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Once the Lord healed a man of palsy and the reaction of the bystanders was amazement as they said, “We have seen strange things today” (Luke 5:26). While the days of miracles are past, the days of “strange things” are still very much with us. Consider the following examples:
- Christians who don’t keep their promises. Often when someone who has been negligent in his/her worship attendance is visited he/she will promise to be present next Sunday and to “do better.” Many never do. Strange, isn’t it? It is bad enough to sin through neglect (Jam. 4:17); but lying makes it even worse.
- Christians who “drop out” and start back as if nothing is wrong. Some forsake the assembly for years while they go fishing, hunting, work in the yard, watch TV and such like. If they decide to begin attending again, they often will casually “slip” back in as if they had done no wrong. What a “strange thing” it would be if a man should leave his wife and after a few years suddenly show up for supper some evening, offering no explanation or apology. It is a sin to forsake the assemblies of God’s people (Heb. 10:25), and sin must be repented of and confessed to be forgiven (Luke 12:3; 1 John 1:9).
- Christians who faithfully attend, study their Bibles and serve in many ways, but don’t give generously. Truly, some people have “tunnel vision” when it comes to supporting the Lord’s work with their money. What a “strange thing” that some are good Bible students and would even defend the Truth against its enemies, but they have never applied the Lord’s teaching on giving to themselves. They can buy houses, clothes, cars, and even spend money foolishly, but they give little or nothing to the Lord. It is further strange to see brethren who must be away on the Lord’s Day never thinking of “making up” their contribution, either before they must be absent or after their return. Strange, indeed.
- Christians who are so careful about their bodies, but careless about their souls. Many saints are meticulous in the care and feeding of their bodies. They exercise, they eat good food regularly, they wear modest and attractive clothes, all of which is commendable. It is surely a “strange thing” to see some of the same people so careless about engaging in spiritual “exercises” (visiting, regular worship attendance, prayer, attending Gospel meetings and lectureships, teaching their families, and the like). The same folk may never take advantage of wholesome spiritual food regularly (daily Bible study). Further, the “clothing” of their daily behavior may be a shame and disgrace to the pure life a Christian is to live.
The “inward” person should get our first attention, and it is strange that any Christian would not see that (2 Cor. 4:16–18)!
[Note: I wrote this article for and it was published in The Edifier, weekly bulletin of Pearl Street Church of Christ, Denton, TX, March 24, 1988, of which I was editor.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner, curator and administrator.
