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“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”

2 Peter 3:11–12

One of the topics of Bible teaching that always seems to attract attention is prophecy. People want to know what to expect in the future. There is a natural fascination with looking ahead. Yet what we read in the pages of Scripture paints a very grim picture of the end of days. In his vision of the future given to him on the Isle of Patmos, John saw a day when the strong men and leaders of the earth would try to seek refuge: “And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16).

The future for those who do not know Christ as Saviour is dark. However for those of us who are saved, it is filled with promises of hope and peace. We do not need to fear the end of the world. That knowledge should be a source of comfort, but it should also be an inspiration for us to take the gospel to those who have never heard. Every individual will one day stand before God in a judgment—either the judgment for the saved or the judgment for the lost.

As those who know the salvation of God, we should be witnesses to others. Paul wrote of this responsibility: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

“At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”

Daniel 4:36–37

From a worldly standpoint, Nebuchadnezzar had plenty to be proud of when he looked around at the city of Babylon, capital of the greatest empire the world had ever seen. His power and dominion stretched across many nations. His army was unrivaled. As a result, he felt justified in taking credit for everything he saw when he surveyed his kingdom. “The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30).

God hates the sin of pride. He is responsible for the skills and talents that we use to bring about whatever success we achieve. He should be the recipient of the praise and acclaim rather than us trying to direct it to ourselves. Through the prophet Isaiah, God declared, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images” (Isaiah 42:8).

Nebuchadnezzar discovered God’s ability to humble man in a painful way. The proud king lost his reason, and for seven years lived like an animal in the field. Once his reason was restored and he regained the throne, Nebuchadnezzar remembered to praise God rather than taking credit for himself. It is far better for us to humble ourselves than for us to suffer what God brings about in order to humble us.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

James 4:8–10

I read an interesting story about Booker T. Washington. When he arrived in Tuskegee, Alabama, as the first teacher and head of the Tuskegee Institute in 1881, few people knew who he was. Once, as he walked through town, a wealthy woman asked if he would like to earn a little money by chopping firewood for her. Instead of being offended, Washington, who had started working in the mines when he was just nine to help provide for his family, rolled up his sleeves and went to work.

One of the girls who worked in the house recognized Washington and told the lady who he was after he left. The next day she visited the school to apologize. “It’s perfectly all right, Madam,” Washington said. “Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor. Besides, it’s always a delight to do something for a friend.” His humble spirit made an impression on her, and she soon became a major financial backer of the Tuskegee Institute, as well as encouraging her friends to join her in support of the school.

Humility requires that we be willing to trust God to reward our work rather than making the effort to ensure we receive praise and honor. This is a difficult challenge for many people, especially because we live in a world that is so geared toward self-promotion. Yet we must always remember that God never misses a work that is done for Him. Something as small as a cup of water will be remembered, and we can trust Him to honor things that no one else knows about or sees.

“And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

1 Corinthians 4:6–7

Though he came from very humble beginnings, Abraham Lincoln worked diligently to better his life. Largely a self-taught man, Lincoln found great success as an attorney, particularly in the then-new field of railroad law, before his political rise to prominence. Even after he ascended to the highest office in the land, Lincoln maintained a healthy sense of humility. He was quite fond of the poem by Scottish poet William Knox that included these words:

Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?
Like a swift-flitting meteor, a fast-flying cloud,
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,
He passes from life to his rest in the grave.

Our culture encourages boastful behavior. The bright spotlight of fame seems to follow those who are the most skilled at promoting their latest example of foolish and sinful living. Getting noticed and known has been an end to be pursued, not through accomplishment, but through self-promotion. At the root of this behavior is the sin of pride. Yet nothing we have done or accomplished merits such an attitude. James wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). As the provider of everything we use to produce all of our accomplishments, God is the one who deserves all of the praise and honor for everything we do.

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;”

Colossians 1:16–19

William Carey, known as the “Father of Modern Missions,” is one of the great heroes of the faith. He left his home in England to take the gospel to India even in the face of opposition from many church leaders of his day. After a long and fruitful ministry, as Carey lay ill with the sickness that would end his life, he was visited by another missionary named Alexander Duff. They spent some time talking together about the things that had been accomplished in that pioneer mission work. After they prayed together, Duff prepared to leave. But in his feeble voice, Carey called him back to his bedside. He said, “Mr. Duff, you have been speaking about Dr. Carey. Dr. Carey! When I am gone say nothing about Dr. Carey—speak about Dr. Carey’s Saviour!”

The devil is willing to do anything to render us unfit for God’s service. If he cannot destroy our effectiveness through failure, he is quite content to do so through success. If our hearts are filled with pride at the thought of what we have done for God, it indicates that our focus is in the wrong place. God’s purpose is that Jesus Christ be glorified through our lives and work. Paul wrote, “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21).

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Philippians 2:5-8

William Milne was born in a small village in Scotland. His father died when he was very young, so William received little schooling because he needed to work to help support the family. Known even at a young age for his prodigious use of profanity, Milne was converted as a teenager, and the focus of his life shifted. When Robert Morrison, one of the first missionaries to China wrote and asked for help in the work, Milne volunteered for the position, but his lack of formal education led the board to decline his request to serve as a missionary.

Milne replied, “Well, sir, if the gentlemen don’t think me fit to be a missionary, I will go as a servant. I am willing to be a hewer of wood and a drawer of water or do anything to help the cause of my Heavenly Master.” Milne did go to China and was greatly used in the work there for the rest of his life. In addition to preaching and witnessing, he helped establish a school to train leaders and a printing press that distributed books and tracts across the country. His willingness to serve was Milne’s best qualification for the work. If Jesus was willing to lay aside the glories of Heaven and come to Earth as a servant, how much more should we be willing to set aside our pride and serve Him however we can?

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

1 Peter 5:5–7

The great Bible teacher F. B. Meyer said, “I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other; and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them. I now find that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath the other; and that it is not a question of growing taller but of stooping lower; and that we have to go down, always down, to get His best gifts.”

It is impossible for our finite minds to grasp the enormity of the gap between God and us. In our foolish pride we often think that we have reached a high level in our spiritual walk or our intellectual knowledge—yet compared to God we are less than nothing. God will never reward the proud, but He reaches down to those who are low in their own eyes and lifts them up. David is a wonderful example of this principle in action. He was content to tend his father’s sheep, even after Samuel poured oil on his head and told him he would be king over Israel.

David was in no hurry to place himself on the throne. In fact when he twice was presented with the opportunity to kill Saul, he refused. He realized that the promotion that comes from God is much more meaningful and lasting than anything we can accomplish for ourselves. Rather than seeking approval and praise from men, we should seek to please God and leave the rest to Him.

“And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

Deuteronomy 6:10–12

In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation for a national day of prayer and fasting. He wrote: “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.”

All of the good things that we have come from God, but we face the temptation to take credit for them ourselves rather than giving Him thanks and praise. When we begin to take pride in our accomplishments, we face the subtle danger of forgetting who God is and what we owe Him in return for all that we have received. The more blessings we enjoy, the greater this danger is. Stopping to give thanks to God helps us remember His goodness and remain humble in our hearts.

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

Philippians 2:1-3

In his book The Friendship Factor, Alan McGinnis related a story from the life of the great singer Marian Anderson. She was asked about the greatest moment of her life, and another musician named Sol Hurok was there and overheard the conversation. Hurok said: “I knew she had many big moments to choose from. There was the night Toscanini told her that hers was the finest voice of the century. There was the private concert she gave at the White House for the Roosevelts and the King and Queen of England. To top it all, there was that Easter Sunday in Washington when she stood beneath the Lincoln statue and sang for a crowd of 75,000, which included Cabinet members, Supreme Court Justices, and most members of Congress.” Which of those big moments did she choose? “None of them,” said Hurok. “Miss Anderson told the reporter that the greatest moment of her life was the day she went home and told her mother she wouldn’t have to take in washing anymore.”

The gifts and talents that God gives to us are not meant to bring praise and glory to us. Instead they are meant to be used for His glory and for the benefit of others. When we allow ourselves to become self-focused, we miss out on so much good that we could be doing. If we think of ourselves as better than others, we will never love and serve them in a manner that shows God’s love to them.

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

Romans 12:3–5

One of Bible teacher F. B. Meyer’s friends received a letter from him just a few weeks before Meyer’s death. He wrote: “I am now eighty-two and in a nursing home, but hope to be out again in two or three weeks. I want to tell you what the Spirit of God has been showing me lately: that I have acquired a reputation for sanctity from the facility with which I have discussed on the inner secrets of life hidden with God. I see how easily this may grow upon me.” Even after decades of faithful service, Meyer was alert to the temptation to allow pride to creep into his life.

The battle against pride is not one which we can fight and win and never face again. Instead it comes back again and again, as we are tempted to focus on ourselves rather than on bringing honor and glory to God. The devil is willing to return tomorrow if we pass the test today. He knows how easy it is for us to fall into his trap, and pride is one of his primary weapons to bring down believers. John warned: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16). If we let down our guard, pride will quickly take root in our lives.

“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:1-3

D. L. Moody said, “A man can counterfeit love, he can counterfeit faith, he can counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but it is very difficult to counterfeit humility. You soon detect mock humility. They have a saying among the Arabs that as the tares and the wheat grow they show which God has blessed. The ears that God has blessed bow their heads and acknowledge every grain, and the more fruitful they are the lower their heads are bowed. The tares lift up their heads erect, high above the wheat, but they are only fruitful of evil.”

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked about the importance of being “poor in spirit.” Those who are poor in spirit are not filled with pride at what they have done. Instead they recognize their utter dependence on God for anything worthwhile to be accomplished. In the old song “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” George Atkins wrote “All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down.” We are not capable of doing God's work apart from God's power, and thus we have no basis for pride.

In addition to being unwarranted, pride robs us of God's power. He is not going to share the honor that belongs to Him with anyone, and if we insist on getting the credit, we will quickly find that His blessing and help has been withdrawn. Sadly some people find that it is not until everything they worked for has been taken away that they are willing to be poor in spirit. It is far better for us to humble ourselves so we can continue to be blessed.

“And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.”

1 Samuel 1:26-28

Hannah had no children in a time when that was considered one of the worst things that could happen to a married woman. She was held in contempt because she was barren, and it deeply grieved her soul. Hannah faced a choice that many of us face—whether to become bitter because God has not given us something that we want, or to continue to trust Him, allowing His will to be done in our lives. When Hannah and her family traveled to Shiloh where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, Hannah humbled herself and poured out her heart before God in prayer, asking for a son.

When Hannah’s request was granted, she dedicated her son, Samuel, to God's service just as she had promised to do. She offered a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God for hearing her plea and sending the answer. Hannah said, “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them” (1 Samuel 2:8).

Hannah is an example of a humble and godly mother. Not everything in her life was easy, and she made great sacrifices. Yet in the midst of difficulty, she humbled herself before the Lord, submitting to His purpose and, ultimately, finding her joy in Him.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:8–10

John Wanamaker was a successful businessman. The son of a bricklayer, he opened his first store when he was just twenty-three years old. He is credited with being one of the first to combine modern advertising techniques with a business offering a wide variety of products. He opened one of the first department stores in the country in Philadelphia in 1875. He also served as Postmaster-General of the United States under President Benjamin Harrison. Despite his vast business interests, he remained heavily involved in his church.

It is said that someone once asked Wanamaker, “How do you get time to run a Sunday school for four thousand scholars, in addition to the business of your stores, your work as Postmaster-General, and other obligations?” Wanamaker replied: “Why, the Sunday school is my business! All other things are just things. Forty-five years ago I decided that God’s promise was sure: ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’”

God did not save us solely so that we could enjoy eternity in Heaven with Him. After we’re saved, He invites us to partner with Him in serving others. There are lost people to be reached with the gospel, hurting people to be comforted, and new believers to be taught. While God could have arranged for these tasks to be done by angels or through miracles, He instead ordained that His children would do good works. This is a central part of His plan for each of our lives—put in place long before we were even born.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

John 12:24–26

The evangelist Gipsy Smith wrote, “A woman who was interested in Christian work in London wrote me once and said, ‘I have a meeting I want you to come to speak to. It is only a small meeting and will take nothing out of you.’ I answered, ‘I cannot come, and it would be of no use if I did come. If it takes nothing out of me it will do nobody any good.’ It is service that costs, and a cheap religion is not worth preaching.”

If we are not willing to pay the price of serving God, we will certainly never accomplish anything meaningful for Him. When the plague struck Israel because of David’s sin in numbering the people, the king went out to the threshing floor of a man named Araunah to make an altar and offer a sacrifice. Araunah offered to give his ground and his cattle to the king, but David refused. “And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver” (2 Samuel 24:24). The devil tell us that the costs of serving God are too high, but he is a liar—God honors those who serve Him regardless of the cost.

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 3:9–11

On December 22, 2001, an Islamic terrorist named Richard Reid boarded American Airlines flight 63 from Paris to Miami. Reid, who was born in England had converted to Islam while in prison for theft, had traveled to both Pakistan and Afghanistan where he received training and explosives, which were hidden in the hollowed out soles of a pair of shoes. The plan was to bring down a trans-Atlantic flight with nearly two hundred people on board by exploding the shoes and depressurizing the airplane.

After a passenger smelled smoke (Reid was attempting to light the fuse to the bomb with a match) two flight attendants and a number of passengers swarmed Reid (who at six feet four inches tall weighed over two hundred pounds) and restrained him. When the plane landed safely, Reid was taken into custody. It would have been difficult for one or two attendants or passengers to have stopped him, but by working together, they succeeded and their lives were spared.

At one point Jesus commissioned a group of seventy men and sent them out to begin preaching and ministering on their own to prepare for His arrival. But He did not send them individually. “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come” (Luke 10:1). While there may be times when we must take a stand in isolation, God’s design is for His children to work together to fulfill His calling.

“But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:26–28

Samuel Logan Brengle was a gifted student, and many doors were open to him when he finished college. He chose to train for the ministry and became a circuit riding preacher for a time. When he heard of the work of the Salvation Army under General Booth, he felt led to join that ministry. However, when he arrived in England, the leaders of the Salvation Army knew of Brengle’s talents and experiences, and they were not sure he was really committed to the cause. Brengle’s first assignment was not to address a crowd or train a group of ministers, but to polish the boots of all the Salvation Army officers in training with him.

As he contemplated the eighteen pairs of boots, he faced a choice between being insulted or being obedient. Later Brengle recorded his response in his journal: “I could see my Lord—who had come from the bosom of the everlasting Father and the glories of Heaven and the adoration of its hosts—bending over the feet of uncouth, unlearned fishermen, washing them, humbling Himself, taking the form of a servant. I immediately fell on my knees and prayed: ‘Lord, you washed their feet; I will polish their boots.’” Brengle went on to become the first American to reach the rank of Commissioner in the Salvation Army.

The calling of God is not for us to be lifted up, but to serve. As we humbly serve others—just as Jesus did—God receives glory, and we can trust Him to honor and reward our efforts.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Philippians 2:5–8

Someone said, “Jesus never wrote a book, so far as we know; and yet, more books have been written about Him than any person who has ever lived. He never painted a picture, or did any sculpturing, or wrote a poem, so far as we know; and yet, Jesus of Nazareth has been the inspiration for artists, and poems, and books, and paintings, and music that fill the world. Jesus Christ never raised an army; and yet, millions have died for Him and for His cause.”

Though all of the wealth and power and glory of Heaven was rightfully His, Jesus laid it aside without hesitation. He gave up His prerogatives so that He could be the sacrifice for sins that would make salvation possible. The obedience of Christ to go to the cross is the only reason we have the hope of Heaven. But it is more than that—it is also an example which God means for us to follow. Peter wrote, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

It goes against our nature to be humble servants. Most people struggle with allowing others to be honored and noticed instead of themselves. Yet that is the pattern of Jesus. He patiently met the needs of others and did not seek to glorify Himself but rather His Father in Heaven.

“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.”

John 13:3–5

Dr. John Henry Jowett wrote, “Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.” I read about a missionary who was visiting a religious festival in Brazil. As he went from booth to booth examining the different items for sale, he saw one with a sign that said, “Cheap Crosses.” He thought to himself, “That’s what many Christians are looking for these days—cheap crosses. My Lord’s cross was not cheap. Why should mine be?”

There is no version of Bible Christianity that does not come with a cost. Jesus said “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). In the Upper Room the night before He was crucified, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. This was a dirty and disgusting job—one usually reserved for slaves to perform. Yet the Lord of Heaven and Earth was willing to wash the feet of His followers, including the feet of Judas who was about to betray Him.

Jesus did not think that menial tasks were beneath Him, and yet pride tempts us to think that we deserve easy tasks that will bring us praise and glory. Instead God is looking for people who will humble themselves and pick up a towel to serve Him by serving others. In truth, the work that you do for God may go unnoticed during your lifetime. Your name may never be well known. You may not receive acclaim and applause. But God will see, and His words “Well done” will be reward enough.

“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.”

Philippians 2:19–22

The church at Philippi held a special place in Paul’s heart. This body of believers was birthed in struggle and conflict—and a night spent in jail—and they lived their faith day by day. This church was generous, faithfully supporting Paul in his missionary work. When John was inspired to pen his letters to the churches in Revelation, he was given no words of condemnation or correction for these believers. Instead he declared God’s praise for them: “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8).

While Paul was in prison in Rome, he wanted to make sure that the church at Philippi was continuing to grow and develop, and so he sent his protégé Timothy to minister to them. The expression Paul used to describe Timothy is instructive—he “naturally care[d]” for them. This desire to serve and minister was not something Timothy put on for show. Instead it was a part of his nature. Timothy had a servant’s heart. The problem of people not serving is not because it is so hard to find something useful and helpful to do for God and His work. The problem is that many people do not seek to serve. It is not part of their nature, and as a result they do not strengthen and edify the body of Christ.

“After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Matthew 25:19–21

Charles Spurgeon was the most famous preacher in the world in his day. Thousands flocked to hear him every Sunday at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London—so many that complementary tickets were required to attend the services. Yet Spurgeon started out teaching and preaching in tiny churches far out in the country. “I am perfectly sure,” he once said, “that, if I had not been willing to preach to those small gatherings of people in obscure country places, I should never have had the privilege of preaching to thousands of men and women in large buildings all over the land.”

The things that God has given us today are the things He expects us to use to serve Him. The place where God has put is today is the place where He expects us to serve Him. Some people spend so much of their time wishing for bigger and better things to do for God that they fail to faithfully serve where they are, and thus miss their chances for greater opportunities. Someone said, “Even if the task is not worthy of you, diligence is.” Take the step of character to be faithful even in small matters, and God will increase your arena of service. The Old Testament prophet asked this question: “For who hath despised the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10). If we despise the small things, we will never see the big things.

“And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”

Hebrews 11:36–38

Although Charles Spurgeon was a popular and respected preacher, when he took a stand against the liberal theology that was infecting the Baptist Union in England late in his life, he had to stand almost alone. Most of his life-long friends turned against him, accusing him of valuing truth over unity. It was a heartbreaking experience, yet Spurgeon refused to compromise. At one point he said, “I know of nothing which I would choose to have as the subject of my ambition for life than to be kept faithful to my God till death, still to be a soul winner, still to be a true herald of the cross, and testify the name of Jesus to the last hour.”

Loving and serving God does not guarantee short term success. Jesus said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19). We can expect opposition and difficulty. Sadly that sometimes comes not from the world but from other believers who should be standing and serving with us, but who oppose us instead.

In either case, God is looking for people who cannot be stopped—who will serve no matter what happens. These are the faithful ones who are willing to pay the price to do what God has called them to do, and while the world may never recognize or reward them, God considers them worthy of His praise and approval.

“Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”

Philippians 2:25–27

In 2004 Proctor and Gamble made a major acquisition when they purchased Gillette. The driving force behind the purchase was the belief that the two companies together would be more valuable than either of them alone. According to a later study by New York University, the merger increased the value of the two companies by between $4 and $5 billion dollars because of synergy. The business world defines synergy as “the additional value that is generated by combining two firms, creating opportunities that would not been available to these firms operating independently.” This same principle applies in the spiritual realm.

The Greek word Paul used when he called Epaphroditus his “companion in labour” is the word synergos. There is a vitally important lesson here for us. The Apostle Paul did a great missionary work, taking the Gospel across much of the Roman Empire. Yet he did not labor alone. Instead he was accompanied by a group of men who traveled with him and helped him in the work. Sometimes we forget the vital role these helpers played in the ministry. God does not intend for us to “go it alone” in serving Him. The church should be a place where people with a common vision and heart for God work together to build His Kingdom. That only happens when we set aside our desire for acclaim, put our hands to the plow, and work together for His purposes.

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

Romans 6:16–18

John Newton’s gravestone reads “John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.” Most remember that Newton was a slave trader before his conversion, but many have forgotten that he was captured and served for a time as a slave himself in Africa. It was on his trip home to England after his rescue that Newton was saved.
All of us serve something or someone. We talk of being free, but everyone serves what they obey. The choice is not if we will serve, but who (or what) we will serve. This is the challenge that Joshua posed to the Children of Israel near the end of his life. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

The devil offers us freedom from God’s yoke, but his lie conceals the heavier yoke he wants to place upon our shoulders. Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). He did not say that there is no service in following Him, but that the way is easy instead of painful.

“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”

2 Timothy 2:14–16

A. W. Tozer wrote: “Before the judgment seat of Christ my service will be judged not by how much I have done but by how much I could have done!... In God’s sight, my giving is measured not by how much I have given but how much I have left after I made my gift… Not by its size is my gift judged, but by how much of me there is in it. No man gives at all until he has given all! No man gives anything acceptable to God until he has first given himself in love and sacrifice.”

As Christians, we want to one day hear the words, “Well done,” in approval from God. But being an approved workman is not a given—only those who put forth the effort and sacrifice to do what they can and should do will receive this praise. The standard God sets is high, but it is a standard that through His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit we can meet. None of us lacks what is necessary to be approved, regardless of our level of talent or opportunity, because God’s approval is based on His measure of what we do with what we have. The widow who gave two mites gave far less than others, but she was the only one Jesus singled out for praise. It was her heart that made her gift grow into something far greater than it seemed and made her work approved.

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.”

1 Corinthians 4:1–3

The word steward comes from the Old English stigweard—the person responsible for household affairs. It speaks of one who is responsible to another to care for their belongings. God calls us to be faithful servants. Matthew Henry said, “Faithfulness in a servant lies in the ready, punctual, and thorough execution of his master’s orders; keeping his secrets and counsels, dispatching his affairs, and managing with frugality, and to as much just advantage for his master as he is able; looking well to his trusts, and preventing, as far as he can, all spoil, or loss, or damage.”

The belongings and possessions that consume the lives of so many people in our world today are never really ours in the first place. Everything belongs to God by His right as Creator. David wrote, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods” (Psalm 24:1–2). Since all “our” things belong to God, we should regard their use as primarily for His purposes rather than for our own.

Though God certainly provides many blessings for His children—including material blessings, and He means for us to enjoy them—He does not intend for us to regard them as our own. This is where the principle of stewardship comes in. When we use our resources wisely and well we glorify God and receive His approval for being faithful.

“And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

John 9:2–4

Even before sin entered the world as a result of the Fall, work was part of God’s plan for mankind. “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15). After the curse, work became more difficult, but work is not a curse—it is a blessing. God is not looking for shortcuts. He is looking for the character that is developed by work. That is why it is so destructive for us to shirk and avoid responsibility. Instead of quitting when things get tough, we should increase our efforts.

President Calvin Coolidge said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On!’ has solved…[many] problems of the human race.”

We see how seriously God views our work in this admonition from Paul: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Too many believers have adopted the attitude of the world that work is something to be avoided rather than valued. Instead we should view our tasks and responsibilities as gifts from God and pursue them with diligence and persistence until they are completed.

“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”

2 Peter 1:8–10

In 1921, three years after the conclusion of the First World War, Congress authorized burying an unknown fallen U. S. serviceman in Arlington National Cemetery. Ten years later, work was completed on the marble sarcophagus that marked the spot now known as “the Tomb of the Unknowns.” Carved into the stone over the grave site are the words: “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.” That soldier, along with every other soldier who died for our country, purchased our freedom with his life.

Our spiritual freedom was also purchased at great cost by Jesus on the cross. God does not save us just so that we can go to Heaven. He also expects us to work for Him. He is not looking for unfruitful Christians. While it is true that salvation is completely God’s doing apart from anything we do either before or after we are saved, it is also true that we are meant to be productive in His Kingdom.

Why do some Christians serve God faithfully and diligently for many decades? I believe in large measure it is because they are living with a constant awareness of what God has done for them. We should never forget our state before we were saved, or that it was only of God’s grace that we were made part of His family.

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

Psalm 100:1–3

Many people are not particularly happy in their work. Our jobs are the source of many jokes and complaints in our society. It is important for us as believers to remember that God wants us to work (both in the church and in secular professions) with a cheerful and willing heart. A worker who is constantly griping and complaining is not a good testimony to the Lord. Instead the Bible instructs us to serve “with gladness.”

When the Queen of Sheba heard about the glory and majesty of Solomon’s kingdom, she made the trip to Israel to see for herself whether the things that she had heard were true or not. After she had arrived, she found that it was even better than she had been told. One of the things she commented on was the condition of those who served Solomon. “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear they wisdom” (1 Kings 10:8).

Workers in those days had none of the protections that workers have today. There were no unions or government bodies dedicated to setting hours and work conditions. In fact Solomon was not just a boss—he was the king with the literal power of life and death over those who worked for him. We might think such conditions would make people miserable, but those who served Solomon considered it a privilege and were happy to do so. It should be the same in our hearts. We do not have to serve God; we have the privilege of serving Him. Our hearts should be glad as we do our work for Him.

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:17–20

This summer will mark twenty-eight years since I preached at Lancaster Baptist Church for the first time. That hot evening there were only twelve people in attendance. Terrie and I were just passing through on a summer vacation and had no thought of making this our home and place of ministry. But God had something else in mind. Those twelve people called us, and as we sensed God’s leading, we responded. We didn’t know how things were going to work out—there was no salary offered and the church was deeply in debt. Yet we followed Him in faith.

Through the years there have been many joys and sorrows. We have seen people trust Christ as Saviour the first time they heard the gospel and others get saved after years of praying and witnessing. We have seen entire families come to Christ and grow in grace together. We have laughed and wept together. When problems have arisen and heartbreaks have come, we have a unique source of comfort—our hope for eternity.

When the seventy returned to Jesus rejoicing over their victories in ministry, He reminded them that there was something far more permanent and important. Every joy and every tear in this world is temporary. But because of salvation in Jesus Chris,t we have an eternity in Heaven in our future. This allows us to keep the problems in perspective and keep our joy as we serve the Lord.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Romans 8:16–18

Paul knew what it meant to suffer for the cause of Christ. It was a rare town where his preaching didn’t stir opposition or result in death threats. He was well known for the power and effectiveness of his ministry. Paul even had a group of opponents who would travel to other towns to find him and oppose his work. He often suffered physically—beatings, stoning, shipwreck, and being cast into prison. Yet through all of that, Paul never stopped serving Christ. The sufferings did not stop him because of God’s grace.

Speaking of his thorn in the flesh, which God did not remove despite his repeated requests, Paul wrote, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God often uses times of trouble and difficulty even in the midst of our service to Him to teach us about His grace.

Andrew Murray wrote, “In trial and weakness and trouble, He seeks to bring us low, until we learn that His grace is all, and to take pleasure in the very thing that brings us and keeps us low. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. His presence filling and satisfying our emptiness, becomes the secret of humility that need never fail.” Resting in God’s grace we will persevere to reach the glory He has prepared for us.

“But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.”

1 Thessalonians 2:17–20

The Bible teaches that God gives the increase of our ministry for Him, and it teaches that we are responsible to do our part to plant and water the Word in the hearts of others. As the old farmers used to say, “The best place to pray for corn is at the end of the hoe handle.” If we are faithful to witness, we will find that there are many who do not respond or are even hostile and abusive. However that is far from the whole story. There will also be others who will gladly accept God’s offer of salvation. There is no greater joy on Earth...or in Heaven.

Charles Spurgeon said, “I think beloved, it will not be hard for you to learn. The angels of Heaven rejoice over sinners that repent: saints of God, will not you and I do the same? I do not think the church rejoices enough. We all grumble enough and groan enough: but very few of us rejoice enough. When we take a large number into the church it is spoken of as a great mercy; but is the greatness of that mercy appreciated?”

The Lord will bless our efforts for Him. Isaiah recorded this promise: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

“But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”

Matthew 13:16–17

Through the centuries, men and women followed God in faith. Often they had only small portions of the Scriptures—many had no written revelation at all. Yet through all those years, they faithfully obeyed what God told them. Sometimes, like Noah or Daniel, they stood almost alone against everyone else around them. Sometimes, like Abraham or Moses, they set out to do things that were impossible. Sometimes, like Nehemiah or Esther, they risked their lives to do what was right.

None of these people had the resources we have available to us today. In fact, they never fully realized what God’s plan was. The writer of Hebrews says, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

There will always be excuses for why we cannot serve God as we should. The devil is delighted to offer us “reasons” to defer our labor for the Lord. Yet there is great blessing for those who take the things that they have received and put them to work in God’s business. God has given us all that we need for His work through His Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are not expected to do things in our own power—it is actually impossible to serve God that way. Instead we are told to rely on what He has provided and operate in the confidence that He will make a way for us.

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

James 4:6–8

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater
He sendeth more strength as the labors increase
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.

Annie Johnson Flint was crippled by arthritis and unable to hold a job, so she supported herself by writing poems, many of which were set to music and became beautiful hymns. The words to her song “He Giveth More Grace” are taken from Scripture, but they are also drawn from her painful experiences.

The story is told that a friend in the United States sent a record of this song to a missionary serving in India who had grown tired and discouraged. She put the record on her record player and began to listen. When the song reached the chorus, the needle stuck on the line: “He giveth and giveth and giveth.” Over and over she heard these words of encouragement. Her hope renewed, she went back to her work with a joyful heart, knowing that God’s grace was sufficient.

While we know that our salvation is all because of God’s grace, there are times when we lose sight of the vital role that grace plays in our daily lives. We are not able to face the challenges and overcome the obstacles in our own strength. We need a fresh measure of God’s grace day by day—and He provides it to us, just as He provided manna day after day to the Children of Israel while they were in the wilderness. Each need for greater grace is met as we rely on God’s strength rather than our own.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”

Romans 3:24–27

Long before he became a pastor and wrote the words to Amazing Grace, John Newton was a slave trader and very immoral man. His life was radically transformed by the grace of God, and after his salvation he worked diligently to help end the practice of slavery. Later in his life Newton wrote: “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.” Newton never forgot the source of the change in his life—God’s grace.

We live in an age when people have many new methods of boasting of their accomplishments. Rather than having to see others in person to brag, we can use any number of technological “advancements” to share our achievements and seek fame and the praise of others. Yet that is directly the opposite of God’s plan for the Christian life. There is nothing which we have done that merits boasting. In his first Inaugural Address, President Ronald Reagan said, “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.” When we care more for God’s glory than our own, the problem of pride will be defeated. In reality, anything good in us is a result of the amazing grace of God.

“Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John 3:28–30

Jesus said that there has never been a greater man than John the Baptist. The thing that made John special was not a massive demonstration of supernatural power. In fact, the people said of him, “John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man [Jesus] were true” (John 10:41). What made John great was his willingness to be humble instead of grasping at fame and popularity. John was happy to step back into the shadows and allow Jesus to receive all of the attention and praise. This is the characteristic of the people God uses.

E. M. Bounds wrote, “We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel. This trend of the day has a tendency to lose sight of the man or sink the man in the plan or organization. God’s plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than of anything else. Men are God’s method. The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.”

The man who is proud and lifted up will soon be brought low. Satan has brought down many effective servants of God by tempting them with pride in what they have accomplished. Instead we must constantly be on guard to keep our focus on Jesus and seeing Him exalted. If we are not lifting up Jesus, then all of our acclaim and approval will ultimately be empty.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Romans 3:24–26

Once a year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would go into the holy of holies in the Tabernacle with the blood of the sacrifice. He would sprinkle that blood on top of the Ark of the Covenant—the Mercy Seat. It was a powerful picture of the coming sacrifice of the Messiah for the sins of the world. The blood sprinkled there was a sign of faith in God’s promised redemption, but it was not a permanent solution to the sin problem. The writer of Hebrews says, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). That is why the sacrifice had to be repeated each year.

But as the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus made a complete and final payment for our sins on the cross. The Greek word translated “propitiation” is the same word found in Greek translations of the Old Testament for “mercy seat.” On the cross Jesus became the place where God’s justice and God’s mercy met together, and it is only through His sacrifice that our sins can be forgiven through God’s grace. The sacrifice of Christ is more than an expression of God’s love—it is also an expression of His grace. We have nothing in ourselves that merits an offer of salvation. If it were not for the grace of God, we would not have hope at all. The free gift of eternal life is the greatest gift in all the world.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Colossians 3:15–17

It’s not hard to keep a song in our heart when things are going well. When the bills are paid and there’s money in the bank, we sing. When we’re healthy and the kids are doing well in school, we sing. When we are receiving quick answers to our prayers and the messages at church are exactly what we need to hear, we sing. But in God’s plan, we are supposed to sing all the time, whether things are going the way we think they should or not. The only way we can do that is to have hearts that are filled with His grace.

One of the greatest New Testament churches was the church at Philippi. They were fervent in their evangelism and gave generously to support Paul as he traveled the world and preached the gospel. Yet that church started in great difficulty and persecution. During Paul and Silas’ first trip to Philippi, they were arrested, beaten and thrown into jail for preaching the gospel. The beating was illegal under Roman law, but that didn’t keep the wounds from hurting.

Paul and Silas faced a choice. They could sulk (and they had reason to) or they could sing. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25). It was God’s grace rather than their circumstances that had them singing even in the prison.

“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”

2 Corinthians 4:13–15

Charles Spurgeon said, “As the smiling flowers gratefully reflect in their lovely colours the various constituents of the solar ray, so should gratitude spring up in our hearts after the smiles of God’s providence. Unto Thee do we give thanks. We should praise God again and again. Stinted gratitude is ingratitude. For infinite goodness there should be measureless thanks.”

An ungrateful Christian is a disobedient Christian. Yet this is a very real danger that we face. Out of His grace God gives us so many things we do not deserve, and yet we often take them for granted rather than having hearts that overflow with thanksgiving. David knew this danger, and he warned: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). If we forget what God has done for us, our hearts will seek other idols to put in His place.

Even when we do not have everything we want, we should stop and realize that everything we have is more than we deserve, and it is only because of God’s love for us that we have the many blessings we enjoy. It is the height of folly to be ungrateful, and it steals from God the glory that is rightfully His. The Bible often tells us that we are to glorify God, and one of the chief ways in which we do that is by sharing with others our praise and thanks for what He has done for us.

“But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.”

Luke 4:25–26

Elijah prophesied during a very dark time in Israel’s history. Ahab and Jezebel lead the people in worshiping Baal, the god of Jezebel’s home country of Zidon. As a result, God sent a major drought. For more than three years no rain fell and there was a great famine. It was a severe economic judgment on an economy that was based on crops and animals. Yet during those years, God provided for the needs of His prophet. Elijah stayed by a small brook where there was water, and ravens brought him food. Eventually, however, the brook dried up.

Then God commanded Elijah to do something very strange. He was to go to a city in Zidon, Jezebel’s home country where the people worshiped Baal, and stay with a widow in the city of Zarephath. This woman was so poor that she was preparing to make the last meal for herself and her son before they starved to death. Yet when she followed God’s instruction and fed Elijah, her food lasted throughout the rest of the famine.

God not only used the widow to feed Elijah, but He also used Elijah to provide for the widow and her son. When the boy suddenly died, Elijah prayed and God raised him from the dead. This family in a foreign country where God was not worshiped nevertheless received His grace. This should not be a surprise, because it is the same thing we experience. Paul wrote, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:12).

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

2 Corinthians 9:6–8

I read about a lawyer who lived in a small town and was the only attorney there who practiced probate law. As a result, he drew up wills for almost everyone in town. One day the richest man in the area passed away. There was a great deal of speculation as to the value of his estate. One man decided to go to the source and find out. “I suppose you did the will for the deceased,” he said. “Yes,” the lawyer relied. “Then you know how much he left. Now that he is dead will you tell me?” “I will,” the lawyer said. “He left it all.”

None of us are going to take anything with us when we leave this life. When Job lost all of his possessions in a single day, he recognized this truth: “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). Given the fleeting value of material possessions and money, they should not consume our lives. Instead we should focus on what really matters and what will last. While we cannot take anything with us, we can send our treasure ahead. Jesus said, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:20).

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4:14–16

After the Children of Israel left Egypt, on their way to the Promised Land, God guided them to Mount Sinai where Moses received the Law from God. It was a fearsome place. If a person or animal touched the mountain, they were to be put to death. A fence was erected to keep people safe. “And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled” (Exodus 19:16). The people needed a clear reminder of the holiness of God and His hatred of sin, and that is what they saw at Mount Sinai.

Yet how different our experience with God is! The writer of Hebrews describes God having a “throne of grace.” Rather than having a fence around it, the way into God’s presence is open for us and we can boldly come into His presence with the confidence that we have a right to be there. What changed? The difference is that Jesus paid the price for our sins and opened the way for us to freely come to God through His grace. Normally the throne symbolizes a place of judgment, but because of the grace that is freely offered us through salvation, God’s throne becomes a place of comfort and help for us instead.

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Ephesians 4:31–32

The cross is the pivotal point of all of history. The most amazing example of love and grace in action that mankind will ever see happened at Calvary. It is impossible for our human minds to fully describe or completely understand the infinite God becoming man and dying for our sins, yet it happened. The depth of Christ’s love for us is shown in His prayer while He was on the cross. “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34).

Charles Spurgeon said, “What is this forgiveness of Christ? You know how He exhibited it in His daily life. He was much tried, but He was never provoked to wrath. Both by friends and by enemies He was made to suffer, yet He neither accused the one nor the other to His great Father. He never reviled those who reviled Him, but patiently yielded to their malice, giving His back to the smiters and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. His disciples He gently rebuked, but He never spoke to them in anger. A life of forgiveness was crowned by His dying prayer for His persecutors.”

God commands that the same grace that brought us forgiveness be extended to others. We needed God’s forgiveness—forgiveness which has been granted to us “for Christ’s sake.” We did not deserve it, but we needed it. Those who offend us need forgiveness as well. The pattern was set for us by Christ on the cross, and it is a pattern that we must follow in daily living if we are to truly be like Him.

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”

Genesis 6:5–8

The power of sin can be clearly seen from the short period of time it took a perfectly-created world to become so filled with evil that God decided to send a flood to destroy all of mankind—except Noah and his family. The first mention of grace in Scripture is found in the life of Noah. The Bible says that Noah was a preacher of righteousness. He did not preach his own righteousness, but rather the righteousness that comes by grace through faith.

God gave Noah grace the same way He gives it to everyone who receives it. If grace is predicated on our works—the things we do or avoid doing—it is not grace at all. In truth we were not seeking God when He found us. The prophet Isaiah said, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Jesus said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). There is no room for us to have pride in our salvation that is open to us through His grace. There is only room for gratitude.

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:16–18

I read about a father and son who went to the store together. A lady watched as they made their way down the aisles. The little boy was carrying a shopping basket, and from time to they would place another item in it. As she watched the basket filling up, the lady decided to say something. “Isn’t that a heavy load for a young fellow like you?” The little boy replied, “That’s okay. My father knows how much I can carry.”

God does not promise us a soft and easy passage through life. He does not guarantee that we will receive what we think we should. He does not guarantee freedom from trouble and pain. Instead God guarantees us His grace. This is the power that renews our strength and allows us to go regardless of the circumstances we face. If Paul had quit his ministry because of the repeated suffering, abuse, and imprisonment, it would have been understandable—but it would have been a tragedy.

Instead Paul relied on God’s grace to sustain him through the trials and continued to faithfully preach and teach the Word. Churches were started across the Roman Empire, pastors and leaders were trained, and the very course of history was changed because Paul did not quit. No matter what we face, it is possible for us to live powerful and productive Christian lives in victory because of the grace of God.

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

Ephesians 1:5–7

Ivor Powell told the story of an American preacher who came to his church in Scotland and talked about a little boy’s encounter with the evangelist D. L. Moody. The boy had heard about Moody’s love of children, and wanted to hear him preach. But the building was crowded and he was turned away. As the boy stood outside crying, a carriage pulled up and a large man got out. He asked why the boy was crying and was told it was because he couldn’t get in to hear D. L. Moody.

With a twinkle in his eye, the man replied that he knew exactly what to do. Instructing the boy to take fast hold of his coattails, he walked up to the door. He was not turned away, but was invited inside. With the boy clinging to him he walked down the aisle to the platform and climbed the steps. Then D. L. Moody seated the boy in his own chair on the platform and prepared to deliver his message. That boy grew up to become a preacher himself and told the story many years later.

We have no means of entry into God’s presence. Our sin bars the doors of Heaven to us, and nothing we can do changes our condition. Yet in love and grace, Jesus offers Himself as our means of being found acceptable to God. He has taken us as His children, and because of our adoption, we have not only salvation but full access to the throne of Heaven.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

1 Peter 5:8–10

There is no part of our lives where we are not completely dependent on God’s grace. From start to finish it is God’s grace that makes the Christian life possible. There is no salvation apart from grace. Nothing we can do or avoid doing qualifies us for eternal life—only grace. But grace goes beyond our justification as it is also God’s grace that sanctifies us and prepares us to serve Him in our daily lives. Grace prompts us to give generously and to speak lovingly.

From time to time we hear reports that something is in short supply. For example, in recent years there has been a helium shortage. If you went to fill up balloons for a party, you might find that you could only buy a few—or that the store was completely out of helium. Though helium is a common element, the helium which is used commercially is produced as a byproduct of natural gas. Changes in production techniques and government policy made helium much harder to come by.

There is never a shortage of grace. Because it comes from an infinite and unlimited God, there is always enough. There will be days when we face greater challenges than we have seen before. There will be days when the obstacles are large. But there will never be a day when God’s grace will not be sufficient to meet your needs and carry you to the conclusion of His plan.

“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”

Psalm 103:11–14

Over the years I have counseled with a number of people whose earthly fathers were distant, abusive, or cruel. This is a tragedy. God means for fathers to be a source of instruction, example, influence and love to their children. Our children should be able to look at their dads and see a picture—an imperfect picture, yes but still a reflection—of who God is and what He gives. Those who have a godly father have been given a wonderful blessing.

But for all of us who are Christians, whether we had a good father or not, there is a perfect Father. There is never a problem that we have that takes Him by surprise. Even better, there is never a problem that we have which is beyond His resources to meet the need. When our son Larry was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, we could pray with him and encourage him, and we did. But I could not do the one thing I most wanted to do—take the cancer away.

Yet throughout that process, through the surgeries and the chemotherapy and the long recovery, God was always there. He did not abandon Larry or us. And the reality is that even if Larry had gone to Heaven, God would still have been there and still been good. I am so thankful that God is always a gracious Father to His children. As we honor our earthly fathers, it is important that we also give thanks for the blessing of our perfect Father.

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”

2 Thessalonians 2:15–17

Every one of us who has made the trek to a graveside knows the empty feeling that comes when we say goodbye to someone we love. The wonderful promise of Heaven offers us a hope for the future, but the pain of the present is still very much a reality. In those moments, and at other times during life when we are facing trials and obstacles, it is God’s grace that comes to comfort and strengthen us.

We see this truth in the life of David. When the prophet Nathan confronted him over his sin with Bathsheba, David was told that the baby who would be born to them would not survive. When the baby was born, David fasted and prayed, but as God had said, the baby died. There is something instructive in David’s response. The Bible says, “Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat” (2 Samuel 12:20).

The servants were shocked that David had stopped mourning. Yet his faith in God’s goodness gave David hope for the future. He said, “But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). God is never taken by surprise when we go through trials, and He never forsakes His children.

“Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.”

John 13:36–38

Peter had complete confidence in himself—far more than was warranted. He adamantly declared that even if all of the other disciples abandoned Jesus he would remain faithful. Peter did not take into account Satan’s desire to destroy him, nor did he understand his own weakness. When the moment of truth came, Peter failed the test. First he fled with the other disciples when Jesus was arrested, and then he denied being a follower of Jesus three times.

Despite all of his boasting Peter proved unequal to the challenge. Yet rather than condemning Peter, Jesus came to him by the shores of Galilee and gave him an assignment for ministry and service that would last the rest of Peter’s life. The restored disciple preached with boldness and power a message
that he knew firsthand—that there is grace for those who repent and turn to Jesus.

Later on in his life when the Holy Spirit inspired him to write his first letter to Christians scattered around the world, Peter must have remembered that moment. He wrote, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). Instead of proudly clinging to our sin, trying to downplay or justify it rather than repenting, we need to be people who acknowledge our need of grace and seek God’s forgiveness and restoration.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

Titus 2:11–13

Billy Sunday was, for many years, the best-known evangelist in America. He preached to huge crowds in city after city, and many thousands were saved in his meetings. Sunday was known for the conversational style of his praying—he was talking to God. Before he would go to a meeting, he made it a habit to pray for results. One time Billy Sunday wrote a pastor and asked him to send a list of people in the city whom he might pray for in preparation for the upcoming revival. The pastor sent him a phone book!

The reality is that all of us need God’s grace; none of us can save ourselves. Despite what some have taught, the Bible shows us again and again that God’s grace is available to all. No one who comes to Christ for salvation is turned away. Of course we realize that many will reject the free offer of salvation and, as a result, will not benefit from the offer of grace. But since we cannot know who will respond and who will not, our task is to reach everyone that we can.

The early church was characterized by regular, consistent, persistent evangelism. Everywhere they went they told people about Jesus. Luke wrote, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42). Because of the value and importance of the message of salvation through grace, we must always keep our focus on winning souls.