What About You?
September 2013 – Grace & Truth Magazine
What About You?
I think we have probably all seen them – the people who placed their trust in the Lord Jesus through faith and attend all the meetings of the local church, but, despite their God-given ability, they don’t seem to do anything for Him. They don’t even participate (according to Biblical principles) in the meetings of the local fellowship. From week to week they simply sit in the same spot as spectators in the Christian life.
In this month’s Feature articles you will read about this kind of people. We will see the comparisons made to other spectators in the world; we will be reminded of the position that all believers have as servants of Christ; and we will hear exhortations to get involved. As we read we may be thinking that “I know just the person who would benefit from reading these articles!”
However if we only think of some other people, we will miss the lesson that the Lord may have for us. What about ourselves? Anytime we read something that the Lord places before us, we must ask that question first. I am reminded of the verse of Matthew 7:3 (NKJV): “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” No matter what we may think about the needs of others, let us be careful to read these articles with an eye to ourselves. Alfred P. Gibbs reminds us in his chorus “The Book of Books” that God’s Word is “a mirror ourselves to see.”
In addition we trust that you will be blessed by the other articles in this month’s issue of the magazine as they each present their own words of exhortation. The Series that started last month continues to present truths about the Lord Jesus Christ. Drawing from Scripture, two writers make some wonderful personal, family, and assembly applications from the lives of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Another writer points out the example Shammah is for us today (if you don’t remember who he was, don’t feel bad – I didn’t remember him either). Even the Good News article provides an important lesson for believers. May you grasp what the Lord desires to reveal to you while reading this month’s articles.
By Paul Alberts