Treasure Digest

• Become as Little Children
• A Potato Lesson About Forgiveness
• God Answers Small Prayers
• Resist the Enemy
• Is It OK for a Christian to Be "Cool"?
• For I Was in Prison and You Visited Me
• Turning the Hearts...Children's Children Are a Crown—to Grandparents!
• Quiz: Who's My Father?
• Question and Answer: Doesn't Colossians 2:14-15 Say the Law Was Nailed to the Cross?
• Children's Corner [See PDF Version Page 17]
• Share Your Treasures!

Become as Little Children

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3-4).

We've all heard the command from Jesus Christ to become as little children, and there are many angles from which to consider this instruction.

Recently I was struck by an insight into this, thanks to my 1 1/2-year-old daughter, Cadence. Lately she is very interested in the telephone and likes to pretend to talk on it (though her vocabulary is quite small). I was listening in to her conversation, which went something like this, "Hello? Hi! Um hum, yes, yes. Bye." The words and intonation were nearly an exact replica of what you might hear me saying to one of my friends on the phone.

How remarkable that a child, without really understanding the purpose, will mimic nearly everything his or her parents do. I thought this was an interesting thing to witness and apply to our spiritual lives.

God likewise wants us to mimic Him and develop His character. We may not always fully understand the great purpose that each bit of it has, but it is necessary that our actions imitate those of our Father to develop holy and righteous character.

In the same line of thinking, it also occurred to me, what if babies didn't mimic their parents? What if they decided that they didn't need to develop these characteristics and that their way was perfectly fine and perhaps even better?

How useless that would be—they would never come close to reaching their full potential as human beings.

Likewise, if we do not act as our Father and Lord Jesus Christ do and do not develop their characteristics, we will also never come close to reaching our true, spiritual potential. Just some food for thought!

—Cindy Phelps
Cincinnati, Ohio, East congregation

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A Potato Lesson About Forgiveness

Take a potato and write on it the name of a person who has offended you, causing you to feel angry, upset, slandered, embarrassed, belittled, etc. Do this for every person who has done something against you that you have never forgiven.

When you have finished, gather all your potatoes together and place them in a bag. Keep this bag with you at all times. Take it to work, take it to lunch and take it with you everywhere you go. Have it with you at home.

How long will it take you to become weary of carrying this burden around? How long will it take the potatoes to sprout, then rot, fester and smell?

Wouldn't it be great to be free from the weight, stench and constant reminder of hurt feelings, disappointment, heartache and anger? By hanging onto things that are unpleasant, we create more anguish for ourselves. When you forgive someone, you free yourself from an oppressive load of negativity. Forgiveness allows you to create peace in your life.

Every one of us has been offended or upset with someone at one time or another. How long have we carried around the oppressive heavy burden, developed hardness of the heart and just didn't let it go? It usually doesn't bother the person who caused you to be offended as much as it hurts you to continually be obsessing over the offense. Not being forgiving can cause you physical, emotional and spiritual stress. This is a good lesson you can teach your children too.

The "Lord's Prayer" in Matthew 6 is quoted often as the example of how we are to pray. Verse 12 reads, "And forgive us our debts [sins], as we forgive our debtors." Verses 14 and 15 read, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you forgive men not their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Another set of scriptures we often quote is called the "Beatitudes" in Matthew 5:3-11. Verse 7 reads, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Ask God in prayer to show you how to forgive and show mercy to others. It's not always the easiest thing to do, but it's the godly principle we have to do in order to become more like our Father and Jesus Christ.

—Shelby Faith
St. Louis, Missouri, congregation

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God Answers Small Prayers

Several years ago, shopping for the entire month's groceries with my children along could be quite an ordeal for everyone.

On one of these grocery trips, one of my daughters brought along her favorite doll. My son, being mischievous, had been teasing her during the entire time at the grocery store. It wasn't malicious, just out-of-boredom teasing. After dealing with this frustration in the store, we finally headed home.

Traffic was especially heavy that day for some reason. It was summertime, so we had our windows open. We had to rely on 4/60 air-conditioning: All four windows down and driving at a brisk pace. Still teasing his little sister, my son playfully held the dolly out of the window. I hit a bump on the road, and, wouldn't you know it, the dolly fell to the middle of the street.

When she started crying, I looked in the rearview mirror. Sure enough, I saw the dolly in the middle of the road, and the car behind me was closing in. She cried for her dolly.

My son was beside himself, "Mom, I didn't mean to. Really, I didn't."

She cried, "I want my dolly!"

In my frustration, I said, "I can't go back now. Traffic is too heavy."

"Then what are we going to do?" my son asked as he tried to console his sister.

In my frustration I said the first thing that came to mind: "Pray about it." I was not expecting anything to happen really, but the car quieted down. In retrospect, probably all six of us, my five children and myself, were praying for that. I only know my prayer, which was that she be contented and that God give me the wisdom to handle the situation.

Since it was a half hour drive to the store without heavy traffic, I soon concentrated on getting us and the groceries home before they spoiled in the heat. When we arrived at home, my older children grabbed bags to take inside, and my little girl ran inside. In less than 15 seconds she came running back with the doll in her hands—the same one that had fallen on the street!

In disbelief, I asked, "Is this the same doll?" All of my children nodded.

My son said, "Mom, I saw it fall on the street!"

We were all amazed that day, but every time something comes up, I remind my children, "Remember the doll? God answers small prayers."

—Sonia Barthel
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, congregation

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Resist the Enemy

Our enemy is relentless. Peter warned us in 1 Peter 5:7-8 that we must be ever vigilant and resist the attacks of the enemy. Just because we've been hurt badly and are a much smaller church than we once were does not mean the devil has packed up and retired. He will never stop attacking us until he is locked up for good. His tactics are well known: distract, discourage, divide and overwhelm with despair. And yet, knowing this, we still fall for the same temptations.

One of the devil's tried and true tactics is to get brethren to do his dirty work for him, by enticing us to sow discord and division in the Church. God hates the sowing of division. God's Spirit in us will be peaceable and patient (1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-23). Deeply converted people do not argue and wrangle over doctrine (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

Pride revels in being right and winning the argument. Human nature is impatient, but godly love patiently waits for God to set the record straight in His time and in His way. Paul advised us that when we believe a thing that would cause someone else to stumble, that we must keep it between us and God alone (Romans 14:22).

We need to focus on the big picture—God's Kingdom—and not be distracted from our true calling to focus on minutiae. Don't fall into the trap of obsessing about some issues and falling short in the weightier matters (as the Pharisees did). Don't be distracted by the world and its problems (1 John 2:15; 2 Timothy 2:4). Let worldly people deal with worldly problems (Matthew 8:22).

Don't be pulled into causes, controversies or crusades to the detriment of your true calling. Paul urged us to focus on our true calling, casting all else aside, and to not neglect the fabulous opportunity that God has offered us (Hebrews 12:1-2, 2:1-3).

—Jay Turner
San Jose, California, congregation

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Is It OK for a Christian to Be "Cool"?

Is it OK for a Christian to be cool? This question is made difficult by the fact that the term cool has come to be used as a synonym for many positive concepts such as good, confident, beautiful, perfect, ingenious, stylish or fine.

But the original, hard-core concept of coolness is not such a positive thing. We think of coolness as an expression of the modern personality. We learned it in school if we are about age 50 or younger. Our society is saturated with this concept by the entertainment industry.

What is this coolness really? Hard-core coolness is an expression of feeling self-confident and superior to others. It's hallmark is a mildly expressed disdain for others who do not share one's "superior" traits. This disdain is expressed by withholding attention, friendliness or warmth, hence to be "cool."

This attitude is based on a feeling that a person is superior because he or she has more money, is sexier or in some way physically superior in appearance, has the "right" clothes, listens to the "right" music or rubs shoulders with the "right" people.

Spiritually, this type of coolness is an expression of human pride or, as 1 John 2:16 calls it, "the pride of life." The Bible has much to say about pride. Jesus Christ calls it an evil that defiles a man (Mark 7:22-23). Proverbs says God hates a proud look (Proverbs 6:17) and that God will "destroy the house of the proud" (15:25)

It is interesting that God can be cool—cool toward the proud. "Though the L ord is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar" (Psalm 138:6). He sees their attitude as an abomination (Proverbs 16:5). God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

Obviously coolness that comes from pride is not something for Christians to adopt in attitude or in manner. We must recognize that the physical advantages that we may have in this life are only a gift from God. As the Scripture says: "It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves" (Psalm 100:3). Disdain for the weak, the poor, the unattractive or the disenfranchised is simply wrong.

Warmth (the expression of God's love, grace and concern) instead of coolness, is what God desires in His children. Opening our hearts to others means having humility instead of pride.

—Susan Herrmann
Canton, Ohio, congregation

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For I Was in Prison and You Visited Me

God is calling some in prison. If your pastor mentions that there are prospective members in prison in your area, what can you do to help? Talk with your pastor and consider these ideas.

An inmate needs to be connected to the real world. He needs to know that someone believes in him and understands what he is going through so that he will hang on to his humanity and be a better person once he is released.

Mail time and visitation are the only bright spots in an otherwise drab and brutal life. While most people can't actually visit inmates due to prison regulations and visitation lists, others can write. Consistency is important in fostering connections and hope. The average inmate gets very few visits and a letter only about six times a year. In addition, after having been incarcerated for a year or more, an inmate is likely to find that for the most part he has been forgotten by many of his friends and family members. This is very painful and discouraging to an inmate.

Visiting with an inmate, whether by mail or in person, does not mean condoning his wrongs. It is very inspiring to an inmate when someone he is close to holds him accountable for his behavior by expecting the best of him. Giving him examples of former inmates who are now doing well is also helpful.

Letting him know that you are looking out for his family members is a wonderful way to foster his connections to the real world and helps the family members as well. From my own experience I know that it is rewarding to help someone in prison become a person that society can be proud of.

—Marilyn Braley
Houston South, Texas, congregation

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Turning the Hearts...
Children's Children Are a Crown—to Grandparents!

Did you ever meet a grandma who didn't have photos of her grandkids handy? I remember my wife walking through airports with a canvas bag that had slots for photos on the outside. Many commented on the pictures of our grandchildren.

Grandparents have a glow on their faces when they think about or speak of their grandchildren. Often when I talk with others who are grandparents, I sense their love for and the desire to be with their grandchildren as often as possible.

Grandparents are a blessing to any family in so many ways. We will explore some of these occasionally in this column. This time I want to focus on helping lead our grandchildren to be righteous.

"Therefore know that the L ord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments" (Deuteronomy 7:9; see also 6:7). Three of those generations involve you as a grandparent and your grandchildren.

How may we help keep our grandchildren following God?

1. Our Example. We can, with God's help, be Christlike in all we do. How we treat our grandchildren and others will say much about whether our grandkids will follow in God's way.

2. Our Teaching. Grandparents have so many experiences with life and particularly with the Christian life. We may impart to our grandchildren the wisdom and godliness that we have learned. It is important to teach our grandchildren the godly principles through stories or lessons. Read to them in a way that children may understand the wonderful examples of biblical heroes. We can help our grandchildren come to love those who walked with God so they may have godly models to follow.

3. Our Blessings. We can show them the principle of giving by bringing presents and doing things for them. Giving them books and toys or their favorite meals will show them that there are benefits to following godly ways. They will learn that giving brings happiness both to the giver and receiver.

Remember Proverbs 17:6, "Children's children are the crown of old men [and women]."

—Gary E. Antion

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Quiz: Who's My Father?

The word father is used 943 times in the New King James Version. Sometimes details are given about a father, and sometimes he is just a name in a genealogy. Try your hand at identifying the following fathers.

__ 1. My father was a Levite who had two wives. My mother, his favorite, was distressed because for years she was barren. Peninnah, his other wife, had children and made life miserable for my mother. In desperation, my mother vowed to God that if He gave her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord all the days of his life, and that he would be a Nazirite. God answered and I was born. (Bonus: What is my name?)

__ 2. My father was a ruler of the synagogue, and he came to Jesus pleading for His help. I, his only daughter and a mere 12 years old, lay dying. Then someone arrived saying, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher." Jesus comforted my father, saying that if he believed, I would be made well. When He came to our house, people were already mourning, and ridiculed Him when He told them not to weep. He put them all out. When He said, "Little girl arise," I did, and my parents were astonished.

__ 3. Our father lived in Caesarea, and was one of the original seven deacons chosen by the Church to care for the widows. He also was an evangelist, preaching in the city of Samaria, and he was the one who taught and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch. My sisters and I didn't marry, and we were all prophetesses. (Bonus: How many sisters did I have?)

__ 4. My father was a Gileadite, a mighty man of valor, and because he was the son of a harlot, his brothers drove him away from home. He went to the land of Tob and gathered a band of raiders to follow him. When Israel was threatened by the Ammonites, the elders of Gilead approached him for help, and he came back as their leader. My father vowed that if God would deliver the Ammonites into his hand, when he returned he would offer the first thing that came out of his house to meet him as a burnt offering. To his distress, I, his daughter and only child, came out to meet him. Scholars are not sure of my actual fate—whether I was sacrificed or lived as a virgin consecrated to God.

__ 5. My father, a Danite, and my mother could not have children. One day an angel appeared to my mother, announcing that she would at last have a son, and that she was not to drink any alcoholic beverage or eat any unclean thing during her pregnancy. I was to be a Nazirite. When my mother told my father of this visit, my father, wanting to hear for himself, prayed to God to send the man of God again, which He did. This time, my father, realizing that he was talking to an angel, feared for their lives. But as promised, I was born a short time later. My father has a name, but my mother is anonymous. (Bonus: What is my name?)

(a) Jephthah
(b) Philip
(c) Elkanah
(d) Manoah
(e) Jairus

—Karen Meeker
St. Louis, Missouri, congregation

Answers: 1. c (1 Samuel 1); 2. e (Luke 8:41-56); 3. b (Acts 6:5; 8:26-30; 21:8-9); 4. a (Judges 11:1-40); 5 d (Judges 13:1-25).

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Question and Answer: Doesn't Colossians 2:14-15 Say the Law Was Nailed to the Cross?

Many have asked about Colossians 2:14-15 and the "handwriting of ordinances that was against us" (King James Version), which Paul said Christ nailed to the cross.

The Greek expression translated "handwriting of ordinances" is cheirographon tois dogmasin. Cheirographon refers to "a hand-written document, specif. a certificate of indebtedness" and can be translated as "account, record of debts" ( BDAG Lexicon ). So Colossians 2:14 means that the sacrificial death of Christ "cancelled the record of our debts"—the death penalty of our sins ( Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domains ).

The Revised Standard Version helps make the meaning clear: "having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross." Likening the "handwriting of ordinances" to something comparable in our modern justice system, it would be the formal written order of a death sentence, after the presentation and weighing of all evidence against us.

That is, Colossians 2:14 speaks of our death warrant, issued for spiritual crimes (sin, or breaking the law of God). God commutes the death sentence when a person repents of sin and seeks His forgiveness. Paul's wording is a dramatic characterization of the benefit of Christ's sacrifice. Christ's sacrifice effectively nails the "death warrant" bearing our name and the sins we committed to His cross, taking the death penalty on Himself. Forgiveness is more than a pardon, for the penalty for our spiritual crimes wasn't merely set aside. It was paid in full by Christ's death.

Imagine a court official hammering the certified copy of an execution order with your name on it onto the stake upon which the Romans crucified Jesus—which was splattered with His life's blood—to show that you do not have to die for your spiritual crime. That's the striking illustration Paul presented in Colossians 2:14.

Those who would have us believe that it refers to the cancellation of God's law violently misrepresent Paul's powerful teaching analogy. Again, likening it to our modern justice system, their characterization would be like saying that commuting the death sentence of a criminal ended all laws against crime. The lack of common sense is obvious.

Our booklets The Ten Commandments and Sunset to Sunset: God's Sabbath Rest explain in clear language how the law is applicable and necessary in the everyday life of the Christian. You can find them online at the literature library of our Web site at www.ucg.org.

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Share Your Treasures!

Do you have any short items of biblical wisdom, humor or practical information that you would like to share in this section? Or if you have any suggestions, please contact United News, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027 or mike_bennett@ucg.org.

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