[Editor's note - for those outside of this area, John Yarnell is a relatively new convert. He and his wife Tammy were baptized here on August 8, 1999. Since that time, they have been a tremendous asset to the work at Burleson. Immediately after he obeyed the Gospel, John was instrumental in bringing his neighbor to Christ, who in turn helped his wife obey the Gospel earlier this year. John and Tammy are great examples of Christianity. I appreciate the attitude that prompted him to write the article, and am proud of the study he put into writing it. JTC]

Do we ever notice or take heed to the use of certain words or phrases in the Bible? "He that taketh not up his cross and followeth Me, is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:38). Are we really trying or doing anything to be worthy of Him? When Matthew, Paul, or any of the other writers use words like (with their definitions):

You wonder, or at least I do, "Was Paul easily excitable? Does their use of emphatic words mean anything?" It seems to me that they are really trying to get their point across.

In response to these words/phrases, we can't just say, "Oh, that was just Paul's writing style," or "that's just the way it was translated." We need to guard our use of explanations like these, for they open up the door to unwarranted opinions and indifference.

The point I'm trying to make is this -- all the writers stressed the importance of our growth and maturity as individuals and as a whole. We are warned about being lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-16). Paul wrote, "Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine" (1 Timothy 4:13). Paul was telling Timothy to wait, study, urge others, and hold fast to the teaching.

I would think that we all could show a little more emphasis on "holding fast the faith." Jesus warned, "whosoever therefore shall deny Me before men, him will I deny before My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:33). We have all been rejected at one time or another, but have we really "suffered for His sake" (1 Peter 4:16)?

Did we invite anyone to worship with us this week? Did we try to get anyone to study the Bible with us in their home? Did we even break a sweat trying to do something for the Lord last week? Consider the early disciples. They were mocked, spit upon, beaten, stoned, imprisoned, and even put to death for trying to tell people about Jesus. This is where the whole emphasis of faithfulness rests. We need to place greater emphasis on the harvest of souls (Matthew 9:37-38). We need to show a little sweat on our brow (plus a lot of swallowing of pride) in so doing. In the United States today, we probably won't be persecuted like those in the first century for trying to win souls, that means God demands even more of us today (Luke 12:47-48). Don't forget! Paul said that "for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).