Search

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:8-11

Most of the world paid no attention to the birth of a baby born in Bethlehem. The town was overflowing because of the Roman census that demanded everyone return to their ancestral home to be recorded. It is likely that there were other babies born during that same time. But the birth of Jesus was not just another baby coming into the world. It was the pivot point of all of human history. And though He was just a baby, having laid aside the glory that was rightfully His, Jesus was still the Lord and King of all. 

While many ignored His arrival, a group of wise men traveled a great distance having seen the star in the sky that announced His birth. Though they were prominent and wealthy men, they were quick to acknowledge who Jesus really was. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11).

As was true when Jesus was born, many people in our world today prefer to ignore Him, refusing to recognize that Jesus is the Savior, not just another teacher or prophet. Yet whether people want to acknowledge Him or not, the day is coming when they will have no choice. Those who reject Jesus most loudly today will one day kneel before Him and acknowledge He is Lord. We who know Him as Savior are already worshiping Jesus for who He truly is.

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

2 Corinthians 8:7-9
 

One of the first Christmas songs most of us learned as children was “Silent Night.” Since it was introduced in 1818, having been hurriedly composed for accompaniment by a guitar because the church organ was broken, the simple song quickly spread and for more than two hundreds years now has been sung around the world. In fact, it is recognized as the most often recorded Christmas song, with more than 137,000 different versions known to exist. The words are familiar to us, but they contain powerful truth that must be remembered. The third verse says:

Silent night! Holy night! 
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace, 
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth!
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth!

The grace of God has never been more fully and clearly displayed than it was in the arrival of Jesus into the world. Jesus came to the world that He had created, speaking it into existence. Yet though His arrival marked the dawn of God's plan for our redemption, many people did not recognize or accept Jesus. The apostle John wrote, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:10-12). 

Grace has come into the world, and it is up to those of us who have received it to spread the message to those who have not yet received it.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Luke 2:9-12

In 1843, Henry Cole who would become the founding director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, was swamped. Because he had received hundreds of letters, he had no time to respond. So Cole hired an artist named John Calcott Horsley to design the first Christmas card. According to the museum: “Cole’s diary entry for 17 December 1843 records, 'In the Evg Horsley came & brought his design for Christmas Cards.' Horsley's design depicts three generations of the Cole family raising a toast in a central, hand-coloured panel surrounded by a decorative trellis and black and white scenes depicting acts of giving; the twofold message was of celebration and charity. Cole then commissioned a printer to transfer the design onto cards, printing a thousand copies that could be personalised with a hand-written greeting.”

Although Christmas can feel like a time of pressure, obligation and busyness, we must never lose sight of the central truth that it is first and foremost a time of joy. The message of Christmas is not how much we can get or how much we have to do, but how much God has given. As we celebrate with family and friends, we are remembering not just the birth of a baby but the arrival of a Savior. As we reach out and give to others, we are following the example of Jesus who gave Himself because of His great love for us. We must not allow the things that go along with Christmas to obscure its true meaning.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:4-7
 

I read a story about a mother who was frantically rushing about on Christmas Eve trying to get everything on her last minute shopping list when she suddenly realized she had lost track of her three-year-old son. In a panic she sought for him, retracing her steps through the store until she finally found him outside with his nose pressed up against a window looking at a nativity display. When she called him he shouted, “Look Mommy. It's Jesus! Baby Jesus is in the hay!” The harried mother grabbed his arm and snapped, “We don't have time for all that. Can't you see Mommy is trying to get ready for Christmas?”

We sometimes see signs or bumper stickers that say “Jesus is the reason for the season,” and that is exactly correct. Something that obscures our vision or focus on Him and why He came into the world may be widely accepted and commonly practiced, but it is wrong. Jesus is the focus, and we must keep our attention on Him. 

On the Mount of Transfiguration when Peter, James, and John saw Moses and Elijah with the glorified Lord they were impressed, but God quickly brought their attention back to what really matters. “And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves” (Mark 9:7-8).

Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Isaiah 45:20-22
 

When the Israelites grumbled and complained in the wilderness, rejecting the manna that God had miraculously provided for them, they were demonstrating a lack of gratitude to the God who had delivered them and provided for them. “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died” (Numbers 21:5-6). The judgment of poisonous snakes may seem harsh, but it is a reminder of how seriously God takes the sin of ingratitude. At God's instruction, Moses made a snake out of brass, and everyone who looked at it was healed. There was nothing magical about the brass serpent. But those who looked at it were expressing faith in what God had said for healing. 

Salvation is not the result of anything that we do, but instead a gift of God that we receive through faith. Jesus referenced this Old Testament story as an illustration of His purpose in coming into the world during His conversation with Nicodemus. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). All those who turn to Him in faith, claiming the sacrifice He made as our hope of redemption are healed from the deadly disease of sin.

And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Acts 13:22-24

God specifically selected David to replace Saul as the king of Israel. He protected the shepherd boy against the dangerous wild animals who tried to kill the sheep. He gave the courageous young man victory over Goliath. He protected the fugitive king in waiting from the attempts of Saul to kill his rival. And when David was established as king over the whole nation, just as Samuel had prophesied many years before, God made a covenant with him for the future. The prophet Nathan delivered this message from the Lord to David: “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever” (2 Samuel 7:16).

When the nation of Judah was conquered by Babylon some four hundred years later, and the kingly line was ended, it must have seemed to the people who experienced that defeat that God's promise had been broken. But all of God's promises are faithful and true, and though the earthly kingdom had been destroyed and the people scattered, the plan of God was not altered. 

In the fullness of time Jesus came, descended from David both on his mother's side and on his adopted father's side of the family. He is the ruler who, though He has not yet taken the throne, will establish the kingdom that will never end just as God said. “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2:44).

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Acts 20:32-35
 

Most of us have had the experience of having a leader—a teacher, an employer or some other authority figure—who told other people to do things that he was not willing to do himself. That was something Jesus observed among the Pharisees in His day, and He publicly condemned them for this hypocrisy. “Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not” (Matthew 23:2-3). If someone is going to tell others what to do they should be willing to follow their own advice and instruction. Jesus demonstrated that willingness. He not only taught that it was better to give than receive, but He lived it.

Jesus deserved praise and glory and honor. But He was willing to give it all up for our sake. Jesus experienced great suffering and loss to give the gift of eternal life to all those who trust in Him as Savior. There was no other way for our redemption to be made. “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10). He does not just instruct us to give but personally set the example by making a far greater sacrifice than anything we could ever give for someone else.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Colossians 1:18-20
 

Jesus was born to a poor family in a borrowed stable. This was not at all what the world expects from a king, and that was one of the reasons why people found it hard to believe that Jesus was truly the Messiah and Savior. He did not fit the image people had of a mighty ruler. Yet even as an infant, and even lying in a feeding trough, Jesus was the fullness of God. And though He was not yet even able to speak, He was already the hope of the world. This truth is expressed in the beautiful Christmas song “One King,” often sung by choirs during the Christmas season:

A star hangs over Bethlehem,
A journey ends in the night.
Three kings, trembling
Behold the glorious sight.

Heaven's treasure Emmanuel
Drawing men to bow down,
Tiny baby born to wear a crown.
One king held the frankincense,

One king held the myrrh,
One king held the purest gold,
One king held the hope of the world.

The arrival of Jesus was just as much a part of God's plan as His sinless life, His death on the cross and His victorious resurrection. God's love and grace for us are so great that He delighted in the plan for our deliverance despite the cost. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand” (Isaiah 53:10). We should never doubt God's commitment to us, and in return for all that we have received our commitment to Him should be unbreakable.

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Hebrews 1:5-8
 

The night sky near Bethlehem was filled with angels praising God when Jesus was born. They were rejoicing in God's plan of redemption. Even though it was not meant for them, they still celebrated. “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into” (1 Peter 1:12). 

In the late 1800s a New Jersey businessman and life insurance agent named Johnson Oatman, Jr. wrote what he called “The Song of Redemption.”

There is singing up in Heaven
Such as we have never known,
Where the angels sing the praises
Of the Lamb upon the throne;
Their sweet harps are ever tuneful,
And their voices are always clear,
O that we might be more like them
While we serve the Master here!

Holy, holy, is what the angels sing,
And I expect to help them make
The courts of Heaven ring;
But when I sing redemption’s story,
They will fold their wings,
For angels never felt the joy
That our salvation brings.

If the angels rejoiced over God's plan of salvation, how much more should we! “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8).

And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 19:7-10
 

The story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is not the end of Christmas, but only the beginning. He did not come into the world to be a baby. He did not come to be a good example or a powerful teacher or a voice for change, though He was all of those things. Jesus came to be the Savior. The heartbeat of Christmas is the plan of God to provide a way of salvation for those who believe. We gather to celebrate not just the birth of Christ but His free gift of eternal life we receive through His grace alone.

In a sermon titled “I Love Christmas,” John R. Rice said, “But far more important than the pleasant trappings and customs of Christmas is that you have the Christ of Christmas and His joy. So we wish that the green of the Christmas tree may picture eternal life springing up in your heart. May the lights strung there by loving hands picture Christ, the Light of the world, shining in your heart. May the joyful message of the angels given at the first Christmas ring in your heart. The Christmas joy does not depend on the outward trappings of Christmas. You may be lonely, poor, and cold, neglected by the children, forgotten by your friends, yet may have the glad Christmas joy in your heart as Paul had, shut up in prison cells at Rome! Be sure to open your heart and let the dear Lord Jesus make it a happy Christmas time for you.”

And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Exodus 20:1-4

When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He led them to Mount Sinai where He gave the Ten Commandments, as well as other laws under which His people were to live. 

In beginning the Ten Commandments, without preamble or introduction, God declared that He alone is worthy of our allegiance, devotion, and love. This is the first commandment for a reason—because only as we follow it are we living as God demands. 

When Jesus was questioned about the most important of the commandments given, He began where God had with Moses—putting God first. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).

As we approach the start of a new year, it is crucial for us to keep our focus and priorities on what matters most. No one drifts into holiness or successful and victorious Christian living. That only comes as we align our priorities with God's priorities, putting His desires and commands ahead of our own. The temptation to put something else in God's place has been drawing people away from Him for thousands of years. But no matter how much we rationalize it or try to explain it away, if we do not love God above all else, we are sinning. And while all sin is bad and hated by God, there is nothing that can compare to breaking the most important of all the commandments. Indeed, it is keeping this first commandment that helps us overcome the temptation to all other sins. If we love God first, then most things of the world lose their allure.

Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

Isaiah 43:10-13

On August 14, 2003, a software bug kept an alarm from going off after a power plant in Ohio went offline. As a result, cascading power failure swept across the northeastern United States and southern Canada. More than 250 power plants were forced to shut down as generators tripped and power transportation was brought to a halt. At its peak, the Northeast Blackout outage affected some 55,000,000 customers, which at the time was the second largest outage in history. Though many customers had their power back after a few hours, it took more than two days before the problem was fully resolved and everyone had their power back.

Those who trust in God never experience a power outage. There is never a system failure or transmission glitch that keeps Him from being able to provide all that we need. There is never a situation that challenges His unlimited power and resources. Seventeenth-century pastor, Stephen Charnock, wrote, “As holiness is the beauty of all God’s attributes, so power is that which gives life and action to all the perfections of the Divine nature. How vain would be the eternal counsels, if power did not step in to execute them. Without power His mercy would be but feeble pity, His promises an empty sound, His threatenings a mere scarecrow. God’s power is like Himself: infinite, eternal, incomprehensible; it can neither be checked, restrained, nor frustrated by the creature.”

And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

Joshua 24:21-24
 

I read the story of a pastor who was counseling a young lady outside his church who talked of wanting to pursue an acting career. She said, “After I have made it in the theater, I'll follow Christ completely.” The pastor took a key out of his pocket and scratched a mark on a postal box standing on the corner. “That is what God will let you do,” he said. “God will let you scratch the surface of success. He will let you get close enough to the top to know what it is, but He will never let you have it, because He will never let one of His children have anything rather than Himself.” 

Years later, he met the girl again, and she confessed that this had indeed been her life story. She said, “I can't tell you how many times in my discouragement I have closed my eyes and seen you scratching on that postal box with your key. God let me scratch the edges, but He gave me nothing in place of Himself.”

The Lord will not settle for second place in our lives. If we are truly committed to following Him, we must remove from our lives anything that would draw us away from complete allegiance to Him. The Israelites had seen God bring them out of Egypt, lead them through the wilderness, and give them victory over the inhabitants of the Promised Land. Yet when Joshua addressed them for the final time, he pointed out that despite all God had done for them, they had still adopted the practice of having idols in their homes. Those had to go if they were truly to serve God.

And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

2 Peter 2:6-8
 

We live in a world filled with wickedness. God calls us to be separated and holy—not in the sense of isolation from the world, but in the sense of not allowing the world to dictate and shape our direction. If we are filling our hearts and minds with the things of the world, it will not be long before that begins to shape our behavior. Paul wrote, “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10).  We must not allow the world to guide and mold our lives but instead renew our minds to holy living, as Romans 12:1 instructs: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

F. B. Meyer said, “It is often argued that we should stay in the midst of churches and bodies whose sins and follies we deplore, in the hope of saving them for God and mankind. Such reasoning has a good deal of force in the first stages of decline. A strong protest may arrest error and stop the gangrene. But as time advances, and the whole body becomes diseased; when the protests have been disregarded, and the arguments trampled underfoot; when the majority have clearly taken up their position against the truth—we have no alternative but to come out and be separate. The place from which we can exert the strongest influence for good is not from within, but from without. Lot lost all influence of his life in Sodom; but Abraham, from the heights of Mamre, was able to exert a mighty influence on its history.”

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

James 3:14-17

In John Bunyan's allegorical book, The Pilgrim's Progress, one of the characters Christian meets is Mr. Worldly Wiseman. He attempts to dissuade Christian from following the advice of Evangelist to rid himself of the burden of sin because there are difficulties and dangers on the path. He said, “But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers attend it? Especially, since (hadst thou but patience to hear me) I could direct thee to the obtaining of what thou desirest, without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into. Why in yonder Village (the village is named Morality) there dwells a Gentleman whose name is Legality, a very judicious man, and a man of very good name, that has skill to help men off with such burdens as thine are from their shoulders. He hath skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their burdens.”

The devil is always a counterfeiter, making imitations of what God has created that are designed to lead us astray. Often these counterfeits appeal to our interests and desires, appearing to offer an alternative to God's plan that sounds like it would be easier. But Satan's schemes are not designed to benefit us but to destroy us. There is real and genuine wisdom found in the Word of God, and we must not accept the world's imitation. Only the true wisdom of God can direct our steps through this world in a way that will be pleasing to Him. Only the true wisdom of God can protect our hearts from temptation of sin that seek to lead us astray.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

2 Peter 3:17-18

When Molly Huddle went to the World Track and Field Championships in Beijing in 2015, she was the reigning American champion in the 10,000 meters. She was expected to perform well, and as she approached the finish line, she was in position to win the bronze medal—the first American medal in that event since 2007. But just a few steps before the finish line, she lifted her arms in celebration. In that moment, her teammate Emily Infeld closed the gap and surged past her, taking third place. After the race, Huddle faced reporters and admitted, “In that last half step, I just let up too much. Emily was right there the whole time with just more momentum. She got that bronze. It's going to take a long time to get over. I just didn't want to mess up on the last lap, and I did. I don't know when that chance will come again.”

There is no room in the Christian life for coasting. While we rightly celebrate victories and the things God has done for us, our focus must remain on the finish line. No one drifts into spiritual growth, godliness, and intimate fellowship with God. Those things only happen when we keep pushing forward no matter what happens. 

Paul faced great adversity and opposition, but he kept his eyes on the reason he was running the race and the importance of finishing well. “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down. And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.

2 Chronicles 25:7–9
 

Stop and think for a moment about the greatest thing you have seen God do in your life. Perhaps it was a miraculous provision for a financial need you had no way to meet. Maybe it was healing when doctors had given up hope, or the salvation of a loved one for whom you had prayed for years. As you remember that moment and thank God for it, remember this: although it was miraculous to you, it was only the smallest glimpse of what He is able to do.

God’s power is never depleted. He never reaches a limit. He never says, “That’s all I can do.” The same God who has already proven His faithfulness in your past stands ready to work again today. 

Whatever need you carry today, the Lord is not limited by what you see or what you understand. He is not confined by your circumstances, your resources, or your past. The same God who worked mightily before is still at work now, and He is able to do more than you can imagine. Trust Him, ask Him, and expect His power at work in your life, for “the LORD is able to give thee much more than this.” Whatever need you have today, God is more than able to meet it.

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Ephesians 3:14–19
 

The cream of Napoleon's army was the Imperial Guard, often called the Old Guard. This highly selective unit only accepted soldiers who had already demonstrated skill and courage in battle. The soldiers of the Old Guard were deeply committed to the emperor who returned their affection, referring to them as “my children.” 

The story goes that in one battle with enemy forces advancing, Napoleon was forced to order a retreat. But when he told the bugler to sound retreat, the man protested that he did not know that tune. He had never had to play it before. Napoleon insisted that he play something, so the man played the notes signaling a charge. Thinking they had received reinforcements and were being ordered to attack, the men of the Old Guard took heart, surged forward, and won the victory.

As children of God, we are never truly alone, and we are never without hope or help. Even when it seems we are outnumbered, God is always there. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). 

The path to victory is not avoiding trouble, for that is impossible in our fallen world. The path to victory is having our hearts strengthened and renewed again and again by the power of God. The more we know Him and rely on Him, the stronger we will be in our walk and work for Him.

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

1 Samuel 17:45–46
 

Because of the effects of sin in the world, all of us face spiritual battles on a regular basis. Sometimes those battles are the result of something we have done or failed to do. Other times they come because of attacks made against us. Some are large while others are small. But they all have one thing in common—we are not intended or able to fight them in our own strength.

It would have been ridiculous for David to think that, as a teenage boy, he could defeat a seasoned warrior who towered over nine feet tall. It is just as foolish for us to think that we can defeat the devil—who has thousands of years of experience—on our own. Yet too often, that is exactly what we try to do, instead of seeking the only certain source of help and victory.

Nearly a century after David, King Asa, who was mostly a good king, faced an overwhelming military challenge. But rather than seeking God, Asa made an alliance with the wicked king of Syria. God was more than able to give him victory, but he never asked. Asa was rebuked by the prophet for this failure. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah. Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalm 81:7–10

Have you ever felt like you were imposing on someone? You needed help or time or a favor of some kind, but you hesitated to ask because you didn’t want to be a burden. Many of us are tempted to carry that  mindset into our prayer life. We come to God with our needs, but we hesitate. We hold back. We do not “open our mouths wide” because somewhere in our hearts we wonder if we are asking too much. But the truth is very different. God delights in the prayers of His children because He delights in displaying His power on their behalf.

God repeatedly points back to the crossing of the Red Sea—nearly four dozen times throughout Scripture—to remind us of His unlimited power. He wants us to remember that He is never stretched, strained, or exhausted by the needs of His people. In fact, His power goes far beyond what we can even imagine. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20–21).

Asking God to do great things is not based on us being great, but on Him being great. A humble heart can seek God without doubt or fear. Daniel prayed, “O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies” (Daniel 9:18).

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:22–25

When I was young, we would occasionally go to watch the Oakland A’s play baseball. In those days, the team often ran promotional giveaways—a souvenir hat, a small helmet, or some other keepsake. But there was always a limit. Only the first 1,500 or 2,000 fans through the gate would receive one. If you arrived too late, you missed out. The offer was real, but it was not unlimited.

Salvation in Christ is nothing like that. There is no cap. There is no quota. There is no point at which God runs out of mercy, grace, or forgiveness. Hebrews tells us that Jesus “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.” That word uttermost does not mean “somewhat” or “partially.” It means “completely, fully, entirely.” He saves all the way—from the guilt of sin, from the power of sin, and one day even from the presence of sin.

And the reason He can do that is found in this same passage: “He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Every Old Testament priest eventually died. His ministry ended. But Jesus never dies, never steps down, and never stops interceding. His saving work is not temporary. It is permanent. 

God does not turn people away because too many have already come. He does not say His mercy is used up. He promised, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). The only “limit” is time. A sinner must come while the opportunity still stands. As Paul wrote, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Mark 16:5–6

In April of 1970, three American astronauts—Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise—were orbiting the moon aboard Apollo 13 when an oxygen tank suddenly exploded. In an instant, their mission changed from exploration to survival. Power systems were crippled. Air supply was threatened. For several days, the world watched as NASA engineers worked around the clock to bring them home. The situation looked so hopeless that President Nixon’s staff even prepared a speech for the nation in case the men died in space. But against all expectations, on April 17, the capsule splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean. What had looked like certain tragedy ended in stunned relief and restored hope.

In AD 33, grief-stricken women made their way to a borrowed tomb. But unlike the hope restored at the ocean’s surface, theirs would be restored by an empty grave.

Think about what it must have felt like when some of the women who had followed Jesus during His ministry made their way to the sepulcher early on a Sunday morning. They were not looking for a miracle or a resurrection. Their plan was simply to place spices on the body of Jesus, a task they had not been able to complete because of the approaching Passover. Yet instead of finding death, they found an angel announcing victory—Jesus was not there. He was risen.

None of us will ever face a more powerful enemy than death. But death and the grave could not hold Jesus. When we feel discouraged and defeated, we must remember that He has already overcome. Since our greatest enemy has been crushed under His feet, why should we fear the daily problems of life?

The power—the unlimited, immeasurable, everlasting power of Jesus Himself—that raised Him from the dead is still at work today. And through prayer, that same power is available to us, no matter what we face.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

Psalm 103:10–14
 

One of the greatest blessings we have as believers is the knowledge that our sins are not only paid for, but completely removed from our account forever. In the Old Testament, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would take two goats. One was sacrificed, and its blood was placed on the mercy seat, pointing forward to the perfect sacrifice that Christ would one day offer. The other goat had the sins of the nation symbolically transferred onto it and was driven away into the wilderness. The scapegoat never returned, showing that sin had been removed for the year. Yet the sacrifice itself had to be repeated, because it could never fully take sin away. In the sacrifice of Jesus, we have an offering for sin that never needs to be repeated, because it was perfectly and completely sufficient.

Through Christ, we not only have eternal forgiveness, but we also have complete forgiveness. God does not keep a record of our forgiven sins or bring them back against us once they have been dealt with through Christ. He is able to forgive fully, because He has dealt fully with our sin.

Christian author and holocaust survivor, Corrie ten Boom, captured this beautifully when she wrote, “God buries our sins in the depths of the sea and then puts up a sign that reads, ‘No fishing.’” No sin is too great for God to forgive, because His saving power is greater still. In place of our sin, He now sees the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, who died in our place. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

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

1 Peter 5:8–10

In 1965, the coach of the University of Florida football team, Ray Graves, approached the faculty at the College of Medicine with a request for help. Practicing and playing in the intense heat and humidity of Florida was physically draining his players. He wanted to know if they could develop something to replace the fluids they were losing through sweat. Dr. Robert Cade led a team of researchers who created an electrolyte drink for that purpose. After successful testing with a small group of players, it was given to the entire team. In the 1967 Orange Bowl, Florida defeated Georgia Tech, and after the game, Georgia Tech’s coach Bobby Dodd remarked, “We didn’t have Gatorade. That made the difference.”

All of us “sweat” from the pressures, exertions, and trials of life. We grow weary. We become exhausted. Sometimes the weight of responsibility, disappointment, spiritual opposition, and unanswered questions drains us more deeply than physical labor ever could.

But unlike a sports drink with limited effectiveness, God’s strength is unending and inexhaustible, and we have full access to it through His grace. He is not limited by our weakness or depleted by our need. He is able to strengthen us, restore us, and carry us through whatever we face. We have only to turn to Him for His renewing grace. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:7–9
 

Though we are not told specifically what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was, it was serious enough for him to urgently and repeatedly ask God for relief. The word translated buffet is the same word used to describe the physical beating Jesus endured before the crucifixion. Whatever this thorn was, it caused Paul real, ongoing suffering.

Yet God said “no” to Paul’s earnest prayers for the removal of this thorn—not because Paul lacked faith or deserved less grace, but because God had a greater purpose. And God did not simply leave him to endure it alone. Instead, He gave Paul a promise through which untold numbers of Christians have benefited “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Here we see not only God’s wisdom, but His power to sustain. God did not take the burden away, but He lifted Paul through it. He did not remove the trial, but He supplied the strength. God is able to uphold His people when the load is heavy and the road is long.

There are times when God answers our prayers by removing our troubles. But there are other times when He answers by giving us the grace to endure them. In those moments, we should not think He has abandoned us. He never has and never will forsake His children. Instead, He sustains us in our weakness with His strength.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:7–10
 

 David was a godly man who served God and his country for many years. Yet that did not keep him from being tempted, and David failed a severe test when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had Uriah murdered in an effort to cover up his sin. It seemed that David's scheme had worked and his sin would remain hidden, but God knew exactly what had happened: “…the thing that David had done displeased the LORD” (2 Samuel 11:27). God used the prophet Nathan to confront David and call him to repentance. When he was forced to face his sin, David cried out for God to forgive him.

During the time when that sin kept him from close fellowship with God, David suffered physically as well as mentally and spiritually. “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah” (Psalm 32:3-4). 

God is able to repair what sin has broken, and He does not leave His children in the ruins of their failure. While repentance does not erase all earthly consequences (Uriah was still dead, and David and Bathsheba’s first child still died), it does restore what matters most: our fellowship with God. David’s joy returned. His spirit was renewed. His heart was cleansed. God rebuilt what sin had torn down.

First John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When we come to Him in honest repentance, God not only forgives, but He heals, restores, and renews. 

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11
 

Few people in history experienced as dramatic a transformation after being saved as John Newton, the former slave trader who later became a pastor, abolitionist, and the author of the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace.” Once a profane and immoral man, Newton seemed an unlikely candidate to become a preacher of the gospel and a voice for righteousness. But God, who is able to transform even the hardest heart, had other plans. When Newton finally turned to God in repentance and put his trust in Christ, everything changed.

Years later Newton wrote, “It is certain that I am not what I ought to be. But, blessed be God, I am not what I once was. God has mercifully brought me up out of the deep miry clay and set my feet upon the Rock, Christ Jesus. He has saved my soul. And now it is my heart’s desire to extol and honour his matchless, free, sovereign and distinguishing grace, because ‘By the grace of God I am what I am.’”

God does not save us to leave us as we were before. He saves us because He is able to change us. He gives us a new nature and begins the lifelong work of molding and shaping us to become more like Jesus Christ. Though that work will not be fully completed in this life, it is absolutely certain to be completed when we see Him. As John wrote, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalm 34:3–8
 

David spent years running for his life. King Saul knew that God had chosen David to be Israel’s next king, and he became determined to stop it. He sent spies to track him, dispatched armies to hunt him through the wilderness and caves, and at times even led the pursuit himself. At one point, David was so desperate that he fled to Gath—the hometown of the very Philistine giant he had slain. To survive, he pretended to be insane. Scripture says, “And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad… and let his spittle fall down upon his beard” (1 Samuel 21:13). It was in the aftermath of that humiliating moment that David wrote Psalm 34.

From a human perspective, there was little reason for hope. Living among enemies, cut off from home, and hunted daily, David’s life looked nothing like the future king Samuel had anointed. Yet even then, David recognized that God was still in control. Saul had armies; David had God. Saul had power; David had promise. And David knew that the God who had called him was able to keep him.

David’s fears were not imagined. His life truly was in danger. Yet he refused to live controlled by fear. Instead, he chose to magnify the Lord. And the God he magnified delivered him. God did not simply calm his fears; He conquered them. The same God who delivered David is still able to deliver His people today. He is able to surround us with His protection, strengthen our hearts, and give us victory over fear. 

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:57–58

Faithfulness is not glamorous, but it is never wasted. God sees every act of obedience, every unseen sacrifice, and every quiet stand for truth. And the God who calls us to be faithful is able to reward that faithfulness. Our labor for Him is not in vain. He has both the power and the promise to honor what is done for His glory. We can render every act of service “heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23–24).

Daniel is one of the clearest pictures of this kind of faithfulness in Scripture. As a teenager, he was taken captive from his home, given a new name, immersed in a pagan culture, and pressured to compromise his allegiance to God. He refused. Decades later, as an elderly man, he was still serving God with the same consistency. When jealous leaders plotted against him and had him thrown into the lions’ den, King Darius described him as a man who served God continually (Daniel 6:20). Daniel trusted God with the consequences of his obedience, and God proved that He was able, not only to protect him, but to vindicate him. The lions’ mouths were shut, and his faithfulness was honored.

God is the same today. He is able to strengthen His servants to remain faithful, and He is able to reward that faithfulness in His perfect time and way. Not everything God rewards will be seen in this life, but nothing done for Him is ever forgotten. As Paul reminded us, we can continue “always abounding in the work of the Lord” because we know our labor is not in vain.

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

Acts 9:28–31

One of the saddest sights to me when I travel—whether in the United States or in other parts of the world—is seeing buildings that were once churches now standing empty or converted into businesses. While not all of these buildings housed truly gospel-preaching churches, it is still indicative of a society moving away from the things of God. Many faithful congregations feel the weight of cultural resistance, declining influence, and growing indifference toward biblical truth.

But the strength of the church has never depended on trends, statistics, or favorable conditions. In the book of Acts, the early believers faced persecution, opposition, and upheaval. Yet Scripture tells us that the churches were edified, walked in the fear of the Lord, and were multiplied. Why? Because God was at work strengthening His people. It was not safety that built the church; it was the power of God.

Jesus promised, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). True churches are not sustained by clever programs, strong personalities, or cultural trends. They are sustained by the presence and power of Christ Himself. Though each believer has a vital role to play within the body, only God is able to provide the strength, courage, wisdom, and unity His church needs to stand firm and move forward.

The same God who strengthened the early church is still at work today. Even when the future looks uncertain, His ability has not diminished. He is able to uphold His people, revive His work, and cause His church to shine in the darkest of times.

But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:18–20

While imprisoned in the Ravensbrück concentration camp during World War II, Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie had in their possession a small bottle of liquid vitamins. Betsie was weak and sick, and Corrie believed they should save the vitamins just for her. But Betsie insisted that they share them with the other sick and starving women around them.

Each day, Corrie carefully poured out just a few drops for the prisoners who needed them most. Each day she worried as the bottle seemed nearly empty. Yet somehow, when she poured out what should have been the last drop, another would follow. And then another. Corrie later testified that God sustained it beyond what they could explain, supplying just enough until further provision arrived.

This experience reminded the ten Boom sisters of the 1 Kings 17 account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. With famine devastating the land, she had only enough meal and oil for one final meal before she and her son would die. Yet when she obeyed God and trusted His word by making a meal for Elijah, the Lord sustained her through the rest of the famine. Miraculously, “the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail.” God supplied her need day after day, not only for herself, but so she could care for His servant as well.

God is not limited by what we see, what we possess, or what we lack. When we give in faith, serve in faith, and share what He has entrusted to us, we can be confident of this: God is able to supply every need—both ours and the needs of those He calls us to help.

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Philippians 3:20–21

In his epic poem Paradise Lost, John Milton retold the story of the creation of the world and the fall of man. He described Satan’s attitude this way:

“Here we may reign secure, and in my choyce
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav’n.”

Those words capture the very heart of rebellion, the desire to rule rather than submit. That spirit of rebellion began when Satan refused to remain under God’s authority. “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…” (Isaiah 14:13). And since the fall of man, that same attitude has marked much of humanity. People reject God’s right to rule their lives. They resist His truth. They seek freedom not through submission to Christ, but through independence from Him.

But Scripture makes it clear that this rebellion will not last forever. God’s plan has never been threatened, and His authority has never been diminished. “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet…” (Hebrews 2:8). Though we do not yet see all things visibly under Christ’s rule, we do see Jesus, crucified, risen, and now crowned with glory and honour (Hebrews 2:9). His victory is already secured.

And for His own children, God has given a glorious promise. Christ is not only subduing the world, He is also transforming us to become like Himself. Philippians 3:21 assures us that even our weak, mortal bodies will one day be changed and fashioned like His glorious body. The one who reigns over the universe is patiently and powerfully making us more like Christ, and one day that work will be complete.

Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

Mark 16:9–10
 

In 1903, the blind hymn writer, Fanny Crosby, addressed a YMCA convention in Massachusetts. In her remarks, she shared the story behind the hymn “Rescue the Perishing.” Many years earlier, while speaking at a rescue mission, she felt burdened to talk with a young man who had a godly mother but had wandered far from God. After prayer, she urged him to turn to the Lord. That moment led her to write these words:

Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.

After Fanny’s address in Massachusetts, a man approached her and said, “Miss Crosby, I was the boy who told you more than thirty-five years ago that I had wandered from my mother’s God. The evening that you spoke at the mission I sought and found peace, and I have tried to live a consistent Christian life ever since.” 

Mary Magdalene was herself one who had been lifted from deep brokenness. Jesus had delivered her from a life of bondage and darkness. Many would have dismissed her because of her past, but Jesus did not. Instead, on the morning of His resurrection, He honored her as the first witness of His risen glory.

Like Mary Magdalene, all of us who know Christ have a past from which we have been delivered. And even as Christians, all of us stumble, fail, and fall at times. Yet the same Savior who lifted Mary from despair and bondage is still at work today. He is able to restore, forgive, and raise up those who have fallen. “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).

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

Ephesians 2:8-10

God has a purpose and plan for our lives. He knows all things before they happen, so our lives never catch Him off guard. He shapes and molds us to fulfill His purpose—not because He needs our help, but because He graciously gives us the privilege of serving Him. 

When Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, everything changed. He went from persecuting Christians to proclaiming the gospel. This new life purpose was not an accident or a coincidence, but part of God’s sovereign plan. “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

Though Paul was greatly used by God, it was not his natural ability that gave his ministry its lasting impact. God worked through him by His grace. Paul understood this clearly: “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

This calling and provision of grace is not limited to pastors, missionaries, or evangelists. It is for every believer. Each of us has been uniquely created for good works that God designed long before we were even born. And like Paul, the only way we can accomplish what God has ordained for us is through His strength, not our own. God does not merely assign the work; He is able to supply the grace to carry it out.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Daniel 3:16–18

It is one of the most well-known stories in Scripture: King Nebuchadnezzar constructed a massive golden idol and commanded everyone in his kingdom to worship it. When the music played, leaders from across the empire bowed in submission—all except three young men from Israel. Their jealous accusers quickly reported them to the king, and they were summoned before him. Nebuchadnezzar offered them a second chance, promising to spare their lives if they would bow. But they refused. Indeed, there is no proper way to mix the worship of God with the worship of anything else. He must be first and only. As Exodus 20:3 says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

The threat these three young men faced was real. The furnace stood before them. A simple act of compromise could have saved their lives. But they declared their allegiance to God, not knowing whether He would deliver them or allow them to suffer. They trusted His power, but they also trusted His will. They knew one thing for certain: God was worthy of obedience no matter the outcome.

Most of us will not face a literal furnace and fiery death, but we are often pressured to compromise our convictions and soften our faith. In those moments, we are not left to rely on our own strength. God is able to give courage under fire. The same God who stood with these men in the flames is still able to strengthen His people when they stand for truth today.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 6:11–13

During visits to Israel, I’ve had the opportunity to see the ruins at Beth-shean (modern Beit-She’an), where layer after layer of fallen civilizations has been unearthed, each built on the remains of the one before it. As you may remember, Beth-shean is the place where the Philistines fastened the bodies of King Saul and his sons after their victory in battle. It later became part of Solomon’s kingdom. Today, Roman columns and stone mosaics still stand among the remains, which continue to be carefully excavated.

On a hillside overlooking the site stands a single tree. Its branches are bare, and it has been dead for years. When the site was used to film a movie years ago, the director wanted a tree on the skyline, so workers found the dead tree and placed it in cement. Many years later it is still standing because of what is underneath it.

God calls us to stand for Him, but He never expects us to stand alone. He provides the armor for the battle and the strength for the day. It is not our power, but His, that keeps us from falling. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). 

How does God keep us standing? He has given us His perfect Word. He gives us other Christians whose fellowship and influence encourage us to grow. Most of all, He has given us the Holy Spirit, who is always present to help. We are able to stand only because He is able to keep us standing.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

Philippians 1:3–6

When he was twenty-five, Allen Swift received an extraordinary gift from his father for agreeing to take over the family business—a brand new 1928 Rolls Royce Piccadilly P1 Roadster. Swift treasured that gift. For the next seventy-seven years, he carefully maintained and drove the car, eventually logging more than 170,000 miles. In recognition of his exceptional dedication, Rolls Royce honored him with the Spirit of Ecstasy Award for being the longest-term owner of a single Rolls Royce vehicle. When Swift died at the age of 102, he donated the car to a museum along with funds to ensure its continued care.

Allen Swift’s commitment to preserving that car for a lifetime is impressive. But it pales in comparison to God’s commitment to the work He begins in us.

When God saves us, He does not abandon us to finish the journey on our own. He does not start a work and then walk away. He remains personally, powerfully, and faithfully involved in every step of our spiritual growth. The same God who gave us life in Christ continues to shape, refine, and strengthen us until His purpose is complete. He supplies the power for our salvation, the grace for our growth, and the faith we need to finish the course.

No matter how long life lasts or how difficult the road becomes, God will still be at work. He was faithful at the beginning, and He will be faithful at the end. “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” (Psalm 48:14).

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

John 15:14-16

In the 1960s, noted Brazilian landscape designer Roberto Burle Marx imported a large number of talipot palms from India and plated them in Flamengo Park in Rio de Janeiro. The massive trees grow to a height of nearly 100 feet. Unlike most other varieties of palm trees, the talipot palm only flowers once during its life. After decades pass, the tree shoots up a central plume that boasts millions of white flowers. All of the energy the tree has stored up over the years goes into producing the flowers. Park officials are planning to collect seedlings and replant the trees after they die so that in another sixty or eighty years a new generation can again enjoy the spectacular sight of millions of palm tree blossoms scattered against the sky.

The purpose God had in mind when He saved us was that we would be fruitful. Salvation brings us immeasurable blessings, but it was never meant to terminate on ourselves. God does not need our help to supply anything He lacks, yet in His grace He has chosen to accomplish His work through His children. Long before we were saved, He had already prepared meaningful work for us to do in His name. As Paul wrote, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Our task is to seize every opportunity to bear fruit for Him—not for the applause of others, but to bring glory to the God redeemed us.

And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

Genesis 13:7-9
 

When he found out that his herdsmen were fighting with Lot's herdsmen over the best pastures for their flocks, Abraham immediately took action. Rather than insisting on his own rights—after all, God had promised the land to him, not to his nephew—Abraham stepped back and allowed Lot to make the first choice of which direction to take his herds. Abraham could have pointed out that he was older, that he had the promise from God, and that everything Lot possessed had come to him because of his association with Abraham. Instead Abraham humbly deferred his own best interests because their testimony was more important to him than a well-watered pasture. 

If we do not insist on getting our way, there will be fewer conflicts in our lives. “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom” (Proverbs 13:10).

Jonathan Edwards wrote, “Pride is a person having too high an opinion of himself. Pride is the first sin that ever entered into the universe, and the last sin that is rooted out. Pride is the worst sin. It is the most secret of all sins. There is no other matter in which the heart is more deceitful and unsearchable. Alas, how much pride the best have in their hearts! Pride is God’s most stubborn enemy! There is no sin so much like the devil as pride. It is a secret and subtle sin, and appears in a great many shapes which are undetected and unsuspected.”

For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

Isaiah 50:7-9
 

Every day of our lives brings challenges and battles. That is a natural part of living in a world marred by sin, and of facing a spiritual adversary devoted to our destruction. If we are foolish enough to try to fight and win these battles on our own, we will quickly find that our resources and strength are inadequate. In those moments we can continue to struggle, or we can turn to God for help and find in Him what we need. Those who rely on God and live in the fullness of His power find all the resources necessary for victory. 

It is true that God does not always work in a way we would choose, but it is also true that He always works in the way that is best. We can trust Him to protect and provide and bring about His desired result. “And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday” (Psalm 37:6).

We do not have to ever worry or wonder whether God is willing or able to help those who cry out to Him. The answer is yes, and that gives us confidence to face the challenges we meet each day. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (Psalm 46:1-2). We also do not need to fear that God will get tired of us coming to Him and decide to stop helping us because we have come so many times before. Charles Spurgeon said, “[God] will never cease to help us until we cease to need.”

Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them. Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?

2 Chronicles 25:14-15

Amaziah was only twenty-five years old when he became king over Judah. His father Joash had started out well, but later in his life he turned away from God and even killed the children of the priest Jehoiada who saved his life and placed him on the throne. As a result of this ungrateful and ungodly act, Joash was killed by some of his servants, and Amaziah took the throne. 

Amaziah did some things that were good, but he was not fully devoted to God. Second Chronicles 25:1-2 records, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.” In spite of his failures, when Amaziah turned to God for deliverance from a mighty army coming against him, God graciously granted a great victory. Yet rather than praising God and seeking Him more, Amaziah took the idols of his defeated enemies and began worshiping them.

It should never be true that the results of God's blessing on our lives become more important to us than He is, yet sadly that is often the case. God gives generously to His children out of His love for us,  so it is vital for us to guard against forgetting to be grateful. The things God does for us are never more important than Him, and we must keep them in their proper place. That is why gratitude is such an important spiritual discipline. A. B. Simpson wrote:

Once it was the blessing,
Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling,
Now it is His Word;

Once His gift I wanted,
Now, the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing,
Now Himself alone.

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Philippians 3:9-11

Long before Edward Mote became a Baptist pastor, he earned his living as a cabinetmaker. One morning in 1834, as he walked to work, his thoughts turned to Jesus’ illustration of two builders—one who built on the rock and one who built on sand. Out of that meditation came the familiar words, “On Christ the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” By the end of that day, Mote had written the hymn we still sing today. The final verse highlights the importance of having the righteousness of Jesus applied to our account.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in Him be found:
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

While it is true that we should strive to live in a righteous and holy manner, the reality is that as long as we are in this world we will still struggle with sin. Even decades of faithful service for Christ do not earn us any merit in the eyes of God. The only hope any of us have is to have God see Jesus when He looks at us. All of our sins were placed on Jesus, and all of His perfection was placed on us. Paul illustrated this truth when he sent Onesimus back to his friend Philemon. Anything that the runaway owed was to be paid by Paul on his account. “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account” (Philemon 1:18).

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 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?

Matthews 6:28-30
 

We all know that we are not supposed to worry. We know the Bible is filled with promises from God that are 100 percent reliable and trustworthy. We know that He has never failed to do all He said, and we know that He is more than able to provide for any need we face. We know that just as God is faithful to care for plants and animals, He is faithful to us. We know that our all-wise Father understands exactly what we need far better than we do, and that He loves us beyond measure. We know that God never changes, and that His power is just as great now as it has always been. And yet we still worry.

Our worries tend to be about temporal things. Will we have clothes to wear? Will we have a place to live? Will we have food to eat? Even sometimes our prayers are made, not in confidence that God will provide, but in worry that He may not really understand our situation and what we need. Yet, Jesus told us that we do not pray to inform God, but to seek His help: “...your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him” (Matthew 6:8).

John Flavel wrote, “How shall He not clothe them, feed them, protect and deliver them? Surely if He would not spare His own Son one stroke, one tear, one groan, one sigh, one circumstance of misery, it can never be imagined that ever He should, after this, deny or withhold from His people, for whose sakes all this was suffered, any mercies, any comforts, any privilege, spiritual or temporal, which is good for them.”

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

Isaiah 61:3-4

Thirty years ago, our city of Lancaster, California, made national news when USA Today ran a front-page story titled “The City of Broken Dreams.” The article described the devastating impact of a real estate market collapse on Palmdale and Lancaster here in the Antelope Valley. The report was so bleak that friends around the country called to check on us and offer their sympathy.

Unemployment had risen sharply, and home foreclosures had increased nearly 300 percent in just seven years. Lives were turned upside down, and dreams were indeed broken. Thousands of families were struggling simply to hold on to their homes. In the middle of that economic upheaval, our church was engaged in a major building program—hardly the timing any expert would have recommended.

Yet God was faithful to us, and as we were faithful to Him we saw amazing things happen again and again. We did not allow circumstances to dictate our obedience to God's leading and direction. Faith does not wait to see how everything will work out to begin taking the first steps.

Economic upheaval is nothing new. The things we see in the news today have happened before. The truth we must remember and cling to is that God is always faithful, and always able to help. He can take things that seem hopeless and work to restore broken dreams—often far more than we expect or imagine. No situation is too dire for Him to work, and no challenge we face is too great for the Lord God Almighty.

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

James 4:7-10

In 1772, Johann Forster set sail on the HMS Resolution with Captain James Cook with the assignment of identifying and categorizing new plant species they would encounter on their trip around the world. Among the many things Forster found was a slender pine tree he classified as Araucaria columnaris, which is better known as the Cook pine, on what is now called New Caledonia. The tree proved to be popular and was often used in landscaping projects around the world. 

The Cook pine has a unique feature. No matter where it is planted, it always leans toward the equator. In the Southern Hemisphere it leans to the north, while in the Northern Hemisphere it leans southward. Only trees planted very close to the equator stand straight. The further away from the equator they grow, the more pronounced the lean of the Cook pine is.

No matter how hard the world tries to pull us away from God, the inclination of our hearts should always be to draw closer to Him. The more that we seek His face and spend time in His Word, the more our hearts will be filled with love for Him, and the more our lives will reflect His grace and glory to those around us. 

The challenges of this life are not something we can face and overcome alone. We must have God's power and presence for our lives to be what they should. The equator is fixed, and no matter how much the Cook pine leans toward it, it never moves. But when we lean toward God, drawing closer to Him, He draws closer to us. The depth of our fellowship with Him is determined by the lean of our hearts.

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 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 6:27-30

The world around us is filled with reminders of God's love, care, and provision. The smallest flowers are a testimony to His goodness. The little birds that have no great value in the eyes of people are fed by His hand. God is not distant or removed from His people. He knows us, He loves us, and He cares for us. “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7).

Yet many times, we allow our hearts to be filled with worry and care for the future. We fear that our needs will not be met, despite the faithful promises of God. When we do, we rob ourselves of joy and show that we do not fully trust our Heavenly Father. Vance Havner said, “Anxiety is the poison of human life; the parent of many sins and of more miseries. In a world where everything is doubtful, and where we may be disappointed, and be blessed in disappointment, why this restless stir and commotion of mind? Can it alter the cause, or unravel the mystery of human events?”

Jesus declared that the presence of worry is an indication of a lack of faith. Worry does not fill our hearts because there is trouble around us. Worry fills our hearts because we do not trust God to protect and provide. While it is true that He does not always work the way we would prefer, it is also true that He is always at work in our lives and will be as long as we live.

Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Luke 6:23-26

As our society turns even further away from God, the idea that there is such a thing as absolute truth is being attacked more and more. In this environment, the temptation arises for Christians to keep the “controversial” parts of our message under wraps. But in seeking the acceptance and approval of this world, we risk giving up far more than we gain. If we are not vigilant, we can end up on the wrong side entirely. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

Of course it is more pleasant to have the approval and praise of the world around us, but it is far more important to have the approval and praise of our God. The mission of both the church and of individual believers is not to be popular, but to be lights in the darkness. Fulfilling that mission may cause opposition or even persecution, but it is still the only right thing for us to do.

Martin Luther wrote, “Whenever the true message of the cross is abolished, the anger of hypocrites and heretics eases and all things are in peace. This is a sure token that the devil is guarding the entry of that house, and that the pure doctrine of God’s Word has been taken away. The church, then, is in the best state when Satan assaileth it on every side, both with subtle sleights, and outright violence. And (likewise) it is in the worst state, when it is most at peace!”

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 1:4-7

Just two weeks after he was born in 1913, Leslie King, Jr.’s parents separated. When he was three, his mother remarried and gave her son the name of her new husband, Gerald Ford. It was not until he was seventeen that Gerald Ford, Jr., who would grow up and go into politics and later become the thirty-eighth President of the United States, found out that he had been adopted. Looking back on that experience later in his life, Ford told an interviewer, “I didn’t understand exactly what a stepfather was. Dad and I had the closest, most intimate relationship. My stepfather was a magnificent person and my mother equally wonderful. So I couldn’t have written a better prescription for a superb family upbringing.”

The grace of God that saves us also makes us part of His family. By His grace we exchange our past identity for a new one and become His children. The apostle John wrote, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not” (1 John 3:1). This is not a temporary designation but a permanent adoption. Because we did not earn this but instead received it by grace, we do not have to worry that it will be taken away from us. 

God calls us to live in a way that reflects well on our new family, not for our glory but for His. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-4

In the late 1800s, a man named Abner Brassfield was involved in a land dispute in Arkansas that left another man dead. There were conflicting accounts about what had happened, but the dead man’s roots in the community apparently influenced the jury, and they found Brassfield guilty. Not long after his conviction, Brassfield escaped from prison and fled to Indian Territory, now the state of Oklahoma. He was captured by federal marshals and returned to Arkansas, but when his case was brought to the attention of the governor, Brassfield received a full pardon. He not only returned to the Indian Territory but actually joined the marshals and began riding for the law. His past conviction having been pardoned, it was removed completely from his record.

All of us are guilty of sinning against a holy God who demands perfect justice. But because the blood of Jesus on the cross made the payment in full for our sins, we have received His pardon which wipes our records clean. That cleansing extends to the present and future as well as the past. Our salvation means that our sins are gone and the perfect righteousness of Jesus is put in their place. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth” (Romans 8:33). There may be consequences of sin in the past that continue in this life, but the account that God keeps is spotless—not because of anything we do or avoid doing, but because of what Jesus has already done on our behalf.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 6:12-14

In August 1991, as the Soviet Union was unraveling, a group of hardline communist leaders attempted a coup against President Mikhail Gorbachev. During those tense days, Boris Yeltsin, then president of the Russian republic, became the symbol of resistance. One of the most memorable images of that historic moment was Yeltsin standing atop a tank outside the Russian parliament building, calling on the military and the people to oppose the coup. When the armed forces chose to back his authority, the coup collapsed—and with it, the old Soviet order soon came to an end.

Any time there is uncertainty about who is in control—whether in a nation, a business, a church, or a family—confusion and chaos follow. The same is true in an individual life. Every one of us serves a master, and the choice of whether we serve sin or serve God dictates the course of our lives.

Before we were saved, we were servants of sin. Living a life dominated by sin was our only option. No amount of willpower, character, or determination can give a lost person heart-level victory over sin.

But when we trusted Christ as our Savior, we received a new Master. Jesus not only forgave us, but He gives us His grace to enable us to say no to sinful temptations. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11–12). Each day, the question is not whether we have a master, but whether we will yield ourselves to our fleshly desires or to our good and gracious Lord.