How far will you go to try to prove what you believe? What I am trying to say is if someone pointed out to you in God's Holy Word that something that you have done, or are doing at this point is condemned, would you listen? Or would you be of the multitudes that would try to explain that what God was actually trying to say here is something entirely different, something that does not apply to you. When I look, with my minds eye, out at the religious world, I see this very thing happening. Multitudes of people are misapplying the Words of my God and twisting them to their own destruction (2 Pet. 3:16).

I see people who think that they are advancing very far in their denomination, and maybe they are. I see people who are putting forth a lot of effort, time, and money in accomplishing things that the Lord has not authorized or said anything about in his Word. I am reminded of the Apostle Paul who was a very zealous Pharisee in the Jews religion (Php 3:3-7). Yet he had not listened to the Word of God. He had done things contrary to the name (authority) of Jesus Christ (Acts 26:9). realized that he was wrong, he changed (Acts 26:19). This is what we all must do when we realize we are in error. We need to be more like the noble Bereans we see in Acts 17. They searched the scriptures daily to see if the things they were being taught were so (Acts 17:11). It is very dangerous to our souls to just fall into the crowd, to do what everyone around us is doing, especially religiously.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 KJVR "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

I see those also around me who will not listen to the whole counsel of God. They may listen to some of the things that God would have them to hear, but yet they disregard the rest of it. My friends, how can this be? All Scripture is inspired of God (2 Tim 3:16-17), how can we pick and choose what we want to believe? We need to be people that go back to the Book, and rightly divide it (2 Tim. 2:15), for everything we believe and practice. This is the plea of the Apostles to not go beyond what they had been taught (Rom. 16:17-18; Php 3:17-19). This is what Moses taught the children of Israel in Deu. 4:1-2. This is what Jesus Christ taught in Rev. 22:18-19. This is what we still must do today.

If you find yourself in need of Bible study, or would like to hear more on any given subject, please let us know. If you have any questions or comments, contact us: Clintwood church of Christ, P.O. Box 746, Clintwood, Va. 24228, or Gary Mullins, 265 Stony Br., Clintwood, Va. 24228, or email garycrystal@gmail.com. I would like to encourage you to listen to WDIC 1430 AM at 9:00 Sunday mornings for more from God’s Word. Also, you are invited to worship with us Sun-10 AM Bible Study; 11 AM Worship Service; 6 PM Service; Wed-7 PM Bible Study.