Daily in the Word: a ministry of Lancaster Baptist Church
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“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”
Revelation 2:10–11
In just thirty-seven short years of life, missionary William Milne managed to make a dramatic impact in God’s work. After his conversion as a teenager, Milne volunteered to join the London Missionary Society and became their missionary to China. He undertook the difficult work of learning a new language with a willing spirit. Milne once said, “Learning the Chinese language requires bodies of iron, lungs of brass, heads of oak, hands of spring steel, eyes of eagles, hearts of apostles, memories of angels, and lives of Methuselah.” Yet despite the hardships, he persisted and became an expert in Chinese.
Milne buried his wife and two of their infant children on the mission field before dying himself. But during his time in China he helped found churches and a Bible college and wrote and edited two missionary magazines. Hundreds were saved as a result of his effort. The refusal to yield to difficulty made his ministry a lasting success. Two of his children followed him into full time ministry, and his testimony encouraged many to follow him to the mission field as well.
The difference between people who do something good and lasting for God’s work and those who do nothing is not whether or not they face obstacles. All of us face difficulties and challenges along the way. The difference is whether their faith is strong enough to trust God through the trials and continue on consistently in building His work. This is the faith we need to change our world today.
No obstacle that we face can stop us if our faith in God remains strong and vibrant.
“Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”
Nehemiah 2:17–18
In 1519 Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes set out to establish a foothold for Spain in the New World in the country of Mexico. With less than six hundred soldiers Cortes was facing the vast Aztec Empire, with an estimated population of over five million. To ensure that his men were focused and dedicated to the task at hand, Cortes ordered the ships that had brought them from Spain to be destroyed. Knowing that they had no way out except forward motivated the soldiers to fight valiantly, and they won a great victory for their cause.
When Nehemiah made the trip to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city, he knew that he needed people to share his vision. But he needed something else—he needed the people to be willing to do what was required to accomplish the task, no matter what it took. One of the meanings of the Hebrew word translated strengthened is “to make sore.” Just as our physical muscles ache after a workout as part of the process of gaining strength, our spiritual muscles and our faith must be stretched and developed as well. If we are not willing to endure that process, we will not be victorious. The famous football coach Bear Bryant said, “The difference between success and failure is not the will to win. Everybody has that. The difference is whether you have the will to prepare to win.”
Focus on strengthening your faith so when tests come you will be prepared to meet them and will be able to continue serving the Lord.
“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,”
1 Peter 2:6–7
In modern buildings, cornerstones are mostly symbolic and ceremonial, but in ancient times setting the stone for the first corner of the building was vital to the success of the entire construction project. Every other stone in the building would take its place in relation to that first stone. When the Bible refers to Jesus as the cornerstone, it is pointing out His central role in our faith. He is the very foundation on which everything in our lives rests.
At the very end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described those whose lives are built on the teachings of Scripture. “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock” (Matthew 7:25). We do not need to fear or doubt whether following His Word will produce good results. That is the only sure foundation on which we can build. Everything else is like shifting sand, and building on that kind of foundation always leads to disaster.
There are always people with new and “improved” ideas of what we should believe, but nothing can ever take the place of the unfailing Word of God. Properly understood and applied to our lives, the Scripture is a firm foundation that we can trust. We do not need new methods or concepts. Instead we need to faithfully follow what we have already received. If faith in the Bible is our foundation we never need to fear for the future.
If we confidently act upon what God has said, we have a firm foundation for life and ministry.
“And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.”
Joshua 3:5–6
The great need of our day is not a new group of political leaders who will reform the nation, nor is it a renewed sense of morality and character in the people. While these would be wonderful improvements, they would not address the root issues that are causing the problems of our society. What we need is the kind of change that touches the hearts and souls of men and women—the kind of change that can only come from God doing His work in His way.
Even those who wish to see God work sometimes make the mistake of trying to do His job for Him. We can easily fall into the trap of wanting to do amazing things for God. That seems like a noble goal, but in reality it is backward. God wants to do amazing things for us, and that is His job, not ours. Our job is to sanctify our hearts, to consecrate ourselves to faithfully follow and serve Him. If we do our job, God will most certainly do His.
In his “Prescription for Revival” R. A. Torrey wrote: “Let a few of God’s people, they don’t need to be many, get thoroughly right with God themselves—the rest will count for nothing unless you start right there: then let them band themselves together to pray until God opens the heavens and comes down. Then let them put themselves at God’s disposal to use as He sees fit.” This is what the church did in Jerusalem, and it will be just as effective in our day as it was in the past.
Rather than trying to do great things, we need to prepare ourselves to be greatly used by God.
“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:16–18
When Jesus told Peter He would build the church, He used the Greek word oikodoemo which carries the idea of building something from the foundation up to completion. Jesus did not say that Peter would build the church, but that He would—indicating a continual, ongoing, repeated action. The work of building the church is not the work of a lifetime or two or even a few centuries. It began some two thousand years ago, and it will continue until the Lord returns.
The promise given that the gates of Hell would not be able to stand against the church seems somewhat confusing. Churches that once stood strong as lighthouses of the gospel turn from the truth and become liberal and teach false doctrine, or close their doors. Jesus was not saying that every church would remain in existence and be faithful, He was saying that His church would always remain. No matter what opposition arises or what circumstances may come, Jesus will do the work as He promised.
It is not really correct to say that we build the church, but rather that Christ works in and through our lives to build the church. Our calling is to be available and willing to be used as He sees fit. Rather than seeking fame and glory for ourselves we should be yielded instruments in His hands to accomplish His purposes. A local church filled with such Christians will be equipped for growth and blessing.
When we are seeing God work in and through us to build His church, we are fulfilling His purpose.
“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
The most important single battle of the Civil War was undoubtedly the Battle of Gettysburg. Near that small Pennsylvania town, the Union and Confederate armies waged a massive battle for three days. On July 2, 1863, a young professor of rhetoric from Maine named Joshua Chamberlain looked down from his position at Confederate troops massing below for another charge. Wave after wave had tried to take the hill, only to be repulsed.
After the last Confederate attack, less than one hundred soldiers remained in his command. Finally Chamberlain was told that his men only had about one bullet each left. Rather than retreat and give up his vital position, Chamberlain told his men to fix their bayonets and led them in a charge against the enemy that greatly outnumbered them. His men responded to the call and his example, and the battle was won. The courage of Chamberlain and his men saved the Union cause.
There are moments in each of our lives when we face a challenge that demands a response. Perhaps it is the temptation to cut corners at work or to give in to a sinful desire. Perhaps it is a question of whether we will present the gospel or remain silent. Whatever the challenge of the moment, we face the question: will we stand in courage or will we fail because of fear? The courage to do right is not built in the moment of test, but in the days before when we do right and obey God.
It is in the moments when our courage is tested that our true character is revealed.
“Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”
Hebrews 11:25–27
The story is told here in southern California that years ago two friends took a drive from the city of Los Angeles. They left civilization behind and entered a dusty desert area where almost no one lived. Walter had arranged the trip for his friend Arthur to see the property he wanted to buy. Though he described his vision for the future in glowing terms, Arthur didn’t see much potential in the desolate land. And so Art Linkletter turned down the opportunity to partner with Walt Disney in a theme park that would one day be worth billions of dollars.
When we limit our vision to only what can already be seen, we may miss great potential in our service to God. There is far more at work in God’s plan than just what you see today. God is never in a hurry, and He is looking for people who will take the long road. For it is only when we see what could be that we are willing to put forth time and effort to reach that potential. Otherwise we will grow discouraged by the obstacles and take the easier route, missing out on what God had in store for us.
This principle applies to other people and to ministries, but it applies to our own lives as well. Often when things do not immediately go as we want, we view ourselves as failures, not realizing that God’s plan may involve painful lessons on the way to our maturity and the reaching of His purpose for us.
Be alert for the opportunities that God may bring across your path—they may not look like opportunities at first!
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
Mark 11:22–24
Before Hudson Taylor went to China to begin his pioneering missionary work, he carefully considered what such a commitment would involve and whether he was prepared for it. In his diary he wrote: “To me it was a very grave matter to contemplate going out to China, far from all human aid, there to depend upon the living God alone for protection, supplies, and help of every kind. I felt that one’s spiritual muscles required strengthening for such an undertaking. It was consequently a very serious question to my mind, not whether He was faithful, but whether I had strong enough faith to warrant my embarking in the enterprise set before me.”
Taylor resolved not to ask anyone for money, not even to remind his employer when his wages were due. On many occasions he almost ran out of food or money, but God was always faithful to provide. Once he gave his last half crown (about a dollar) to a poor family to keep them from starving, only to receive an anonymous gift worth many times more the next day. The lessons that Taylor learned before going to the mission field prepared him to be part of a great work of God. Our faith does not grow when things are calm, but when we are tested. As we see God prove Himself faithful, we are encouraged to trust Him for greater things.
If you learn to trust God in small things, you will be ready to face major challenges confidently.
“Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.”
1 Samuel 17:36–37
David was still a young boy, too young to be in the army, when his father sent him to take food to his brothers who were fighting with King Saul. Yet even in his youth he had learned that he could rely on God for whatever he faced. As a result when it came time to confront Goliath, David had a set of experiences that filled him with confidence to go into battle against a giant who had terrified the rest of Israel’s army and defeat him.
David became a mighty warrior later in his life, but his victory over Goliath was not the result of military skill but God’s power. David declared to Goliath, “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:47). David’s faith in God carried him to a victory in the greatest challenge of his young life.
The same God who helped a shepherd boy defeat a trained warrior is the same God who parted the Red Sea, the same God who provided manna for His people in the wilderness, and the same God who fed five thousand men with one little boy’s lunch. There is no shortage of power or resources with our Father in Heaven. There is simply a need for us to rely on Him and act in faith.
We can trust God to show Himself strong just as much in our day as He did in the past—He has not changed.
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.”
Luke 14:28–30
Without question, Charles Spurgeon was one of the most gifted men to ever stand behind a pulpit. His greatly successful ministry began when he was just a teenager. But his private life was filled with pain. Spurgeon suffered crippling rheumatism and gout that often left him unable to preach. He was routinely condemned in the newspapers of his day. In 1856 while Spurgeon preached to more than 10,000 at the Surrey Gardens Music Hall someone shouted “Fire!” and seven people were trampled to death in the panic. Spurgeon was greatly depressed afterward and said that he would often burst into tears just thinking of the event.
On a wall in his bedroom Charles Spurgeon had a plaque with the words of Isaiah 48:10 on it: “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Spurgeon wrote: “It is no mean thing to be chosen of God. God’s choice makes chosen men choice men...We are chosen, not in the palace, but in the furnace. In the furnace, beauty is marred, fashion is destroyed, strength is melted, glory is consumed; yet here eternal love reveals its secrets, and declares its choice.”
A life of service and usefulness to God is worth the cost, but we should not forget that there is a cost to be paid. We may be misunderstood, attacked, and criticized. We may not have the health and wealth that we desire. We may have to make significant sacrifices. But for those who are willing to submit to God’s refining process, there is great opportunity for service and blessing.
Nothing great has ever been accomplished for God by those unwilling to pay the price.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Psalm 1:1–3
In one of his newspaper columns, a preacher named Parnell Bailey recounted a visit he made to an orange grove where the irrigation system had failed during a drought. He described how many of the trees were beginning to die for lack of water. But then the man conducting the tour took Bailey to his own orchard. He said, “These trees could go without rain for another two weeks. You see, when they were young, I frequently kept water from them. This hardship caused them to send their roots deeper into the soil in search of moisture. Now mine are the deepest-rooted trees in the area. While others are being scorched by the sun, these are finding moisture at a greater depth.”
As children of God, the greatest resource we have for our daily lives is the Bible. In its pages we find the principles and precepts by which we are to live and prosper. The key to successful living is not found in outward circumstances but in the unseen “below ground” part where we take God’s Word into our hearts and love it and delight in it. When the Scriptures are real and alive to us, when we think on them and live according to what God says, we are prepared for whatever comes. Nothing can cut us off from this source of strength except for our own decision to walk away from it.
If you sink deep roots into the Word of God, you have no need to fear either droughts or storms.
“And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:”
Deuteronomy 6:20–22
God has placed the primary responsibility for teaching children the truths of His Word and the principles of the Christian life with their parents. While a good church is vitally important and teachers and friends can add to their growth and development, building strong faith in children is a task best accomplished by an involved mother and father. The opportunities that come when they are young will never be repeated, and we need to take full advantage of every one.
The Super Bowl winning coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Tony Dungy, lost his eighteen-year-old son, James, to suicide. At the funeral Dungy recalled his last meeting with his son when James was in a rush to get to the airport, and his father did not get a chance to hug him. “God can provide joy in the midst of a sad occasion,” he said. “And the challenge is to find that joy. I urge you not to take your relations for granted. Parents, hug your kids each chance you get. Tell them you love them each chance you get. You don’t know when it’s going to be the last time.”
Many parents fail to teach their children as they should because they do not realize the vital importance of this literally once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Strong children come from parents who are actively involved in building the character and faith of their children before it is too late.
The time you spend teaching your children the Word of God is the most important time you can spend.
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:14–16
The Reformation that shook the Catholic Church can trace much of its roots to 1510 when Martin Luther visited Rome. It was while Luther was climbing the Scala Sancta on his knees in penance—supposedly the stairs that Jesus climbed in Pilate’s judgment hall—that the words of Paul “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 10:17) struck him in a powerful way. Bible-believing Christians have held this core truth dear since the first century; yet, it is one we often need to be reminded of. Our relationship with God is not based on our good works or deeds of penance, or the things we do or do not do, but on His grace which we receive by faith alone.
D. L. Moody said, “We have no steps to climb when we approach God.” The way into God’s presence was opened through the death of Jesus Christ. While He was on the cross the veil that hid the Holy of Holies in the Temple was torn in half from the top to the bottom symbolizing the access that is now granted to all who put their faith in Christ. Almost all of the world’s religions are based on man rather than God. There are rules and regulations that must be kept in order to earn His favor. Christianity is completely different, yet many believers fail to enjoy the close relationship with God that is available through grace.
A strong relationship with God begins when we stop trying to impress Him and rest in what He has done.
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9–11
Mary Lincoln, also known as “Mamie” was the granddaughter of one of America’s most famous presidents. She lived in New York City until her death in 1938. When she died, an unknown treasure was discovered and turned over to the Library of Congress—Mary Lincoln had a small box that held the contents of Abraham Lincoln’s pockets on the night he was assassinated. One of the things he was carrying that night in Ford’s Theatre was a letter to the editor of a Washington newspaper praising Lincoln for his singleness of purpose. In the face of constant attack and criticism, Lincoln greatly valued words of praise and encouragement.
The world is filled with people who are quick to critique and condemn. Often we feel alone and isolated, wishing that someone would realize our situation and care enough to say a kind word. The absence of such encouragement makes it much more difficult to keep going. Even Jesus benefited from this principle. When Satan tempted Jesus He overcame each attack with the words of Scripture. Yet when the temptation was over, Jesus was alone. “Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him” (Matthew 4:11).
We have a great opportunity to strengthen the body of Christ simply by sharing words of hope and encouragement with each other. Paul wrote, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). The temptation is to wait around and wish others would encourage us, but the better approach is to take the lead and bring hope and help to people who are hurting. This is a ministry that every believer should have.
There is never a bad time to give a kind word of encouragement to someone else—they need it today.
“Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.”
Acts 9:36–37
Every day of our lives, whether we realize it or not, we are building up a reputation by which we will be known. The things that we do and the lives that we touch will be remembered for good or ill. Reputations are not quickly made. Instead they are the slow and gradual accumulation of deeds, words and habits as they are observed by others. When Dorcas died, her death was regarded as a tragedy by the members of the church in Joppa who had known her because of the positive impact she had on the lives of so many others who were in need.
In truth, one of the greatest treasures that we can possess is a good name. In his tragedy Othello, Shakespeare wrote:
Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash. ‘Tis something, nothing:
‘Twas mine, ‘tis his, and has been slave to thousands.
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.
While others may slander or falsely accuse us of evil, the greatest damage to our reputations is always self-inflicted. Even more importantly, when we sin we damage the name of the Lord that we carry. When Nathan confronted David over his sin with Bathsheba, he pointed out this painful truth.
“Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die” (2 Samuel 12:14).
Each choice that we make throughout the day today will add to or take away from our reputations.
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
John 14:1–3
The seventeenth century English preacher Jeremy Taylor wrote a book called Holy Dying in which he recounted the story of an ancient king of Assyria named Ninus. “Ninus, the Assyrian, had an ocean of gold, and other riches more than the sand in the Caspian Sea. He never saw the stars; and perhaps he never desired it. But he was most valiant to eat and drink. This man is dead. Behold his sepulchre, and now hear where Ninus is: ‘Sometimes I was Ninus, and drew the breath of living man. But now I am nothing, but clay. I have nothing but what I did eat, and what I served to myself in lust. I that wore a mitre am now a little heap of dust.’”
Apart from God man has no hope for the future. As Paul put it, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19). People look for security and hope in fame and wealth and achievement but those are fleeting at best. There simply is no security in temporal things because they can vanish at any moment.
God offers us something better—a future that is certain and cannot be taken away. Jesus said, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:20). When we remember God’s promises for our future, nothing can shake our confidence.
This life is not the end—there is a certain eternal future in Heaven for all who believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour.
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Romans 10:15–17
The importance of faith to the Christian life cannot be overstated. Paul wrote, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). There is no part of life that can be separated from faith. Yet despite this central importance, many people struggle to truly believe and act on what God has said. We may know that we need a stronger faith, but not everyone understands how to increase their faith.
D. L. Moody said, “I prayed for faith and thought that some day faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not seem to come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, ‘Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.’ I had up to this time closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since.”
The key to increasing our faith is not in finding a new technique for prayer or a newly discovered method of living—it is found in going back to the basics of the Bible. When the writer of Hebrews described men and women of faith in Hebrews 11, he talks again and again about people who simply believed what God told them and acted accordingly. When we approach the Scripture as the authoritative Word of God and act in obedience to what it says, our faith will grow.
A Christian who is not devoted to the Word of God will not have a strong and vibrant faith.
“And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 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 20:22–24
Some time ago my wife and I went to Los Angeles for a friend’s birthday party. As we drove along the freeway, we passed a Denny’s Restaurant where I used to go and study for exams when I was in Bible college. There were a lot of memories tied up in that place. Back then I dreamed about starting out in a ministry. That was decades ago, and these days my thoughts are more on finishing the course in a way that honors and glorifies God to the end.
One of the most striking and sobering realizations of the Bible is how many servants of God had major failures in the latter part of their lives. The devil is a patient enemy. He is willing to set traps that will not develop for years, and spring them at just the right moment. Because of our proud natures, it is easy for us to fall for the lie that we have reached a point where we no longer need to be cautious regarding attacks from the enemy.
The Apostle Paul warned us: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). There is never a time when we will be exempt from temptation. We never “arrive,” and thus we need to be constantly on guard. It is a tragedy to serve God for many years and then fall toward the end of our lives.
Work each day to ensure that you will be able to finish your course with joy.
“And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.”
2 Samuel 16:11–13
When David was fleeing Jerusalem during Absalom’s rebellion, a member of the tribe of Benjamin named Shimei came out and began cursing David. He blamed David for the downfall of the house of Saul (despite it being Saul’s disobedience that caused God to withdraw His blessing on Israel’s first king) and said that David was reaping what he had sown. In light of these false accusations, David’s men wanted to kill the critic, but David insisted that they continue on their way without responding. He did not allow his critics to determine his course.
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it the world will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities. Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right.” There will always be those who oppose what we try to do for God, but they cannot stop us as long as we remain committed to moving forward in obedience to what God has said.
Critics can only stop you if you allow them to do so.
“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”
Philippians 3:17–19
The concept of mentoring is a hot topic in the corporate and political worlds, and it is an important one for believers as well. The original Mentor appears in Homer’s ancient story of the Trojan War. When Odysseus is forced to leave his family behind to go and fight in the battle to bring Helen home, he is concerned about the future of his young son Telemachus. So he enlists a wise and trusted friend named Mentor to oversee the instruction of his heir and teach him the things that he would need to know to be a wise ruler.
It is critically important that the people we choose to follow and model our lives after are walking in the right path, because we will become like those we admire and choose as our examples. Most of us have a parent, a teacher, a pastor, or an older friend to whom we look for wisdom and example in dealing with life. This is not just important for children, but for all of us throughout life because of the powerful influence our role models and mentors have on us.
The most vital factor in deciding who our examples will be is not whether the person is successful in the world’s eyes, but whether they are successful in God’s eyes. Paul wrote, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Finding people who are faithful in walking with God to follow is a critical part of our spiritual growth.
Because of the powerful influence of role models on our lives, we must choose them with care.
“And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”
Joshua 7:10–12
Following their defeat at the battle of Ai (the only battle Israel ever lost in the conquest of Canaan), Joshua fell down before the Lord in prayer. Rather than responding to the fervent prayers of the defeated leader of His people, God told Joshua to stop praying and go deal with the problem of hidden sin among the people. It was not until Achan’s sin was discovered and dealt with that God’s power was restored and victory won.
Prayer is a vitally important part of the Christian life, and most of us should spend more time praying than we do. But sometimes prayer can become a substitute for doing what we know we should do. This was true in the life of Balaam. When the leaders of Moab tried to get him to come and curse the Children of Israel, God clearly and directly told Balaam not to go. But Balaam wanted the rewards that were offered, and he continued to pray until he went anyway.
God turned his curses into a blessing, but Balaam remained with the enemies of God, and was eventually killed among them as they fought against Israel. Our prayers are never a substitute for our obedience. It is good and right to pray, but we must yield our prayers to God’s will and purpose, and then follow what He has spoken.
When God has given clear direction, it is time for decisive action.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1–2
The son of a San Francisco fisherman, Joe DiMaggio had a brilliant career as center fielder for the New York Yankees. During his thirteen year career (he missed several years while serving in World War II) the Yankees won the World Series nine times. In his final season, at just thirty-seven years of age, DiMaggio was slowed by a series of injuries that would force his retirement. Yet despite those ailments and the fact that the Yankees had a huge lead in the pennant race, DiMaggio continued to go all out in the games he was able to play. Asked why he continued to put forth so much effort, DiMaggio replied, “Because there might be somebody out there who’s never seen me play before. He deserves my best.”
Far more than baseball fans, God and those who have gone before us in the race of life deserve to see us perform at our best in the race of the Christian life. Though there are many things that go into this effort, the greatest key to success is not found in ourselves but in our Saviour. When our eyes are fixed on Jesus—when He fills our vision—we will stay on track and not be content to coast to the finish line. Our lives are not lived for ourselves alone. We have the privilege of bringing honor and glory to Jesus by the way we run the race, and we should do so.
If our focus is on Jesus as it should be, we will never settle for less than our best.
“I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”
Psalm 142:1–4
Over the years I’ve heard this passage of Scripture preached and referenced in a number of messages. Normally it is used in the context of soulwinning and making sure that we have a burden for the lost. While that is a good thing, it is not the point of these verses. This was a lament of David when he was running for his life from Saul’s jealous rage. It is not a lost person for whom no one cares, but a believer in God who feels isolated and alone.
It is a tragedy that so many people feel like no one cares about them. In some ways our culture is more connected than ever before. We have the ability to communicate with people anywhere in the world in an instant. People post what seems like every detail of their lives online where anyone can see it. Some people have thousands of “friends” on social media. Yet for all of that, there is a sense of isolation and loneliness that cannot be missed.
Part of this is the natural failure of the world to try to satisfy the void that only God can fill. But it is also true that part of our problem of loneliness is that God’s children are not being friendly and building close and meaningful relationships as we should. Being a true friend is hard work, but it is worth it.
Reach out to someone today and let them know that you love and care for them. It will make a difference.
“And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.”
1 Samuel 18:1–4
The relationship between Jonathan and David is one of the most amazing examples of the power of friendship in all of history. These were two young men from vastly different backgrounds. One was the prince and heir to a throne and the other was a shepherd whose own family thought of him only as an afterthought. Remember that when Samuel came to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king of Israel, Jesse didn’t even bother to have David show up for the ceremony!
Yet when the hearts of these two men were knit together, something amazing happened. Jonathan selflessly gave of his resources to David. Even when it placed him in danger from Saul’s wrath, Jonathan still defended his friend. Years later, long after Jonathan was dead, David sought out Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth and brought him to the palace and treated him like royalty. In those days it was very common for kings to have people with competing claims to the throne killed, yet David showed him kindness.
The power of friendship is built on the foundation of a willingness to give for the good of another. When we desire that more than we desire to receive something for ourselves, the pieces are in place for the kind of friendship that Jonathan and David had.
A person more focused on what he can give rather than what he can get will have a powerful influence on others.
“Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king’s work, offered willingly, And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.”
1 Chronicles 29:6–7
The building of the first temple in Jerusalem was one of the most amazing construction projects of the ancient world. Tons of gold and silver and thousands of precious stones were used to build a building that would house the Ark of the Covenant and be the symbol of God’s presence among His people. Billions of dollars in today’s money went into this project which took seven years to complete. The key to financing this massive project was that the people were willing to give and be involved to make the vision become reality.
Over the years at Lancaster Baptist Church, we have been involved in a lot of building projects. Every one of them has been made possible by the generous and willing hearts of God’s people to give. God’s plan is not to drag money out of people at gunpoint, but to touch their hearts in such a way that they are glad for the opportunities to be involved. Paul wrote, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
When we are not willing to give cheerfully, it is an indication that money and possessions have assumed a place in our hearts that is meant for God alone. We may not make statues of animals and bow down before them, but there is a lot of idol worship in our day, and it hinders God’s work.
In light of what we have received from God, we should freely and generously give to His work.
“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
Psalm 90:10–12
One of the most important truths that promotes wise living is an understanding of the brevity and uncertainty of life. In our day of modern medicine, disease prevention and numerous safety features, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that none of us is given the assurance of tomorrow. As a result of this unwarranted feeling of invulnerability, we sometimes are not careful to use our time wisely. Yet time wasted is a lost treasure that can never be recovered.
It is said that the Puritan preacher Cotton Mather was once visited by a time-wasting guest. After the long-delayed departure finally happened, Mather remarked to a friend, “I had rather have given him a handful of money than have been kept thus long out of my study.” When we truly grasp the value of time, we will not use it carelessly, but treat it as the great resource that it is. Of course this does not mean that we must work constantly and never rest or have recreation. But we must approach our lives with balance and care so that we can accomplish the work God gives us to do.
Paul wrote, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” (Colossians 4:5). The idea here is that we are to treasure the moments we have been given and use them productively. When we treasure our time and use it wisely, we are honoring the great gift of life that God has given to us, and we will be productive in His service.
Use the time you have today wisely, because you are not given a guarantee of tomorrow.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”
John 10:27–30
Bible teacher F. B. Meyer told of two Germans who visited Switzerland to climb the Matterhorn, one of the deadliest mountain peaks in the world. They hired three guides to go with them on the treacherous ascent. Roped together—guide, traveler, guide, traveler, guide—they began the journey. At one point the back guide lost his footing. His downward slide pulled down the men above him one by one, dragging them toward certain death.
But the first guide had driven a spike deeply into the ice, and was firmly anchored. The spike and the rope held, and the other climbers were able to regain their footing and continue the trek. Meyer wrote, “I am like one of those men who slipped, but thank God, I am bound in a living partnership to Christ. And because He stands, I will never perish.”
We live in a world filled with uncertainty. Things change at a rapid pace, people who once were friends may turn against us, and economic security can vanish in an instant. The devil tries to shake our faith and make us doubt God’s love and faithfulness to us. Yet no matter our circumstances, God never fails. Jeremiah wrote, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Our standing as members of God’s family is not anchored by anything we do but by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and His unfailing promises to us.
Because our security depends on Christ rather than ourselves, those who are genuinely saved can never be lost.
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
Romans 8:15–17
If you go to New York City, you can visit the home and library of the famed financier J. P. Morgan. Morgan was one of the richest men in the world in his day, and a frequent confidant and adviser to world leaders. In 1913, J. P. Morgan died in Italy while on a trip to Europe. At his death, his son J. P. Morgan, Jr., known as Jack, inherited his father’s vast business holdings. By some estimates the inheritance may have been worth as much as $25 billion in today’s money. All of this wealth came to Jack Morgan not because of his own ability or goodness, but because of who his father was.
As children of God, saved by grace through faith, we have been given the right to an even more impressive inheritance. Because of God’s great love for us, apart from any good works or merit on our part, we have been adopted in His family and given the right to the same inheritance that Jesus Christ is entitled to receive as the Son of God.
John wrote, “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 1:12). The benefits of our salvation go far beyond escaping the penalty of eternity in Hell and receiving entry to Heaven. We become part of God’s family, and He treats us just as He treats Jesus.
The inheritance that Jesus provides to us as children of God is one of the greatest blessings of our salvation.
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
Malachi 3:8–10
The prophet Malachi ministered to the people of Israel at a time when their focus on serving God was not what it should have been. The return of the Jews to their homeland following their seventy years of captivity in Babylon had seen the city and walls of Jerusalem rebuilt, and a new temple to replace the one that had been destroyed. Yet though the forms of worship were there, the people’s hearts were not fully committed to following God.
Again and again in his brief prophecy, Malachi warned that God was not pleased by the half-hearted worship He was receiving. Malachi pronounces a curse on those who rob God, but he also points out something else—when we do not obey God, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to see Him at work. Our faith or lack of faith is revealed in our obedience or disobedience.
When we do what God says, we demonstrate that we believe the promises of blessing on obedience and the pronouncement of consequences for disobedience are real. It is not in our words but in our actions that our faith is truly revealed. When we obey God and see Him bless as a result, it strengthens our faith still further. God is faithful to keep all of His promises, and our obedience allows Him to pour out the blessings that He has in store for us.
What we say about our belief in God is not as revealing as our actions.
“And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.”
Matthew 25:25–27
One of the most important standards of success in the business world is ROI—return on investment. It is a measure of how effectively the resources that a business has are being used to produce results. A company that makes lots of product but doesn’t sell any may be busy (at least for a little while), but they are not producing a return on investment, and eventually they will go under.
When Jesus appeared to the disciples by the Sea of Galilee after His resurrection, they had been fishing all night. “Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No” (John 21:5). Jesus did not ask them how long they had been out on the water or how many times they had thrown their nets into the sea. Instead He asked whether they had caught anything.
Because of His love and grace God has freely given many blessings to us as His children. Though we do not work to gain His favor, He does expect us to take what we have been given and produce something of lasting value and importance with it. When we waste the time and talent God gives on things of no eternal worth, we are not being productive Christians. If we want to hear Him say “Well done” at the end of our lives, then we must be active in taking advantage of the opportunities presented to us. We must keep our focus on the things that truly matter.
What will you do today to produce an eternal return on God’s investments in your life?
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.”
Philippians 4:13–15
Paul was inspired to write his letter to the church at Philippi while he was in prison in Rome. There are many purposes for the epistle, but one of the main ones was to thank these faithful Christians for their willingness to give to support his missionary work. Among the first members of this young church were Lydia and the jailer who was saved after the earthquake that freed Paul and Silas from their shackles. Even when none of the churches were willing to give, the Philippians sacrificed so that Paul’s work could continue.
Paul lays out a clear principle in this passage. God gives us the strength to do all the things He commands us to do, but His ministry is only possible as His people join hands together to do and support the work. Each of us has a purpose and role to play in the body of Christ, and it is vital that all of us fulfill those roles. Paul wrote, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16).
The old farmers used to say that the best place to pray for your corn crop was at the end of a hoe. God is our strength and without Him we cannot accomplish anything. But that does not remove our responsibility to be part of His work. When each of us does what we should, the body is strengthened.
God’s resources are infinite, but His work on Earth is done and funded through the willing hearts of His children.
“And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
1 Peter 1:17–19
The Welsh poet and pastor John Dyer wrote, “A man may go to heaven without health, without riches, without honors, without learning, without friends; but he can never go there without Christ.” One of the things that makes the gospel so offensive to our modern culture is the claim of exclusivity. Most people don’t mind if Christians are content to be one of many valid options in the spiritual shopping catalog. But when we stand with Peter and declare, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), the world objects.
Yet since Jesus is the only hope of salvation, any effort that we make to water down the gospel and make it more palatable to our society inevitably leads to disaster. While we should guard against being offensive in our personality and dealings with others, we must remain willing to offend by telling the truth about the Way, the Truth and the Life.
The first Christians were hated and persecuted. According to church history, all of the disciples except John died as martyrs, and he survived having boiling oil poured on him. Rather than striving to be popular and accepted, we need to be striving to present Jesus as the only door to Heaven. When we properly recognize the value of our own salvation, it is much easier for us to share with others what His precious blood purchased for all who believe.
We must never lose sight of the great gift of our salvation or stop sharing that gift with others.
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 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 15:55–58
Though David was greatly blessed by God, his life was far from easy. He spent his youth in obscurity, dishonored by his own family. When he came to prominence after killing Goliath, Saul soon began to view David as a threat to his throne and tried to kill him. David was forced to spend years running for his life. At one point he even went to Israel’s bitter enemies the Philistines and pretended to be crazy to keep himself from being killed.
Yet throughout his painful experiences, David continued to trust in God. It was the belief that he would eventually see God’s promises fulfilled that allowed David to endure through difficult days. David wrote, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). If David hadn’t believed, he would have given up.
When we do not truly believe that there is a hope for the future, we find it easy to be turned aside from doing what is right. The key to being steadfast in our work for God is understanding that while we may not see immediate results from doing right, God is still at work, and that He never fails to keep His promises. The voice of discouragement that whispers in our ear that there is no hope is a lie from the enemy. “In due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
The belief that what we are doing for God is not in vain allows us to endure hardships and trials.
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 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:”
Philippians 3:7–9
Picture a man walking into a bank to apply for a loan. After an initial conversation regarding how much money he needs and what the loan will be used for, the banker asks, “What do you have for collateral?” The man replies, “I have seventeen dump trucks filled with asphalt.” The banker, being polite and well mannered doesn’t laugh out loud, but he quickly points out that asphalt is not very valuable and thus it is used to pave streets. Now picture someone going to God. In order to impress Him, he says, “God, I have seventeen dump trucks filled with gold.” God replies, “Yes, but that’s not worth much. We use gold for pavement up here.”
All around us people, including many Christians, are focused on the things of the world. But even the good things we see around us are temporal. The best of them will not endure. Yet too often those things that don’t really count take up all of our attention and energy, robbing our ability to wholeheartedly serve God. Instead we need to do as Paul did and turn away from the things that might be considered gain to the world in order to gain what really counts. The missionary martyr Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
When we value what matters to God, it is easy for us to hold the things of earth loosely.
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37–39
When Queen Mary took the throne of England in 1553, she was determined to reinstate Roman Catholicism as the official religion. Great persecution followed, and in her five years on the throne she earned the title “Bloody Mary” by sending hundreds to their death because they would not give up the truth for Catholic doctrine. Two of those who were burned at the stake were Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer. As the flames rose around their bodies, Latimer called out, “Be of good comfort, Mr. Ridley, and play the man! We shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace, in England, as I trust never shall be put out.”
The world would not regard being martyred as a victory, but God does not measure triumph and defeat by the world’s standards. He gives us the ultimate example of victory through what appears to be defeat with the cross. Satan no doubt rejoiced when Jesus died, but that was simply a necessary part of God’s plan for our salvation. Every event that happens in our lives has a purpose, and no event that happens in our lives can defeat God’s overwhelming love for us.
There are battles in the Christian life as we strive to live in a way that honors and pleases God in a fallen world. But there is nothing we face that can take us away from the love of God. That assurance sustains us through whatever trials we endure, and reminds us that no matter what, we are on the winning side.
Knowing that God will never desert us, we have complete confidence in our final victory through His love.
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”
2 Timothy 4:1–3
A few years ago a prominent public opinion firm asked people who identified themselves as Christians whether moral truth was absolute and unchanging, or whether right and wrong depended on the circumstances. Only about one third of the adults and about ten percent of teenagers agreed that truth was always truth no matter what. Among those who did not claim to be Christians, the results were even worse. We live in a culture that, by and large, has rejected the idea that some things are always right and others are always wrong.
Yet, in reality, while our culture has gotten worse in recent years, rejecting the truth is not new. In every society and every age, fallen man has found lies more acceptable than the truth. There have always been false religions and teachers who would tell people what they wanted to hear rather than what they needed to hear. And throughout history there have always been faithful Christians who have taken a firm stand for the truth regardless of the consequences. This is our calling today.
The fact that we live surrounded by darkness only makes the light more important. With kindness and compassion, we must declare that right is right and wrong is wrong, and we must live accordingly. This is what our world needs most—not a message that is tailored to be acceptable and inoffensive, but a message that is anchored in the unchanging truth of the Word of God.
Taking a stand for God’s absolute truth is not done to make us popular, but to make us faithful.
“Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.”
John 12:30–33
For many years Dr. Russell Conwell pastored the Grace Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Conwell was an atheist when the Civil War began, but he was converted while recovering from wounds suffered during the Atlanta campaign due to the witness of one of his aides. A renowned speaker and educator, Conwell was instrumental in founding what is now Temple University and Temple Hospital. Despite his reputation as a gifted orator, Conwell kept his focus on the heart of the message. Inscribed on the pulpit of the Grace Baptist Church, where he could see it as he delivered every sermon, were the words from John 12:21, “We would see Jesus.”
Our world today is in urgent need of Christians who live like Jesus. We have plenty of people who identify themselves as believers—what we need are more people whose lives reflect the faith they profess. The world does not see Jesus in our church buildings, but in our church members. It is up to each one of us to ensure that the picture of the Lord that others see in our lives is an accurate one.
Annie Johnson Flint wrote: “We are the only Bible, The careless world will read; We are the sinner’s gospel, We are the scoffer’s creed.” We need to take seriously the responsibility given to us as Christians to lift up Jesus with our lives. The purpose of life is not for us to be famous or wealthy or popular, but to show others the great Saviour who offers salvation to all who believe. Nothing else matters compared to that great task.
If our lives reflect the love of Jesus to the world, we have fulfilled our purpose.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”
Philippians 1:21–24
Late in his life the great missionary Adoniram Judson said, “I am not tired of my work, neither am I tired of the world; yet when Christ calls me home, I shall go with the gladness of a boy bounding away from school.” As Christians we have great blessings during this life. We have sweet fellowship with other believers. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us. We have the Word of God to instruct us. We have the great gift of prayer so that our needs may be met. Yet all of these pale in comparison to what is waiting for us when we enter eternity.
With the limits of our human understanding and comprehension, we cannot even begin to imagine what it will be like to be in the very presence of God in a place where there is none of the degrading effects of sin and the curse that has been a constant part of our lives. Because we are surrounded by a broken world, it’s hard for us to picture how much different a perfect world will be. Yet that is what awaits us—a future that Paul calls “far better.”
With a view of Heaven clearly in mind, there is nothing that we should fear. One of the most serious fears that people have is the fear of dying. But for a believer, death is merely a doorway. It is not something to be feared, but something to be welcomed.
A Christian has no need to fear the future for the promise of eternity waits only the end of our earthly lives.
“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”
Revelation 3:2–3
Life doesn’t run in a straight course. There are good days and bad days, victories and defeats. In the normal pattern of life there will be times when we find ourselves not having the same warm and personal relationship with God that we once enjoyed. The lures of the world may draw us away, or the busyness of life may drown out the call of God to spend time in His presence. It is our reaction in those moments that determines our future. Will we continue to drift away, or will we return to close fellowship with the Lord?
Charles Spurgeon said, “Tell me where you lost the company of Christ, and I will tell you the most likely place to find Him. Have you lost Christ in the closet by restraining prayer? Then it is there you must seek and find Him. Did you lose Christ by sin? You will find Christ in no other way but by the giving up of the sin, and seeking by the Holy Spirit to mortify the member in which the lust doth dwell. Did you lose Christ by neglecting the Scriptures? You must find Christ in the Scriptures. It is a true proverb, ‘Look for a thing where you dropped it, it is there.’ So look for Christ where you lost Him, for He has not gone away.” Rather than allowing our hearts to remain cold, we must do what is necessary to repent and change course so that our fellowship is restored and our life will be pleasing to God.
A close relationship with God is available to every Christian who is willing to seek it.
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:6–8
It is said that a woman once asked John Wesley how he would spend the next day if he knew that he was going to die the following evening. Wesley replied, “Just as I intend to spend it now. I would preach this evening at Gloucester, and again at five tomorrow morning; after that I would ride to Tewkesbury, preach in the afternoon, and meet the societies in the evening. I would then go to Rev. Martin’s house, who expects to entertain me, talk and pray with the family as usual, retire to my room at 10 o’clock, commend myself to my heavenly Father, lie down to rest, and wake up in Glory.”
It is certain that if the Lord does not return, all of us will one day reach the final day of our lives. Very few people know in advance exactly when that day is going to be. As a result, it is important that we spend our lives and invest our resources in doing the things that truly matter. Life can easily be filled with the meaningless and trivial to the point where nothing worthwhile or eternal has room to be included. Knowing the uncertainty of life we need to take full advantage of the unique opportunity each day presents—an opportunity that will never be repeated. Someone wisely said, “A wasted life is nothing more than a bunch of wasted days put together.”
We should live today so that if it were our last we would not have regrets over what is done or what is left undone.
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
Ephesians 6:16–18
The Bible repeatedly uses military metaphors to describe the Christian life. We are involved in spiritual warfare from the moment of our salvation until we reach Heaven. The enemy is not content to leave people alone after they are saved. Satan continues to try to defeat us, draw us into sin, and destroy our testimony and effectiveness for God. The most important thing we can do to win the victory is to have our hearts and minds saturated with the Word of God. This is our powerful and effective weapon against the devil.
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Our Lord might have defeated the tempter by unveiling His own glory. The brightness of the divine majesty was hidden within the humility of His manhood, and if He had lifted the veil for a moment the fiend would have been as utterly confounded as bats and owls when the sun blazes in their faces. But Jesus deigned to conceal His excellent majesty, and only to defend Himself with, ‘It is written.’”
Scripture teaches the importance of being in church faithfully to hear the Word of God preached and taught, but that is not enough. Each believer must also be a student of the Scriptures. Reading and studying and memorizing and meditating on the Bible is a vital part of our Christian walk. A person who only ate two or three meals a week would not have physical strength, and a believer who nibbles at small portions of the Bible occasionally will not have spiritual strength.
If you go through your day without the Word of God, you are going into battle unarmed.
“And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
John 5:37—39
The Pharisees had no interest in accepting Jesus as the Messiah. They rejected His teaching, despite the miracles that He performed and the scriptural grounding for what He had to say. Over and over Jesus referenced the Old Testament, quoting the writings of Moses, David, and the prophets and explaining them to His hearers.
The problem of the Pharisees was not that they did not know what the Bible said. They memorized great portions of the Word of God, especially the laws given in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. They went around with portions of Scripture attached to their clothing. Yet because their understanding was only on the surface they missed the point, and as a result they failed to understand who Jesus was.
D. L. Moody said, “What can botanists tell you of the Lily of the Valley? You must study this book for that. What can geologists tell you of the Rock of Ages, or mere astronomers about the Bright Morning Star? In those pages we find all knowledge unto salvation; here we read of the ruin of man by nature, redemption by the blood, and regeneration by the Holy Ghost. These three things run all through and through them.”
The Holy Spirit guides our understanding and application of the Scriptures, but that only happens as we take the time to read and study the Word of God. This is one of the most easily overlooked aspects of the Christian life. A casual student of the Bible will never be a powerful Christian.
Nothing is more important or rewarding than the time you spend in the Word of God.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”
1 John 5:3–5
One of the most important battles in the war between England and France in 1798 was the Battle of the Nile. Admiral Nelson had been pursuing the French navy carrying Napoleon Bonaparte and his troops as they attempted to attack Egypt. When the two fleets finally joined battle, the British won a decisive victory. They captured or destroyed 13 of the 17 French ships without losing a single one of their own. As a result, Napoleon’s army was stranded and French military power was broken. Surveying the harbor the morning after the battle, Nelson remarked, “Victory is not a name strong enough for such a scene.”
God’s plan for His children is not that we just barely struggle by—instead He calls us to be overcomers. Through faith we can have a complete and compelling victory over the enemies we face. It is not our own strength or ability or talent that matters, but our faith in the Almighty God that allows us to triumph. When David ran toward his fight with Goliath he proclaimed, “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:47).
It was not David’s confidence in his skill with a sling that equipped him to win the battle, but his faith in the God of Israel. When we truly trust God, living in a way that demonstrates we believe what He says in His Word, we are prepared to completely defeat the enemy.
As our faith grows and is strengthened, we can enjoy the victorious life God has planned for us.
“Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.”
Acts 16:29–32
Among the more than two thousand passengers and crew who set sail on the Titanic in April of 1912 was a Baptist pastor from Scotland named John Harper. He had been invited to speak at the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, and was traveling with his young daughter and a relative who helped care for the girl after the death of Harper’s wife. Years later she recalled their final day on board: “The last day we spent on the Titanic was Sunday. Mr. Harper asked me to read the chapter at our morning
family prayers, and later we went to the Sunday morning services. The day was quietly and pleasantly spent, and when Nana and I went to look for Mr. Harper at about 6:00 to go to dinner I found him earnestly talking to a young Englishman whom he was seeking to lead to Christ.”
After the ship struck the iceberg, Harper made sure his daughter and her caregiver were safely in a lifeboat. When the ship sank he went into the water. Soon he gave his life jacket to another man, saying, “You need this more than I do.” Harper called out, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” before slipping under the water for the last time.
Each person we meet will spend eternity in Heaven or in Hell and we have no certainty that they will ever again have an opportunity to hear and accept the gospel.
God has given us the privilege of telling others the most important message in the world—the hope of salvation.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Galatians 6:7–9
John Singer Sargent was one of the most noted portrait painters in the world in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but he faced periods of intense criticism of his work as well. In his early days he was critiqued for his creativity, and in his later days he was derided for being old fashioned. It is said that Sargent kept a still life picture he had painted of a bouquet of roses that was regarded as a masterpiece and refused to sell it even though he had been offered a large sum of money for it. He told a friend that whenever he was overwhelmed by discouragement he would look at the beautiful painting and remind himself, “I painted that.” That realization would help him continue on in his work.
All of us face discouragement from time to time. Things don’t go the way we want them to, friends turn away from us and people into whom we have invested a great deal let us down. Yet if we yield to the temptation to give up because the going gets rough, we miss out on so much. The harvest is only promised to those who continue to work and remain faithful until it comes. We can overcome the weariness of working for God when we rely on His promises. It is not up to us to produce the harvest, and we are not responsible for the results when we do what we should. The challenge we face is to just keep going until the harvest comes.
Trusting the faithfulness of God encourages us to continue even when things are hard.
“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. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:14–16
There are a lot of ways people try to demonstrate love. Some people select chocolate or candy. Others prefer flowers and cards. Some write poems or songs. All of these things are a search for a way to outwardly show evidence of what is in the heart. We can’t see what is on the inside of someone else—although what’s on the inside eventually comes out, that may take a long time—and so we constantly look for avenues to express our feeling. True love, the kind of Bible love that God demonstrates toward us and calls us to show to each other, has a singular defining characteristic that reveals it to be genuine.
During the California gold rush, many unscrupulous people discovered that they could make metal that looked like gold and fool people into buying it. The standard test developed to protect people from scams came to be known as an “acid test,” a phrase we still use today. When gold was rubbed on a black rock, it would leave a mark behind. Acid was then poured on the mark. If the mark washed away the gold was fake, but if it remained, it was known to be the real thing.
The acid test for love is whether it is selfish or giving. Someone who only cares for what they can get may do things that appear to be loving. They may say the right words, but they lack the defining characteristic. True love cares more for the other person than itself, and as a result is willing to give its very best.
A love that truly cares about another will be a love that gives.
“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”
1 Corinthians 4:3–5
Robert Wood Johnson II, the chairman of Johnson & Johnson had been a brigadier general during the Second World War, and he expected everything in his company to be held to a high standard. He was known for making surprise inspections of various company facilities and being hard on those who were caught off guard. The story is told that a plant manager once received a warning that Johnson was coming. In haste he ordered his workers to straighten up everything they could. Several large items that had no place to be stored were placed on the roof so they would at least be out of sight...and then General Johnson arrived in his personal helicopter!
There is nothing that we do, say, or think which is hidden from the eyes of God. While we may be able to conceal sin from others—even those closest to us, for a time—nothing escapes God’s attention. He is omniscient, and everything is open to His sight. Yet despite this truth, people continue to act as if they can somehow deceive God into overlooking sin. In part, this may be because they don’t really want to give up what they know is wrong. Our attempts to conceal our sin only lead to great disaster. Solomon wrote, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
Rather than trying to cover our sins we should quickly confess and forsake them.
“And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”
Luke 16:9–11
F. B. Meyer said, “The supreme test of goodness is not in the greater but in the smaller incidents of our character and practice; not what we are when standing in the searchlight of public scrutiny, but when we reach the firelight flicker of our homes; not what we are when some clarion-call rings through the air, summoning us to fight for life and liberty, but our attitude when we are called to sentry-duty in the gray morning, when the watch-fire is burning low. It is impossible to be our best at the supreme moment if character is corroded and eaten into by daily inconsistency, unfaithfulness, and besetting sin.”
Just like a tree can look healthy outwardly but inside be slowly eaten away, a Christian can attend church services, sing the hymns, and give a testimony outwardly appearing to be in good spiritual condition while harboring inward sin. If we allow our character to be destroyed a little at a time, we are on the path to destruction. Each seemingly small concession to the devil, each little transgression that we decide to tolerate, undermines the strength and health of our spiritual life.
In truth there are no little sins or white lies or small offenses. God is perfectly holy, and while we cannot achieve perfection, we must not set a course that makes exceptions to what we know is right and wrong. Disaster awaits every person who cedes ground to the enemy a little bit at a time.
Every action you take today has a long-term impact on your future and should be wisely considered.
“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.”
Philippians 1:27–28
The Bible idea of conversation involves far more than just our speech—it references our entire manner of living. Paul exhorted the members of the church at Philippi to live in a way that matched the doctrine they had been taught. In truth, while it is important that we say and teach the right things, if our lives do not match our teaching, people will have little interest in our message. Charles Spurgeon said, “A man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies. If his life and doctrine disagree the mass of onlookers accept his practice and reject his preaching.”
The world has the opinion that a lot of Christians are hypocrites. Sadly, that critique is often well founded. There needs to be a commitment to following sound doctrine in deeds as well as words. Paul wrote, “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?” (Romans 2:21).
Christianity is not a Sunday morning religion. It is designed to shape our conduct every day of our lives. The first-century followers of Jesus did not call themselves Christians. That was a name they were given by outsiders because their lives showed that they were living as He taught (Acts 11:26). If we live in accordance with what we profess to believe, our impact on the world will be great.
The most powerful testimony is the one given by a person whose life demonstrates belief in his teaching.
“Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”
1 Corinthians 3:8–10
On one of his radio broadcasts, where he often features encouraging stories, newsman Charles Osgood talked about two ladies living in a nursing home. Each of them had suffered a stroke. As a result, Margaret had little use of her left arm, and Ruth had little use of her right arm. Each of them had been a gifted pianist, and they missed the beauty of the music they used to play. Then a worker at the home came up with a brilliant suggestion. The two ladies sat down at a piano together, each played part of the song with her good arm. They not only made beautiful music, but became dear friends.
God has not designed us to be independent agents floating alone on solo missions. Though there are a few exceptions, the general rule is that we are meant to be joining together—in families and in churches—to accomplish the work that God has for us. It is far easier to do that work when each person involved contributes according to his or her strengths and abilities. We don’t have to do it all ourselves. God’s plan is for each of us to play the roles He has given to us. When we do not—wishing instead for some other task or insisting on doing it all ourselves—the body suffers. Paul wrote, “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?” (1 Corinthians 12:17).
Contentment with what God has given us to contribute is vital to working together within the body of Christ.