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What is Grace?
Watch and listen to the definition of Grace.
WOW! Unbelievable! I hope this leaves you smiling and brightens your day.
Donna B. Comeaux
Freelance Writer, Poet, Author
Barabbas
One Hit Wonder
Barabbas
Barabbas was a thief and everyone knew it. Bible scholars think he was also a revolutionist. I tend to think he was simply Satan’s little helper to seal the deal in Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Satan wielded a methodical, crafty plan to maneuver people in the wrong place at the wrong time. He took full advantage of everything imaginable, including similarities between Jesus’ and the thief’s name. “Bar Abbas” is translated “son of the Father.” Did Jesus not refer to His Father as “Abba?” Think this is a coincidence? I doubt it.
Every person involved in the crucifixion of Jesus knew exactly what they were doing, to a point. Pilate knew all too well the Jewish council envied Jesus and wanted Him dead. Yet, the governor did not usurp his authority to free an innocent man. He’d rather please the people.
The people’s ambition to overthrow the government created an insatiable need to kill our Savior. They weren’t out of their minds. They weren’t mentally unstable. They didn’t have moments of rage. They didn’t have bad parenting. Selfish gain hindered them. Satan coaxed them into believing they needed their revolution at any cost. If Jesus didn’t come to earth to rescue them from the hands of the Roman Empire, they determined to find someone who would. Why not get rid of Him and move on to someone more capable to take on their cause?
None of them realized their plans had holes. They had no idea Jesus would wreak greater havoc after His death. Fear and panic reverberated through their community when word spread that Jesus had risen from the dead. A host of witnesses verifying He had been seen and heard in numerous places troubled them.
Whatever revolution the people had in mind, the spiritual one that began at Jesus’ resurrection took precedence.
How many times have we seen the masses storm the streets, take to the CNN Network and Fox News, in an effort to press the public to their way of thinking? If we listen to their arguments long enough, they tempt us to throw up our hands and cave in.
The scriptures are clear: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Don’t be fooled. Satan is sly, sneaky, and patient. He is maneuvering the masses today as he did in bible days. What troubles me most is when my Christian sisters and brothers allow Satan to seep into their lives and massage them into compromising situations that both grieve and cause them shame.
Did it ever occur to you that you are being used? Satan can dangle something good in front of us then lead us into a trap. It could be as simple as a wife spending too much time with her mother and not dropping everything to serve her husband (and vice versa). It might be your need to tell your sister in Christ that she hurt your feelings. Leaving things unsaid “kindly and out of love” can tempt you to harbor anger. Or maybe you want to work one more week of overtime, leaving your wife and children alone, thinking one more week won’t hurt them. After all, it’s only seven days. Right? Feelings of abandonment are powerful emotions to overcome. You must remember Satan is in the family destruction business.
Listen to what the scriptures say: “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” (I Cor. 10:23) Yes, it is good to work overtime to feed your family. But it is wrong to do so excessively. If we’re not careful, Satan will tempt us with our needs and the growing crowds surrounding us will chip away at our firm foundation until we are standing in the middle of a marsh and left wondering how we got there.
Do not be easily persuaded. Test the spirit. Stand your ground. Don’t become immoral. Keep yourselves pure. Don’t slander your brother and sister. And please don’t look the other way when you see them on the streets. “Greet each other with a holy kiss….” (Romans 16:16) And fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. That’s exactly what Jesus Christ did for us.
by Donna B. Comeaux
Freelance Writer, Author, Poet
September 1, 2013
Written for Park Plaza Church of Christ
Tulsa, Oklahoma
The sermon on Barabbas will be preached Sunday, September 1, 2013. You will be able to access this sermon by Thursday afternoon. Keep checking the website for the upload of the sermon if it is not up by Thursday. Follow these instructions to get to the church website: GO TO Parkplaza.org to hear the sermon on Barabbas. Once on the website, click “Media,” then click “One Hit Wonders.” There is NO signin or registration. ENJOY!
A Ray of Hope
Alone and think that no one cares
I crept inside my darkest lair
Midnight became my covering
For all my sorrows and despairs.
I picked at every speck of light
I thought I saw throughout the night
And tried to cover more of me
With all the night I thought I’d need.
But that speck of light would not
Depart my lair, so I stood up
And reached as far as I could
And found that you, not I, who stood.
Your hand propped up my feeble spine
Your voice began to fill my mind
You talked all day and thru the night
Until all darkness gone from sight.
You lifted up one foot of mine
The other came without much prying
I looked deep within my dark dim room
But could not find it or the gloom.
I’m not quite sure I remember what
It was that meant so very much
All I know for sure right now
I’m alive, have hope, and to you I bow.
by Donna B. Comeaux
Freelance Writer, Author, Poet
Copyright Pending
All rights reserved
Simon of Cyrene
One Hit Wonder
Simon of Cyrene
“Share in Each Other’s Sufferings”
Cyrene, Libya, North Africa is located approximately 785 miles from Jerusalem. During the time of Jesus, you’d have to travel either by boat, horseback, or by foot—which took weeks. No matter how Simon traveled to Jerusalem, he began his journey with a plan. He took enough food and water, and probably sent someone ahead to neighboring cities to prepare a place for him to rest. He needed money, too. How else would he buy a lamb or fowl to sacrifice during the Passover? Maybe, if he had time, he’d visit family and friends. Maybe, he’d sit down with the elders and catch up on the latest news spreading throughout the Jewish brotherhood. I’d venture to say, Simon looked forward to the Passover for more reasons than worshipping God.
But sometimes plans can go horribly wrong. Simon didn’t expect to get caught up in a swell of people and meet the Savior on a hot Friday afternoon. He didn’t expect his clothing to be soaked with the Savior’s blood, mingled with His sweat. He couldn’t fathom why the guards chose him to carry another man’s burden. He was there for the Passover. He’d be late preparing for it if the guards didn’t let him be. But the guards probably raised their whips and threaten to beat him if he didn’t bear the weight of it.
Simon saw Jesus’ pain, the love and forgiveness in His eyes amidst the chaos. To hear Him moan had to provoke Simon to tears. Scared and perplexed, he had never seen a crown of thorns buried so deep in a man’s head. The vast amount of blood, water, dirt, and gravel caked on the Master’s face stunned him. The spittle. The bruises. Above all that had gone awry, Simon didn’t expect to eyewitness Jesus’ death. What had this man done to deserve such punishment? Whoever He was, Simon had no intent to come to Jerusalem and carry His cross then watch Him die.
Simon wasn’t the only one disappointed with his journey. Those close to Jesus expected their journey to liberate them from Roman rule. They looked with great anticipation for a new king! Instead, they received forgiveness and love, miracles and healing. Part of the mob’s anger was due to the fact that, in their opinion, Jesus was an impostor. Some felt devastated that their journey had taken a different route.
I raise a poignant issue here. Simon didn’t know Jesus. The women following behind didn’t know Simon. Mary didn’t know Simon. Neither did John. At Jesus’ feet were a host of people who didn’t know one another, yet they were there to minister to one man. After Christ’s burial, you think these people had a common bond they wouldn’t have otherwise shared if it were not for our Lord’s suffering? Is this the reason for our loneliness? We have not shared in the sufferings of others.
The souls sitting at Jesus’ feet were there to share in His suffering! They gave of their time, tears, and sorrow. Why? They simply didn’t want Jesus to be alone. They weren’t afraid to cry for our Lord, to feel His pain, to sorrow over His inevitable death.
How many times have we avoided the pain and suffering of our brothers and sisters because we don’t want to be around such sadness, because we don’t want to be near death, or we don’t want our good name associated with the scandal of a brother wrongly accused? Isn’t that behavior in direct contradiction with God’s plan for us? “We who are strong ought to bear the failings of the weak and not please ourselves.” (Romans 15:1)
Whether you are living in fear or for yourself, it is not a godly approach to the mission He has placed before us. Sometimes that mission is not a journey we intended to take, but one that must be traveled just the same.
On the first day of the week, often we talk to (or avoid) the same people. This ritual blinds us, causing us to become observers of those who suffer, rather than ministers. This ritual often feeds our frenzy to stay in our lanes and not do what is both required and uncomfortable. It takes effort and a mountain of courage to veer off course to reach out to someone you don’t know, someone you don’t love, or someone with whom you don’t have a personal relationship. Isn’t that exactly what Christ calls us to do? So, what does it profit us to minister to those who are well?
What’s your plan? Before you is a map—the great commission—and with it you must take valuable items or you will not complete your journey. Simon needed food and water, and money for a sacrifice. What will you take on your journey? “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (I Peter 4:8)
I suggest the first thing we pack for our journey is LOVE, and with love comes two things—courage and action. Do you have the courage to get out of your lane and do something godly and uncomfortable? Are you willing to minister to people you don’t know and relish in the opportunity to emit the love of our Savior? Will your love compel you to associate with people not on your economic or social level? Will your love break down your preconceived ideas of your sisters or brothers?
Or is it possible we have become pious enough to think we’re already well-equipped for our journey?
Donna B. Comeaux
Written for Park Plaza Church of Christ
Tulsa, Oklahoma
August 25, 2013
GO TO Parkplaza.org to hear the sermon on Simon of Cyrene. Once on the website, click “Media,” then click “One Hit Wonders.” There is NO signin or registration. ENJOY!
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