I used the account of a speed skater being disqualified as our devotional at the Skating Party Thursday night. It was a story that amazed me, yet it also caused me to realize that the same thing can happen to us in the spiritual realm. A young man by the name of Sven Kramer is considered one of the greatest speed skaters of all times. He was skating in the 10,000 meter race and had a comfortable lead of over five seconds. These racers have to switch lanes periodically. When he reached one of those points, he started to switch lanes, but his coach signaled for him to stay in the lane he was skating in. Because of this mishap, he was disqualified from winning, even though he was several seconds ahead of the second place skater. He did not win the gold, silver, or bronze. He was disqualified from the entire race because of that mistake. Can you imagine being the fastest speed skater in the world on that day, having skated over six miles and then find out you are disqualified because you made a mistake concerning the lanes you skated in.
The apostle Paul used words that sound very similar to this
event. He stated in II Timothy
4:7, ÒI have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the
faith.Ó To finish the course would
mean that you finished the correct course. Because Paul had done that, he knew there was a crown laid
up for him in heaven. Listen to the statement in II
Timothy 2:5 ÒAnd if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfullyÓ (KJV). The
NASV states, ÒAnd also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the
prize unless he competes according to the rules.Ó You must strive lawfully, you must compete according to the
rules. If that does not take
place, then you can be disqualified.
Paul made that statement in I Corinthians 9:24-27. Notice the last part of verse 27,
ÒÉlest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway.Ó Again, the NASV states, ÒÉlest possibly, after I have preached to
others, I myself should be disqualified.Ó
We have to follow the rules to win. In sports, in academics, in whatever we compete in. We may be the fastest, the smartest, but if we do not follow the rules, we will be disqualified. The same applies to living the Christian life.
WAS
THE LAW PERFECT OR NOT?
(Heb. 8:6-8; Psa. 19:7)
The law of God is perfect in
the sense that it fulfills GodÕs intended purpose. God gave the Law of Moses
and therefore it was holy, good, and yes, perfect (Psa. 19:7; cf. Rom. 7:12).
The word perfect, however, should be considered only in this limited sense.
What then did the writer of Hebrews have in mind when he wrote the following,
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry,
by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established
upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then
should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them,
he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah (Heb. 6-8).
The context of the above passage has to do with
promises (v. 6) made by God, which could not be accomplished by the Law of
Moses. No promise made by God was of more benefit to man than the promise of
sins forgiven. Such was under consideration in the passage quoted from Jeremiah
31:31-34. As later stated in Hebrews, the Law of Moses had no provision for
sins.
But in those sacrifices
there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible
that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins (Heb. 10:3-4).
Those sins were remembered every year. How-ever,
ChristÕs sacrifice once for all (Heb. 10:12) satisfied the justice of God and
man could enjoy the benefits of GodÕs promise, Òthough your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they
shall be as woolÓ (Isa. 1:18).
The book of Galatians, like Hebrews, contrasts the
legal system of the Law of Moses with the liberty under the law of Christ. Paul
expected questions to arise about the purpose of the law when he both asks and
answers the following question. ÒWherefore then serveth the law? It was
added because of transgressions, till the
seed should come to whom the
promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediatorÓ (Gal. 3:19). Yes, the law was perfect in fulfilling
its purpose to make sin Òexceedingly sinfulÓ (Rom. 12:13). However, it was not
ÒfaultlessÓ because sin could only be forgiven under Christ.
--Barry
M. Grider, Forest Hill News 01/15/08
MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mar 07, 2010
WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00
AM
Co-Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mitchell Brooks
Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
Scriptures Reading....I Cor 15:.12-15.. .. Brian Harville
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . ..Jacky Carver, Jr.
Opening Prayer. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy Smith
LordÕs Supper-Preside: Harold
Smith
Serve: Glen Reece, Kaleb Bush,
Leslie
Bush, Cole Bush
Closing Prayer................................ Larry
Kemp
GreeterÑ Glen & Patsy
Reece
GreeterÑ Leslie & Kim
Bush
Count Offering. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
Kaleb Bush
AM SermonÑ Trust in the Lord
(Prov. 3:5,6)
PM SermonÑ Jimmy Smith speaking
Announcements . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
Song Leader. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen
Reece
Scripture Reading.. I Cor. 15:16-20É Brian Harville
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . Ricky Kirby
LordÕs Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .
Roger Draper
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mitchell Brooks
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . Steve Anderson
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
. Harold Smith
First Prayer. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .Billy
Halliburton
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . Mitchell
Brooks
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. . Glen Reece
Prepare Communion for March
Lesa Leonard
Note: If you are not able to fulfill your assignment listed
above, please notify the coordinator so that he can find a replacement.
We are asking each family to
bring items for the pantry to be used for needs in the community as they arise:
Items for week: Canned Corn.
NURSING HOME: Lucille Smith,
Those on the sick list:
Donald Chaffin (Zion) Lou GehrigÕs disease
Hoss West
Vaughn Allen
Lewis Roberts
Ruby SuttonÑNHC, Franklin TN.
Wednesday. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
Worship Sunday AM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
83
Bible Study Sunday AM .. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
69
Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 43
Worship Sunday PM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Offering . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4,034.00
Cody AndersonÕs address is:
RCT Anderson, Cody Hix
3rd BN, Lima Co, PLT 3026
P. O. Box 13005
MCRD Parris Island, SC 29905
Please send letters only.
Gospel Meeting this week at Rome Church of Christ March 5-7th. with Lance Foster speaking.
Friday Night Singing at Montrose March 26th.
01
Joshua 7-9
02
Joshua 10-12
03
Joshua 13-15
04
Joshua 16-20
05
Joshua 21-24
06
Judges 1-2
07
Judges 3-5
08
Judges 6-8
09
Judges 9-11
10 Judges 12-14
11 Judges 15-19
12 Judges 20-21
13 Ruth 1-4
14 I Sam. 1-3
15 I Sam. 4-6
16 I Sam. 7-9
17 I Sam. 10-12
18 I Sam. 13-17
19 I Sam. 18-20
20 I Sam. 21-23
21 I Sam. 24-26
22 I Sam. 27-29
23 I Sam. 30-31
24 II Sam. 1-4
25 II Sam. 5-9
26 II Sam. 10-12
27 II Sam. 13-15
28 II Sam. 16-18
29 II Sam. 19-21
30 II Sam. 22-24
31 I Kings 1-3