Green Oaks Church of Christ
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Bible Correspondence Course
  • Study Materials
    • Sermons
    • Books
    • Video Sermons
    • Printable Studies
  • Thought For The Week
  • Links
  • Members
    • Monthly News

Thought for the Week

​Each week Brother Joe Norton shares his inspirational insights to Scripture.
Joe Norton

faith above all

1/28/2018

 
“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16).
 
Paul has been giving some closing instructions to his Ephesian brethren when he pens these words. He has exhorted them to put on the whole armor of God and to stand strong in their convictions about the Lord.
 
A shield for a Roman soldier was a large, oblong object that could protect almost his entire body, and the fiery darts were weapons with flammable materials on their tips—actually, firebrands—with the capability of starting a fire. This metaphor gives dramatic impact to this wonderful teaching about the power of Satan and the place a strong faith has in the Christian’s arsenal.
 
No Christian has ever lived who has not suffered the intensity of Satan’s temptations in his attempt to draw us away from God. The power we need to withstand such is a powerful, scripturally based conviction that God does exist and that Jesus Christ is His Son. Paul says we need this kind of faith “above all”—that is, above anything else he could name to keep a child of God faithful.

the righteous will prevail

1/21/2018

 
“You are of purer eyes than to behold evil,
And cannot look on wickedness. 
Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, 
And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours 
One more righteous than he” (Habakkuk 1:13).

In complaining to God about the success of the wicked Chaldeans against the Israelites, Habakkuk asks God a question that is not dissimilar to one asked by many since that time: Why does God allow wicked people to succeed?

The Chaldeans are troubling Israel, apparently successfully. The prophet ponders the perfection of God and questions whether the punishment he is allowing Israel to undergo is consistent with His nature. Why can God sit back and allow such wicked people to be so successful against His own people?

God provides a sound answer for the prophet later where He assures him that the wicked shall eventually be brought to judgment and “the just shall live by his faith.” In this reply, he is projecting His answer not only to the Israelites then but to all who will stand before God in judgment.

It is easy for any generation to look around and observe the success of those who have no spiritual inclinations and ask the same question. It can be discouraging for people to strive to live righteous lives and to observe the apparent success of those who do not fear God and keep His commandments. The scriptures assure us that God is in control and that everything will come out fairly in the end.

stand firm

1/14/2018

 
“The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
 
When the preacher talks about fear in this verse, he is talking about the fear that comes when we find ourselves in a situation where we are intimidated—that is, where we feel if we do what is right, we will be embarrassed or find ourselves in an awkward position.
 
In such situations, he says we should always trust in the Lord and not fear other people. We should make the decision to do what is right, regardless of the consequences.
 
In other words, we should never allow our perceived estimation of the power of another person cause us to compromise our integrity and yield to pressure to conform or to do wrong. We have the promises of the Lord with us at all times.

renewed in knowledge

1/7/2018

 
“…and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:10).

In describing the one who has committed himself to God, Paul has just mentioned several fleshly activities and emotions that one must eliminate from his life. In this verse, he describes the other side of the coin—that is, the person who has “put on the new man” in Christ.

As years come and go, we change in behavior and actions because we gain more knowledge and because we learn from our experiences. As a result, we renew ourselves so that we can be better.

There is no better time for Christians to facilitate this renewal than at the beginning of a new year. We look inwardly so that we can determine how serious we really are about our Christianity. And if we are serious about this introspection, we will make decisions, based upon God’s word, that will change our lives and attitudes.

Once we make those decisions, it remains for us to be sure we carry through with them—only then can we realize the real benefits that will move us along in our quest for Christian growth.

    Joe Norton

    Archives

    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    Attitude
    Christian Living
    Commitment
    Conformity
    Dealing With Life
    Endurance
    Faith
    God
    Goodness
    Jesus
    Peace
    Serious Seer
    Sin
    Thankfulness
    The Word
    Truth
    Wisdom
    Workers

    RSS Feed

4601 SW Green Oaks Blvd. Arlington, TX 76017
Service Times: Sundays 10:00 & 2:30.  Wednesdays 7:30
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Bible Correspondence Course
  • Study Materials
    • Sermons
    • Books
    • Video Sermons
    • Printable Studies
  • Thought For The Week
  • Links
  • Members
    • Monthly News