"Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke vi. 46

Dear Brethren and Friends: The above words have been whispered in my soul for some days. They have been graciously applied in a doctrinal and practical way both as a rebuke for my disobedience, and an encouragement to duty. While rejoicing to hold every form or type of doctrine commanded or taught in the Bible, yet to my grief I fail in that full degree of loving obedience all true Christians strive to perform.

"Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say," has followed me when going to prayer, when reading the Bible or going to church. And when with mingled sorrow and joy, I bid my parents good-bye to pay a debt of confession of my wrongs and come to Culp (a small community in Texas—DM), the same passage stirred my soul. The words "Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say," kept urging me to subdue my pride and confess my faults, before kneeling in prayer or trying to speak of Jesus the sinner's friend.

When enabled through grace (Eph. iii. 16) to confess my faults or pay this debt I felt better, and was rewarded with the approval and sweet presence of Jesus. To Him be all the praise.

Arriving at Brother T. Peek's, though, late in the evening, he called the neighbors and friends to his home for worship. While loath to part from these humble believers and leave the place where Jesus has warmed our hearts by His love, we hope to meet above where separation and sorrow shall never come.

On reaching Brother John Childers' near Culp I learned Brother P. Lancaster had arrived. He preached on their regular meeting days followed by Brother J. S. Newman on Monday and Tuesday. To my joy these ministers were led to avoid hobbies and preach Christ crucified. So here we were made happy by the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.

Dear brethren, do not wrangle nor speak evil of one another.

Think of our Saviour's love as He so willingly suffered on the cross. And then with penitence and love, do let us look upon Jesus whom our sins have pierced and hear Him say, "WHY call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

So in view of the cross, while we avoid compromise, let us also avoid contentions. If in doctrine or practice, a brother's talk or walk is unbecoming the gospel, let us faithfully save him from his error and "cover a multitude of sins." If our minister teach wrong things which bring reproach upon the cause of Christ, let the church kindly check or save him from teach disorderly walk.

In this way, wherever error is taught let the brethren in that place lovingly correct it by local church discipline. 

This scriptural course, my beloved, will avoid trouble, save many sound brethren, calm excitement in the bosom of all, and thus let brotherly love continue.

Your unworthy brother in bonds of love,

Culp, Tex,          M. D. DENMAN.