“Beware of half-truths; you may have the wrong half!”

The words have been used as a church sign and I have read them quite some time ago.

But today I have the “wrong half” here in my hands in the form of a leaflet.

“Christ has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation.” This verse from Second Corinthians 5:19 I find at the end of the publication.

Looking up the  Collins English Dictionary I am learning that “reconcile” means “to re-establish friendly relationships between people.”

And that’s what the pamphlet is all about.

But what does chapter five of Second Corinthians really say? Here we are told that God has committed to us the message of reconciliation between God and people.

WHAT IS NOW THE MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION?

We are sinners. Sin estranges us from God. But God is gracious. Through the Lord Jesus Christ He restores us. He restores us to a relationship of peace with himself through the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am reminded again of the words of one of our teachers at Bible school. He said something like this: If we take verses and words of the Bible out of context, we can make the Bible say anything.

We must always read the context in order to get the whole truth.

Let us also remember that it is easier to re-establish friendly relationships between people once they have a relationship of peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

AT THE BEACH

Finally the Lost Son found the way, the right way.

And many others have found he right way also, the way home.

A. THERE IS THE APOSTLE PAUL.

Acts 9:1-19.

Here we are told about Saul’s conversion. Let us notice that the Bible mentions the conversion of Saul 4 times:

a. Acts 9:1-19

b. Acts 22:3-21

c. Acts 26:2-23

d. Galatians 1:11-17

That makes me think that we should talk more about our conversion. Can you talk about your conversion?

B.  THERE IS THE JAILER.

His conversion is recorded in Acts 16:25-34.

C. THERE IS ZACCHAEUS, THE TAX COLLECTOR

His conversion is recorded in Luke 19:1-10.

D.  THERE IS LYDIA

Lydia’s conversion in Philippi we find recorded in Acts 16:11-15.

E.  THERE ARE MANY FOLLOWERS OF THE LORD WE KNOW AND WHO HAVE BEEN A BLESSING TO US.

Just think now about some of them.

The Lost Son found the right way, the way home to the Father, the way that frees us from the burden of sin.

I have found the way out of darkness into the light, from night into day, from death to life.

Have you found the right way yet?

The Lord Jesus Christ says in John 14:6:

“‘I am the way and the truth and the life.'”

One more flower

“Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.” – Deuteronomy 8:5

THE CROSS

“Then Moses said to them,

Numbers 32:20-22

Intr.:

‘If you will do this –

a.  if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle, and

b.  if all of you will go armed over the Jordan before the LORD until he has driven his enemies out before him –

End:

then when the land is subdued …”

THE CROSS

“These six towns

Numbers 35:15

Intr.:

will be a place of refuge

a.  for Israelites,

b.  aliens and

c.  other people living among them,

End:

so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.”

“The Book of Books”

Reading the Bible.

At the beginning of this year (2016) I started to read the Bible at the beginning (Genesis 1:1), and arrived today at Numbers chapter 28.

In Numbers chapter 28 we read about the “Daily Offerings, Sabbath Offerings, Monthly Offerings, the Passover” and the “Feast of Weeks”.

Why am I telling you about this again? Good question.

To encourage you to do the same. Also to give the glory to God, because I cannot do it on my own. I know, because I have tried for a long time.

When I mean reading the Bible from cover to cover, from Genesis to Revelation, I mean reading every word.

Why? Because the author of the Bible is God the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is a person. (That is at least one reason.)