Schedule of Services: Sundays: Morning Worship 9:30 AM Bible Class 10:45 AM Evening Worship 5 PM Monday Night Study: 6:30 pm Tuesday Ladies Bible Class: 9:30 am Wednesday Night Devotional/Bible Class: 6:30 PM Senior Living Services: Spring Creek Nursing Rehab 2660 Brickyard Road (Bmt.) Sundays @ 2 pm / Jerald Bass Lucas Place Sr. Living 2910 Toccoa (Bmt.) Sundays @ 3:30 pm / Mike Culver Church Mailing Address: Meadows Church of Christ P.O. Box 5126 Beaumont, Texas 77726 409-892-7063 Office 409-892-6420 Office 409-892-7068 Fax On the web: Meadowschurchofchrist.com All bulletin requests must be submitted to the office by 10 AM on Thursdays to be published in the following Sundays bulletin. Requests can be made by phone 409.892.7063 or email to: [email protected] Meadows Church of Christ Leadership: (Please keep these men in your daily prayers) Elders: Derrell Hart (409) 769-0099 Donnie Landrum (409) 842-3236, Brad Mansfield (409) 781-3987 Carl Sundgren (409) 658-0027 Deacons: Jerald Bass, Bobby Case, Joey Case, David Owens, Daryl Phelps, John Scott Pulpit Minister: Rick Walker (303) 359-9160 email: [email protected] February Food Committee Head: Carolee Bibb Rena Baxley, Bettie Bibb, Tami Browning, Rhonda Crabtree, Terry Gonzales, Norma Gonzalez, Frances Howard, Doris McQueen, Cheryl Probst, Gloria Sanders, Shirley Sturm, & Sherrie Thomas Biblical “Quid Pro Quos” Is there anyone in the United States who hasn’t heard (and become tired of hearing) the Latin phrase quid pro quo? If we didn’t know any better people might believe this phrase is right up there with, “The Unforgiveable Sin!” So, what does this term mean? Merriam-Webster’s on-line Dictionary defines this expres- sion, “something given or received for something else.” It can be easily explained by saying, “I will do this for you if you do that for me,” i.e., this for that! The scriptures are filled with these types of agreements. Indeed, either God is the One making the agreements or He is the One demanding us to keep these agree- ments. Let us now look at one example from the Old Testament and then one from the New Testament. [THIS…] “Now it shall be, if you will diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings will overtake you, if you obey the Lord your God. [FOR THAT!] Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed you will be in the country. Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of the ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl,” Deuteronomy 28:1-6. Moses later goes on to tell them what will happen if they don’t obey God, (see vs. 15ff). In the New Testament (this one is much shorter) God combines both the blessings for obedience and the consequences for disobedience in the same verse. [THIS…] “Obey your leaders and submit to them; [FOR THAT!] for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account.. [THIS…] Let them do this with joy and not with grief, [FOR THAT!] for this would be unprofitable for you,” Hebrews 13:17. Therefore, quid pro quos, by themselves are not wrong, bad or sinful. But there are times when they can be. A couple of examples are; “The Lord God commanded the man saying, ‘From any tree in the garden you may eat freely. [THIS…] But from the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it [FOR THAT!] you shall surely die,” Genesis 2:16-17. Then later, [THIS…] “Judas went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Jesus to them. [FOR THAT!] And they were glad and consented to give him money,” Luke 22:4-5. Let’s make sure our actions are always in keeping with the commands of the Lord! Rick Walker February 2, 2020 Vol. 4 # 5 “Greeting Ministry” Schedule 2/2 … GR: Linda Landrum VS: Steve & Cathy Henley 2/9 … GR: Connie Owens VS: Kevin & Karen Barry 2/16 … GR: Chris Walker VS: Larry & Vicki Thomas Be Imitators of God “Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children; And walk in love, as God also hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savior” Ephesians 5:1-2. We cannot attain to His almighty energy nor to His unfathomable wisdom. Yet we may imitate the method of these divine attributes in the exercise of corresponding human qualities. But the resemblance to God that is both most important and most attainable is moral and spiritual likeness in character and conduct. Consider especially in what points we most need to be like God; purity, truth, and generous giving. We also need to imitate God in His gentleness with sinners, His longsuffering patience, and His forgiving mercy. Love is nearest to the heart and the very being of God, for God is love. It is our natural duty to imitate God. Nothing short of this will satisfy the claims of right. Duty is infinite - a ceaseless climbing to higher and yet higher regions of holiness. We cannot reach the pinnacle of perfec- tion at once, and we are not guilty for not doing what lies beyond our present powers. We are blameworthy if we aim at less than perfection and if we ever rest contented with any lower stage of progress. “Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Matthew 5:48. We are under obligations of gratitude to become imitators of God. The word “therefore” calls our attention to these obligations. It points back to the previous words, wherein we are exhorted to forgive one another, even as God also in Christ forgave us. Our highest blessedness will be found in our resemblance to God. He is ever blessed. Everything ungodly must be ultimately a source of pain and death. Though the imitation of God begins in toil and sacrifice, it grows in to the deepest peace and the richest gladness. Jesus commands us to love our enemies and pray for them. If we do that we will be following God’s lead. Jesus healed His enemy in Luke 22:51. He prayed for and forgave His enemies in Luke 23:34, and He died for His enemies as explained in Romans 5:10. If we love our enemies, we act in the same way our heavenly Father acts. We become “imitators of God.” Like God (who sends the sunshine and rain on all people), we too can give forgiveness to His obedient children and to His enemies. Derrell Hart If you would like to donate to the Meadows “Hot Spot” coffee fund, please give your donation through one of the adult Bible classes or drop in the coffee donation box hanging on the wall by the coffee. Thanks!