This past week I bought a new Bible called the "Inductive Study Bible". Its text is the 1995 version of the New American Standard (a modified 1966 text), and I can't wait to read it!!! The Bible that I used during my preaching school era was also the NAS, but the 1966 version. This Bible (the 1966 one) is still on my reading table and completely yellow and marked up (and in places the marking is excessive). When I saw the above sign I thought of that older Bible, overused, discolored and worn. But, it is still useful, as I had it rebound about a decade ago. In it is one special marking, which is from the first sermon I remember from chapel at Northeast School of Biblical Studies. You guessed it, this was the basis of the sermon. Brother Ed Healy was the speaker and I doubt if he has any idea that his words from so long ago (1977) would still be in my thoughts after so many decades. He also helped me dramatically by showing me his sermon outlines. You see, he color coded the major points to aid in their recognition from the pulpit. This proved to be invaluable in public speaking, but oddly enough led to the color coding I use in The Composite Bible program I spent years in making. So, today is a long overdue thanks to brother Healy and as much encouragement as I can give. This brings to mind two passages of Scripture...
1 Corinthians, Chapter 3
5 Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him? 6 I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; 13 each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is. 14 If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.
Matthew, Chapter 13
3 He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow. 4 As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth. 6 When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Others fell on good soil, and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
As I said earlier, Ed has no idea that one lesson would affect me as it has. But, I think I can safely say that his efforts were not about the results, but about the sowing. If the truth is proclaimed, that is enough. The presenter is nothing, God is everything!!! God's will be done, period!!!
In closing... Thank you, brother Ed- keep on preaching the word, who knows what your efforts may yield in the 22nd century!!!
PS. You can find out more from Ed's website: http://theabidingword.com/logos/index.html