I saw a diagram on social media the other day that looked very simiar to the left hand side. I won’t name the church, because most churches that I attended could have put up a very similar one. They always viewed themselves as the One True Church.

Everyone else was wrong. Some might only be a little wrong; as shown with the overlapping circles. Some are so far off that nothing, in their minds, overlaps; as shown by the other circles.

Then we have how the Bible defines the church. I do have several verses there talking about what believers should be doing, but there are several more I could have added.

Instead of fighting over denominations or churches, we should be looking to the Word for our definitions.

https://thestraightandnarrow.cfw.me/comics/1007

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BIBLE STUDY --- THE SAVIOUR

THE FATHER’S BUSINESS

From Luke 2:41-52

Each year, Mary and Joseph went to the Passover in Jerusalem, following strictly the Jewish Law that every man must attend. They made one of these trips to Jerusalem as usual, when Yeshua was twelve. When the Passover ended, they started back toward Nazareth. An older Jewish boy sometimes travelled with friends or relatives in the same caravan, so Mary and Joseph were not concerned when Yeshua did not start home with them. But when evening came and He did not come back to be with them, Mary and Joseph searched for Him among their friends and relatives. It soon became clear to them that He had not come with the caravan at all, so they went back to Jerusalem to look for Him. For the next three days they looked everywhere for Him. At last, they went to the temple, the House of YHVH. There He was, sitting with the teachers, asking them difficult questions and giving wise answers to their questions. Needless to say, everyone who listened to Him was amazed that a twelve-year old had such great wisdom. Mary and Joseph, too, were amazed at what they saw. Then Mary said to Yeshua, [Son, why have You done this to us? We have searched frantically for You over the whole city.] [But why did you look everywhere else first?] Yeshua asked. [Didn’t you know that I would be here in My Father’s house, doing His business?] Mary and Joseph did not understand what Yeshua was saying, that He was starting to do YHVH’s work in YHVH’s house. Yeshua then went back to Nazareth with them and obeyed them. But Mary thought often of the things that Yeshua had said. As time passed, Yeshua grew taller and wiser. And the ties of love grew daily with YHVH and others.

COMMENTARY

CARAVANS IN BIBLE TIMES

Each year, when Yeshua’ family made the trip to Jerusalem for the Passover, they took a long and dangerous journey. For safety, they probably went with a caravan loaded with goods for the markets in the city. Caravans were busy, noisy groups of people and animals traveling together. They offered some protection from the roving bands of robbers waiting along the roadside for their victims. They also must have made the long and exhausting trip seem much shorter and less tiring. Yeshua’ family was poor; if they had an animal to carry some of their load, it was probably a small donkey. But many merchants who travelled in the caravans loaded their goods on long-legged camels that carried much more than a donkey, and could go for long distances without food or water. When Yeshua journeyed to Jerusalem at the age of twelve, he might have met some merchants like these on their way. They brought goods from all over the eastern world to sell in the thriving Jerusalem marketplaces. The city, always a busy place, would be crowded with people preparing for the Passover feast. The market would be overflowing with spices, oil, cloth, hides and food brought from many places near and far.

BIBLE STUDY --- THE SAVIOUR

GIFTS AND WORSHIP

From Matthew 2:1-12

During the reign of King Herod the Great, wise men came from the east to ask about a new-born king. They did not know yet that this was Yeshua, who had been born in Bethlehem of Judea. [Where is this child who is to become King of the Jews?] they asked. [Far to the east we have seen His star and have come here to worship Him.] When King Herod heard this, he was very upset that a new king might take his kingdom from him. The people of Jerusalem were upset, too, for they knew that Herod would do anything to destroy this new king. Herod was anxious to know more about this new king, so he called the Jewish religious leaders into a meeting. Then he talked with them about the Moshiach, YHVH’s Son, and where He was to be born. [The prophet Micah said that the Moshiach would be born in Bethlehem,] they told Herod. [Here is what he wrote: You are not as unimportant as some think, Bethlehem, for you will produce a great ruler to govern our people, Israel.] Herod secretly brought the wise men to him and asked them when the star appeared. Then he told them what he had learned from the religious leaders, that Bethlehem was the birthplace of the Child they wanted to find. [Search for the Child in Bethlehem,] Herod told them. [When you find Him, come back and tell me where He is, so that I, too, may go there and worship Him.] The wise men left Herod and headed toward Bethlehem. What a joyful time it was when the star appeared again and pointed the way to the Child. When the wise men went into the house where Mary and the Child were, they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they gave Him precious gifts they had brought with them -- gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Before they left, YHVH warned them about Herod in a dream. Therefore, they returned home without going back through Jerusalem.

A HIDING PLACE IN EGYPT

From Matthew 2:13-15

When the wise men had gone, an angel of YHVH visited Joseph in a dream. [You must get up now, this very night, and leave for Egypt with the Child and His mother,] the angel said. [Stay there until I tell you to leave, for Herod is searching for the Child to murder Him.] Joseph left that night for Egypt with Yeshua and Mary. There they remained until King Herod the Great died. This fulfilled Hosea’s prophecy, [Out of Egypt I have called my Son.]

TEARS FOR RACHEL’S CHILDREN

From Matthew 2:16-18

When the wise men did not return to him, Herod grew furious. In a fit of anger, he ordered his soldiers to murder every baby boy in Bethlehem and its surrounding country. This order included every boy up to the age of two, a decision based on the time that had passed since the wise men first saw the star. The murder of the children fulfilled what Jeremiah the prophet had written: [Cries and tears rise up from Ramah. Rachel weeps for her children, but there is no comfort, for the children are gone.]

HOME FROM EGYPT

From Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 2:40

After Herod the Great died, an angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. [You may now take the Child and His mother back to Israel,] the angel said, [for the one who wanted to kill Him is dead.] Joseph took Mary and Yeshua back home to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Herod’s oldest son, Archelaus, now ruled over Judea, he was concerned that there still might be danger. Then Joseph was warned in a dream not to go to Judea, so he took his family back home to Nazareth in Galilee. This fulfilled a prophecy, [He shall be called a Nazarene.] As time passed, the Child Yeshua grew in every way, becoming stronger, wiser, and pleasing YHVH in all that He did.

COMMENTARY

TRAVELS OF THE BOY YESHUA

When Yeshua was still a very young child, His family had to escape from their own country to protect Him from Herod’s jealous hate. They probably left at night and took the road that would get them the most quickly out of the king’s reach. The ancient route was called the Via Mans. The name meant [The Way of the Sea.] It went along the coastline all the way down to the borders of Egypt. There were several places along the way where Yeshua’ family might have stayed. The first major stop was Ashkelon. The city did not belong to Herod, but he had much influence there. Afraid of his spies, Mary and Joseph did not dare stay long. Twelve miles farther south was Gaza. A flourishing and busy trade city, it might have offered them a place to hide. But it was Herod’s city, full of his soldiers, and Yeshua’ family hurried through. Only after they had crossed the Brook of Egypt did they feel safe from Herod’s grasp. Their first stop in Egypt was probably at the city of Pelusium. Called the [stronghold of Egypt,] it was famous for its military strength. But even though they might have been safe there, the family chose to move on. They travelled to a quiet place just outside of Cairo where there was a large grove of balsam trees. In that town, called Matareyeh, is the place where Yeshua and his family are traditionally believed to have stayed until Herod’s death made it safe for them to return to Nazareth.

"Death and life are in the hand of the tongue"

Pr 18

"Death and life are in the hand of the tongue"

Pr 18

Thought for Today: Monday October 13

When we purchase something of great value – a house, for example – we are usually required to put down a deposit to indicate our sincerity and to promise that our intentions are serious… YHVH has made some incredible Promises to us – Promises that stagger our imaginations. He has promised that we might have a relationship with Him through His Son. He has Promised never to leave us or to forsake us and to be with us always. He promised us to be in Heaven when we die… Not only is Yeshua Moshiach a sufficient “down payment” on YHVH’s Promises, He is in fact, payment in full!