By: Mike Riley

Most of us have read about the infamous John Wilkes Booth who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. But have we ever read about Edwin Booth, John’s eldest brother? Edwin Thomas Booth was a well-known American actor who one day was waiting at a Jersey City train station. Suddenly, he saw a man slip and fall off the platform.

By: Mike Riley

Christ as the master teacher (John 3:2) taught his disciples not only by word but by example (John 13:15). He demonstrated by His living how they should live before their heavenly Father. After washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:3-5), Christ explained to them the spiritual “benefits” of serving others (John 13:14-17).

True happiness cannot be attained in any other way. What will bring true happiness in time will also bring it into eternity (Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Tim. 6:17-19). The principle of helping those who are spiritually weak (Romans 14:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:14), of weeping with those that weep (Romans 12:15), of encouraging the lowly (Luke 6:20; Gal. 2:10) and encouraging the sinful to sin no more (John 8:11), is the essential and fundamental spirit of our Lord.

By Mike Riley

 The story is told of a Christian high school senior who was honored as one of the best and brightest in his community because he provided a forceful demonstration of integrity. When his school team was given the word “auditorium” in a regional spelling bee, he glanced down to ponder his response and noticed that the word was printed on the microphone stand. He called this to the judges’ attention who responded with a more difficult word.

The young man did what he knew was right whether others noticed. We don’t know when our actions may become an example to others — we’re always on display. But if we live each day to honor Jesus, our behavior will model His righteous life (Gal. 2:20; 1 John 2:5-6), no matter who is watching.

Uprightness and honor should be goals for Christians of every age. Paul told Timothy: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV). As Christians, one of our goals in life should be to change the world around us for good while never compromising ourselves — one person at a time (Acts 10:38 NKJV; cf. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 NKJV; 1 Timothy 4:16 NKJV).

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer,

this is my constant longing and prayer.

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art.

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness.

Stamp Thine’s own image deep on my heart.

 —W.J. Kirkpatric

By: Mike Riley

“From all over the world, long lines of visitors patiently wait day after day to visit Lenin’s Tomb and view his embalmed body. Although he died in 1924, the corpse of this Communist leader has relatively suffered no decomposition. It looks deceptively lifelike. And its appearance is indeed deceptive. Skillful artists monitor the preserved corpse, artificially coloring its face and using wax to fill in any lines or the smallest spot of decay.

Many people regularly visit Jerusalem to see the place where Jesus died and was supposedly buried. But there’s a striking contrast — there’s no body of the crucified Christ anywhere to be found! (cf. Matthew 28:6). According to tradition, we can find a rock-hewn tomb where the nail-scarred, spear-driven, thorn-crowned corpse of Christ was supposedly laid. From the Scriptures, however, we know that our Savior was resurrected by the power of God (Acts 4:10; Acts 13:30-34; Romans 6:4 Romans 8:11; Romans 10:9; Gal. 1: Ephesians 1:17-20; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 1:21), leaving His grave clothes behind when He emerged from the tomb (John 20:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:20; 1 Peter 1:3). Jesus is now alive and is at God’s right hand (Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22).

We can know Him as our loving and merciful Savior (Titus 3:4-6). Because of His atoning death and the empty tomb, we can have eternal life (Romans 5:6-11; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; 1 John 2:24-25). We need only to respond to the conditions of salvation our loving Savior has outlined in His New Testament (Hebrews 7:21-22; Hebrews 9:13-15).

If we’ll willingly respond, He’ll not only give us abundant life now (John 10:10), but one day, we’ll literally see Him and live with Him forever (Matthew 5:8; John 12:26; John 14:1-3; John 17:24; 1 John 3:2; 1 Peter 1:3-5).