Ironworks

  “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?  And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  Two are better than one. This is easy to understand when you are working on a job that you just cannot do on your own. We must also remember this in our marriages daily for this is the very example Paul utilizes in the Scriptures (Ephesians 5:22-33; Col. 3:18-19). We fulfill Godly marriages when husbands love their wives as Christ loved His church and when wives submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ.   There is nothing demeaning about this. The helper that God designed for Adam was the perfect complement to him. ...

“And Noah builded an altar unto Jehovah, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar. And Jehovah smelled the sweet savor; and Jehovah said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake, for that the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:20-22      Imagine you were lost at sea. The ship you were sailing on had sprung a leak and you found yourself adrift, clinging to whatever debris you could find as the daylight faded into dark. Then out of the dark lights appear and a helicopter belonging to the US Coast Guard and a man is lowered down and plucks you out of the waves to safety. You would be delivered. How would you react? I imagine you might hug your rescuer; you might thank t...

     One of the ways we show our love for Christ is by our love for one another. Each time we gather, this is not the meeting of a social club, a group of individuals with similar interests, or hobbies. If we were to do that, there would be no difference between the Lord’s church and the Rotary club. We are called to be so much more. We are called to be the body of Christ (Rom. 12:3-5): that which is comprised of many members. If we only knew that we were one body comprised of many members, surely we would remember how we are to treat one another, and surely we would remember to love one another.       Paul further wrote, “Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying. For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me..” Romans 15:1-3       Je...

  I will hear what God Jehovah will speak; For he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: But let them not turn again to folly.  Psalm 85:8      Are you willing to hear God speak? I mean, are you really willing to hear God speak? In order to do so, you must stop. You must stop thinking that you are going to find God’s will outside of and in contradiction to His revealed Word. God speaks through His Word and no longer through the miraculous gifts that have ceased (1 Cor. 13:8-10; Jude 1:3). You must stop thinking that you will get by without the study of God’s Word. It is vital at all points and times of our days (Deut. 6:6-9; 2 Tim 2:15).  Stop Looking in the Wrong Places      You must stop looking for any other place for growth as a Christian. Reading denominational literature or motivational quotes will not help you grow, so stop. Someone who does not know the basics of New Testament Christianity (the Gospel Plan of Salvation, ...

      One of the most crucial parts of your car is your headlights. Without them, you simply cannot see at night. Without lights, you put yourself and others in danger.  However, lights do not have to be out to be ineffective. Lights, over time, become dim as the plastic that houses the light degrades. When a headlight dims, it becomes harder to see, and others on the road are in danger because they need to see your lights at night.  Can Anyone See You Coming      As a Christian, your light can fade over time. Jobs, sickness, hurt, and brokenness all can endanger yourself and others. The world needs to see the Christian because the world is exceedingly dark. Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house”  Matthew 5:14-15. Routine Maintenance      The Lord’s church is not dar...