Bulletin Articles
NO “SUPPLY CHAIN” ISSUES!
NO “SUPPLY CHAIN” ISSUES!
Unless you have been living in total isolation, you have surely heard of our “supply chain” issues in this country. It is the reason the shelves are so thinly stocked in our stores. It is also one of the reasons for the inflation we are seeing. There are a number of obvious causes (and obvious solutions) for our supply chain issues, but that is not my reason for writing this article. Instead, I want to use this “supply chain” concept to illustrate the awesome way that GOD supplies our needs. King Jesus ensures that there are NO “supply chain” issues among the people of God!
There are no supply chain issues on the love of God. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Mt.5:43-48). God demonstrates His love by showering us with physical blessings every day! Not only the sunshine and rain, but ALL our basic necessities (Mt.6:25-34)! We are also blessed with family, friends, talents – and more! And, as this text says, we need to “pay it forward,” by passing along the love of God to others.
There are no supply chain issues on grace of God. “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rm.5:18-21). Through the one “righteous act” of Jesus dying on the cross, abundant grace is supplied to cover our sins. Indeed, “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more!” So, when it comes to the grace of God, there are no supply chain issues! The only issue is whether we will meet the conditions for receiving God’s grace (cf. Rm.6:1-4).
There are no supply chain issues on the mansions of God. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn.14:1-3). Notice carefully that there are “MANY” mansions; and that Jesus went to prepare a place for “YOU.” When we go to the store, and supplies are limited, sometimes people behave rudely to get their stuff. But when it comes to having a place in heaven, there is plenty of room. There is no need for brethren to “compete” with one another for a place in heaven; nor is there any need to be rude one to another. Why? Because there are no supply chain issues!
There are no supply chain issues on the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Ga.5:22-23). Notice that Paul says there is NO law against ANY fruit of the Spirit. This means we can literally “work ourselves to death” in supplying the fruit of the Spirit to a world devastated by sin. If we, as children of God, continue to bear this fruit in our lives, there can be no end to the supply of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc. And be sure to keep in mind that, though WE are being this fruit, it is still the fruit of the SPIRIT! In other words, the ultimate source for the world’s supply of these things is GOD! And His capacity to bless us is endless!
No supply chain issues... Sounds perfect!
--Lanny Smith
