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And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:18-21

S. I. McMillen, in his book None of These Diseases, tells this story. “A young woman wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, 'Are you a leader?' Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, 'No,' and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: 'Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower.'”

The insistence on having our own way and making others follow us is common in our culture, but it is not the way God calls us to live. We do not have to force others to accept and follow our ideas. We can allow them grace and freedom to make their own decisions. All of us fill roles where we have responsibilities of leadership and all of us fill roles where we have responsibilities of following someone else. Our willingness to give up our rights and privileges in obedience to God is vital.

This understanding of authority is demonstrated in the story of the centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant. He pointed out that he grasped the principle of obedience. His soldiers did whatever he told them, and the disease would listen to Jesus in the same way. “For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it” (Matthew 8:9). Being a good leader requires being a good follower also.

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Acts 4:34-37
 

In his book An American Company: The Tragedy of United Fruit, Thomas McCann related a very revealing story about Eli Black, the CEO who took over the company in 1970. McCann was at a business lunch with Black. When the waitress brought a plate of cheese and crackers as an appetizer, Black reached out and took them, placed them on the table, blocked them with his arms, and continued talking. McCann, who hadn't eaten for hours hinted that he would like a cracker, but Black acted as though he hadn't heard him and went on with the meeting. After a while, Black placed a cracker and cheese on the tips of his fingers and continued to talk. Several moments later, Black placed the cracker on McCann's plate and then blocked the rest as before. It was clear that Black was in charge, manipulating others as he pleased. McCann soon left the company, which went under and had to be sold off not long after.

The things that God gives to us are not really ours but His. We are merely stewards of them. While it is right to save and plan wisely for the future, selfishly hoarding our blessings only for ourselves is never the right way to go. God calls us to be generous and giving, doing what we can to meet the needs of others. And though the world tells us that the best way to have plenty is to hang on to everything we have, God's plan is different. “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty” (Proverbs 11:24).

But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Ephesians 4:20-24

The fact that we have been saved is supposed to make a difference in the way we live. We are to walk in accordance to the new nature we have received. Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Walking in newness of life, however,  is not something we can do in our strength and power. If we try to do right on our own, we are doomed to failure. We must  renew our minds through the Word of God and fight our battles in the power of the Spirit of God.

R. A Torrey wrote, “To receive Jesus is to believe what God tells us in His Word about Him: to believe that He did rise from the dead, to believe that He does now live, to believe that He has power to keep us from falling, to believe that He has power to keep us from the power of sin day by day, and trust Him to do it. This is the secret of daily victory over sin. If we try to fight sin in our own strength, we are bound to fail. If we just look up to the risen Christ to keep us every day and every hour, He will keep us. Through the crucified Christ we get deliverance from the guilt of sin, our sins are all blotted out, we are free from all condemnation; but it is through the risen Christ that we get daily victory over the power of sin.”

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Matthew 21:6-9

The large crowd that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem on what we remember as Palm Sunday were taking part in an ancient ceremony directly tied to Israel's royal family. As King David neared the end of his life, his son, Adonijah, tried to wrest the crown away from the son David had named as his successor, Solomon. In this hour of crisis, David instructed his most trusted advisors to publicly show that he had chosen Solomon with God's blessing and approval: “The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon” (1 Kings 1:33). Solomon's triumphant entry was a mere foreshadowing of Jesus' entry.

The crowd who welcomed Jesus knew, based on the timeline recorded by Daniel, that the time had come for the Messiah to appear: “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks” (Daniel 9:25). The people had heard about or seen the miracles Jesus had done, and they welcomed Him as their promised deliverer. 

Yet, just days later, the Messiah would be hanging on a cross in the same city where He was greeted in a royal procession.

The fact that Jesus is Lord and King and Savior does not mean that He will be accepted by all. Today, just as then, there are people who give lip service to Jesus without truly believing in Him. When it comes to Jesus, our actions speak far more loudly than our words about what we believe.

And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Luke 19:37-40
 

The Pharisees were greatly displeased by the reception Jesus received when He came into Jerusalem. They even instructed Jesus to silence the crowd. Instead, Jesus rebuked them, making it clear to everyone that the Pharisees were hypocrites, far more interested in the approval of men than in the acceptance of God. They wanted the crowd to be silent—to stop speaking His praise. They did not want Jesus to be acknowledged for who He truly was. He pointed out that in God's eyes, the praise He was receiving was justified—and that it was perfect. “And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” (Matthew 21:16).

Even though sin made dramatic changes in the natural world as well as the hearts of men, all of God's creation still speaks of His might and glorifies His greatness. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1-3). 

Nothing in the world has to be commanded to praise and glorify God except people. Everything else God made does that automatically. Yet too often we leave it up to the stones to speak for us. Instead, we should be constantly filled with praise for God and all that He has done.

And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Luke 19:45-48
 

One of the things that characterized the life of Jesus was His devotion to God. Even as a twelve-year-old boy He stayed behind in Jerusalem, not to see the sights of the big city, but to be in the Temple and talk about the things of God. He went to the synagogue every week, hearing the Word of God. Early in His earthly ministry, on His first trip to Jerusalem after beginning His public ministry, Jesus reacted with righteous fury at those who had perverted the purpose of the Temple to make money. Jesus drove them out, not because they were offending Him, but because they were offending His Father. “And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (John 2:17).

In the final days of Jesus' ministry, during the week before He would be crucified, Jesus went back to the Temple and found that merchants had returned to a place that was supposed to be sacred and dedicated to God. Not only were the merchants using the devotion of the people who came to the Temple to worship as a way to make money, but they were also cheating their customers. 

Jesus cast out all who were buying and selling in this way out of the Temple. This infuriated the priests who were getting a cut from the vendors and enriching themselves, and it made them even more determined to end Jesus' life. None of this was a surprise to Jesus. He knew exactly how they would react, but He cleansed the Temple anyway because it was right. No matter what the consequences might be, we should always be so devoted to God that we do what He says regardless of the outcome.

And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

Matthew 27:35-38

Though not as widely known as some of his more famous works, Rembrandt's 1633 painting Raising of the Cross is layered with meaning. A 1915 catalog description of the painting reads: “In the centre foreground, the Cross, to which Christ is fastened, is raised from the right by four executioners. The man on the left of the group wears a cuirass and helmet. The man in the centre, wearing a light blue coat, has the features and the familiar blue cap of the painter. Two other men, in shadow to the right, support the Cross from the back. Behind this group is the Roman centurion on a grey horse; he wears a rich Eastern dress, consisting of a light turban, a coat of gold brocade with a sash, and a deep purple cloak. He leans his right hand, grasping a mace, on his hip. To the left, in half shadow, is a group of four Pharisees. To the right, farther back, soldiers bring forward the two thieves.”

Rembrandt's decision to put himself in the center of the painting as one of the men raising the cross is a powerful reminder of the fact that it was our sin that made the cross a necessity. There were many people there physically on the day Jesus was crucified, but spiritually we were there as well. 

It is true that Jesus dies for the sins of the world, but it is also true that He died for my sins. It was not just “them” that needed salvation, it was me. We must never forget how desperately we needed God's forgiveness. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Mark 15:22-26
 

Though he is best known for having written “Amazing Grace,” John Newton was a prolific writer, penning nearly three hundred hymns. One thing that is clear in Newton's work is that he never forgot his sinful past and nature, and he never lost his appreciation for the gift of salvation. Many of Newton's hymns focus on the provision of God's grace through the death of His Son, such as “I Saw One Hanging on a Tree.”

I saw One hanging on a tree,
In agony and blood;
He fixed His loving eyes on me,
As near His cross I stood.

My conscience felt and owned the guilt,
And plunged me in despair:
I saw my sins His blood had spilt
And helped to nail Him there.

O, can it be, upon a tree
The Savior died for me?
My soul is thrilled, my heart is filled,
To think He died for me!

The cross was not an accident or a backup plan. It was God's design before the world was even created. And the cross is the only way for us to come to God. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). 

When Pilate posted a notice that Jesus was King of the Jews, he was not trying to compliment the Lord, yet what he said was still true. Jesus is the King, not just of the Jews but of all creation, and yet He willingly went to the cross, remaining silent when a single word would have freed Him—all for us.

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:1-3

Robert Lowry committed his life to full-time ministry as a young member of the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia. After completing his training he pastored churches in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. Ill health forced him to leave the pulpit for extended periods, but each time he recovered he returned to preaching. At the same time, Lowry also became noted for his hymn writing, penning a number of hymns still being sung today. While serving as pastor in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1874 he wrote one of the best-known songs about the resurrection:

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior,
Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose;
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes;
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

The pivot point in all of human history is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He did actually die on the cross and was placed in a borrowed tomb. Because of the expense and effort involved in preparing a burial place, it was common in those days for multiple bodies to be buried together. But the tomb in which Jesus was placed had never been used before: “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid” (John 19:41). This made it clear so there could be no confusion. There were no other bodies in that tomb, and on Easter morning Jesus was not there any longer. He is alive forever.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

John 11:23-27

D. L. Moody served as a chaplain in the Civil War and stories of soldiers in battle often made their way into his sermons. In one message Moody said, “At the Battle of Inkerman a soldier was just able to crawl to his tent after he was struck down. When found, he was lying upon his face, his open Bible before him, his hand glued fast to the page by his lifeblood which covered it. Then his hand was lifted, the letters of the printed page were clearly traced upon it, and with the ever-living promise in and on his hand, they laid him in a soldier’s grave. The words were: 'I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.' I want truth that can comfort even in death — that can unite me with my loved ones. Oh, what gloom and darkness would settle upon this world if it were not for the glorious doctrine of the resurrection!”

The greatest hope in all the world is that which is provided for us by God's grace and guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His triumph over death means that for those who believe in Him and accept Him as Savior, while our physical existence will come to an end, either when we die or when He returns, the soul—the true us—will never perish. The message of Easter is not just a historical fact. It is the foundation of our hope for eternal life.

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

1 Corinthians 15:12-15

There is one truth on which Christianity rests above all others, and that is the truth of the empty tomb. The promises Jesus made for our future are validated and proven by His resurrection. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). The world may scoff and call the resurrection impossible, but for our all-powerful God, nothing is impossible. After three days and nights in a borrowed tomb, Jesus did come back to life.

R. A. Torrey wrote, “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is in many respects the most important fact in history. It is the Gibraltar of Christian evidences, the Waterloo of infidelity. If it can be proven to be a historic certainty that Jesus rose from the dead, then Christianity rests upon an impregnable foundation. Every essential truth of Christianity is involved in the resurrection. If the resurrection stands, every essential doctrine of Christianity stands. If the resurrection goes down, every essential doctrine of Christianity goes down. Intelligent skeptics and infidels realize this. A leading skeptic has recently said that there is no use wasting time discussing the other miracles; the essential question is, 'Did Jesus Christ rise from the dead? If He did, it is easy enough to believe the other miracles. If He did not, the other miracles must go.' I am confident that this skeptic has correctly stated the case.”

 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

Matthew 6:19-21
 

In 2023 the Oxford University Museum of Natural History hosted an exhibit called “Presenting... The Enemies of Books.” Among the items on display was an early printed edition of the Bible which was sent from the Bodleian Library on the university campus to the museum in 1861. Next to the display was a handwritten note from John Obadiah Westwood, the museum's Professor of Zoology, when the book was received which reads, “Bible destroyed by a large species of Book-Worm or larva of a species of Anobium.” According to the museum, “The name bookworm covers a variety of destructive insects, including booklice, termites, cockroaches, common furniture beetles, silverfish, firebrats, carpet beetles, rice moths, and many more. These pests can be a serious threat to library and museum collections, due to their minuscule size and ability to hide in small spaces.”

Even the greatest treasures of Earth, kept with utmost care are subject to damage and decay. Because of the effects of sin entering into the world, nothing here lasts forever. All around us we see evidence of the temporal nature of the things that make up our world. John wrote, “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). In light of that truth, it is vital that we devote our lives to the things that truly matter and will last. We must invest our time and resources in a way that will produce eternal returns, because we are headed toward a place where we will stay forever. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).

And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

John 6:6-9

Fred Suffield had a farm near the train track that ran between Ontario and New York. One night in 1924 he was awakened by passengers stranded by a snow drift. He took his sleigh back and forth, rescuing those on the verge of freezing. One of those he rescued was a young lady named Kittie Jennett who had been singing for a revival meeting. The thank you note she left behind started a conversation that led to romance and marriage. Kittie Suffield continued her musical work, and later wrote “Little Is Much When God Is in It.”

In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling
To the harvest calling you.

Little is much when God is in it,
Labor not for wealth or fame;
There’s a crown, and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ name.

There are many times when the problems and challenges of life seem to be more than we can handle. Yet in those moments if we are faithful to do what we can, even if it only seems like a small thing, we will find that God is more than able to multiply what we are able to do in order to accomplish His purpose. It is not the amount that we are able to do, but the faith to do what we can and trust God for the rest that sees great things accomplished in His work. Faith does not measure the size of what we can do on our own, but instead rests on the boundless ability, power and resources of God to do whatever is needed with what we give to Him.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:10-12

God blesses His children when they live and act in accordance with His commands. While our love for Him is a more important motivation for obedience than what we might receive in return, God does promise to pour out blessings on those who do what He says. This blessing is not just for our own benefit. The blessings that God gives to us are a powerful testimony to those around us of what He can do. “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (Psalm 126:2-3).

As the children of God, we are His representatives in the world. Our lives either present a positive impression of who He is and what He can do, or they send the message that being a Christian is really no different from following any other religion or none at all. Alexander MacLaren wrote, “The world takes its notions of God, most of all, from the people who say that they belong to God’s family. They read us a great deal more than they read the Bible. They see us; they only hear about Jesus Christ.” Anything that we allow in our lives that hinders us from receiving God's blessing also hinders us from being the most effective witnesses for Him that we can be.

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Hebrews 4:1-3
 

The sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912, is one of the most famous disasters in history. The “ship that couldn't sink” was making its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean but would never reach America. It is not that there were no warnings of the dangers ahead. Other ships making the crossing had been reporting icebergs. In fact the Titanic wireless operators received seven separate warnings on April 14. Wireless operator Jack Phillips responded to the last warning from the Californian by saying, “Shut up! Shut up! I am busy.” Because the ship was thought to be unsinkable, however, there weren't enough lifeboats for all the passengers, and more than 1,500 people perished in the icy waters of the Atlantic in an accident that could have been prevented.

Getting warnings about the dangers that lie ahead on the path of life do not help if we do not believe them and act on them. All the truth in the world does not profit us if we only hear it. It is only when we put the truth into action that we receive the benefit. “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25). It is easy for us to think that we know better or that we do not need to heed the warnings we receive. Like the crew on the Titanic we may even view the warnings as an annoyance, but that leads to disaster.

I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

Psalm 50:9-12

God owns everything. No matter whose name may be on a deed or title, everything ultimately belongs to God. He created all that exists from nothing, simply by speaking, and as the Creator has the right of ownership. We sometimes face challenges that are simply beyond our ability to meet. Whether it is a financial crisis, a medical condition, or a fractured relationship, we lack the resources to do all that is needed to help. That never happens to God. Though He calls us to work diligently for Him, that is not because He needs our assistance to complete His plans. Because these endless resources are available to us through prayer, it is a tragedy when we do not reach out for His help.

In a sermon called “The God Who Is Enough” A. B. Simpson said, “It is an infinite advantage to a weak, imperfect, and tempted human life to be attached to the Source of all power by that mysterious and yet all-powerful link of confidence and faith; to feel that our life is not dependent upon mere chance or our own foresight, skill, resources, or abilities, but that we are always within reach of the infinite resources of divine power and love. This, indeed, gives to a human life an inspiration and an elevation that ought to make our lives sublime. Take the Almighty One thus into your life and be ashamed ever to dishonor Him by a doubt, a compromise, or a fear. He is saying to you, 'I am El Shaddai (the God who is enough); walk before me and be thou perfect.' So let us take Him, and so let us walk before Him.”

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Daniel 4:34-35
 

Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful person on the planet in his day. As the monarch of the Babylonian empire, he had the military might, the financial resources, and the unchecked power to do anything that he wanted. It is a tribute to his might that he created one of the seven wonders of the ancient world—the Hanging Gardens in Babylon—simply to make one of his wives less homesick. Yet when God sent him a warning regarding his pride in a dream interpreted by Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar continued to boast and take credit. Just as He had warned, God took away Nebuchadnezzar's reason, and he lived in the fields for seven years. All of his power faded into nothingness compared to what God was able to do.

The world sets itself up in opposition to God, and sometimes it appears to be very strong. But when we are tempted to despair by the strength of the enemy, we need to be reminded that nothing presents a true challenge to our God. He is all powerful, and He will accomplish His purposes no matter who tries to stop Him. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). We tend to view things only in terms of earthly power, but that is never the full picture. God never sets out to do something but finds His plans thwarted. Everything is subject to His control. We need never fear that an obstacle we face is impossible for God to move.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 John 4:18-21

Internal anger may seem harmless, because we haven't actually done anything bad to the person who hurt us. But in truth anger is destructive, not just when we act out on it, but when we nourish and cling to it in our minds. Someone said, “The moment I start hating a man, I become his slave. I can’t enjoy my work any more because he even controls my thoughts. My resentments produce too many stress hormones in my body and I become fatigued after only a few hours’ work. The work I formerly enjoyed is now drudgery. Even vacations cease to give me pleasure. I can’t escape his tyrannical grasp on my mind.”

One of the most destructive lies that the devil tells people is that it is okay to harbor hatred toward people in our hearts if they have done something wrong to us. The lie often works because it is comforting to our internal sense of justice. The person did wrong to us, and therefore they deserve anger in response. We justify hating people, but God calls us to love even our enemies. Jesus set a very different example for us. He loved even those who killed Him, and when He could have delivered Himself with a single word, He remained silent. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Romans 12:14-18

Elisabeth Elliot had every reason to hate members of the Ecuadorian tribe who killed her husband Jim along with four other missionaries trying to reach them with the gospel. She was left with a baby daughter not yet a year old. Yet rather than returning to the United States, she and Rachel Saint, whose brother had also been killed, went through an intensive language program and then moved to live among the very people who had brought them such grief. They shared the gospel and many were saved. It would certainly have been understandable to us for these women to have sought vengeance or at least washed their hands and walked away. Instead, they became a light of the gospel to those who had never heard it before.

The world is not always kind or fair or respectful or even nice. Sometimes we face hardship and opposition, not because we are doing wrong, but because we are doing right. “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing” (1 Peter 3:17). The Lord certainly demonstrated this principle in front of Peter. There in the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas betrayed Him, Jesus stopped to heal the ear of one of those men—an ear which His disciple had cut off trying to defend Him. The man certainly did not deserve healing, but then we do not deserve God's mercy and compassion and grace either. Yet we received it, and we must be willing to extend grace and kindness even to those who do us wrong.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 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 4:29-32
 

Marie de Medici moved from her home in Italy to marry King Henri IV of France in 1600. Henri died just ten years later, and Marie became regent for her son. But when he came of age, she refused to give up power, and Louis XIII was forced to mount a coup against his own mother to claim the throne. Marie de Medici was exiled from France and spent the rest of her life bitterly complaining to anyone who would listen about how unfairly she had been treated. She held a special grudge against Cardinal Richelieu whom she had given great power, but who then sided with her son. The story goes that on her deathbed she made a vow to forgive all of her enemies, including even the hated cardinal. “Madam,” she was asked, “as a mark of reconciliation, will you send Richelieu the bracelet you wear on your arm?” “No,” she replied firmly, “that would be too much.”

Marie de Medici’s refusal to offer even a small token of reconciliation shows how tightly we can cling to bitterness when pride rules our hearts. True forgiveness doesn’t stop short at what feels reasonable—it mirrors the extravagant grace of Christ. 

The debt that we owed God was far beyond our ability to pay. Our only hope was found in Jesus. On the cross, He paid the price for our sins in full, and even as He suffered unjustly, He prayed for our forgiveness. “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). There is nothing anyone could ever do to us that is worse than what we did to Jesus. And He forgave it all. When we say of someone, “That would be too much to forgive,” we forget how much we have already been forgiven. God calls us to extend to others the same mercy He so freely gave to us.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Matthew 6:30-32
 

When she heard of the death of David Livingstone, Mary Slessor determined to dedicate her life to mission work in Africa. She spent almost forty years in what is now Nigeria, working to bring the gospel to those who had never heard it before. Despite the hardships of life alone in the jungles, she remained diligent in her work. She described her life this way. “My life is one long daily, hourly, record of answered prayer. I can testify with a full and often wonder-stricken awe that I believe God answers prayer. I have proved during long decades while alone, as far as man’s help and presence are concerned, that God answers prayer. It is the very atmosphere in which I live and breathe and have my being, and it makes life glad and free and a million times worth living.”

Sometimes we act as if God does not care about the daily needs of our lives. While we would never say such a thing out loud, we do not live as if we have a loving Father in Heaven who knows what we need and is able to meet those needs in answer to our prayers. When our hearts are filled with worry and care, we are declaring our lack of belief in God's love. We do not have to argue or persuade Him to help because of His great love for us. We simply need to pray. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11).

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Matthew 6:6-8
 

There is no substitute in the Christian life for serious, consistent, fervent prayer. The rituals of prayers at mealtime or bedtime or even in a church service do not mean much if the words are simply repeated by rote. Prayer is an opportunity for us to stand before the throne of Heaven and talk to the all-powerful God of the universe—the God who through His gift of salvation is also our Father. And it is on the basis of that family relationship that we ask for our needs to be met.

R. A. Torrey said, “Prayer is the key that unlocks all the storehouses of God's infinite grace and power. All that God is, and all that God has, are at the disposal of player. But we must use the key. Prayer can do anything that God can do, and as God can do anything, prayer is omnipotent. No one can stand against the one who knows how to pray and who meets all the conditions of prevailing prayer and who really prays. The Lord God Omnipotent works from him and works through him.”

The fact that we do not pray as often and as intensely as we should is an indictment of our lack of faith in what God has promised. We say that we believe God is able to do anything and that He answers prayer, but if we truly believe that, we will be people whose lives are characterized by passionate and effective time spent alone with God in prayer. The public parts of the Christian life may get more attention, but they will never be what they should unless they are bathed in prayer.

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. 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. 

2 Corinthians 9:5-7
 

Many of us either have gardens now or remember working in one when we were little. There really is nothing quite like a fresh ripe tomato still warm from the sun cut in a thick slice that is so big it sticks out of all four sides of the sandwich. There is nothing like an ear of corn picked and brought into the house and put in a preheated oven to roast. There is also nothing like spending hours in the hot sun weeding and fertilizing and replanting. That's why for some people a garden is only a memory they have no desire to repeat.

There are many lessons that can be learned from growing food, but perhaps the greatest truth that a garden teaches us is that there is a direct link between what we plant and what we reap, or harvest. We don't harvest green beans if we plant carrot seeds. That link is also there between how much we plant and how much we harvest. A person who really, really likes potatoes will not be satisfied with planting two or three hills. He will plant row after row, knowing that sowing bountifully leads to reaping bountifully.

The same is true when it comes to our investments into God's kingdom. The more that we sow, the more we reap. We must also remember that God measures not by how large our gift is, but by its proportion, and by our heart, as Jesus did when He saw the widow give just two mites. “And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all” (Luke 21:3).

Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

Psalm 106:12-18

For many years the Israelites begged God to deliver them from Egypt. He answered those prayers with an amazing display of His power, humbling the mighty Egyptian empire, and working miracle after miracle to provide and to protect them. Yet in spite of that, they quickly lost sight of what mattered most. The focus of their prayers became selfish, and the tone of their prayers became complaining. Getting the things they asked God for did not provide them the satisfaction they were seeking.

The world is filled with things, and all around us people are living their lives in pursuit of money and possessions. But nothing temporal can provide lasting happiness and contentment. Our lives need to be focused on what really matters. There will always be trivial and temporary things we could devote our lives to, but that is not where God wants us to focus. The best way to determine what matters most to us is to take a clear look at how we use our time, talents and treasure.

English historian Godfrey Davies was recognized as one of the leading experts on 17th century history. He was also a prolific author. Among his best known books was Wellington and His Army, covering the life of the famed British general who defeated Napoleon. Davies was known for doing extensive research into his subjects. He wrote this about the book: “I found an old account ledger that showed how the Duke spent his money. It was a far better clue to what he thought was really important than the reading of his letters or speeches.” The same could be said of us as well.

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

During the eighteen months he spent in Corinth on his second missionary trip, Paul preached the gospel, both to the Jews and Gentiles alike. While the Jewish people would have been familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures, many of the Gentiles would never even have heard of the one true God. There were many things Paul could have spoken about with both of these groups, but his unwavering focus was on the gospel—the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

That was the only hope for the people of Corinth, and it is the only hope today. Jesus did live a sinless life so that He could be our Savior. He did die a sacrificial death on the cross to pay for our sins. And He did rise again from the dead just as He promised: “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31).

J. C. Ryle wrote, “We need not wonder that so much importance is attached to our Lord’s resurrection. It is the seal and headstone of the great work of redemption, which He came to do. It is the crowning proof that He has paid the debt which He undertook to pay on our behalf, won the battle which He fought to deliver us from hell, and is accepted as our Surety and our Substitute by our Father in heaven. Had He never come forth from the prison of the grave, how could we ever have been sure that our ransom had been fully paid?”

And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

Genesis 50:18-21

In 1915, the boll weevil made its first appearance in the cotton fields of southern Alabama with devastating results. The weevils destroyed the main cash crop of farmers, leaving them desperate. Not knowing what else to do, some of them started planting peanuts, which proved to be much more profitable. By the end of World War I, Coffee County, Alabama, had become one of the top producing peanut areas in the world. On December 11, 1919, the citizens of Enterprise, Alabama, erected what is believed to be the first monument in the world dedicated to a destructive pest. The plaque on the monument reads: “In profound appreciation of the boll weevil, and what it has done as the herald of prosperity, this monument is erected by the citizens of Enterprise, Coffee County, Alabama.” The weevil that had threatened to decimate Alabama's economy instead shaped it for a more profitable crop.

There are many things in life that do not go according to our plan. Often we struggle to understand why God has allowed us to suffer hardship and difficulty. But none of those things take God by surprise. He is never caught off guard. And He is able to use even what others mean to harm us to accomplish His purposes in our lives. Joseph articulated this truth to his brothers when they feared his retribution after Jacob died. He did not say that what they had done was right or acceptable. Instead, he focused on the way God had placed him in a position to save them and their families, along with many other people. The reason Joseph did not seek revenge was that he knew God was at work in his life.

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

2 Chronicles 33:1-3

Hezekiah was a good king, one of the best that Judah ever had. He removed idols and cut down groves where idol worship occurred. He even restored observance of the Passover for the first time in more than two hundred years. “So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 30:26). Yet when he died and his son Manasseh took the throne, all of that was changed. Manasseh did not follow in the footsteps of his father and soon took the people back to the worship of idols. 

It does not take long for us to go backward in our spiritual lives. Charles Spurgeon said, “The course of rebellion against God may be very gradual, but it increases in rapidity as you progress in it; and if you begin to run down the hill, the ever-increasing impetus will send you down faster and faster to destruction. You Christians ought to watch against the beginning of worldly conformity. I do believe that the growth of worldliness is like strife, which is as the letting out of water. Once you begin, there is no knowing where you will stop.”

The progress that we make toward God's goal for our lives—us being like His Son—is not a one-way street. Just because we have rejected a temptation or broken a sinful habit does not mean that the victory is won forever. We must prepare daily to fight and win the battles, which will continue as long as we live in this world. The progress of the past will not continue unless the victories continue.

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

2 Kings 22:1-2

According to Guinness World Records, the longest completely straight road in the world is Highway 10 in Saudi Arabia. The road which connects Highway 75 with Highway 95 is 149 miles long. It was originally a private road with usage restrictions that only allowed King Fahd to use it, but after his death in 2005 it was opened to public traffic. Per the description of Highway 10, “It cuts through the desert with no bends left or right, or any appreciable gradient up or down. The super-straight stretch has an estimated driving time of around two hours.”

Most of the time our lives are not perfectly straight. We make plans only to find them changed by circumstances beyond our control. We get off track and have to detour around obstacles to return to our course. Yet in our spiritual lives, while we face temptations and trials, our responsibility is to follow God with our whole heart. There is never a situation where His wisdom is not above ours and His way better than ours. There is never a situation in which the right answer is turning away from Him.

The more carefully and closely we follow the Lord, the more pleasing to Him our lives will be. There are great blessings promised to God's children who are devoted to Him above all else. “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:3-5).

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:22-26
 

Jeremiah ministered at a time when his people were suffering the consequences of God's judgment. For years, God had sent prophet after prophet to warn the people to repent. Yet while they would occasionally turn back to Him for a brief time, the people again and again returned to their wickedness. Eventually, God sent the Babylonian army to conquer the nation. The walls of Jerusalem were broken down, and the Temple was destroyed. It was a terrible time of loss and sorrow for Judah. Yet in the midst of this hardship and defeat, Jeremiah recognized that God's mercy was still at work.

We, too, sometimes face God's hand of chastening. Yet even in those moments we find that His mercy and forgiveness are available to us if we turn back to Him. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). We may hear Satan's voice saying that our sins are beyond forgiveness, but that is not true.

John Newton said, “Are not you amazed sometimes that you should have so much as a hope, that, poor and needy as you are, the Lord thinketh of you? But let not all you feel discourage you. For if our Physician is almighty, our disease cannot be desperate and if He casts none out that come to Him, why should you fear? Our sins are many, but His mercies are more: our sins are great, but His righteousness is greater: we are weak, but He is power. Most of our complaints are owing to unbelief, and the remainder of a legal spirit. And these evils are not removed in a day.”

For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.

2 Chronicles 34:3-4

Our standing as part of God's family never changes once we are saved. But our relationship and fellowship with Him is dramatically impacted by our commitment to Him. If we allow anyone or anything to take over first place in our hearts, we are on the path to ruin. All else must be set aside—thoroughly and completely—for us to be right toward Him. God is loving, gracious and generous, but He deserves nothing less than our complete devotion to Him. “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). Anything that would draw us away from God must be broken and cast out of our lives.

The Scottish pastor and hymnwriter Horatius Bonar wrote, “Be much alone with God. Do not put Him off with a quarter of an hour morning and evening. Take time to get thoroughly acquainted. Talk everything over with Him. Pour out every thought, feeling, wish, plan, and doubt to Him. He wants converse with His creatures. Shall His creatures not want converse with Him? Shall you decline the intimacy and be satisfied with mere acquaintance? What! Intimate with the world, with friends, with neighbors, but not with God? That would look ill indeed. Folly, to prefer the clay to the potter, the marble to the sculptor, this little earth and its lesser creatures to the mighty Maker of the universe, the great All and in All!”

And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Genesis 18:17-19
 

Our beliefs are not automatically passed on to our children and grandchildren. The generations that follow us are not born Christians simply because we have trusted Christ. They must learn for themselves that God is real, the Bible is true, and Jesus is the only way to Heaven. They must choose for themselves to place their faith in Christ as their personal Savior. 

There is no more important responsibility we have than to transfer our faith and values to those who come after us. Yet all too often Christian parents fail to meet this vital responsibility. The faith that we have must be real to us, or we should not expect it to be real to those who look to us for examples.

A recent report from Grey Matter Research surveyed parents who described themselves as Christians. While vast majorities said they prayed for their children and thought it was important for them to learn about the Bible, just 59 percent said their faith was extremely important to their parenting. That means that four out of ten parents who self-identified as Christians described faith as only somewhat important or not very important to their rearing of their children. Given that, it is not surprising that only 38 percent of respondents said their child's faith and commitment was equal to their own.

The influence we have on our families is powerful, whether for good or ill. It is up to us to live with a vibrant faith that can be seen in action, not just heard. The Puritan pastor Cotton Mather wrote, “Parents, be exemplary. Your example may do much towards the salvation of your children; your works will more work upon your children than your words; your patterns will do more than your precepts, your copies more than your counsels.”

But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.

1 Samuel 2:18-20
 

Because she had promised her son to God's service, Hannah took Samuel to Eli at the tabernacle in Shiloh once he was old enough to begin helping the priests in their ministry. Sadly, in what was supposed to be a holy home, the sons of Eli were living wicked and godless lives, and their father refused to take any action to correct their sinful behavior. That is why God told Samuel that He was going to judge Eli. “For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not” (1 Samuel 3:13).

Growing up in such an environment, Samuel did not have a godly role model as an example to follow. Yet throughout his life and ministry he remained faithful to God. A great deal of that can be attributed to the investment that Hannah continued to make in his life even after he left her home. The influence of a godly mother is one of the most powerful forces in the world, and those who faithfully fill that position are worthy of great respect and honor.

One of the biographers of G. Campbell Morgan told the story of a gathering in the family home. All four of Morgan's sons had grown up and become preachers. A guest asked Morgan's youngest son Howard, “Who is the best preacher in your family?” Howard looked around the room at his father and brothers and replied, “Mother.” If you were blessed with a godly mother, thank her if you still can, and thank God for her as well.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

2 Corinthians 7:9-11
 

Evangelist Gypsy Smith in his book The Bible Friend shared this story. “When I was in South Africa, a fine, handsome Dutchman came into my service, and God laid His hand on him and convicted him of sin. The next morning he went to the beautiful home of another Dutchman and said to him, 'Do you recognize that old watch?' 'Why, yes,' answered the other. 'Those are my initials; that is my watch. I lost it eight years ago. How did you get it, and how long have you had it?' 'I stole it,' was the reply. 'What made you bring it back now?' 'I was converted last night,' was the answer, 'and I have brought it back first thing this morning. If you had been up, I would have brought it last night.'”

When we get saved, things change in our lives. We do not earn salvation by changing our ways or making things right, but such a response is an inevitable result of the new birth in Christ. This desire to repair the damage of what we have done extends throughout the Christian life. Any time we realize that we have done something that hurt or offended someone else, we should strive to fix it. “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Revelation 3:15-18

When Procter & Gamble launched Febreze in the 1990s, they were confident they had a breakthrough product. The odor-neutralizing spray was strong enough to eliminate even the most stubborn smells. But to their surprise, sales lagged far behind expectations. In response, the company began conducting IHUTs—In Home Usage Tests—to observe how real customers used the product. In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg recounts one of those visits. The team entered the home of a woman who owned nine cats. To them, the odor was overwhelming. But the woman cheerfully said, “Isn’t it wonderful? My cats hardly smell at all!” Duhigg noted, “Marketing a product that neutralizes odors to a consumer base that inherently believes no odor exists in their own home is impossible.” That insight changed everything. Febreze was reformulated with a pleasant scent to create a reward loop in the brain—and it became a best-seller.

One of the problems many Christians have is that we think we're doing just fine as we are. Other people may need to repent and be more on fire for God, but our own level of spirituality and commitment doesn't need to change or improve. But God does not assess us by comparing us to others. He holds us to the perfect standard of His Son as the measuring tool. When we become complacent, we do not stay in the same place. Instead, if we stop going forward, we immediately begin going backward. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to keep our lives clean and not become lukewarm.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Matthew 6:30-32

If we are honest, most of us would admit that sometimes we worry. Perhaps we're waiting on test results from the doctor to find out if surgery will be required. Maybe we're watching the sales figures for our employers, wondering if the company will stay in business. It might be that we've been praying for a long time about something without seeing any results. Worry is a common response to the unknowns of the future, but it is the wrong response because we have a loving Father who knows all of our needs and how best to meet them. Ira Stanphill wrote

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from its sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray.

I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what lies ahead.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

Rather than trying to figure out all the answers to what is not yet known, God calls us to rest on His love and faithfulness. Any need that we have taken to Him is in His hands. While God does not always work in the way we would prefer or on our schedule, He always does what is right and best. Prayer is an expression of our confidence in God's knowledge and love, and it is the best cure for worry we can find. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).

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. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Psalm 24:1-5
 

Joseph Henry was born just nine years after George Washington was elected President for the first time. His parents were poor Scottish immigrants, but Henry early on displayed a remarkable mind, and was still in his twenties when he became a professor. He taught at Princeton for a number of years before becoming the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He conducted some of the first experiments with electromagnetic field. One of his students later recalled: “Professor Henry put me at one end of the circuit, while he stood directing the experiments at the other. I can well remember the wonderful care with which he arranged them. Very often, when the testing moment came, he would raise his hand in adoring reverence and call upon me to uncover my head and worship in silence. He would say, 'Because God is here, I am about to ask Him a question.'”

Though much of the world ignores the truth, we are always in God's presence. Paul said, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring” (Acts 17:28). Yet the presence of God is not the same thing as having close fellowship with God. Those of us who are believers can never lose our family relationship or our salvation. But if our hands and hearts are not clean, we cannot expect harmony with a holy God. The Lord is never far away, but to experience the closeness of His presence we must keep ourselves walking with Him in obedience and devotion.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Psalm 32:8-11

It is not uncommon for climbers on Japan's Mount Fuji to need help. So the call received on April 22, 2025, that a climber was suffering altitude sickness was no surprise. The mountain is only officially open for climbing from July to September, but many people try to climb it outside that window. The safety team responded and airlifted a twenty-seven-year-old Chinese student who was going to school in Japan to safety. The surprise came when they received another distress call four days later. The same student had returned to the mountain to look for his cell phone and other things left behind, and he was suffering from altitude sickness again. Another climber had to make the call for help so he could be rescued from almost exactly the same location as before.

Sometimes we are slow to learn from the experiences of life. The painful consequences of bad decisions are some of the best teachers, but if we refuse to listen we will find ourselves having to “repeat” our classes. Rather than being obstinate or blaming others when things go wrong, we should be quick to evaluate whether we have done something that produced the problem. Of course because we live in a fallen world not every unpleasant experience is because of something we did or failed to do. But we need to be on alert for any lessons we can learn from hardships to better align our lives with God's direction. “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise” (Proverbs 15:31).

And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

2 Corinthians 8:10-12
 

Evangelist E. J. Daniels told the story of a Sunday school teacher who asked children to bring something from home that illustrated a truth from the Bible for the next week's lesson. Several children showed up with flowers, showing God's care for us. Someone brought a rock to demonstrate the faithfulness of God's promises. One young boy brought a tiny egg laid by a bantam hen on the family farm. He said though it was little, it was the best she could do, and quoted what Jesus said about the woman who anointed Him with perfume in the days leading up to the crucifixion: “She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying” (Mark 14:18).

There are no small things in the eyes of God. We may feel discouraged or downhearted because we are not able to do as much as we might like to participate in and support His work, but He knows our hearts. He knows what we are truly willing to do. And He measures us, not by comparing what we bring to Him to what others bring, but by how what we have done compares to what we were able to do, and the spirit with which we did it. Any act of giving or service for God done from a heart of love is acceptable in His sight, even if it is too small for others to notice. The temptation to think that what we are able to do is small and therefore it doesn't matter is false. God multiplies what we give to Him and uses it to accomplish His purpose.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
 

It seems like every day we see the news headlines filled with horrible stories of wicked behavior, even within families. Parents killing children, children killing parents, business leaders breaking laws, and violent criminals being set free all reveal a society that is experiencing the judgment of God for turning away from Him. Though these stories are shocking, the problem of evil in human behavior is not new. The tendency of seeking to throw off God's restraints and live however people choose is woven throughout human history. “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:2-3).

When Paul wrote his final letter to Timothy he warned him that the world would continue to trend away from God, but he also told Timothy what to do in response. “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2). While it may be easy to allow ourselves to be discouraged by the evil we see around us, we should never lose sight of three truths: First, God is in control and we are on the winning side. Second, we have the message that a lost world needs to hear. Finally, God's plan is for those of us who are His children to be the means by which people are brought to Him. No system of laws or government can change the heart. We have the only answer to the problems of our world, and we must be faithful to share it.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Kim Philby was recruited to join Great Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, now known as MI6, in the early days of World War II. He rose to the ranks to the point that when the war ended, he was appointed as the liaison officer between British and American intelligence. His position gave him access to military information of enormous value, but he was trusted because of his record and connections. What no one knew until years later was that Philby had been recruited by Soviet intelligence in 1934, and throughout his time in office had been passing the highest level of secrets to Moscow. It was not until 1951 that Philby was accused of being a spy, and even then many refused to believe it. But eventually Philby defected to the Soviet Union and spent the rest of his life in Moscow.

The fact that someone has all the right credentials and says all the right things does not mean that they are genuine. The devil is a master at using partial truth and clever language to conceal his true purposes. We must be alert and on guard, comparing what we hear with the Word of God which is the only completely trustworthy standard of truth. John wrote, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Testing what we hear and see does not mean that we spend all our time doubting the reliability of everyone we meet. It simply means that we must not allow ourselves to be taken off course. “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14).

I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation 2:9-11

One of the most courageous voices for biblical truth in the early 1400s was John Hus. Though he was educated and ordained as a Catholic priest, Hus began to identify differences between Catholic doctrine and what the Bible says. He was adamant that Scripture, rather than tradition or opinion, should have priority and authority over all the teachings of doctrine. At the time, Europe was marked by religious unrest, and Hus was soon accused of heresy. Despite warnings from his friends, he chose to appear at the Council of Constance, having received a guarantee of safe conduct from the king. But instead of safety, he was arrested and tried. When he refused to recant, Hus was sentenced to be burned at the stake. His final words were, “What I taught with my lips, I seal with my blood.”

The Catholic Church succeeded in killing Hus, but they could not silence the truth. His influence lives on, and his courage continues to inspire believers around the world—many of whom still face persecution for their faith. While those of us in America have not endured that level of suffering, our commitment to Christ and His Word should be just as strong. We must not allow fear, opposition, or pressure to deter us from believing, speaking, and living the truth—regardless of the consequences.

Jesus promised a crown of life to those who remain faithful, even unto death. And in eternity, that crown will be laid joyfully at the feet of our Savior.

And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

Exodus 12:34-36
 

The Israelites were forced to work as slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years. Throughout that time they cried out to God for deliverance. When the time was right God sent Moses to lead them out of captivity and to freedom. And He made sure that those years of toil and hardship were rewarded. The Israelites did not go out of Egypt empty-handed. In fact they went out with great riches. The Lord made things right. This is no surprise, because God is a God of justice. Abraham said, “That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25).

When things happen that are not right or fair, we do not have to wonder if God sees what we are going through—He does. And we do not have to take matters into our own hands to get even with those who do us wrong—God will make it right. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19). That justice may come in this world, as it did for the Israelites leaving Egypt; or it may be delayed to the next. But the God who will make all things new will also make all things right. Those who have worked and suffered for His sake will find that not one thing has been forgotten, and they will receive the proper reward.

And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.

Exodus 35:4-9

After giving the law to Moses, God also gave instructions for the building of a Tabernacle that would be the center of Jewish life and worship throughout the time the Israelites were waiting to enter the Promised Land. This tent and everything in it were designed not by man, but by God Himself. No detail was left to chance. “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount” (Hebrews 8:5). But though God provided thorough instructions for the project, He left it up to the people to provide for it and build it.

God parted the Red Sea to allow the people to escape from Pharaoh's army. God provided manna for the people to eat that fell on the ground six mornings each week, and He gave them water out of a rock. He could easily have miraculously set the finished Tabernacle in the center of the camp. He could have dropped gold and silver and animal skins for the people to assemble. Instead, He called them to bring an offering. While we cannot successfully do God's work apart from God's power and we are utterly dependent on Him, He still calls on us to personally engage our time, energy, and resources to accomplish His purposes.

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

Luke 12:22-24

Many Christians spend so much time worrying that they don't even recognize it as a problem. Worry is just part of the background noise of daily life. It is true that we live in an uncertain world where we do not know the future. It is true that we live in a fallen world where things often go wrong because of the damage sin has done to God's design. But it is also true that we have a loving Father who both knows the future and is able to meet any need that we have.

Oswald Chambers wrote, “We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are an indication of how really wise we are; it is much more an indication of how really wicked we are. Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way. Our Lord never worried and He was never anxious, because He was not out to realize His own ideas; He was out to realize God’s ideas. Fretting is wicked if you are a child of God. All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God.”

When we look at the future with worry, we are either denying or forgetting God's love and promises. Though we would never question God's integrity out loud, allowing worry to fill our minds and hearts declares that we do not trust Him as we should. “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30).

For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

Psalm 78:5-7

Much of the Upper Midwest and New England regions had the unpleasant experience of having “dirty rain” in April of 2025. The light rain left a film of mud over cars and buildings. The phenomenon is fairly rare, but it followed a serious dust storm in the far West. Christian Bridges, a meteorologist with WGME-TV in Portland, Maine, explained, “You could see that dust got picked up in New Mexico two days before on Thursday by the same storm system. It then brought it up into the far northern part of the U.S. and then eventually brought it all the way to New England. So the rain kind of grabbed the dust as it was falling and brought it down to the ground. It’s kind of cool to think it was transported 2,000 miles across the country.”

The actions that we take every day and the decisions we make do not just impact our lives. They have consequences that stretch far into the future. This is equally true of good things and bad things. Those who do what is right have a positive impact on the future. “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:7). Those who choose to disobey God have a negative impact on others. “Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity” (Joshua 22:20). This life is not just about us. The decisions we make and the courses we choose for our own lives will echo even after we are gone.

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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 2:7-10

Winston Churchill had been a prominent figure in English political and military life for decades, but by the 1930s he was out of power and largely ignored. It was only the outbreak of World War II that brought him back to prominence. Many historians credit England's survival in the face of Hitler's relentless attacks to Churchill's inspiring leadership. Churchill once said, “There comes a moment in everyone’s life: a moment for which that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfill his mission, a mission for which he was uniquely qualified.”

God does not just save us so that we can go to Heaven instead of Hell. He saves us to do His work in the world. While He certainly does not need our assistance to accomplish His purposes, He does call us to be active in doing the work He has planned for us. Jesus exhibited this spirit even at a young age, telling his parents that the focus of His life was accomplishing what God had put before Him. “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” (Luke 2:49).

The fact that God has work for us to do should inspire and encourage us to devote ourselves to His plans. The people around us who need help are not there randomly. God has equipped and placed us exactly where He wants us to be. It is our responsibility to do all that we can to seize the moments we are given and use what God has given us to show His grace and glory to the world.

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

Job 12:22-25

On September 14, 1814, as the smoke cleared from the British bombardment of Fort McHenry, an American lawyer who had watched the attack from a nearby ship saw the American flag still waving. Stirred by the sight, he penned the verses that would become our national anthem. The final stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner expresses the vital importance of patriots who stand for their nation and the even more vital nature of Divine blessing on any cause:

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

It is right for us to stop and remember those who have given their lives for the freedom we enjoy. It is also right for us to stop and seek God's blessing and help, and to live in such a way that if He comes to judge our nation that He finds righteous people there. “And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake” (Genesis 18:32).

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

Nehemiah 1:4-6

When we are confronted with a problem or a need, the way that we respond reveals a great deal about our priorities and faith. When Nehemiah received word of the trouble caused by the broken walls around Jerusalem, his first reaction was to turn to God for help. While there is usually something that we should do in response to a need, the most important thing is not what we are able to do, but that we seek God's help. There is no substitute for intense, focused, heart-felt, passionate praying. The more that we rely on Him, the more we see Him work in our lives. The foundation of the success Nehemiah had in rebuilding the walls was the time he spent on his knees before beginning the work.

R. A. Torrey told this story from one of his revival meetings in Australia that illustrates the power of prayer. “When I gave the invitation for all who would accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, over on my left a whole row of eighteen young women of, I should say, about twenty years of age, arose to their feet. As I saw them stand side by side, I said to myself, 'That is someone's Bible class.' When the meeting was over, a young lady came to me, her face wreathed in smiles, and she said, 'That is my Bible class. I have been praying for their conversion, and every one of them has accepted Jesus Christ today.'”

For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

2 Corinthians 9:1-3

We rarely realize just how much our example encourages others. When Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers, he reminded them that their earlier eagerness to give had already stirred up many others to act. In fact, Paul had spoken so highly of their zeal that Christians in Macedonia had been inspired by it. Their enthusiastic generosity created a ripple effect that stirred others to act.

In a world where Christians can often feel isolated or discouraged, the faithful obedience of even one believer can serve as a powerful reminder that we are not alone. Elijah once believed he was the last faithful man standing in Israel. But God not only reminded him of the thousands who had not bowed to Baal—He also gave Elijah the encouragement of a partner in ministry, Elisha.

Your faithfulness might be exactly what another Christian needs to see. Words of encouragement are important, but the impact of a faithful life is often greater than any speech we could give. Charles Spurgeon said it well: “A man's life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies.”

But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 2:19-20

Though George Whitefield was one of the best-known and most effective preachers in the world in his day, that did not mean that he was immune from criticism. It was not uncommon for him to face false accusations and criticism regarding both his preaching and his personal life or character from those who opposed or envied his work. The story goes that later in his life Whitefield received a particularly vicious letter of accusation. In response Whitefield wrote back, “I thank you heartily for your letter. As for what you and my other enemies are saying against me, I know worse things about myself than you will ever say about me. With love in Christ, George Whitefield.”

The reality is that anything we attempt to do for God will face opposition. The devil is not going to sit back idly and watch us move forward without making an effort to derail us. And one of the most common means he uses in these attacks is to stir up people to attack and critique us. It is easy for us to allow that to derail us. If we focus on why we are being attacked and get caught up in trying to respond to refute everything said about us, we can easily lose sight of the work which we set out to do in the first place. Instead, we should care more about the opinion and judgment of God than what people are thinking or saying, and keep on doing what is right. The most important thing is not what people think of us, but what they think of Him.