The Correspon

Schedule of ServicesSunday

Bible Study 9:30 AMWorship 10:30 AMWorship 6:00 PM

WednesdayBible Study 1:30 PM

7:00 PMwww.collinsvillecoc.org

For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth... in every place. (1 Thessalonians 1:8)Vol. 47 No. 4 Collinsville Church of Christ January 27, 2019

oftware upgrades are essentials. Sometimes, computer programs will not function properly unless the

software is upgraded. Once the upgrade has taken place, the computer program will operate normally, until the next software update.

SSometimes, our hearts, as Christians, need

to have a software upgrade. The heart is the operating system of the body. When the body is not functioning properly, especially when it is involved with sin, it needs an upgrade. There are certain “programs” that operate in our minds. Those programs control our thoughts and actions. If the mind is operating on corrupt software, the software needs to be updated. Of course for the Christian, our upgrades take place when we read and study the word of God.

So much is available to enter into the mind which can cause corrupt living. Paul the apostle, was not a computer operator, but he did tell Christians how the mind could be uploaded with good software. Paul wrote the following words to the brethren at Philippi, “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue , and if there be any praise, think on these things”(Phil. 4:8).

It is very easy to expose our minds to ungodly scenes and language on a day to day basis. There are times when we are not deliberately seeking those things out, but they find their way into our presence. We must

keep our software upgraded with the word of God to remove the virus filled software programs that the world has programed to poison the mind.

Make and take every opportunity to fill the heart with the precious word of God. The cleanliness and purity of the word of God will keep the mind focused properly on our eternal reward. God’s word is the ultimate upgrade that we all need to be sure our minds and hearts are operating at peak performance. Let’s allow the word of God to work on our minds so they will remain pure and clean until the coming of our Lord.

- K.A. Pugh*******

Many years ago (we need not mention how many) I studied German while in college. After one term, I was chosen along with two or three others and set apart from the rest of the class. We were invited to join an “advanced” class of students who had studied German in high school. I considered it a great privilege to be one of those chosen. 

As Christians, we have been chosen by God in Christ and set apart from the rest of the world, sanctified through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are chosen and set apart not for anything special we have done. Rather, we are special because He has set us apart and chosen us through Jesus, His Son.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellences of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have

Software Upgrade

received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:9-11 ESV 

We should strive to live special, sanctified lives before God each day because we are chosen of Him through Jesus.

 --TLM

Collinsville Church of Christ1400 Troy RoadCollinsville, IL 62234Phone: (618) 667-6708Email: collinsvillecoc@att.net