“Farmer Brown, this is farmer White. My best milking cow has the same kind of fever that your ol’ Bessie had recently. What did you do to treat her?”

“I mixed turpentine and cod liver oil half and half in her food once a day for four days.”

            Four days later—“Hey farmer Brown, this is farmer White. I did exactly what you told me to do with the turpentine and cod liver oil, but my milk cow just up and died.”

            “Yup. So did ol’ Bessie”

            It makes you wonder, sometimes, doesn’t it. Where do people go for their information? Why don’t they go to the right source? When it comes to spiritual things, why will people turn to parents, friends, and peers instead of looking into the word of God?

Ivan Stewart’s Open Bible Study (OBS), lesson 1, directs the student to read John 10:10—“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

After the student reads John 14:6—“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” OBS asks three questions: (1) “Since Jesus said He came to give you the full and abundant life, should you go to Jesus’ words (teachings) to learn of His way to that life?” (2) “Could the words of these people give you the abundant life: mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, friends or neighbors?” (3) “Could the words of these people give you the abundant life: Joseph Smith, John Calvin, Martin Luther, Wesley Brothers, John Knox or the Pope?” Most students easily see the answers.

Since it is Christ that promises us eternal life, we need to seek His will. Make sure that your friends and neighbors know that you don’t claim to have all the answers—but you do know the One Who is the Answer.

Ol' Bessie

by Bob Prichard

www.oxfordchurchofchrist.com