The Italian Memorandum

“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore,
but your eyes shall see your Teacher.
And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying,
This is the way, walk in it…”

(Isaiah 30:20,21)

“What’s for supper?” I’d ask my mom (translated—“Can we eat now?”). The usual response was, “Wait until your father gets home from work.” “Okay mom.” Five minutes later—we’d run through the same information again. This time, however, she’d reply to my question—“bread and water.” And, so, early on, I would frequently hear the expression “bread and water.”

The expression “bread of adversity and water of affliction” turns up in Isaiah 30:20-21. Historical research into the bread and water proves this phrase to be a prison reference. 1 Kings 22:27 reads, “Thus says the king, Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water…” It carries the idea of difficult times coming to an end when the people of God would suddenly behold their “Teacher.” The English Standard Version capitalizes “Teacher.” We have reason to think that this Teacher is a Messianic reference. Jesus entered his public ministry, appearing, not just as another teacher, but as the Teacher (Mk. 12:14; John 1:38; 11:28; 3:2; 14:6). The Dead Sea Scrolls also state that the Qumran Community was waiting for the coming of one called, “the Teacher of Righteousness”.

Friend, do you sit at his feet today, or have you settled for bread and water?

-Robert M. Housby

“…a punishment of eternal fire”

(Jude 7)

Turn on the television these days and you are liable to encounter a new program called, “Hell’s Kitchen.” The producers of this program have used a biblical word (“hell”) to gather an audience. However, this tongue-in-cheek usage, fails to compare with the Christian doctrine of eternal punishment.

1. The program’s name, “Hell’s Kitchen” is a humorous parody of the Christian doctrine of ultimate reality (Jude 7, 13).

2. “Hell’s Kitchen” is driven by economic factors, while the Christian doctrine of eternal punishment is driven by Satanic factors (Revelation 22:2,10,15).

3. “Hell’s Kitchen” is a faddish program which lasts for an hour a week; but, “hell” (gehenna) will last throughout eternity (Mark 9:48).

4. Hollywood prefers a non-Christian usage of the term, but the meaning of gehenna will not be deferred by a writer’s guild; for, the Lord has spoken (Matthew 10:28).

So, modern man has once again found a use for the place, “the valley of Hinnom” (2 Chron. 28:3; 33:6)—or, so they think!

-Robert M. Housby

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.
You re serving the Lord Christ”

(Colossians 3:23,24)

Mark Twain once appeared at a grammar school graduation as the honored speaker. One of his functions was to present awards to the students. One boy’s prize was a big Webster’s Dictionary. Twain had this to say about the award—“This is a very interesting and useful book, my son. I have studied it often, but I never could discover the plot”.”

When it comes to asking what is the major plot of the Bible, there is a theological theme which must not be overlooked; that theme is the “the work of the Lord” (John 5:17; 6:28-29; 1 Cor. 16:10). To be able to participate in the work of the Lord is man’s highest duty and privilege. There can be no more satisfying occupation than the work of the Lord. No Fortune 500 Company can rival this magnificent work.

Are you satisfied with your work ethic? Ask yourself–am I contributing to the work of the Lord? Notice that Colossians 3:22-4:1 grounds the Christian work ethic to one’s relationship with the Lord. In other words, your work ethic is a reflection of your relationship with Jesus. Participate in the plot of the Bible.

-Robert M. Housby

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them”

(Revelation 14:13)

Raphael of Urbino was a famous painter. Like his predecessor, Michaelangelo, who was commissioned under Pope Julius. Raphael worked under Pope Leo X. He died on April 6, 1520. It is said, that before he died, it was “entirely possible that he may have seen the whole series of his works installed in the Sistine Chapel” (Raphael’s Cartoons in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen and the Tapestries for the Sistine Chapel, John Shearman (Phaidon Press: London, 1972) p. 3).

For Raphael, religion meant the Roman Catholic Church; while his art meant his contribution to Christ and his church. Raphael is gone. His works remain though, and, if Revelation 14:13 be applied, Raphael’s works will follow him into eternity. For good or ill, whatever a man does while on earth, those works will mirror him throughout eternity.

For those of the early church, spoken of in Revelation 14:1-5, “their deeds follow them” (14:13). For those of us who now live in the 21st century, we have heard it said from the holy scriptures–“For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17).

Your future has not yet been fully told! Won’t you labor for the Master today? For, you see, this application really is not about Raphael—it’s about us.

-Robert M. Housby

“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks,
slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit”

(1 Corinthians 12:13)

We are living in a society that attempts to devalue Christ and his church. There is a real tendency, these days, to water-down the gospel. When Paul wrote that baptized believers were “made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:27) we are persuaded that he did not mean watered-down benefits. Nor, does God intend that we return to him watered-down service. The basics of church membership mean—

1. The baptized are the members (1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 18:8). Only the washed are justified in the name of the Lord and the Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:11). The Lord adds people to his church at the point of baptism (Acts 2:41,47)—not before. Immersion in water for the remission of sins is essential (Acts 2:38; 22:16). To break with the plan of salvation is to dilute the message with the traditions of men (Mark 7:6-9).

2. All members are the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). When Paul told the early church that they were the body of Christ, he affirmed (1) that they belonged to Christ and, (2) that they now had a function (1 Corinthians 12:15, 19). We are aware that the Lord, himself, went about doing good while in his earthly body (Acts 10:38). In the same way, the body of Christ, the church, was meant for good works (Ephesians 1:22; 2;10; Romans 12:3-8).

Christ and his church are one—“For we are members of his body, of His flesh and of his bones” (Ephesians 3:21; 5:30-32). If, today, you find yourself out of touch with the body of Christ—perhaps you have forgotten just how important church membership is—may these reminders serve to re-dedicate your service in the body, which is the church of Christ.

-Robert M. Housby