The following article is by a very good friend, brother in Christ and faithful gospel preacher, Floyd Johnson. Floyd preaches for the Huntington Park congregation in Shreveport, LA. I have been privileged to know him for many years. Floyd has been the director for a camp session at Pettijohn Springs for more years than I can remember and I was privileged to work with his session as a counselor for 7 or 8 years. He wrote this article several years ago but, it sure fits our world right now today.
DO DIETS WORK?
Do you want the truth? Can you handle the truth? Diets don’t work! You have to work at a diet! Exercise doesn’t work. You have to work at exercise. Being a Christian doesn’t work. You have to work at being a Christian.
We have become a people at ease; we want something done for us. Give us a pill; handle my child, take care of my problems...Don’t pick up that hoe; you might have to work in the garden.
Christianity is a way of living. It is a method of having and dealing with everything that life may bring. It isn’t putting our life in neutral and hoping it all works out for the best. It is working on being good. The key is working! Jesus gave us a clue in this statement, “Do unto others.” Paul gave another, “Work out your own salvation…” (Matthew 7:12; Philippians 2:12).
What did Jesus mean when he said “Take up your cross and follow Me,” (Luke 9:23)? Doesn’t that entail sacrifice and great effort? Paul said, “We strive toward the mark of the high calling…” (Philippians 3:14).
We have become a nation of quitters. If it isn’t easy, I don’t want to do it. Family life hard? Just quit! Marriage getting rough? Just quit! People at church not treating you right? Just quit!
Folks, the crown comes at the end of the race, not when you quit!
Floyd Johnson
Huntington Park church of Christ
As you can see, brother Floyd writes with a sense of humor but also very pointedly. Today we do tend to want everything handed to us on a silver platter. We want the handouts, not the labor. We want a 110% return on a 5% effort. Yet, what does the Lord tell us? “Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38). While one’s financial giving is a part of what is said here, it is not the point being made. The Lord is simply saying, don’t expect to get unless you are willing to give. That applies to work, effort, love and anything else a Christian ought to be giving. Think about it!
Until next week, I love you all,
Dan
DO DIETS WORK?
Do you want the truth? Can you handle the truth? Diets don’t work! You have to work at a diet! Exercise doesn’t work. You have to work at exercise. Being a Christian doesn’t work. You have to work at being a Christian.
We have become a people at ease; we want something done for us. Give us a pill; handle my child, take care of my problems...Don’t pick up that hoe; you might have to work in the garden.
Christianity is a way of living. It is a method of having and dealing with everything that life may bring. It isn’t putting our life in neutral and hoping it all works out for the best. It is working on being good. The key is working! Jesus gave us a clue in this statement, “Do unto others.” Paul gave another, “Work out your own salvation…” (Matthew 7:12; Philippians 2:12).
What did Jesus mean when he said “Take up your cross and follow Me,” (Luke 9:23)? Doesn’t that entail sacrifice and great effort? Paul said, “We strive toward the mark of the high calling…” (Philippians 3:14).
We have become a nation of quitters. If it isn’t easy, I don’t want to do it. Family life hard? Just quit! Marriage getting rough? Just quit! People at church not treating you right? Just quit!
Folks, the crown comes at the end of the race, not when you quit!
Floyd Johnson
Huntington Park church of Christ
As you can see, brother Floyd writes with a sense of humor but also very pointedly. Today we do tend to want everything handed to us on a silver platter. We want the handouts, not the labor. We want a 110% return on a 5% effort. Yet, what does the Lord tell us? “Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38). While one’s financial giving is a part of what is said here, it is not the point being made. The Lord is simply saying, don’t expect to get unless you are willing to give. That applies to work, effort, love and anything else a Christian ought to be giving. Think about it!
Until next week, I love you all,
Dan
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