Water Mill Church of Christ

Thought for Wednesday: Rest a Little Longer One of the turning-points in Revelation occurs in our reading today. The souls of those who have been slain for holding to the faith of Christ cry out, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge? (6:10). It’s a how long that has been felt in many a life. ... I notice three things in the answer that comes to them (6:11). First, they are each given a white robe, as if signifying purity and victory. Second, they are encouraged to rest a little longerin other words, to wait and to trust the Lord to complete his purposes. And third, they are reminded that they are not alone, but that they have fellow servants and brothers who share in their hardship. We might bear those three factors in mind in our prayers today. 1. Lay the evil in the world at the throne, and ask our Sovereign Lord to vindicate our faith at the time and in the way that is best. 2. Ask him for peace and strength while you rest until that time. 3. Thank him for every resource and every person he uses to provide you with strength and encouragement in the meantime. --Bill

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THOUGHT FOR TUESDAY: The Lamb-Lion Our reading today (Revelation 5) assures us that we need not worry whether the purposes of him who is seated on the throne will ever be done. There is one standing by the throne who is fully worthy of taking the will of the Lord God Almighty in hand and bringing it to its completion.... He appears as a Lamb who has been slain. Yet, there he stands at the throne! His having been slain has accomplished something. By his blood he has ransomed a people from the world for God, and he has made that people a kingdom and priests. In fact, their prayers are rising to the throne because he is there. And in reality he is the Lion who conquers. Though he has done a Lamb’s work, he has perfect power and perfect knowledge in all the earth, and he stands ready to use it in behalf of his people. All of heaven proclaims his worthiness to do so. Today let’s add our prayers to the golden bowls full of incense and our Amen! to the Lamb-Lion’s place in this picture of life as it is. 1. Thank the Lord God the Lamb’s ransom-price blood, and for his leading, shepherding, comforting work in your life. 2. Pray for the people whom he purchased, his church. Pray that the church may faithfully submit to his rule and that we may lovingly function as a priesthood. 3. Turn the evil, animosity, and hardship that is in the world over to God, and ask him to bless the Lion’s work in conquering all that hinders his will and hurts his people. Have a great Tuesday. --Bill

Thought for Thursday Speaking Fitly When you stop and think about it, it’s amazing how relevant Proverbs 25 is right now. These proverbs of Solomon seem to place proper relation to rulers and appropriate talk among people side by side. It seems that it’s more important that our words be fitly spoken where our governing authorities are concerned, not less (v. 11, 15). Think about it.... Speaking fitly is talking to the persons involved, not about them. Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secretThe north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks (v. 9, 23). Speaking fitly is offering the caring and the substance that is needed. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprove to a listening ear (v. 12). Speaking fitly is conveying a true impression others can depend on and benefit from. Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his mastersA man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow (v. 13). Speaking fitly is speaking of a thing at the right time in the other person’s life. Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda (v. 20). Speaking fitly is talking about good things wherever possible, intending to bless. Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country (v. 25). --Bill

Join Bill as he wraps up his series on the mighty works of Jesus.

And Behold, a Throne Stood in Heaven Our reading today, Revelation 4, is dominated by the throne in heaven and the Lord God Almighty to whom it belongs. His beauty is such that the most wonderful things we know of are not enough to do him justice. His presence is so awesome that even the mighty, the living, and the great fall down before him. His holiness is so complete and constant, so good and right, that every other crown is cast before him as all heaven breaks forth in... confession that he is the worthy Sovereign. It’s a vision we need. Remember as you read that it wouldn’t have felt like this throne exists, or that one like this occupies it, any more to the original readers of this book than it does to us. Their daily experience involved the pressures of worldliness, opposing powers, and false religion to as great a degree as ours does, and in some ways, more. The first thing either for either them, or us, to know about the things that are to come is that this God will still occupy the throne. Today let’s remember this in our prayers. 1. Express thanks to God for the reassurance that there is a throne, and that a Person such as he is occupies it, and that he is in control. 2. Pray that his name may be kept as holy in your life as it is seen to be in this vision. 3. Ask him to exercise his wise and good rule in your life today and always. --Bill

Kids, join Justin as he begins a new short series on the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11!

12/06 Worship Service

THOUGHT FOR TUESDAY: The Victory We could all use a victory now and again, couldn’t we? In fact, we might say that to live is to aspire to victories of one kind or another, and to invest self in overcoming obstacles to them, and to celebrate when they come.... Our readings yesterday and today include two grand declarations on this great theme. First, You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world (1 Jn. 4:4). Then, For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith (1 Jn. 5:4, both NASB). Our faith is the victory, not because it’s ours nor because of how much we believe, but because its object is one who is greater that he that is in the worldJesus Christ. He has overcome the world (Jn. 16:33), and his righteous life and his resurrection is proof forever that whoever is born of God overcomes the world. And that’s us, too, for we’ve been born of God through himwe confess him, have him, abide in him, and walk and he walked. The victory is so significant because the world that is overcome is the entire realm in which the evil one lives. It is the whole system by which he deceives and rulesthe lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of lifeall that is not from the Father and that is passing away (2:16, 17). It is darkness and death and all their bitter fruit in human experienceand the victory is over it and the evil one whose work it is. There is reassurance here. In Christ, we have been forgiven; we know the Father; we know him who has been from the beginning; we are strong; the word of God remains in us; we have overcome the evil one (2:12-14). The victory of all victories is ours. --Bill Water Mill Church of Christ 417-866-0915 417-831-0312 Fax

Thought for the day: We Because He Our reading today includes the saying that’s on the sign at the driveway into our parking lot, thanks to Scott. You’ve seen it: We love because he first loved us (1 Jn. 4:19). Aside from making quite a claim for us to live up to, this great statement is reminding us of the highly significant fact that our faith is both positive and responsive. The faith of Christ starts with God and makes corresponding changes in all who embrace it.... Because of who God is, we revere him above all else and desire to be like him in all things. We know his eternity, might, presence, knowledge, and rule to be the basis of reality, so we stand in awe of him. We hold sacred the personal qualities by which he makes himself knownmercy, grace, patience, love, truthfulness, loyalty, forgiving spirit, and justiceand we both admire and aspire to them. Because of what God has done, we are grateful to him and responsible to him. Simply put, he made us, and we are his. He gives us all life and breath and everything, so we seek after him, and according to his image rather than our imagination. He gives us every good gift and satisfies our hearts, so we turn to him, the living God and the changeless Father. Because of what God will do, we serve him and trust him. Since he will judge the world in righteousness, we understand ourselves as servants who will give an account of ourselves to him. Since he will bless those who have remained steadfast with the crown of life, we love him, wait for his promise, and run the race before us with endurancebecause he first loved us. We are because he was first. Today, may my faith be both responsive and positive. --Bill

Worship Service Recorded 10/25

SATURDAY DEVOTIONAL: Just As I Am! A song we are familiar with, #380 in our songbook, ‘Just As I Am,’ was written by Charlotte Elliot in 1836. The text was born within the soul of an invalid woman who wrote these words out of intense feelings of uselessness and despair. At the age of thirty, her health began to fail rapidly and ‘often endured seasons of great physical suffering’ until she passed at the age of eighty-two. (101 Hymn Stories, Osbeck, pp. 146-147)....Continue reading

FRIDAY DEVOTIONAL: Give Me Life Yesterday, in our daily devotional Bill taught us, from Psalm 119, ‘it’s about knowing the heart of the living God.’ We realize and proclaim He is the source of life. The phrase, ‘give me life,’ is seen eleven times in this chapter (v. 25, 37, 40, 50, 88, 93, 107, 149, 154, 156, 159). Read each one and notice what goes with it....Continue reading

THOUGHT FOR THURSDAY: It Is My Meditation Our reading today, Psalm 119, does in a perfect way what we, in our imperfect way, try to do with these thoughts for the day (note v.97). It’s a wonderful poetic celebration of how blessed we are that the God of heaven cares enough about us to have made his ways and his will known to us. It consists of 22 stanzas, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, each of them built of 8 verses, the first word of each beginning with the ...letter for that stanza. The design itself illustrates the message. Here are some of the lines in the great psalm that are especially meaningful to me in the shadow of what these last few months have brought us. When I think of your ordinances from of old, I take comfort, O LORD (v.52, NRSV). I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful to me according to thy word (v.58, ASV). If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction (v.92, ESV). Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (v.105, ESV). You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word (v.114, ESV). The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever (v.160, NRSV). Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble (v.165, ESV). Such a thought process as this psalm illustrates isn’t merely a fascination with knowing the scriptures. It’s about knowing the heart of the living God. It’s a meditation about how blessed those are who seek him with their whole heart (v.2). Today let’s be among them. --Bill

Join Justin as he continues his series on Philippians.

Join Bill as he continues his series looking at the mighty works of Jesus.