November, 2022 | THE BIBLE VIEW

The BIBLE VIEW #886 — Friends

In This Issue:
Friends Dear Liberal Friend
Friendly Advice
A Friend
The Unfailing Friend

Volume: 886 November 28, 2022
Theme: Friends

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Friends
Bill Brinkworth

The right friend will build you up. A wrong friend may destroy you.

Many will have their plans and lives changed because they picked the wrong friend or gave a friend the wrong priority in their lives! Some do not even know what a true friend is.

Here is a short study on what the Bible says about a true friend:

Friendly all the time! A true friend loves us during the hard times and the good.
Proverbs 17:17-18 “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.”
Proverbs 27:10 “Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.”

Friendly first! A true friend is friendly first, rather than waiting for others to approach him. Proverbs 18:24 “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

Friendly giving! True friendship is given and not bought. You cannot buy true friendship.

Give, and you may get a person you can trust and like. Do not be friendly to earn friendship, though. You cannot make someone your friend.
Proverbs 19:6 “Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.” — but not true friends!

Friendly honest advice! A true friend tells what they believe is best for us because they care about what happens in our life.
Proverbs 22:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
Proverbs 27:10 “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.”

“False friends are like vermin that abandon a sinking vessel or like the swallows that depart at the approach of winter.
True friends are like ivy that adheres to the tree in its decay. They are also like the light of phosphorus: brightest in the dark.” — Unknown

Dear Liberal Friend
Bill Brinkworth

I am so sorry about how our friendship has turned out. I was excited when I learned you were a “Christian.” Fellowship and friendship with another of like faith are important to me. However, I quickly realized that your definition and my definition of being a “Christian” were completely different.

When one says they are a “Christian,” I assume their thinking and lifestyle would be aligned with the Bible. Your “Christianity” is not what is described in my Bible. Most of the time, you did not even want to discuss God’s Word.

When the conversation led to spiritual things, you quickly went on the defense and accused me of judging or else argued the doctrine. We have spent more time discussing “what the Bible really means,” as you keep saying, rather than agreeing on the things of God.

My other friendships with Christians have never been this strained. It has always been easy and perfectly natural for my other friends and me to talk about the things of God because we are interested in them. You, obviously, are not.

I may not have been saved as long as you have been, but I know that the Bible teaches that a Christian should live differently than the unsaved. You seem to be very comfortable dressing like the world, talking like the world, acting like the world, doing things the world does, and going to places where the unsaved go.

Your philosophies are often identical to what the ungodly world thinks. It’s hard to tell any difference between you and the lost. I am not comfortable doing many of those things, and I believe some of them are against what God teaches in His Book.

The consequences of worldliness and its sin are some things from which I was saved. The world is losing and not heading for Heaven but is going to Hell. I have no interest in thinking and looking like the losing side.

Before I was saved, I did not have the joy or peace I do now by obeying the Lord. Being more like Christ is far safer, peaceful, and biblical.

Clearly, the Bible tells us to talk to others about Christ so they can be saved and have the promise of Heaven. Proverbs 11:30 says you are wise if you do this.

You have ridiculed and tried to stop me from witnessing to others. No, I don’t think it “is pushing God’s Word down their throat” by telling them. If someone didn’t tell me how to be saved, I would not be. I would feel very selfish if I didn’t share salvation with others and would be disobedient to God’s biblical commandments if I did not.

When I do witness to others, I often hear the word “hypocrite.” The unsaved world knows how Christians should live. They have seen many call themselves Christians, and people see they do not live the way they should.

After seeing more living the wrong way, they quickly assume that all Christians are hypocrites and living the wrong lifestyle. I certainly am not perfect and am still growing spiritually, but the people they are referring to are not people like me, but are people like you.

I love being saved. It is exciting to know that Christ died for all my sins and paid the price for them so I could go to Heaven. I owe Him so much. My desire now is to live for and serve Him.

Your liberal theology and lifestyle are doing much to harm and weaken the cause of Christ. It is giving those trying to serve and live for God a bad name. Your lifestyle is hurting the testimonies of those trying to live right.

Sadly, I think it is time to part as friends. No, I don’t believe myself “holier than thou.” I know what I was and can fall back into my old ways. I am concerned that your disobedience may rub off on me. Association with your unchristian lifestyle will also hurt my Christian testimony. I desire to be more like Christ and have that reputation, so our fellowship will have to stop until your lifestyle becomes more Christ-like.

Regretfully,
Bill

“Insomuch as anyone pushes you nearer to God, he or she is your friend.”
— Unknown

Friendly Advice
Bill Brinkworth

WAIT on the right friend. Do not settle for the first acquaintance that comes around just because you are lonely.
Pick a friend you look up to, not down to, or the relationship may hurt your walk with Christ.
Pray about the friendship. Ask God how you can be a better friend, not just how that person can meet your needs.
Be honest with your friend. If they dislike the real you, or the truth, they are not the right friend for you.
Friendship is not popularity! Acquaintances are not necessarily friends.
Stick up for a friend.
Never put a friend down in front of others!
Be a friend to someone that you feel needs one! They are often the most grateful and the most loyal!
Obey your parents’ discernment about friends. If they say to stay away from a certain person, obey them!
Marry a friend!

“A true friend never gets in your way except when you are on the way down.”— Unknown

A Friend
Author Unknown

When troubles come, your soul to try
You love a friend who just stands by.
Perhaps there’s nothing he can do,
The thing is strictly up to you.
For there are troubles all your own,
And paths the soul must tread alone,
Times when love can’t smooth the road,
Nor friendship lift the heavy load.
But, just to feel you have a friend,
Who will stand by until the end,
Whose sympathy through all endures,
Whose warm handclasp is always yours,
It helps somehow to pull you through.
Although there’s nothing he can do.
And so, with fervent heart we say,
“God bless the friend who just stands by.”

“They who have loved together have been drawn close; they who have struggled together are forever linked, but they who have suffered together have known the most sacred bond of all.” — Author Unknown

The Unfailing Friend
Author Unknown

The friendship of Jesus is lasting. Other friends may grow old and cold. It is not so with the company of our Saviour.

Other friends may misunderstand us. Jesus never.

His love is the same in our youth as in old age. The friendship will instead grow stronger as we get older.

If you have lost what to you seemed everything, if you find yourself friendless and alone, despised and forsaken, seek to get acquainted with this most lovely, dear and precious Friend — Jesus.

The BIBLE VIEW #885 — Thanksgiving

In This Issue:
First Thanksgiving Proclamation
1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation
In Everything, Give Thanks!
Mother of Thanksgiving

Volume: 885 November 21, 2022
Theme: Thanksgiving

First Thanksgiving Proclamation
William Bradford, Governor of the First American Colony, 1623

Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us the freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.

Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.

William Bradford
Ye Governor of Ye Colony

“Thanksgiving is a time when the world gets to see just how blessed and how workable the Christian system is. The emphasis is not on giving or buying, but on being thankful and expressing that appreciation to God and to one another.” — John Clayton

1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

WHEREAS, It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor;

WHEREAS, Both the houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

George Washington – October 3, 1789

“The worship most acceptable to God comes from a thankful and cheerful heart.” — Plutarch

In Everything, Give Thanks!
Author Unknown

‘Mid sunshine, cloud, or stormy days,
When hope abounds, or care dismays,
When trials press and toils increase
Let not thy faith in God decrease —
“In everything, give thanks.”

All things we know shall work for good,
Nor would we change them if we could;
‘Tis well if only He command;
His promise will ever stand —
“In everything, give thanks.”

He satisfies the longing heart,
He thwarts the tempter’s cruel dart,
With goodness fills the hungry soul,
And helps us sing when billows roll.
“In everything, give thanks.”

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” — I Thessalonians 5:18

Mother of Thanksgiving
Author Unknown

President George Washington proclaimed the national observance of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 26, 1789. After a few years, presidential proclamations lapsed. Although most New England communities continued the observance faithfully, they did not always celebrate at the same time. In other parts of the country, the holiday was frequently overlooked altogether. Nobody appeared to care very much whether the day was observed except a woman named Sarah Josepha Buell Hale.

Mrs. Hale was a widow with a will. When her husband died, leaving her with five children, she went to work. This took several varieties of courage, for Mrs. Hale was a great lady of an old New England family of important ladies and gentlemen. Several of her peers did not approve of a lady working beyond her home. Others were especially outraged at the nature of their kinswoman’s job. Mrs. Hale became editor of the periodical “The Ladies’ Magazine.”

Mrs. Hale had a rare editorial writing gift. She began an editorial campaign for a national set observance of Thanksgiving Day. For twenty years, she wrote scores of editorials on the subject. Men, as well as women, read them.

One man who read them was Abraham Lincoln. In 1864, he declared that thereafter, by annual presidential proclamation, the last Thursday in November should be a national Thanksgiving Day. Since then, every president has followed his suggestion.

After President Lincoln acted, Mrs. Hale was called “Mother of Thanksgiving,” a title by which she deserves to be remembered.

“Count your blessings, not your problems.” — B. B.

“You Should Be Thankful.”
Author Unknown

A train was crowded, and many were standing in the aisles and on the platforms. They took that opportunity to express themselves by complaining to the railway company. Some moaned they had been standing for three hours.

At a station, others came aboard, one of whom was an invalid and had to be carried on. As the passengers made room for him, one repeated his complaint, “Yes, we’ve been standing here for three hours.”

The invalid looked at him and quietly said, “You are fortunate.”

They were tired, but the invalid’s rebuke changed hearts. The complaining stopped, and many silently counted their blessings.

“Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done…”
Words from the hymn “Count Your Blessings, by Johnson Oatman

The BIBLE VIEW #884 — Spiritual Remodeling

In This Issue:
Just A Piece of Stone?
Inward Changes
A Notable Conversion

Volume: 884 November 14, 2022
Theme: Spiritual Remodeling

Just A Piece of Stone?
Bill Brinkworth

Weeks of visiting different marble quarries finally paid off. After examining many blocks of the art material, the sculptor finally found the stone for which he was looking. Arrangements in the office were made, and the rock was promised to be delivered the following week.

When the delivery was made, the hefty piece was hoisted off the truck, loaded on a dolly, and wheeled into the artist’s studio. There it stayed, as it was viewed, admired, and studied for imperfections by the stone carver. Days later, a rough sketch was drawn on the piece of stone to give the sculptor an idea of what material was to be removed.

Soon, the hard work began. A small, pneumatic hammer banged away, removing large chunks of the unwanted material. The floor was quickly littered with marble waste.

After the course outline was followed, the tedious, detailing handwork began. Day and sometimes night, the sculptor chipped off the unneeded rock. Slowly, the block took on a form of a man. A face, appendages, and clothing were slowly revealed on the once shapeless block of stone.

Patiently, weeks passed until finally, the sculptor stepped back and viewed the finished, polished piece of art. Hard work transformed the once unformed piece of marble into a work pleasing to its craftsman and many that would view the artwork for decades.

In like matter, God can masterfully and slowly transform any willing person for His admiration and use. Many may see the person as a hopeless case. However, despite the imperfections He knows about, God has great hopes for what He can make of the person.

When a person sees oneself as flawed with sin, having little hope in this life or the next, and trusts Christ as Saviour, the Master steps in. He sees what the person could be and patiently chips away, if the person allows, and transforms that creature into something the Creator, person, and society admires.

Usually, after a person is saved, guilt from sin is the first sign of salvation. After admitting and trusting God to overcome that iniquity, God begins the patient process of removing that transgression and others from the believer.

One by one, sin’s hold on a person is released as God helps dispose of the unneeded sin-caused flaws. Outward and inward iniquities are slowly removed. Some may have a more stubborn hold on the converted life than others. At times, the iniquity’s removal may even be hurtful when it is pried from a life, but God’s handiwork continues.

Some cannot stand the strain of having sins removed from their lives. Too often, many disallow the elimination of the clinging iniquity. Although the Master Sculptor patiently waits, he urges the believer to allow Him to remove the hindering imperfections.

After it is clear God’s convicting voice is ignored, the Master often halts helping the one that has rejected Him. His disrupted handiwork too often remains unfinished for the rest of that person’s life because of his refusal to allow God to continue His work in his life.

Others are more willing to be changed by their Master. The sinners know that their attempts are often futile, and they need the Perfect One’s assistance.

Those that allow God to remove what He knows will hamper His use and their “beauty” slowly becomes what their Creator desires. At times, His changes are painful as they are removed, but the trusting heart of the believer knows that His God knows best and willingly endures the changes.

Once thought unfit, blemished, and “unusable,” God’s creation takes on a new form and usage. Selfishness is redirected to others’ needs, and conscience-nagging sins are discarded.

As the Master removes the unneeded ”baggage,” the once “hopeless case” is now being used by Him. Completion of small tasks given to the Christian-under-construction proves the believer’s allegiance. Since the child of God has proven faithful, more opportunities of service are entrusted to that believer.

The believer’s obedience to studying and obeying God’s Word soons qualifies him to teach a Sunday school class. Witnessing to others and showing God’s way to Heaven has proven him fit for a bus ministry, enabling him to win others to the cause of Christ. The reward for the Christian’s obedience is more work for the Master.

Days run into weeks; months turn into years, and the trusted believer is still faithfully at His God-assigned tasks. Yes, there were times he did not feel like teaching his class, but still, he labored at the ministry. Souls were told of salvation, and many saw God’s glory in the changing and using the once imperfect person.

If one looks closely at the creature God changed, some scars from past sins may remain. However, God looks past all those and sees how the person has become a masterpiece for His use.

God desires to be allowed to have the same liberty in your life. Will you admit your imperfections and let the Master Sculptor change your life? He is willing and awaits your reply!

“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour.” Romans 9:20-21

Inward Changes
Bill Brinkworth

Repentance is the “… pain, regret, or affliction which a person feels on account of his past conduct…” (Noah Webster, 1828). This sorrowful attitude over one’s sins was a vital part of John the Baptist’s ministry and is essential today when one is saved from the eternal wages of one’s iniquities.

Although a repentant person will change one’s behavior, just changing conduct alone will not save anyone. If a lifestyle change were necessary for salvation, those acts would be a type of good work, and no good deed can save anyone from the eternal wages of sin (Ephesians 2:8-9).

John, the Baptist, illustrated that a broken heart over sin would produce a better life when he spoke to four types of people:

To the religious but not righteous, John told them that if they were convicted over their sins, they would prove it by a lifestyle that would show “fruits” from their inward changes. Their changed heart would change how they lived, and others could see what the changes had done in their life (Luke 3:8).
To the common people, he told them that a giving attitude would show a changed heart (Luke 3:11). John must have known that they were covetous of the things of this world and that they were not trusting God daily for their needs.
To the publicans, he also said there would need to be some changes in their lives. Publicans were notoriously dishonest tax collectors. John told them their spiritual remodeling should include honesty (Luke 3:13).
To soldiers, John did not tell them to quit the army. He told them their change of heart would include halting unnecessary violence, lying, and dissatisfaction with their salaries.

A changed, repentant heart is proof of one’s salvation. The areas John said should change in lives over 2,000 years ago should still change when one’s life is altered by salvation today.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17

“You cannot repent too soon because you do not know how soon it may be too late.” — Fuller

A Notable Conversion
C. H. Spurgeon

A jail chaplain once told me about a surprising case of conversion in which the covenant of grace was the chief instrument of the Holy Spirit. My friend had under his charge a man most cunning and brutal. He was repulsive, even in comparison with other convicts. He had been renowned for his daring and the utter absence of all feeling when committing acts of violence.

Several times the chaplain had spoken to him but had not succeeded even in getting an answer. The man was sullenly set against all instruction. At last, he expressed a desire for a specific book, but it was not in the library.

The chaplain pointed to the Bible, which was placed in his cell, and said, “Did you ever read that Book?”

He did not answer but looked at the good man as if he would kill him. The question was kindly repeated, with the assurance that he would find it well worth reading.

“Sir,” said the convict, “you would not ask me such a question if you knew who I was. What have I to do with a book of that sort?”

He was told that his character was well known to the chaplain, and for this reason, he recommended the Bible as a book that would suit his case.

“It would do me no good,” he snapped, “I am past all feeling.” Doubling up his fist, he struck the cell’s iron door and said, “My heart is as hard as that iron. There is nothing in any book that will ever touch me.”

“Well,” said the chaplain, “do you want a new heart? Did you ever read the covenant of grace?” The man answered sullenly by inquiring what he meant by such talk.

The preacher replied, “Listen to these words, ‘A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.’” (Ezekiel 36:26)

The words struck the man with amazement. He asked to have the passage found for him in the Bible. He read the words again and again.

When the chaplain came back to him the next day, the wild beast was tamed. “Oh, sir,” he said, “I never dreamed of such a promise! I never believed it possible that God would speak in such a way as that to men. If He gives me a new heart, it will be a miracle of mercy, and yet I think, He is going to work that miracle upon me, for the very hope of a new nature is beginning to touch me as I never was touched before.”

That man became gentle in manner, obedient to authority, and child-like in spirit from then on. He was a new creature.

“Too often, deathbed repentance is burning the candle of life in the service of the devil and then blowing the smoke into the face of God.” — Billy Sunday

The BIBLE VIEW #883 — Enduring!

In This Issue:
Not Much Has Changed!
I Won’t!
What Did They Do?

Volume: 883 November 7, 2022
Theme: Endure!

Not Much Has Changed
Bill Brinkworth

The battles and challenges Christians face today are not much different from those early Christians encountered. Little has changed.

Although people today see themselves far advanced from their early predecessors, there are remarkable similarities between New Testament and today’s Christians. They are similar because of man’s consistent-through-the-ages sin nature,

Paul warned Timothy (I Tim. 6:20) to keep far away from the doubting, faith-challenging science. It attempted to challenge what God would have His people believe by faith.
“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:” I Timothy 6:20

The “science” Paul referred to here was not so much the “science” we recognize today. “Science” in I Tim. 6:20 referred to man’s knowledge. It was intellectualism that challenged a Christian’s faith and beliefs.

Many today also believe that “knowledge” is superior to what God’s Word declares. However, the Bible refers to it as “fables” (I Tim. 1:4), “vain (empty and pointless) jangling” (I Tim. 1:6), “profane and old wives fables” (I Tim. 4:7), and “vain babblings” (II Tim. 2:16). God wants all to know that man is not as wise as he thinks he is.

Man’s intellect continues to question and challenge creationism, the existence of God and His involvement in His creation, life after death, and God’s Word is preserved and is still with us. That we’re-smarter-than-God attitude is still doing all it can to question and ridicule Christianity’s principles and beliefs. However, despite incorrect thinking, God’s way will “work” with modern man.

Early Christians also had to deal with unbiblical religion and traditions. Today’s Christians are still dealing with false teachings.
“… ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.” Mark 7:8 Also: Mat. 15:2, Mat. 15:3, 6.

It is man’s philosophy, mixed with God’s way, that waters down the truths and power of God’s commandments (Mat. 15:6). Man’s ideas and beliefs that contradict the Word of God have often weakened Christianity. To make it even harder to live the Christian way, those who call themselves “religious” or “Christian” often become stumbling blocks and the enemies of true Bible-believing and obeying Christians.

Man, then and today, still has to deal with immorality. Saints in Sodom and Gomorrah had to deal with homosexuality, as do today’s Christians.

False worship was just as big a problem in the Old and New Testament times as we are experiencing. Idolatry was just as much a shock to Paul as it is to modern believers when people are seen praying to idols, some even professing to be Christians.

Ungodly leaders have also been a hampering and discouraging force that opposed the open practice of Christianity. Early Christians faced the government’s controlling arm under Roman rule. It was that reign that martyred thousands of Christians on Roman crosses, in their fires, and other tortures. Old Testament saints faced similar torment from the pharaohs, Shalmanesser, Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, and countless other unrighteous rulers.

Many today vote for government officials. The “rulers” that get elected are often not leading their people in the way God would have them govern. The government’s support of abortion, welfare without working, paying for illegitimate births and birth control, and diseases contracted from sinful behavior are some proofs of ungodly governmental authority.

It is not much easier to live a godly life today than in yesteryears. The world and its often ungodly practices, beliefs, laws, and temptations have always been a barrier to those committed to obeying God. Very few times in history has the world been a comfortable environment to live the way God would have all to live.

Hiding behind the excuse, “Well, it was easier for earlier saints and Christians than today,” is not true. There always have been difficulties and challenges for those living God’s way.

It is the individual Christian’s responsibility to choose correctly. Decide to reject man’s philosophies, traditions, and what is popular to fit in. Determine to trust God’s way of salvation and walk the narrow way God expects the believer to follow (Mat. 7:13-14). Difficulties may arise in pleasing God but obey Him, no matter what.
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

“If you can get along with the world, then you are out of step with God.”
— Dr. Harold Sightler

I Won’t!
Author Unknown

I want to let go, but I won’t let go,
There are battles to fight,
By day and by night
For God and the right,
And I’ll never let go.

I want to let go, but I won’t let go,
I’m sick ‘tis true;
Worried and blue,
And worn through and through,
But I won’t let go.

I want to let go, but I won’t let go,
I will never yield;
What, lie down on the field
And surrender my shield?
No! I’ll never let go.

I want to let go, but I won’t let go,
May this be my song,
‘Mid legions of wrong;
That I may never let go.

The man who wisely said, “Be sure you’re right, then go ahead,” should have added, “Be sure you’re wrong before you quit!”

What Did They Do?
Bible Readings for the Home¹

When beaten by the Jewish rulers for preaching Christ, what did the apostles do?¹
“And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” Acts 5:41

After receiving “many stripes” with their feet made fast in the stocks, what did Paul and Silas do while in prison? ¹
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Acts 16:25

When Jesus was nailed to the cross, what did He say?
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” Luke 23:34

Even when persecuted, what are we told to do, and why?
“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” Luke 6:22-23

What assurance is given that the child of God may bravely endure every trial and hardship of life?
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

How constant should our rejoicing be?
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Phil. 4:4

¹Bible Readings for the Home, Sothern Publishing Association, Nashville, TN, 1943, Page 574-575

“Build your nest upon no tree here; for you see God has sold the forest to Death, and every tree whereupon we rest is ready to be cut down. We must flee and build upon the Rock. Jesus is that Rock.” — Rutherford, 1661