Cornerstone

Mark 4:10-13 (11)

A man born in the city decided to move to the country and start a chicken farm. He bought 200 baby chicks and a farmhouse with some land around it. The chickens all quickly died. He bought 200 more baby chicks. Again, they all died. Puzzled and distressed, the man wrote to the county agricultural agent and described his problem. He concluded his letter, “I want very much to be a successful chicken farmer. Therefore, can you tell me: Have I been planting the chicks too close together or too deep?” Whereupon the county agent wrote back and said, “I can’t answer your question until you send me a soil sample.”*

The disciples seemed to be about that dense sometimes. Sometimes I am as well. And yet I take great satisfaction in reading that spiritual things are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor 2:14) Because of my relationship with Jesus Christ I now have a greater insight into the meaning of God’s Word. There are some passages of Scripture that we will still struggle with until we develop more in Christian growth. But as Mark Twain once said, “Most people are bothered by those passages in Scripture which they cannot understand. The Scripture which troubles me most is the Scripture I do understand.” It is essential that we accept and work with what we DO know as we are developing a greater understanding of the Word.

*Adapted James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 211.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Col. 3:12-17 (12)

When the caterpillar began to break through the crust of his cocoon he looked different! It was amazing! A change had taken place. Now he had wings! He was beautiful! No longer was he satisfied to crawl through the dirt. Now he would soar daintily in the breeze above the disgusting filth below. He would only stop in flight to gain rest or nourishment. It was different now. He had been transformed.

When I left the altar of repentance I was also different. God had forgiven me for the sinful life that I had lived. He also made me righteous. He gave me a reputation to live up to – Christs. He set a standard of holiness before me and told me in His Word that this was what was expected of me. I immediately began to do my best to please Him. My habits had to be changed. My associations with the world were severely altered. My appetite and my attention were now on spiritual things – the things of God.

Was this a negative experience for me? Yes. But it was also a wonderfully positive experience. Old things were passed away… the old self was abandoned… the old way of living came to a stop. But all things became new. Nothing compares to living a holy life for Jesus Christ!

Dr. Gayle Woods