Chestnut Drive Church of Christ

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t believe my parents when they said, “This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.” My thought then was, “Well, duh! Then don’t do it.” I mean, really, who wants to do something that is going to cause pain to themselves? But then I became a parent and I got to look stupid in my kids’ eyes by telling them, “This is going to hurt me more that it hurts you.” You see, even if my kids didn’t understand what that means, I did. And my parents were right, it does hurt the parent more. Disciplining the kids was both mine and Janine’s responsibility, and I can’t say for sure how it affected her, but I know how it affected me. The kids would go and sulk for a while and, hopefully having learned the needed lesson,  then forget about it. Me, it took hours for me to get over it. I know that corporal discipline is not the accepted way today, but it’s what we did and I didn’t like it! There are other forms of discipline, and we used those too. Regardless of the form it took, if punitive discipline was the call, it hurt me more than them. But I knew that it was an unfortunate necessity if a child were in need of it.

Well, if that is true of our earthly fathers, it is even more true of our Heavenly Father. God does not enjoy seeing us in pain. Much of our pain as human beings is self-inflicted, is it not? When the person who has been an alcoholic all of his life suffers physically and financially in his older years … is that God punishing him or is it the result of self-inflicted wounds? When we are bitter, mean, unforgiving and merciless in our younger years, whose fault it is that we are lonely in our older years? Is that God punishing us, or are we reaping the oats we’ve sown in our lives?

From the very beginning God has taught humans that sin brings with it consequences. Honestly, now, we know about consequences, don’t we? Part of growing up, part of becoming an accountable part of our culture is learning about consequences. One of the challenges of youth is to overcome the temptation to cheat the natural law of consequences. How many people involve themselves in a particular activity, knowing the dangers, seeing what has happened to others before them, but go head long into it anyway thinking, “Well, it won’t happen to me.” What? Are you special? Do you not bleed and breathe like rest of us? Do the laws of physics and gravity suspend themselves for you because you are so special. I really like the approach the anti-drug commercials are taking these days with the “I’ll only try it once because I don’t want to become like him” ads. The only one we are fooling is ourselves. My point is this, friend, the same is true when it comes to sin. Sin is transgressing God’s will (1 John 3:4), or in more simple terms, sin is doing what God says not to do or not doing what God says do. If God, for example says, don’t hate your fellow-man, and you choose rather to hate him or her, that is sin. And just like jumping off the Empire State Building has physical consequences, hating your fellow-man will have consequences. The world you inherited is in the condition it is in because of thousands of years of people before you choosing not to obey God. Often our actions do not only bring consequences to ourselves, but to those around us or those to follow us. Isn’t that the thing that stirs the passions of people who belong to Green Peace or similar organizations? What we do today will affect those who come after us.

God as our Creator and Father has long taught us and encouraged us and even pleaded with us not to sin. As our Creator and Father, He knows what is best for us – physically and spiritually. Alas, however, we do not listen. The result? Pain. Emotional pain. Physical pain. Pain in the heart. Pain in the soul. Death!
Solomon gave us these words of wisdom: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction. For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights” (Proverbs 3:11-12). The Hebrew writer referred to these words of Solomon in Hebrews 12:5-7. He would go on to say that if the Lord doesn’t chasten a person it is because that person is not a son of God. God’s chastening of His children is purely for their benefit … so that they can take part in His holiness (Hebrews 12:8-10). Then, the Hebrew writer puts it plainly: “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained [disciplined] by it” (Hebrews 12:11).

Sometimes we feel like God only knows how to say “No.” There’s a reason for that. Satan is constantly and consistently pushing us toward sin and death and we seem to ever have our ear turned in his direction. God, therefore, as a loving and protective Father, is ever having to say, “No … don’t do that … it will bring you sorrow and pain and death.” Do we listen? Sometimes … but, unfortunately, God’s warnings and counsel are like the warning labels placed on so many products today – if it is what we want to do, they are ignored because, “it won’t happen to me.”

Dear friend, don’t despise the chastening of the Lord. He only wants to make you holy and to present you with eternal life in Christ Jesus, His Son.

Additional content coming soon!

Here’s one for the history books – do you remember back in the 70′s (last century, even) when media figures were trying to teach young people to “Just Say No”? Everywhere we turned, schools, shopping centers, T.V., we saw or heard the phrase “Just Say No.” I was in high school in Covington, Tennessee and I remember cruising the square (if you don’t know what that means, then I guess you had to be there) and there was that banner or sign in front of a store, “Just Say No!” It was an effort to keep kids off drugs. It was an effort to help kids overcome peer pressure to do things that are wrong or harmful. I don’t know how successful the effort was nationwide, but from what I can tell, it wasn’t working in Covington. It was a valiant effort, no doubt, but when I was in school drugs were as available as french-fries from McDonalds. The cliché “everybody’s doing it” was not far from wrong. I am, of course, out of that school environment and have been for … well I won’t tell you that because then you’ll think I’m old. Maybe it’s because I am out of that environment that I don’t see it, but it seems to me that the appeal of drugs has lost its edge. I’m not so naive as to think it’s not there, but it doesn’t seem as prevalent. That is a good thing if indeed it is the case.
Peer pressure, of course, is not new. We talk about it a lot. In fact, if you go to a church sponsored youth event that involves a speaker, you’re going to hear about it. It seems the kids are almost bored from hearing about it. Most kids want to believe that they are above peer pressure. They don’t want to see themselves as not being in control. That’s one of the great dangers of peer pressure; no one thinks they are susceptible. The fact remains, however, that everybody is – and it’s not just young people.
In Proverbs 1:10-19, Solomon wants to guard his son against peer pressure. Solomon warns his son against the enticement of sinners to be involved in sinful, even criminal, activity. When is the last time someone was pressured to do something good or godly? When we are pressured by our peers, it is almost always to do something that feels good, but we don’t want anyone to know about it, especially our parents or the local police station.  In the scenario given by Solomon the fleshly desire is getting “precious possessions” without having to earn or work for them – by taking them from the unsuspecting. With drugs and sex, the pressure from peers is to fulfill an erotic desire in an irresponsible and ungodly way. Solomon says, “Just say no.” In verse 10 he says, “Do not consent.” In verse 15 he says, “Do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path.”
Solomon tries to reason with his son. He tells him that, while the promises and dreams of the sinners look wonderful, their end is the way of death. It is always the case that, when kids (or anybody) are pressured into doing something, they aren’t told or don’t see the consequences. There’s a disconnect somewhere that doesn’t allow them to see where this is going. Maybe it is just that young people are in such a hurry to live life that they don’t take time to think about it. But I don’t like that idea because that takes away my excuse. “Behold your sin will find you out” is more than just a quaint saying or vainly repeated scripture … it is a fact! While we may commit a crime and get away with it – eventually the piper must be paid. Solomon says, “they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives” (Proverbs 1:18).
The difficulty is getting the young person to see that. One thing is for sure, it won’t happen just by saying it once in the middle of a crisis as you are trying to get your young person not to do a certain thing. It must be a regular part of their discipline (training) that they are warned about those consequences. It is a fact of life and science that they need to see in action regularly so that when they need it in their confrontation with Satan, it will be in the forefront of their minds to think, “Wait… I need to think this through.”  If it is only but for a second, maybe that flash of memory will be enough to divert them from a foolish act with disastrous results.  We do not have to look very hard or long to find real life illustrations to show young people the consequences of giving in to peer pressure to do wrong. AIDS victims, alcoholics and their lifestyles, teenage pregnancies, youth detention centers and the like are in abundance and are the proof in the pudding that “crime (sin) doesn’t pay.”
Parents, your responsibility is to do just as Solomon did. We can’t very easily take away a child’s desire to be accepted by peers. We can, however, through example first, and training second, help them see that acceptance is not the highest goal in life, nor is it the healthiest. You may think they are not listening and you may be right. From my experience, however, if you will both find some regular unplugged time, they will hear you … they will get it. Those “Just Say NO!” signs, while we didn’t always heed them, we got the message. Set your child down on a regular basis and tell him/her in as many ways as you can, “My son [daughter], hear the instruction of your father [mother], … if sinners entice you, do not consent.” If you are successful in planting the seed, you will have saved your child from death.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
my son, do not walk in the way with them;
hold back your foot from their paths,
for their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.
Proverbs 1:8-19, ESV

The guy goes to the doc and says, “Doc, it hurts when I do this.” To which the doc responds, “Don’t do that.” Maybe that’s not always the best or most practical advice, but you know what? Sometimes it is! If it hurts when you mash your thumb with a hammer, then don’t mash your thumb with a hammer. Too simple? No one would intentionally mash their thumb with a finger? Seen any “reality shows” lately? The stupid things people will do for money or a thrill.

Okay, let’s make it more real, for we all surely know by now that reality shows aren’t really real.

• Does it hurt when you step out on your wife?
• Does it hurt when you degrade your spouse before friends and family?
• Does it hurt when you pollute your mind and heart with pornography?
• Does it hurt when you cheat in school?
• Does it hurt when you backstab your friend or coworkers?
• Does it hurt when you involve alcohol in your life?

Stop thinking just about you and think about how these things affect those around you.

Let’s branch out of personal lives into society.

• Does a society suffer when it teaches it’s children that they are descendants of animals?
• Does a society suffer when surviving children see that had their conception been inconvenient to their parents they could have been the one in the trash can out back of the doctor’s office?
• Does a society suffer when two or three generations have been reared on concepts like “you are number one” and “ grab all the gusto you can get”?

Getting back to the point about would someone intentionally smash his thumb with a hammer, I ask again, do people do stupid things on purpose and then wonder what happened when all h e double hockey sticks breaks loose? Welcome to the teaching of Proverbs 4.

In the first several chapters of the book of Proverbs, the Holy Spirit through the pen and teachings of Solomon, tells us of the value of obtaining true wisdom. Over and again wisdom is put upon a pedestal for us to admire – but yet not so high as to keep it out of our reach. The God-ordained purpose of the book of Proverbs is to give us access to the wisdom of God. These are not merely the words of a man to his son, these are the words of our heavenly Father to those who would be His children.

The fourth chapter of Proverbs begins with yet another refrain teaching the value of wisdom … the value of listening to God our Father and applying His words in our daily lives. He tells us that the words of God are good doctrine or training. He tells us that wisdom is the principal thing (basic element). He tells us that the sayings of God will bring us success in this life … “When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, and do not let go; keep her, for she is your life” (Proverbs 4:12-13).

As listening to the words of God will lead us down the path of light, not listening to them will surely bring darkness and calamity into our lives. He warns us, for our own sakes, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, … do not walk in the ay of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on” (Proverbs 4:14-16). He goes on to tell of the nature of those who have chosen the evil way. They are compelled to do evil – it’s who they are, or maybe that would be better stated as “that’s who they have become.” Paul agrees as he tells the Ephesians that “you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who being past feeling have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17-19). Because they have given themselves over to these things, they know nothing more. It is who the have become. The chaos that is a constant part of their lives because of their choices has become the norm.

While the way of God is like the shining sun, “the way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble” (Proverbs 4:19). Some people are sinners who are looking for a better way. They are looking for the light. I believe, if they are truly looking for light, they will find it … God will send it to them. I thank God that he sent it to me! But there are a people of another sort. They, too, are sinners, but they do not look for light; in fact, they are repulsed by it. Some will actually violently turn against those who choose to walk in light. You can love them, you can teach them, you can show them, you can shine the light right in their eyes, but they will not see. They will wonder from time to time why bad things happen to them, but because they refuse to look into the light of God’s word, their question will go unanswered … even if you tell them. I do not yet know how to help such a person or a society. The prophets of the latter days of the Jewish kingdoms in the Old Testament, however, tell us that God does know what to do. Unfortunately, calamity (judgment, facing the music, reaping the wild oats that have been sown, paying the piper – say it how you will) is the only language some people will understand.

I do know how to help the person who wants to live in the light. You teach them that they must keep the words of God, not in the Bible on a book shelf, not in the preacher or Bible class teacher, but in the midst of their heart (Proverbs 4:21). The words of God “are life to those who find them” (Proverbs 4:22). To keep the word of God in one’s heart, he must put away the deceitful mouth and perverse lips. He must look straight ahead watch where he is going, and keep his feet firmly established in the word of God, turning neither to the right hand or the left (Proverbs 4:24-27).

In what direction are your feet headed? In which path do you walk?

“Coach, I don’t know if I can do it. Those guys are big! They hit hard. They run fast. Beating them is going to be hard and it’s going to hurt.” “Son,” says the coach, “I know they are big. I know they hit hard and that they run fast. No, it’s not going to be easy and it is going to hurt. But son, that’s why we’ve been training all these months. You can run fast and hit hard, too. We can win this game because we’ve trained for it. Now, you pull yourself together; get out there and do what you’ve been trained to do.” Actually, if a kid comes up to his coach and says those things, the coach will sit him on the bench and put in another, more willing player.
The coach’s words are similar to what Peter says in 1 Peter 1:13. He is speaking to people who are being challenged by the size and viciousness of their opponent. He’s speaking to people who are going to go through or have been through a fiery trial. There will be pain. There will be suffering. It will be hard. “So,” Peter says, “here’s what you’ve gotta do. You’ve gotta ready yourself (your mind) for a fight.” We need to understand along with the apostle Paul that we are dealing with principalities and spiritual powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:10-12). They don’t play fair and they don’t go by the book. They “play” to kill. They are not concerned about whether you live or die physically. They seek the death of your soul. All they want is a little compromise, a little yielding … just a little, it doesn’t have to be anything big … just enough to bring a little darkness into that soul that God has purified with the blood of Christ. Prepare your mind for a fight, friend, for you will be fighting the devil himself.
The devil is so subtle. He doesn’t show up in flames of fire bellowing threats and blasphemies. He comes in the form of our society. Sometimes in he’s in the form of our family, maybe a girl friend or boy friend. Sometimes he shows up dressed like our employer or our next door neighbor. Every once in a while he looks like our enemy, but that is fairly seldom (usually only when it looks like he is losing the battle). Typically, however, he just puts little pressures here and there to encourage you to give in. “You don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb, do you? Come on, it’s not that bad. Everybody’s doing it and it is acceptable in your culture now.” Peter says, “You better stay awake! Don’t be blind like a drunk. If you do he will blind-side you and before you know it you will be in mire so thick you can’t get out.” You see, Satan has been at his game for a long time. He has met with success with every opponent he has ever met but One. His record is 40,000,000,000 and 1 but, oh, how that One messed him up! That’s another story that I’ll tell you about later. Friend, if you’re going to beat the devil, you’re going to have to keep your head in the game.
Peter then tells us how the victory is won. Yes, you must prepare your mind for a fight, and you must keep your eyes wide open for the most subtle beast of the field. Beyond that, however, it is by the grace of God that you are going to win. Remember, your foe is invincible if you fight him by yourself. He is a great veteran in this warfare. It’s like David fighting Goliath. David was beaten before he began if he only has a sling and a rock. But David had more than that. He had God. David knew of the power of God … he’d seen it before. David told the old giant, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:45-47). That old giant didn’t have a chance. He was as good as dead before David picked up the first stone. Why? Because David’s hope lay, not in rocks or swords or spears, but in the God of all grace.
Christian friend, if you will prepare your mind for a fight and keep your head in the game, by the power of God almighty in Jesus Christ, you’ve already won the battle. If you lose that hope, you’ve lost everything. If your strength is in your church attendance or your Bible knowledge alone, you’ve lost the battle. Satan has been to church a lot more than you and he can probably quote you the Bible. But Satan has no power over Jesus Christ. If you will cloak yourself in His righteousness and walk in His light, the battle, by the grace of God, is yours.

Hi!  Thanks for stopping by!  This is the blog for the Chestnut Drive church of Christ located in Doraville, GA.  The purpose of this blog is to show that we are a thriving active congregation and to keep you wonderful people updated on the goings on of the congregation.  It is also the plan to possibly post lessons, sermons, etc.  Christ gave a commission to go into all the world, teaching the Gospel (don’t believe me?  Check it out!).  We have a website that will also keep you up to date with big events and all of our meeting times.  There are also some great links to area congregations, resources, and organizations that are also trying to spread the Good News.  Please don’t be a stranger.  If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 770-457-9696, drop us an email at chestnutdrcofc@bellsouth.net, or simply stop by our facilities.  Thanks for reading! God bless and we hope that you will stay in contact!