I once asked a man why he did not become a Christian. He replied that there were so many in his business who were trying to get the financial advantage of him that he could not do right but must do the same with them or he could not “keep even.”
But let us see what it really means to be “even.” If a man lies about me, and to get even I lie about him, then we are even. He is a liar and I am a liar—both on the same plane. He is going to the judgment to give account for his lie and so am I for mine: even again. If he does not repent, he will go to hell for lying, and if I do not repent, I shall go too. Yes we may get even, but I would rather not be so. If a man beats me out of ten dollars, to get even I must watch my chance to do likewise to him. If I do not try to beat him to get even, he may have more money in his pocket than I, but if I turn the matter over for settlement to Him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” when the final account is rendered, I shall be ten dollars or more ahead.
Let us not endeavor to be “even” with our enemies by taking vengeance but let us do right and win them to the gospel by overcoming evil with good. Let us get even by raising others up instead of lowering our selves to their sinful level. Be a blessing to all. Set a right example.
Heart Talks by C. W. Naylor
#devotional #dailydevotional #christiandevotional #morningdevotional #inspiration #bible #christian #motivationalquote #inspirationalquote #devo
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“I’ll get even with that fellow if it takes ten years.”
Vile and wrong deeds always degrade man to a lower state. Every evil deed, word, or thought lowers us in moral being. If someone has done evil toward us, he has lowered himself by that act, and for us to decide to “get even” by a similar act toward him is for us to decide that we will lower ourselves to his level. To “get even” means to get on the same level. It means to abase and degrade ourselves. If we “get even,” we are as bad as he and worthy that others look upon us with the same feelings with which we regard him. If you want to get even with anyone, do not choose someone below you but someone above you in moral attainments, and labor to attain to his height instead
of the other’s depths. This will ennoble you, make you better, and be worthy of a reasoning being.
The principle of revenge has no part in Christianity. God refuses to let us avenge ourselves, no difference what the provocation nor how good the opportunity for vengeance. He says, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:19
21. God forbids us to threaten to “get even” with anyone. “Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.” Proverbs 24:29.
The spirit of Christianity is to render good for evil, blessing for cursing, love for hatred. The blood of Christ will wash away the “get even” disposition from us.
Heart Talks by C. W. Naylor
#devotional #dailydevotional #christiandevotional #morningdevotional #inspiration #bible #christian #motivationalquote #inspirationalquote
Link for book in bio.
The human passions are like water—left unconfined their tendency is always downward. You can carry water upward or force it upward with a pump, but in order to do so you must confine it in a vessel or a pipe. The moment it gains its liberty by breaking through the barrier it rushes downward. So the human passions and propensities must be kept confined by the will. When they are not they carry the whole man downward. By the power of our wills we may raise ourselves to higher altitudes, to greater heights of morality, but the moment the will weakens, so that passion breaks through, the course is immediately downward. Water is raised to heights by great labor; so we reach morality only by the greatest efforts and maintain it only by careful watchfulness and steadfast purpose.
But the sun, with its warming rays, smiles down upon the water, and the water rises in unseen vapor and floats into the atmosphere. There is no struggle and terrible compulsion and repression but only silence, calmness and peace. When it rises from the muddy pool, the stagnant pond, or the filthy gutter it rises pure and clean, leaving behind the mud, the slime, the offensive odors, the noxious germs and bacteria. So when the sunshine of God’s love shines upon us and warms our hearts, it lifts us up from all the slime and filth of sinful habits—clean and pure— into heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
So long as the water is kept warm it floats on ward, but when it cools it condenses and falls back again, perhaps into the same slimy pool. Likewise, so long as our hearts are kept warm by the rays of God’s love shining therein, our pure moral state is easily maintained. But when we lose the warmth of that love, lower things begin to attract us, and soon we fall down toward the former level. Keep your heart ever turned toward the Sun of Righteousness, cherish its soul-warming rays of love, and you will float on the atmosphere of Heaven far above the things of sin.
Heart Talks by C.W. Naylor
Link for book in bio.
Christ proved His love by enduring the scoffs and ill-treatment of the people and the shame and suffering of the cross. By this He proved His love to be real. If our love is genuine, as was that of the saints of old, we can rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for His name. Paul endured all things for the elect’s sake that they might be saved. If we cannot endure the little persecutions, the unkind words, the sneering smiles, the scoffs and jeers of the unbelieving world is it not because our love lacks fervency? The early church took joyfully the spoiling of their goods because they loved their Lord far more than they loved their goods. God’s ministers, in all ages, have endured hardships and perils and have suffered in a thousand ways without faltering because they loved souls as God loves them.
Sometimes people quote the text, “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren,” but if these same brethren do some thing that does not please them they are offended and grieved and are full of complaint and murmuring, and it is hard for them to be reconciled to their brethren. Is the love of such people genuine? Does it really prove that they have passed from death unto life? Love that cannot endure hardness, misrepresentation, neglect and such things and still be sweet and strong, needs to be increased.
Love makes service sweet, sacrifice easy and meek endurance possible. Love enriches, ennobles and blesses. It sweetens the bitter cup; it lightens the heavy load. It strengthens the faltering soul. Let us, therefore, see that we have fervent love toward God, toward each other and toward the lost world.
Heart Talks by C.W. Naylor
Link for book in bio.
We say that we love this glorious gospel; we say we desire to see it spread to the ends of the earth, but how much do we love it compared with our love of self? Do we love it more than self, or equal with self, or far less than self? Many persons spend willingly and even lavishly for self who give sparingly and reluctantly to God. They spend more for their pleasures than they give. If we cannot spend for God and His work more willingly than for self, it is because we do not love Him more than self.
There is no way to avoid the issue. There is plenty of money, so that all the work of the church could be properly financed and no undue burden rest upon any. The fact is there are too many whose love is wanting in that quality which draws out their hearts into the work of God until they are willing to sacrifice for it. It is true that there are many who do love and who prove it by their sacrifices. But it is just as true that there are many others who do not deny themselves and will not even from a sense of duty, to say nothing of making willing sacrifices through the prompting of love.
It is time that we heard more of the practical side of love preached from the pulpit. People who profess salvation, and at the same time manifest an indifference toward the salvation of souls and the work of the church in general, should not be left to drift along in coldness and be lost at last. A sacrificing person or a sacrificing church will be spiritual if the sacrifice is prompted by love. People who are willing to serve and sacrifice rarely backslide.
Heart Talks by C.W. Naylor
Link for book in bio.
Southwest Missouri Revival, October 16–18 at Monark Springs Campground.
Bro. Don Elwell will be the visiting minister.
Schedule
Friday, October 16
7:00 p.m. – Evening Service
Saturday, October 17
10:30 a.m. through supper time – Young People Fellowship at the Neosho Chapel
A day of teaching, fellowship, and activities for the young people.
7:00 p.m. – Evening Service
Sunday, October 18
10:00 a.m. – Morning Service
Lunch will be served following the service.
Snacks will be provided following the Friday and Saturday evening services.
Young people are welcome to stay Friday and Saturday night in private homes in the Neosho area. Please bring a pillow and sleeping bag.
Families may stay in the family unit at the campground. Please bring your own bedding and a heater if desired.
For more information:
General Information: Dan Adams – 417-793-6329
Food: Anita Adams – 417-793-1700
Lodging: Janette Booher – 405-795-2978
We invite you to come worship with us and ask for your prayers for the meeting.
We are told that Jacob loved Rachel so much that he served seven years for her and that those years seemed to him as only a few days. The amount of our love to God is proved by our willingness to serve Him. If there is in us a disposition to do only what we please to do, and if we can, to disregard any of the known will of God, it is a clear evidence that we do not love Him. It matters not what we profess, if we are not willing to put obedience to God’s will before every thing else, it is from lack of love.
Love makes people willing-hearted. There are many things to do; there are many ways to serve, and love prompts us to serve wherever possible. If the work of God stands first in our love, our hands will always be ready for service. I have attended many camp meetings where I have noticed those on whom the labor of the meeting fell. Everybody was willing to sit in the meeting and enjoy the good sermons and take all the blessings they could get; but when it came to the labor and responsibility connected with the meeting willingness, suddenly disappeared and a greater part of the burden fell upon the ministers and a few consecrated brethren and sisters who loved God and the people enough to go to work. I have often had occasion to call for volunteers for service and have often found that many people who can say “Amen” and “Praise the Lord,” and perhaps shout in meeting become suddenly silent when it comes to volunteering for work. The test of their love proves that love is wanting.
There are duties for all. There are opportunities everywhere. Every one of them is a test of love. Brother, sister, how does your love stand the test? Love will not grumble; it will not complain; it will not shrink from service. Do you love as fervently as you ought?
Heart Talks by C.W. Naylor
Link for book in bio.
Again He cares for us in the sense of taking care of us. His care is proved in Him making so beautiful a world to be our home. The flowers, the fruits, the grains, the grasses, the animals, the sunshine, the winds, the rains and all were made to minister to man’s need, comfort and happiness. For us these exist. That we may be, fed He causes the earth to bring forth bountifully. That we may be clothed, He makes the cotton and the flax to grow out of the soil, the wool upon the sheep and causes the silkworm to spin its glossy house. That we might be warmed, He made the coal, the gas and the forests. That we might be protected, He made the stone, the wood, the iron and the clay from which we build houses.
He cares also for our bodies that we may have health. He give us pure crystal water to quench our thirst and cool us in fever, balmy oxygen-laden air to build us up and countless other blessings. Above all this, He is Himself to us a Great Physician whose word heals our suffering bodies and takes us out of the grasp of death.
He cares for us spiritually, giving us His grace to help in every time of need—to shield in temptation, to strengthen in trial, to make strong in adversity, courageous in danger and valiant in conflict.
Truly He cares for us. Let us doubt and fear no more but commit ourselves to Him, knowing that He will “in no wise fail” us.
Heart Talks by C. W. Naylor
#devotional #dailydevotional #christiandevotional #morningdevotional #inspiration #bible #christian #motivationalquote #inspirationalquote #devo
Link for book in bio.
