Ironworks

Why should I be merciful? This is a question that you may not have asked yourself before. Maybe mercy is something that you are given often. For others, maybe we have forgotten the goodness of the mercy God has shown to us. Jesus said after all, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt.5:7) To answer the question, we must first define mercy. What is Mercy           M ercy which comes from the word eleeo ( ἐ λεέω) and describes the act of showing compassion and pity on someone. God perfectly exemplifies mercy. Paul recognized the mercy that God showed him while he sinned in ignorance. I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service; though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy , because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Faithful is the saying,

                 Who was Naaman? There is quite a backstory to this healing, starting in 2 Kings 5:1. Naaman was captain of the host of the King of Syria , enemy of Israel , and he was also a leper. The disease of leprosy was highly painful, contagious, and noticeable. No matter how many battles he won or how much treasure or slaves that he took as spoils , he was still a leper. He suffered the pain and the shame that went with it. In his desperation, he went to the prophet Elisha who instructed him to dip in the Jordan River seven times. Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a present of thy servant. (2 Kings 5:14-15) It s

    How can I rejoice in tribulation? It seems that tribulations would steal any possible joy for those undergoing them. Paul recorded these words, “ And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh steadfastness; and steadfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). It takes a different perspective to be able to receive this word. The Reality of Tribulation Jesus explained to His disciples that tribulation would certainly come. However, He offered them something more, Jesus said, “ These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  There is assurance in the fact that Jesus told His disciples that the things which He spoke were given so that they might have peace. Why do we avoid the peace that is offered in the Word of God? We want something else to find peace. We tend to believe that a world full of people

                        Benjamin Franklin was quoted as saying, I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. — I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer. To sum up this thought, if we want to get someone out of poverty, we need to make them uncomfortable with it. Think about it. If someone is in relative comfort, being taken care of by everyone else and not doing for themselves, then they will remain in poverty. If on the other hand, they have to rely more on themselves to get out of their situation, they may get the proper motivation to get out of their poverty. People are Comfortabl

How do I get close to God? Have you ever wondered this? What is the reason that we contemplate this question? The society in which we live has further distanced itself from the Creator as the years go by. Many have attempted to substitute science, philosophy, or even psychology to fill the hole that sin leaves each in (cf. Rom. 3:23). Those studies have value and do help us understand much in this world, however, there is nothing that can fulfill our need to know and be in fellowship with our Creator. Science has failed to adequately explain our origin. Philosophy, try as it might, has failed to show us the best way to live a complete life. Psychology has failed to fully explain the mind of man. We do not need the scientist, philosopher, or psychologist to tell us who we truly are; we need the Creator. So if we perceive we have a need to get close to God, let us draw near. The Hebrew writer recorded these words, “Let us draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our heart

                         How can I grow spiritually? This question is one that many Christians, new and old, ask themselves and others. It is a good question and one that corresponds with the right desires. Jesus was a perfect example of this because the Holy Spirit explains, “And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). We understand that as Jesus grew from adolescence to adulthood His wisdom and stature would surely grow. I want to focus our attention to the fact that He grew in favor with God and men. When we grow in Christ and mature from the basics of our faith, we will certainly receive the favor of God. So, what are some basics of growing spiritually? Love God and Others             The New Testament Christian must remember their first love, Christ! This was the thing lacking in the Ephesus church of Christ as recorded in Revelation 2. Our first -century brethren would not accept false apostles, but evidently, they forgot why. Love of