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Central Haywood Church of Christ

Serving God from the mountains of North Carolina

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Love

“These you ought to have done!”

Matthew 23:23–24

“23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” (ESV)

Last week, we spoke about this push within the church toward a more grace-centered faith. As I said in the articles, I have enjoyed this gentler and more compassionate aspect to the church. The church, embracing the fullness of Jesus’ heart, and loving each other has made church, worship, and my own faith much more enjoyable. I hope you have noticed this and are happy about it as well.

But today, I need to express a word of caution. Just because we have embraced a softer, gentler side of the faith. Just because we are focusing more on God’s grace and mercy doesn’t mean that we are free to stop doing the things we have been doing.

Embracing a softer, more compassionate side of the faith is great as long as we stay balanced in our theology and actions.

Continue reading ““These you ought to have done!”” →

Let God be your strength.

God is “the fount of every blessing.” He is the center and source of every good thing (James 1:17). He gives good things to those that ask him (Matt. 7:21). He gives perfect peace to those who fix their minds upon him (Isa. 26:3). He saves to the uttermost those who obey him (Rom. 8:38). We owe everything we possess to our God; every good thing to him. He is the maker of our bodies and the giver of our spirits; and in him “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

God is to be infinitely trusted, not by the presumptuous and self-righteous, but by the humble and obedient. There are at least four reasons why you cannot go wrong by trusting God.

The first reason is because God is infinitely good. He made the world, the universe, and everything in it (Gen. 1:31). The only thing wrong in God’s creation was choice. By choice man brought in Sin and Satan. All of God’s works are perfect; done in goodness; everything evil in this world is due to our sins and the author of sin, Satan. God is good even when he chastens his children, and punishes the sinner.

The second reason why God is to be trusted to the utmost is because of his infinite power. God is infinitely able to bless and keep those who put their trust in him. He can do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we can ask or think. In Eph. 3:20-21 it says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (ESV)

The third reason for trusting in God is based on his love. He is love. In 1 John 4:8 it says, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (ESV). God is infinitely willing to save and to bless those who come to him in Jesus. He is not willing that any should perish, that that all should be saved (2 Peter 3:9).

The fourth reason for implicit trust in God is the fact that he is faithful. Our heavenly father is not forgetful about his promises. God, our creator, never forgets or betrays us.  He is utterly and absolutely trustworthy. In 2 Peter 3:9 he says, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (ESV) This truth is evident in all that he has done for us. His faithfulness is manifest in both his mercy and his wrath. Even the unbreakable laws of nature are evidence of God’s faithfulness. His laws are dependable.

In view of these things, Solomon was right and wise in his summation that states, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13, ESV).

Happy Mother’s Day

Let me spell the word m-o-t-h-e-r, with a message to complement.

M is for Mature. Do you remember when mom always seemed to have the right answer, and when she gave the answer, it was with the right spirit and attitude (I remember that). Continue reading “Happy Mother’s Day” →

How deep the Father’s love

How Deep the Father’s Love

By David A. Sargent

It’s a fascinating story that comes out of the 1989 earthquake which almost flattened Armenia. This deadly tremor killed over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. In the midst of all the confusion of the earthquake, a father rushed to his son’s school. When he arrived there he discovered the building was flat as a pancake. Continue reading “How deep the Father’s love” →

The importance of a choice.

In this series of articles, our goal is simple: we want to write articles that will be beneficial to those who are weak in the faith. Articles that might reach someone who is struggling with their faith and being faithful to Jesus.

I know that this can be an overwhelming and difficult challenge. Living the new life in Christ is hard and there is so much to learn, it almost feels like too much to expect of anyone. Continue reading “The importance of a choice.” →

I Desire Mercy and Not Sacrifice.

In Matthew 12:1-8, we have an interesting story of Jesus and his disciples walking through grain fields. As they walked through the field the disciples were hungry and began to pick some grain and eat it. The only part that seems odd is that the Pharisees were following them. Continue reading “I Desire Mercy and Not Sacrifice.” →

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