BACK TO SCHOOL AGAIN

By

Shelby G. Floyd

This is the time of the year when young people begin to think about going back to school. Let us capitalize on this thought and apply it to the Christian life.

From the beginning to the end the Christian life is like a school. In the great commission Jesus commanded his people to go out and “make disciples” out of all the nations (Matthew 28:18-20). “Make disciples” is from (matheteuo), and means “to make a disciple; to teach, instruct” (J. H. Thayer, p. 386). Therefore, we are to be teachers and pupils under the Master-Teacher, Jesus Christ.

THE SECRET OF LEARNING

The secret of learning in this school as in all schools is to teach much, ask much, remember much and do much! The School of Life perhaps is best summarized by the statement of David, Continue reading “BACK TO SCHOOL AGAIN”

USING ACADEMIC TITLES AS RELIGIOUS TITLES

By

Shelby G. Floyd

In the latter part of the life of Christ, his disciples were concerned about the question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1)? Continue reading “USING ACADEMIC TITLES AS RELIGIOUS TITLES”

MAKING A CHOICE

By

Shelby G. Floyd

make-the-right-choice

Joel, the prophet, said, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:14). Figuratively, this pictures all of us as in a valley. We have a decision to make, and if we make the right decision, we will climb up to the mountains of success and with God’s approval. If we make the wrong decision will go down into the depths of despair and destruction. So in the words of Joel, every man who lives upon the earth will one day find himself in the valley of decision.

God made us with the power of choice, or the power to decide. You take a robot, or a computer, or a machine, and it has no power of choice or decision. Today, a computer is a wonderful machine or instrument, and they can do wonderful things, but it can’t decide to do anything but what has been programmed by someone else to do. Man is not like that. Man is a creature of choice. We are made in the image of God, and at least a part of that image is the power of choice between right and wrong. You and I then are in the valley of decision. And we must make the decision for the right or for the wrong.

Our lesson then is to encourage each one of you to always consider God’s moral standards, his religious standards and make your decisions in accordance with those standards that God has given. If we make the right choice then we will be glad as long as we live and throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. If we make the wrong choice, then we will regret that choice forever and forever. Continue reading “MAKING A CHOICE”