SANDHILL CHURCH OF CHRIST NEWSLETTER
APRIL 20, 2008

BE GOOD, SON!
There was one of two or three admonitions my mother always gave me when I was leaving the house to go anywhere. One of them was "be good." She still did that after I was forty years old. It wasn't just a trite departing phrase. She meant it. She was concerned about me. I don't think I had given her many reasons through life to doubt whether I would try to be good, but she knew the world and the snares along the road of life that experience had taught her.

There may be more to that admonition than meets the eye. One time a rich young man came to Jesus and addressed Him as "Good Teacher" (Luke 18:18). He wanted Jesus to tell him what to do to inherit eternal life, but that's not the part of the story that has always gotten my attention. It is Jesus' response to the word "good" that intrigues me.

Jesus asked the young man, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God." What's that? No one is good except God? Not even Jesus is good? If that's the case, there is no need in my even trying to be good. What did Jesus mean?

Two things come to mind! One, Jesus came to glorify His Father (John 17: 1; 4-5). When the young man titled Him "Good", Jesus considered that a title that belonged only to God. It took the focus from God and placed it on Jesus. He just wanted to direct the young man's emphasis back where it should be; on God.

Second, the word good in this case comes from "agathos". It can mean an excellence that is above what would be expected of anyone. If Jesus took the young man's accolade to mean he was giving Him a place of excellence above the Father, He would have wanted the young man to know that He was not greater than His Father. Just as preachers in our fellowship prefer not to be referred to as "reverend" because that is a term used only for God in scripture - Jesus preferred not to be given a title that belonged only to His Father.

Yet, there are numerous admonitions in the New Testament instructing Christians to be good. It was Jesus who said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things " (Matt. 12:35). He told his disciples that those who have done good will be raised to life (John 5:29). And those who have been good and faithful servants will hear the Lord say in the judgment, "Well done!" (Matt. 25:21). Acts 11:24 says Barnabas was a good man. Paul pronounced "glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good" (Romans 2:10). Galatians 6:10 encourages us to "do good to all people. " The word further reveals that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph. 2:10). John testified that "anyone who does what is good is from God" (3John 11).

Yes! God designed us to do good. Yet, when we have done all the good we can and have been as good as we can be, we still fall far short of the goodness of God. When compared with God, no matter how much good we do, we are still not good.

But remember this! The highest good that we can do is make God look good. That is what Jesus did! His entire life was to honor and glorify His Father. That's what it means to be good.

jlm             

Continue to remember Juanita Neldon, Kate McCollum, Tom and Francis McFadden, Lena Stewart, Gerald Turner, Gary Henley, Nicholas Page, Sheila Carlson, Cletus Manual, Rhauda Sue Bousman, Jimmy Weaver, Jenkie Doyle, Joan Murphy, Betty Johnson, Becky Honey, Elouise Martin, Butch Honey, Holman Lindsey, Evelyn Hulett, Kathleen Hunter, Olis Largent, Shelly and Bobbie Pulliam, Mrs. Ruby Ward and Boots Honey.

Juanita Pitts' friend, Ruth Hare passed away.

Freddie Clark, former state policeman, is in critical condition. He is in ICU in a Jonesboro hospital.

Jim Pharis spent Sunday night in the local hospital with food poisoning.

Bob McCollum got a very good report from his cardiologist last Thursday.

Remember each of these as you speak with the Lord in prayer and any others in our church family who are dealing with health problems.

Homecoming is our big event of the year. We put more effort into preparing for this event than anything we do throughout the year. It is a time of spiritual enrichment for us, but it is more. It is also a time to provide people of the community with an opportunity for spiritual enrichment.

If you have been waiting for the right time to begin inviting friends, family and neighbors to join us for both physical and spiritual food, that time is now.

Think outside the building. Step out of your comfort zone. Risk rejection to share this event with a friend. It is worth the risk.

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• Two of our ladies are celebrating birthdays this week.
  Mrs. Roden will celebrate on Saturday, April 26 and
  Peggy McCollum will celebrate on Sunday, April 27.
• We are all too old to tease each other about our age and all old enough to be thankful for every year with which God blesses us. Let's just help these two ladies have great birthdays.

SANDHILL MEETING TIMES
Sunday­
Bible Class - 9:30 a.m.
Worship - 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.   (Except first Sunday- 1: 00 p. m.)

Wednesday­
Bible Study- 6:00 p.m.

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Sandhill Church of Christ - 4400 Hwy. 17 South - Newport, AR 72112