruz in 1519 to begin his conquest of Mexico with a small force of 700 men, he purposely set fire to his fleet of eleven ships. His men on the shore watched their only means of retreat sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. With…

The Devil’s Yard Sale By Alan Tison and James Fifth One day, the Devil laid out his gleaming, razor-edged tools upon a worn and ancient wooden table. He announced a “fire” sale and carefully marked the price upon each tool: ANGER: $100, RESENTMENT: $400, HATRED: $600, etc. Each tool sold almost as quickly as it was placed upon the table. Toward the end of the day, a crooked old man in tattered rags approached. The man eyed the tools that…