Diligent for the Future of the Church
Joe Slater
	Every birthday impresses us more firmly with our own mortality. As Peter grew older, he knew “that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me” (2 Peter 1:14). That tent, of course, was his body, which housed his spirit until he died (put off his tent).
	Peter realized that from the physical standpoint he was temporary. He would not always be there in person to teach and exhort his fellow-Christians. Therefore, he determined, “I will be careful [diligent] to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease” (2 Peter 1:15). One way Peter accomplished this goal was by writing this second letter. Even today, we benefit enormously from the diligent preparation Peter made.
	How are you and I ensuring that future generations continue in the faith? Though we are not inspired apostles as Peter was, we can still be diligent to safeguard the well-being of the church after we have gone to be with Jesus. We must constantly be training people to carry on the Lord’s work.
	Who will Scripturally qualify to serve as elders a generation from now? Who will work as deacons? Who will preach? Who will teach sound doctrine in Bible classes and/or in the community? Who will carry the saving gospel to other places in the world? Who will care for the poor and needy? Who will tend to the sick in the name of Jesus?
	It is sometimes said that at any given point, the church is one generation away from apostasy. That sounds awfully negative, but unless we train and develop Christians to carry out the various functions of the body of Christ, it will be proven true! Paul told Timothy, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). Do you see the progression? Paul taught Timothy; Timothy was to teach faithful men; those faithful men would teach others. Someone taught you; your responsibility is to teach others, who will teach yet others, and on and on it goes. Break the chain at any point, and the church will suffer the consequences.
	These responsibilities begin in the home. Parents must diligently train their children, impressing upon them the responsibility to train whatever children God may one day entrust to their care. While the church cannot and should not be a surrogate parent, it can and should engage in teaching and training every person who is willing to grow in his/her service to God.
	Let us be diligent in ensuring the well-being of the body of Christ in generations yet to come!
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One
I am only one,
But I am one.
I can’t do everything,
But I can do something.
And what I can do,
That I ought to do.
And what I ought to do,
By the grace of God I shall do!
--Edward Everett Hale (via Bulletin Digest)
Purity Dearer Than Life
	H. G. Bosch tells a story about  a little animal that lives in the forests of Northern Europe and Asia called the ermine. This little creature is known for its snow-white fur. The ermine is very particular about taking care of its glossy coat. Fur hunters take cruel advantage of the ermine's fastidious concern to keep its fur clean. Instead of setting a trap for it, they find his home, usually a cleft of a rock or a hollow in an old tree, and they daub the entrance and interior with filth. Then the dogs start their chase. The frightened animal heads for the safety of its home only to discover that its entrance is covered with filth.  Rather than soil his white fur with filth, he faces the dogs and meets his death while preserving its purity. "To the ermine, purity is dearer than life!"
	There is a direct correlation between the desire to be pure and our disgust with filth. In third world countries, sanitation may not be available while they live in filth and garbage. Once they experience pure water, sanitation, clean streets, good hygiene they never want to go back to the filth. Likewise, no one of us would want to give up sanitation for dirty water, and filthy living conditions.
	Purity of heart is a choice. Would that we were as concerned about our purity as the ermine is for its snow-white fur.
	-- Rob Redden (Arroyo Grande, CA)