Mike’s Musings …
Gospel Meeting
Today begins our gospel meeting. Six different speakers in six days, but each speaking the same saving power of God (Romans 1:16). Therefore, this is not a “pick your favorite and come that night” arrangement: it is an opportunity to feast upon the word of God – period!
Think of the several “speakers” of the gospel within the New Testament. Paul spoke the most if you think of the authors of the New Testament books. Luke wrote two books, Peter wrote two books, and John wrote five, including a biography of Christ Jesus. All the others wrote only one each. Do they not all have different “styles” within their presentation? Do they not each address their subjects with varying emphasis? Yes, but notice more importantly, they all speak the same thing, are all of one mind, and of the same judgment! Therefore, there can be no “favorite” writer of the New Testament if you determine rightly that each speaks as an oracle of God (1 Peter 4:11).
Some of these speakers we have known for a long time; a few of them have preached here in the past. Two of them you may not know well at all, as they have never spoken here. But as with Paul, of whom many had not seen his face (Colossians 2:1), their reputations precede them. These are men of God. They are rooted and grounded in the faith of our Lord. They proclaim the gospel of Christ, and Him only do they serve. Thus, what they have to say to us this week will benefit all of us if we choose to listen, learn, and apply the truth to our daily living!
There is no “entertainment” to gospel preaching. Instead, it is a time of thought/meditation (1 Timothy 4:15), or as this article suggests, “musing.” Christians have nothing greater upon which to focus their minds. Therefore, we urge all to attend every lesson, muse on the truth being spoken, and feast on the greatness of God’s word! Gospel meetings do us much good – and we all need to be enriched from such goodness!