The Morning Cup -- A Painful Operation

In 1809, Dr. Ephriam McDowell's examination of a patient revealed that she had an abdominal tumor which would soon kill her. Though abdominal surgery was unheard of in those days, the women finally persuaded the doctor to operate.

The surgery lasted for twenty-six minutes and the twenty-two pound tumor was successfully removed. Since there were no anesthetics back then, the pain involved was almost unbearable. Why, then, would this woman so forcefully insist that the doctor inflict such agony on her? Quite simply, because she preferred the pain to its alternative, death.

One of the most painful examinations that any sincere seeker of truth must experience is the self examination which God requires of all men.

Our goal should be to examine our life with the same objectivity that God uses in evaluating our character. Since He knows about us, and since His "gauge" is the only accurate one, we should relish any proper correction in our life that is necessary. If the exam reveals a flaw in your character, and if you want to avoid spiritual death, you will gladly accept the correction. If you want to die, you can simply ignore the warnings or refuse to take the examination. It is that simple.

MR

The Morning Cup -- The Death of A Wildcat

Some years ago there was this man who had a chicken and egg business in California. It wasn't a large operation, just something he and his wife could care for themselves. Near the chicken houses there was a small ravine that seemed to have extended to the mountains some distance away. Animals would travel it for the cover it provided them while searching for food. Once a wildcat came out of the ravine and began to attack and kill some of the man's chickens. The cat was not afraid of the man's presence but continued his pursuit of the chickens, even when he returned from the house with a shotgun and pulled the trigger on the largest wildcat he had ever seen. Where was that animal instinct that should have warned him of danger? What happened to those keen senses that animals have? Was it all blocked out by the desire to kill and eat?

Perhaps this illustration will help us to understand why some people will not hear the gospel when it is taught. They can laugh at the mention of death and the judgement. The thought of hell doesn't cause them to tremble. There is only one thing that is on there mind, the here and now. In a poll taken some time back, it found that only one out of five is chiefly concerned with preparing for eternity. In this Gallup poll 20% said their foremost concern is preparing for a future life. 46% said they are living comfortably here and now. 30% tried to straddle the fence by saying "both". 4% said they did not know. The least surprising statistic, when we remember Mark 10:23; and 1 Timothy 6:9-10 is that poor are twice as likely as rich to focus there thoughts on what lies beyond the grave.

Satan has so many distractions that dull our senses and make us unaware that death and the judgement draws nearer every day. For some it is eat, drink, and be merry, chase the world and feed those lusts, until they are taken from this life with only torment to know forever. For the wildcat, his life was over when the trigger was pulled: but for man it is just the beginning in another realm. Let us use our time to the glory of God and the salvation of our souls and those we come in contact with. Surely, our lives are to be lived on a higher plane than just gratifying fleshly lusts like an animal.

MR

The Morning Cup -- Receiving The Word

In Acts 17:11 the Bible says of the people in Berea,"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." This is one of the most commendable statements that could be made of anyone. There were many who were unwilling to receive the word. This is also true today. Why is it that so many are not of the attitude of these Bereans who "received the word with all readiness of the mind"?

Some do not receive the word because of preconceived ideas and opinions. Many have been brought up in a religious environment where the teaching is not from the word of God but from the creeds and commandments of men. They have become so filled with the teaching of men that they are blinded to the simple truths in God's word. You do not have to be around these individuals very long to recognize that they are not accustomed to speaking "sound words". They may affirm belief in the Bible and respect for the Lord but, like Peter when he denied the Lord, their speech betrays them. The words and expressions they use are far removed from the language we find in the word of God.

You hear them speaking of "accepting Christ as their personal Savior" or of the "personal experience" they have had. They talk of just about everything but that which you can read in the word of God. They even suggest that God reveals Himself to different people in different ways as they read the scriptures implying, if not outright stating, that two people can have conflicting views and both be right. Some teach that the scriptures are so far beyond our comprehending that to even suggest we can read and understand them is equivalent to putting ourselves on the level of God.

The problem with all these ideas is that they are in direct contradiction to what God has revealed in His word. Paul told the Ephesians to understand what the will of the Lord is. Was he demanding the impossible? Surely not! The problem is not with the scriptures nor is it a matter of inability to understand. The problem lies within the hearts of men and women. They do not have the "readiness of mind" to receive the word. The word is confusing to them because they try to make the things they do read from the Bible agree with all the things they have been taught in religion. They enter into any study assuming they are already Christians simply because they believe that Jesus is the Son of God. They view any study of the Bible as edifying them as Christians. It doesn't even enter into their mind that what they are reading, if received, would demand a change on their part.

Until one is willing to receive the word "with all readiness of mind" they will profit little from a study of the word. There must be an application of that which we learn if we are to benefit from our study.

Don't be deceived by those who try to make following the scriptures something that is so mysterious that you can't really understand what they teach. Don't be led astray by those who spend more time talking about their "experiences" than they do reading from the inspired word. The only way your soul can be purified is in obedience to the truth. Jesus is the "author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him".

Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned". Peter preached Jesus as Lord and Christ to those Jews assembled in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and told them they must "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins".

Those of us who have obeyed these commandments may find ourselves having the same attitude we condemn in others. What about the scriptures that demand Godly living, faithfulness in service or withdrawing from those who walk disorderly? Do we sometimes treat these scriptures the same way those in the denominational world treat the scriptures dealing with baptism? Do we ignore these if we find them teaching something different from what we want to believe or do? How ready are you to receive the word?

MR

The Morning Cup -- Jesus Wept

One of, if not the most recognizable verses in the Bible is "Jesus wept." C.E.W. Dorris wrote in his commentary on John, "The shortest verse in the Bible, but one of the most touching. How precious those tears which assure the real, tender, loving, sympathizing humanity of Jesus in the very moment in which he is preparing to exert his omnipotence." Guy N. Woods suggested in his commentary on John that the verse should be remembered for its "information" not for its shortness. He goes on to say about Christ, "Great though His sorrow was at the tomb of Lazarus, His grief was far more manifest over the loss of souls than of the death of the body. Too, Lazarus was soon to be raised and the sorrow of the sisters would be turned into joy; there was no such hope for the rebellious people and nation of the Jews." What can we learn from these two powerful words, "Jesus wept"?

We learn what the perception of the people was. "Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him". There is no doubt that Jesus was compassionate. Christ had compassion toward the multitude. "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). Christ had compassion toward two blind men. "So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him" (Matthew 20:34). There is no doubt that Christ loved Jerusalem. The tears of a widow brought out the compassion of Christ as He raised her son from death. Christ must have been touched by pain of Mary and Martha and his tears would have been a nature outgrowth.

We can also learn that His tears were linked to their lack of understanding. "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this". Brother Woods writes, "The Lord perceived that Martha did not comprehend the meaning of His words, 'Thy brother shall rise again'". Brother Woods goes on to say that Christ was making an emphatic statement. "The personal pronoun is emphatic in the Greek text; I, and no other, am the resurrection and the life. He was the origin, the design and the power of both; in no way were they obtainable except by Him." Do we understand and believe that Christ is the resurrection and the life?

We can learn that Jesus used this situation to prove His power and to produce faith. "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." (John 11:41,42) We have the written accounts of His miracles to produce faith. John penned, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name."

When you find yourself in tears, we might do ourselves a favor by asking, "Would Christ be crying with me or for me"? There is a huge difference.

MR

The Morning Cup -- One Things Is Needful

If the question was asked, "What is the most needed thing in your life?" the responses would most likely be varied. In Luke 10:38-42, we read of an incident that occurred in the life of Christ, when He visited some of His dear friends in Bethany. The friends were Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. During the visit of Jesus, Martha was doing everything to make Jesus' visit enjoyable. But as Martha was busy, her sister Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet and hearing the things He taught. In a moment of frustration at her sister's apparent lack of concern, Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her in the serving she was doing. Jesus responded, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." I want to focus on the statement here that Jesus made, "One thing is needful."

In life there are so many things that demand our attention. It may even seem that these things are of great importance and they may be. As in Martha's case the serving of her company was important, but she failed to realize that something else was of even greater importance. It may be that even in our own daily affairs of life that things such as work, school, etc. cloud out what is truly the most important thing. Jesus made it clear to Martha what the proper priority should be. It was the very thing that Mary had chosen. It was that "good part" Mary chose that Jesus compared to the "many things" that troubled Martha. The "many things" in this passage refers to the temporal or physical things of this life and the "good part" deals with the heavenly or the eternal things which "shall not be taken away."

This is an important lesson for us to learn that while we must attend to physical things, let us not become preoccupied and lose sight of the one thing that is needful.

Mary in choosing the "good part" had not lost sight of her priorities. She was absorbed with the spiritual and eternal things of God. Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God." Mary understood this and was not sidetracked by the physical things around her.

Let's remember this great lesson that Mary teaches us and not neglect the things that will help us to build a spiritual and a close relationship with God. Let's read and study our Bibles, feeding on the word of God daily. Let us be faithful in our attendance with the saints on every occasion possible. Go regularly in prayer and communicate with our Father in heaven. Remember our close relationship with God is the key to our enjoying the abundant life now and the joys of heaven for eternity.

Mat we ever be aware that even though there are many good things that we may spend our time doing, we must put first the "one things that is needful" if we are going to form an abiding relationship with our heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Let us give strict attention to hearing and heeding what the scriptures teach which will help us to grow in our relationship with Him.

MR