Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins

"If it Looks Like a Duck . . ." There is an old saying, not very sophisticated for this era, but it makes a lot of sense. It goes like this: “Just sittin’ in a hen house don’t make you a hen.” Hard to argue with that, and the second stanza says: “Just sittin’ in a church house don’t make you a Christian.” Some may not like where that’s going, but it’s hard to argue with sound reasoning. A recent national survey revealed that a large majority of America’s citizens claim to be “a good Christian,” and expect to “go to heaven.” I don’t know the hearts of those people, but it reminds me of an old song with these lyrics: “Everybody talking about heaven ain’t going there.” I fear that old song is closer to the truth than that survey. Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven,” Matthew 7:21 NKJV. It takes more than talk and empty claims to be a Christian, and that’s not me talking, but the Lord, Jesus Christ Himself. How can you tell whether or not a certain winged creature is a duck? Another piece of wisdom says, “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, then it must be a duck.” All right, enough for down home sayings, but we might just use that quote as a starting place. What if a certain creature looks like a cow, walks like a cow and sounds like a cow, would you call it a duck? Of course, one must first know what a duck looks, walks and sounds like, or they will not know the difference. The same goes for defining a Christian. What about someone who wants to call himself a Christian? Are there some qualities by which we might determine if he/she really is a Christian? The Bible is the only standard for making such a determination! Nothing else even comes close to having the credentials to do so. The Bible says a Christian will be and Do: “The salt of the earth...the light of the world,” Matthew 5:13. Can a person be a Christian without this quality? A “new creature.” His old life of sin has been abandoned, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:17-18. What if a man continues to live the same old sinful lifestyle – would Christian still be an appropriate and accurate term by which to describe him? Living in the world, but will not be a worldly person, 1 Corinthians 5:1-10. What if a person’s daily activities include immoral, ungodly behavior, the kind that is common to those who are not Christians – would the name Christian still be an appropriate term for him? One who follows in the steps of Jesus, 1 Peter 2:21-22. No, there are no “perfect” Christians, but their devotion to Christ will be seen in their words, their apparel, their actions and example. What a wonderful opportunity Jesus Christ has given us! A Christian will “shine as lights in the world,” Philippians 2:15, and show others by their daily example the Lord’s way to heaven. A Christian loves God; will honor and “keep” Jesus’ commandments, John 14:15, 1 John 5:3. A Christian will take the gospel to the lost, help the poor and “abstain from every form of evil,” Mark 16:16, Ephesians 4:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22. A Christian loves his/her neighbor, prays for their enemies and fights “the good fight of faith,” Matthew 5:43-44, 1 Timothy 6:12. A cow can walk, digest food, see the sunrise and do other things that a duck can do. While a person may be and do some of these things that are peculiar to Christians, I submit that no one can be a Christian and not be and do these and other things the Bible calls a Christian to do. When God said, “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ,” and “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially those who are of the household of faith,” Galatians 6:2, 10, Christians, because they love God and their fellowman, will do what Jesus says, Luke 6;46. Wouldn’t it be wise for all of us periodically to “examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith,” 2 Corinthians 13:5? Some of us could be sittin’ in a church house hoping God will mistake us for Christians. It won’t work. Never has. We would do well to check out what the Bible says about being a Christian, then get busy being one, even if it means making some big changes. Carl B Garner

THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN A PERSON MUST: Hear and believe the gospel, Romans 10:17, Mark 16:16. Confess their faith in Christ, Acts 8:36, Matthew 10:32. Repent of their sins, godly sorrow resulting in a changed life, Luke 13:3, 5, Acts 17:30, 2 Corinthians 7:10. Be baptized “for the remission of sins,” Acts 2:38, 22:16.

Distress It must have been a horrible feeling in the hearts of David and his men upon arriving home in Ziklag. In 1 Samuel 30 we are told that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag, burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there (vs. 1,2). When the men came to the city, saw it burned and their wives, sons, and daughters taken away, they were heartbroken. “Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep” (v. 4), including David’s two wives (v. 5). Rivers of tears ran down their cheeks. Though thousands of years have passed, we can still feel their pain and anguish. The writer declares that “David was greatly distressed” (v. 6). David’s distress became greater as he faced a personal threat. The people began to speak of stoning him (v. 6). They were hurting. They had lost their families. They were grieving over this horrific event. The loss of their families left a bitter taste in their mouths and they wanted to strike out against David. We live in a world of distress, pain and anguish. At the time of the writing of this article, our country has suffered greatly. Families have lost their possessions and family members in tornados that destroyed parts of the southeast. Parents and a university are grieving over the loss of their sons who were killed in a bus accident while traveling to a baseball game. In the last few weeks, several children have been abducted from their homes, schools and even from the hospital. Within the church, several people who are near and dear to us have passed from this life in recent days. In difficult times like these, we too, cry out with our voices and weep until we run out of energy. The distress can be almost unbearable. Brethren, we must not let the problems of life get us down and keep us there. We can rise above when we follow David’s example. “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God,” (v. 6). I love the words of “Where Could I Go?” (written by J. B. Coats). “Living below in this old sinful world, hardly a comfort can afford. Striving alone to face temptations sore, where could I go but to the Lord? … Neighbors are kind, I love them ev’ry one, we get along in sweet accord, but when my soul needs manna from above, where could I go but to the Lord? … Life here is grand with friends I love so dear, comfort I get from God’s own word; yet when I face the chilling hand of death, where could I go but to the Lord? … Where could I go, O where could I go, seeking a refuge for my soul? Needing a friend to save me in the end, where could I go but to the Lord?” Life can be very difficult at times, but we can take strength, comfort, and manna from God through His word. When times get tough, where better to go than to the Lord? David sent for the priest and asked him to bring the ephod. In so doing, David was seeking an answer from God. He was turning to the right place for an answer. He inquired of the Lord for an answer and the Lord told him to go and fight against the enemy. David was demonstrating better leadership than Saul had done. If you remember, Saul turned to the witch/medium of Endor for an answer. When distresses seem too hard to bear, let us turn to God for an answer. Cast your cares upon Him in prayer (1 Peter 5:7). Study from His word to guide your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6). Turn to the Source for the right answer. Upon receiving God’s answer, David obeyed God. We are told that he went (v. 9), pursued (verse 10), found help (v. 11), attacked (v. 17), recovered all that had been taken (v. 18), took spoil (v. 20), and shared the spoil (vs. 24-25 – setting a new ordinance). David’s distress was removed! The difficulties of this life have a way of knocking us down and distressing our hearts. We must not let these difficulties keep us from following God’s plan for our lives. We must take strength in the Lord. We must seek His guidance in finding the answers to our problems. We must follow God’s plan for our lives in faithfulness and trust. We must not lose heart. Remember the words of Jesus, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” John 16:33. Denny Wilson