I was looking for the weather forecast in our local paper, THE NORTHLAND AGE, (Thursday, August 2, 2012).
But before I got to the Northland forecast my eyes fell on the big print “EYES ON THE BALL.” It was all about the Mangonui semi-final between Kaitaia and Ngaru Roa.
Straight away I was reminded of the verse in the BIBLE where it says in Hebrews 12:2:
“Let us fix our eyes on JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith….”
“TELL THE WORLD TO GO CRUELTY-FREE,” says the ACTION STATION.”
And we are encouraged to “Sign the Cruelty Free International pledge today.”
But are we throwing our stones far enough? I hope you know what I mean by that.
Listen to what the BIBLE says:
TELL THE WORLD THE GOOD NEWS, is the message of the BIBLE.
What is the GOOD NEWS? The Good News is the gospel. The good news concerning Christ. The Good News concerning the kingdom of God. The Good News concerning salvation.
To tell the world the Good News is the last commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ to his disciples. We find this last command in the gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Read also Acts 1:8.
We are challenged to spread the Good News. Let us stop for a moment and look at the Missioary Challenge. I like the subject because from the time I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ I have been involved to tell the world the Good News, in Germany, Thailand and New Zealand.
What motivates me to tell the world the Good news? Loyalty to Jesus I serve. Gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ, my Saviour, who has redeemed me. Love. I am constrained by His love to serve HIM.
What is the aim of missions? The Lord Jesus Christ is the Saviour from sin. The aim is to make Him known to all men.
What about the missionary responsibility? Upon whom does the responsibility rest? Let me ask you this question: Are you a member of the body of Christ? Then the responsibility of missions rests upon YOU!
What are you going to do about that?
THE BEST WAY TO MAKE THE WORLD CRUELTY – FREE IS TO TELL THE WORLD THE GOOD NEWS!
I am very familiar with BIBLE TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS, having taught the BIBLE in many schools in New Zealand; north of Kaitaia, but mainly in the KAIKOHE area. Please find KAIKOHE on a map of New Zealand.
Kaitaia Primary School (Far North)
But today I am reading about SOCIAL WORKERS IN SCHOOLS.
On the front page of the paper called THE AUCKLANDER, (5 July 2012) is a picture of an australian social (SWiS worker) worker with a pupil and underneath the image it says, “MAKING AN IMPACT Social workers changing behaviour in schools.”
Inside the paper I find the cover story with the following headline “Stirring up good feelings.” And there it says also, “The Government recently added $11.1 million extra funding to its SWiS budget. By 2013 it will spend $21.5m on SWiS.”
I did not only teach the Bible in many schools in New Zealand, but I was also in charge to train workers to go into the schools to teach the Bible. Our venue for many training days was the Baptist Church in Kerikeri. (For many years I was a UMM – United Maori Mission – missionary.)
We did not receive money from the government.
The work was done by volunteers and we paid for our own transport and also for the materials we used.
We surely need more BIBLE TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS. Please pray for more BIble Teachers.
“HOW TO LIVE FOREVER,” I am reading on the front cover of the September 2005 READER’S DIGEST.
It’s all about living long and there is also a picture of one of the old men of Sardinia (Italy) on the cover. Celebrating a 100th birthday is routine on the island.
On the pages 46 and 47 you can read the secrets of living a long life and remaining young while getting old.
What are the secrets? I am reading, “Don’t Worry, Be Grumpy,” “Eat Like a Sardinian…, Sardinian food is virtually all organic,” “… And Eat 10 to 20 Per Cent Less,” “A Glass of Mountain Wine, Sardinian wine is full of healthy polyphenols,” and “Don’t Exercise So Much.”
“HOW TO LIVE FOREVER.”
The BIBLE tells us “how to live forever.”
In the BIBLE we are reading about eternal life. In the BIBLE we are reading about the true life.
How is this TRUE life attained?The BIBLE says in John 3:15 “… everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 6:40 “… everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, ….”
FIRST OF ALL THE TRUE LIFE IS ATTAINED THROUGH THE WORK OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Think about the Death of the Lord and his Resurrection.
SECONDLY THE TRUE LIEFE IS ATTAINED THROUGH THE FAITH OF THE BELIEVER.
In the book of Acts in chapter sixteen the jailer asked Paul and Silas, “‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'” Paul and Silas replied, ”’Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved- you an your household.'”
What is eternal life? It is life in fellowship with God without end.
