In This Issue:
We’re Not Perfect, Just Forgiven
Many Will Always Find Fault
Walking As He Walked
Won by His Wife’s Faith
Our Duty to Our Neighbors
Volume: 1007 May 26, 2025
Theme: A Christian’s Testimony
If you like The BIBLE VIEW, you will most likely look forward to receiving The Daily View, a free daily devotion. Sign up (https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/a26cc9M), and you will be e-mailed a link to read or HEAR a KJV chapter and a short commentary (200-700 words) of something taught in the day’s reading. The e-mail will include a mini-sermon in pictures, a prayer list, Thought for The Day, a Bible study, and short articles reinforcing biblical principles.
We’re Not Perfect, Just Forgiven
Bill Brinkworth
“And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse him.” Mark 3:2
In Mark 3:2, the Son of God had come down to mankind and healed many who were sick and possessed. Instead of lining the streets and having a ticker-tape parade to show their gratitude, they watched Him carefully to see if they could find Jesus doing something wrong. The crowd that usually was looking for Him to fail was composed of “religious” folks.
Today is no different. If it happened to the Son of God, then Christians can certainly expect similar treatment today. When someone hears we are a Christian, they carefully observe our lives. If they find us doing something wrong in their eyes, they gleefully point and sneer, “Some Christian he is” or “Hypocrite!”
Well, they can look all they want, and if they look long and carefully enough, they will find us doing something wrong. We still have the same flesh we were born with that will still sin if we let it. A Christian certainly is not perfect, just forgiven.
We are imperfect and will make mistakes; nevertheless, we should always try our best to exemplify Christian behavior. There will always be some watching how we go through hard times, how we react when others do us wrong, what we do when we are tempted, and how we live. It is interesting how the observers may have no interest or experience in living for the Lord themselves, but somehow they think they know how we should live.
We have a tremendous weight on our shoulders. The scorners and scoffers should be reading their Bible and examining their lives compared to what God requires of us all, but they usually do not. They scrutinize our testimonies for the Saviour instead.
Quite often, they look for us to fail so that they can write off any conviction they may have for their ungodly lifestyle or for even their attempting to obey Scripture. When they think we have failed, they feel justified for living as they do. However, they are usually unaware of the biblical principle, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12. Also: Matthew 12:36). Everyone will ultimately give an account of himself. No one’s shortcomings can be a valid excuse for another’s wrongdoing.
Not only can our lifestyle not be an excuse for someone not to live a godly life, but rather, it should be an example of how to live a godly life. The world is confused and distraught. They often see that their ways do not work. They are looking for a way to live a better life. Are you being the example they would want to follow to have a closer relationship with God and to have a better life?
“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” II Cor. 10:12
Many Will Always Find Fault
Bill Brinkworth
“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” Matthew 11:18-19
You surely have heard the saying, “You can’t please all the people all the time”. It certainly is true, especially in living for the Lord.
John the Baptist experienced much criticism. Jesus noted of the prophet that there was none greater than John was (Mat. 11:11), yet that godly man was accused of being demon-possessed (Mat. 11:18). Jesus, the sinless Son of God, was also charged with being gluttonous and a drunkard (Mat. 11:19) among other criticisms.
If those great spiritual giants were wrongly accused and poorly spoken of, we Christians should not be surprised when things are twisted around, and we are talked about negatively. Here are some thoughts to remember when your reputation is being questioned:
- If it is true, then we have some apologizing and changing to do.
- If it is not true, consider the source of the rebuke. In John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ case, it was people that Jesus considered immature “children” (Mat. 11:16). Is the one speaking ill of you someone with great discernment or someone in the flesh and not being led spiritually?
- If they are seeing things incorrectly or not hearing both sides of the situation (Pro. 18:13), it is their error, not yours.
- Some spoke negatively of Jesus. How could we expect better treatment than God’s only Son?
It is impossible to please all the people all the time!
“Live so you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.”
— Author Unknown
Walking As He Walked
Bible Readings for the Home
- The way of the Christian was set for us by Jesus himself.
“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” I John 2:6
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” I Peter 2:21
- The footprints that Jesus set for us to follow lead unvaryingly along the way of God’s commandments.
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my ather’s commandments, and abide in his love.” John 15:10
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” I John 5:3
- The pathway is the same today as when Jesus walked in Judea.
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Heb. 13:8
Won by His Wife’s Faith
C. H. Spurgeon
I have read the story of a man who was converted to God by seeing the conduct of his wife in an hour of trouble. They had a lovely child, their only offspring. The father’s heart doted on it perpetually, and the mother’s soul was knit up in the heart of the little one. The child lay sick upon its bed, and the parents watched it night and day. At last, it died.
The father had no God. He tore out his hair. He rolled upon the floor in misery, wallowed upon the earth, cursed his being, and defied God.
There sat his wife, as fond of the child as possible, and though tears came, she gently said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
“What!” he said, “You love that child! I thought that when that child died, it would break your heart. Here I am, a strong man; I am going mad. Here are you, and yet you are strong and bold. Tell me what it is that possesses you?”
She answered, “Christ is my Lord. I trust in Him. Surely, I can give this child to Him who gave Himself for me.”
From that instant, the man became a believer. “There must,” he reasoned, “be some truth and some power in the Gospel which could lead you to believe in such a manner under such a trial.”
“Our example is the only Bible which millions of people read today.
— James E. Murray
Our Duty to Our Neighbors
C. H. Spurgeon
An infidel once met a Christian and said, “I know you do not believe your religion.”
“Why?” asked the Christian.
“Because,” said the unsaved man, “for years, you have passed me on my way to my house of business. You believe, do you not, there is a Hell, into which men’s spirits are cast?”
“Yes, I do,” said the Christian.
“And you believe that unless I believe in Christ, I must be sent there?”
“Yes.”
“You do not, I am sure, because if you did, you must be a most inhuman wretch to pass me, day by day, and never tell me about it or warn me of it.”
“If you want your neighbor to see what Christ will do for him, let him see what He has done for you.” — H. Beecher