OceanSide church of Christ

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THEY CALL HIM “FETUS”

Gospel Truths, October, 2001 (edited)

 

     They call his name “Fetus.”  It is a Latin name.  But since I don’t speak very much Latin, I will call him by the English translation of that name, which is “Little One.”

     At conception, he was only about the size of a grain of salt.  He began with 23 chromosomes from each of his parents.  In that one little cell was the complex genetic blueprint for every detail of Little One’s development – the color of his eyes and hair, his height, his skin tone – it was all there in the first moment of the beginning of his life.

     From the time of his conception, Little One has been quite a remarkable young man.  At only three weeks after conception, his heart began to beat and the foundation of his brain, spinal cord, and nervous system were already established.

     At one month he had become 10,000 times larger than the original fertilized egg that was his beginning.  When he was only 40 days old his brain waves could be detected and recorded.  At seven weeks he began to move spontaneously.  At eight weeks he was little more than an inch long, yet all his body had formed, and everything was present that will be found in a fully-developed adult.

     His is so cute.  He will soon be sucking his thumb.  If an object touches the palm of his hand, he will grip it with his little fingers.  He even has fingerprints.

     At twelve weeks, he exercises energetically – turning his head, curling his toes, and opening and closing his mouth.  In another week hair will begin to grow on his head.

     Now all Little One has to do is grow in the safety and warmth of his mother’s womb.

     What will Little One be?  Maybe he will be a great leader who will help the world find peace and guide more people into freedom.  Maybe he will be a medical research scientist, who will find a cure for cancer.  Maybe he will be a teacher and train others to experience the wonders of life and truth.  With those little fingers he has, maybe he will be a pianist and thrill thousands with his music.

     Oh, what potential Little One has!  Maybe he’ll be a…oh no…this is the end of our story.  Little One just became one of the 4,400 fetuses who each day in America have their potential ended by the tools of the abortionist. 

     According to an internet report by a group called Women on Waves Foundation, there are 52 million abortions in the world every year.  That figures to 142,466 babies killed each day.  Do you suppose that God is going to continue to tolerate that?  In fact, there are nearly one and one-half million abortions in the United States every year.  And we are supposed to be a “Christian” nation.

 

GOD LOOKS AT PERCENTAGES

Victor M. Eskew

 

     The topic of giving brings a flood of emotional responses by members of the church.  Some believe giving is a personal matter and needs to be left alone.  Some get angry when giving is mentioned because they believe that church leaders are only after their money.  Others feel guilty because they are not giving as they should.  Those who respond negatively to the subject of giving need to remember that God is concerned about our giving.  We learn this from Mark 12:41:  “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury…”

     This account not only teaches us that Jesus is concerned about our giving, but it also reveals “how” He evaluates our offering.  Let’s listen to the remainder of the story.  “… and many that were rich cast in much.  And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.  And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:  for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living” (Mark 12:41-44).  What was Jesus’ method of evaluation in the text above?  Was it based upon dollar amount?  Or, was it based upon the percentage given with regard to what one has?

     God looks at percentages.  Many came that day and cast in large sums of money.  Jesus was not impressed by their large contributions.  He was impressed with a poor widow who cast in only two mites.  Jesus said:  “…this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasure…”  The sum she gave was not greater, but the percentage was.  The rich had given only a small portion of their wealth.  Most of them would continue to live as part of the wealthy class of the day.  The widow, on the other hand, gave all.  “…but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”

     The rich are often proud of the amount of money they give to the church.  Others, too, are impressed by their rich offerings.  These individuals are often given preferential treatment by leadership.  They, however, may not be the most bountiful givers in the church.  There may be a poor widow, a retired couple, or a single young adult who is giving more in the eyes of God.  They may be giving 20 or 30 percent of the income.  The rich may only be giving 3 to 5 percent.  It is the percentage of the gift that matters to God.

     Some experience guilt because they cannot give more.  What they need to be concerned about is the percentage of their income they contribute to the Lord.  God evaluates the percentage.  He takes note of those who are making great sacrifices to give back to Him and His cause.  Remember:  “and Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury…” (Mark 12:41).

 

WHAT I OWE MY HOME CONGREGATION—Part 2

No congregation can make progress without faithful and efficient leaders.  To a certain extent, the members of the church can make or break their leaders.  To the end that our leaders may be stronger and more efficient, I must give them my support.  I must pray for them.

I know that the very existence of my home congregation depends upon the attendance of its members.  I must realize that my willful absence is a discouragement to the whole congregation.  But then, it is also a disappointment to the Lord for I have sinned (Heb. 10:25ff).  I do not want it said that the congregation perished because I did not attend its meetings.

I want my home congregation to grow, to multiply in numbers.  Therefore, I must set to the noble work of winning souls for Christ (Luke 19:10).  This I can do by teaching and persuading.  This I can do by persistent effort.  This I can do by bringing them to worship.

-Frank L. Cox