In The Neighborhood

There are several Blogspots I follow. Over the past few months some bloggers have removed theirs from the web, or just stop blogging but leave their work available for reference. That has given me time to visit some new ones. In some I do not find a kindred spirit. Others I enjoyed enough to return. Others I sign up to Follow, to be reminded when they post new items.

Tuesday I became a Follower of two blogs I had not visited before. Connie’s Thoughts From The Heart, and one of her pastor’s, who has three blogs. His newest, on Law, Liberty and Legislators, is one I’ve signed to Follow.

I look upon these as neighbors, for we have much in common. The majority of the ones I follow are members of an independent Baptist church. We hold common doctrine. Just as when we visited the First Baptist Church of La Veta, Colorado, we would feel at home during their services as we gather to worship the Father who loved us so much that He gave us His son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior, and who left us with the Comforter following Christ’s resurrection.

We may contend over a bit of spelling or verse interpretation, but over that last sentence, there are no differences. It reminds me of what Paul wrote to the church at Philippi:

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; [Philippians 1:27 KJV]

We enjoy following the exhortation in Hebrews:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. [Hebrews 10:25 KJV]

While we don’t know when that day will be here, we do know the day of salvation -- today.

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) [2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV]

So we read and we write and we share our faith as it was shared in that first century. We give examples, analogies, analysis, and we give of ourselves to all who ask the jailer’s question.

Sirs, what must I do to be saved? [Acts 16:30b KJV]

How we do love Paul’s response – which resounds today.

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. [Acts 16:31 KJV]

May God bless this reading of His word, and may His promise be fulfilled.

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. [Isaiah 55:11 KJV]