Hiawatha church of Christ

      Most people become greatly concerned about the necessities of life. They worry about what they are going to eat, drink, and what they are going to wear. This has been true throughout the centuries regardless of the economy. Jesus addressed this matter in Matthew 6:25-34. Within this context Jesus teaches us not to worry about all the things that the Gentiles seek. Instead of worrying Jesus taught, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) There are several reasons for us to seek first the kingdom of God. First, we do so because we seek to please God above all others. We recognize that God holds our very breath in His hands. Daniel stated this to King Belshazzar. He said, “…And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.” (Danie...

  James stated, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4) James points out the value of patience. Patience is needed if we are to endure the various hardships and setbacks of this life. Growing in our patience will cause us to become perfect and complete. The question is, “How do we grow in our patience?” We begin by looking to the example of the apostle Paul. He endured a wide range of trials before God. In 2 Corinthians 11:22-33, Paul provides a summery of the sufferings he endured for the name of Christ. As you read through the list, you may naturally wonder how anyone could endure such suffering and difficulties. Paul gives us the methods by which he endured. Paul kept his faith in God. When Paul endured the trouble in Asia, he stated that he was despaired of life (2Co 1:8). He went ...

  The Hebrew writer stated, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) From this verse we understand the necessity of faith. We can also ascertain how faith is generated. Paul wrote, “So then faith comes be hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17). What makes the subject of faith interesting is how quick some are to believe and how others are too quick to reject the faith altogether. There are some like Nathanael who were very quick to believe in Jesus as the Christ. Jesus declared unto him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree’, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” (John 1:50) Paul encountered such faithful men in Thessalonica. He wrote to them, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word...

  There are many positive images that come to mind when we think about Christ. One such image is that Jesus is the good shepherd. Jesus stated, “I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.” (John 10:11-12) The hireling has no vested interest in the sheep. When danger presents itself, his natural reaction is to flee from the scene. However, Jesus seeks to protect the sheep by laying His own life down for them. This illustration that Jesus gives is reminiscent of David as a shepherd. When King Saul was trying to talk David out of fighting with Goliath, David said, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, ...

  The scribes and the Pharisees brought before Jesus a woman who was caught in the very act of adultery. They stated to Jesus, “…Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” (John 8:5) It should be noted that they had no interest in keeping the law of Moses in this circumstance, nor were they interested in ensuring they were doing righteously before God. John made it clear what their purpose was. He wrote, “This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him…” (vs. 6) They were correct in saying that the law of Moses stated that such should be stoned. However, it should also be pointed out that since the time of Roman rule, their rights of performing capital punishment was taken from them. Equally important, they had not performed such stoning for centuries before Rome came to power over them. So, this was clearly a set-up question designed to accuse Christ of wrong. If Jesus were to confirm that they shoul...