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“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Hebrews 10:19–22

Prayer is not a series of magic words spoken to produce a result. God is not a vending machine who dispenses what we select when we drop a prayer into the waiting slot. There are many prayers we offer that shouldn’t be answered because getting what we ask would be far worse for us than not getting it. There are prayers that we offer that will not be answered because they are not in line with God’s will and His Word.

Yet when our prayers are what they should be—the heartfelt cry of children to a loving parent for our needs and the needs of others to be met—we can offer them with confidence. E. M. Bounds wrote, “Prayer is the language of a man burdened with a sense of need. It is the voice of the beggar, conscious of his poverty, asking of another the things he needs.” We do not pray presumptuously. We do not demand what we think we deserve. Instead we ask, relying on the promises and grace of our Heavenly Father.

The Christian attitude toward prayer should not be fearful. We are not approaching a tyrant who will judge us harshly for our request. Instead we are demonstrating both faith and obedience by coming to the throne of grace with our petition. We should pray confidently, knowing that Jesus opened the way into God’s presence for us, and that Jesus is there Himself to join our prayers, making intercession for us.

“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

Job 23:8–10

When Satan received permission from God to launch a devastating attack on Job, the Old Testament saint lost everything he owned in a single day. Despite the declarations of his friends that Job had done something wrong and deserved his great calamity, the Bible paints a different picture: “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1). This is an important reminder to us that bad things do happen to good people—that we are not exempt from attacks from the enemy or from the pain that comes from living in a fallen world just because we are Christians.

The question we face is what to do in those times of difficulty and pain. Will we respond with bitterness and anger, asking “Why me?” or will we respond in faith, believing that God is just as much at work when things go wrong as when they go well? We do not always understand His purpose, but we can always trust His love.

One of the most important things for us in these times is to maintain our prayer life. Charles Spurgeon said, “In all states of dilemma or of difficulty, prayer is an available source. The ship of prayer may sail through all temptations, doubts and fears, straight up to the throne of God; and though she may be outward bound with only griefs, and groans, and sighs, she shall return freighted with a wealth of blessings!”

“And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.”

Acts 11:21–24

The group of believers who gathered to become the church at Antioch were the first followers of Jesus to be referred to as Christians. The gospel came to Antioch following the scattering of the disciples because of the persecution they were facing in Jerusalem. The new church that was formed there quickly became a center of world evangelism. It was from Antioch that Paul and Barnabas were called, commissioned, and sent out on what we commonly call the first missionary trip.

There are two things in particular that the Bible mentions about this church that give us a model for what our churches should be. First is that when Barnabas came to see how the new believers were doing, he noticed “the grace of God” was active in their lives. All of us need God’s grace, not only for our salvation, but also for our daily lives. And we need to be extending grace to each other to keep unity in the church.

The second characteristic of the church of Antioch was that it was evangelism-focused. Because of the consistent witnessing and Christ-like living, “much people” were being saved. The church is not just a place for believers to sit around together, but it is meant to be a gospel lighthouse bringing the lost to Jesus.

“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. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”

Philippians 4:14–17

The church at Philippi was born of hardship and persecution, but it became a strong church that played a vital role in the ministry of Paul. They were faithful to financially support his missionary work—often the only church to do so. In part, the letter that Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians was a thank you note for their generous gifts. Though we know that sometimes Paul pursued his occupation as a tent maker to help fund his mission work, most of his support came from the churches that he helped plant.

Giving is not just putting money into an offering plate. It is the planting of a seed. Paul wrote, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). It is true that there are sometimes temporal financial blessings when we give, but the greatest rewards that we reap through the seeds that we plant into God’s work are not found in this world. The real fruit that grows from those gifts will not be fully realized until we reach Heaven and see all that God has done through our investments in His work.

The Lord does not need our money. Everything already belongs to Him. The purpose of God’s plan for His work to be supported by His people is to teach us to focus on what matters most, and to allow us to benefit from the results of the harvest that comes from our giving.

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

James 2:17–20

During the space race in the 1960s, NASA scientists and engineers developed the massive Saturn V rocket to launch the astronauts into space so that they could reach the moon. The three stage rocket was taller than a football field, and weighed over six million pounds. The massive engines were needed to escape Earth's gravity and send the astronauts out of Earth's orbit. Today one of these rockets is on display at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. But though it is physically the same as the rockets that were used in the space program, this rocket is dead. There is no fuel on board and even if there were, the massive engines no longer function.

In the same way, Christians can have all of the outward characteristics of believers without producing anything meaningful for God's work. The Lord does not call us to be display pieces, but to be active and fruitful in our work for Him. It is not enough for us to believe all the right things. We must also put those things into practice. William Booth said, “Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again—until they can scarcely distinguish which is the one and which is the other.” The great need of our world today is Christians who are living out their faith in obedience to God.

“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

Matthew 7:17–20

California has some of the largest orchards in the world. It is quite impressive to take a tour of a large commercial orchard and see row after row of trees, carefully planted, pruned, irrigated, and prepared for a harvest. I’ve noticed though that no one plants orchards of ash or beech trees and then comes by with a crew to collect what grows on them. While the wood of such trees may be useful for many things, they don’t bear crops and aren’t planted into orchards.

God’s purpose for us is that we be fruitful—bringing forth good fruit into a world that desperately needs it. He did not graft us into His family to be decorative, but to be fruitful. This metaphor of trees and vines and orchards occurs again and again in the Word of God. Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Our fruitfulness, or lack thereof, speaks much about our relationship with God.

When a fruit tree isn’t producing fruit, it is a sign that something is wrong. There may be a disease in the tree, a lack of water, or a shortage of nutrients in the soil. But it is neither normal nor healthy for a fruit tree to be barren. In the same way, a healthy Christian will be producing good fruit through the power of the Holy Spirit in his life.

“And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey withersoever I go. For I will not see you now by the way, but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit. But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”

1 Corinthians 16:6–9

G. Campbell Morgan grew up in the home of a Baptist preacher and delivered his first sermon at age thirteen. But because he had no formal religious instruction, when he first applied for ordination he was refused. The disappointed young man sent a one word telegram to his father: “Rejected.” His father responded: “Rejected on Earth, accepted in Heaven.” Morgan refused to be discouraged and continued his studies and preaching. He became one of the most noted Bible teachers and conference speakers of his generation and pastored large churches on both sides of the Atlantic. If he had allowed a temporary setback to stop him, the world would have lost a great influence for good.

Things often do not go well when we set out to serve God. The devil places obstacles in front of us to attempt to keep us from being effective in the work. He knows that if he can get us to be discouraged because of problems we are on our way to defeat. We see this in the life of Elijah. Following the great victory over the false prophets on Mt. Carmel, he ran for his life when Jezebel threatened to have him killed. He was so discouraged that he even asked God to kill him. Yet God strengthened the discouraged prophet and gave him Elisha as a companion to help and encourage him in the work. Adversity is often a sign that we are on the right track and keep going till we succeed.

“And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”

Joshua 2:9–11

When Moses sent the twelve spies into the Promised Land, only Joshua and Caleb returned with a good report. The other ten men said that while the land was prosperous, there were giants there that they would not be able to defeat. They told the people, “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:33). As a result, the Israelites were not willing to even attempt to win the victory God had promised them, and that entire generation died in the desert without reaching Israel.

When Joshua brought the people back, he only sent two spies, and they found something very different. Rahab told them that the people of the land were terrified because they believed the God of Israel would fight against them, and that they could not win. It is a tragedy when the world’s people believe God more than Christians do. Instead of allowing our fears to determine what is possible, we are to walk by faith, acting on the belief that God will do everything that He has promised.

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

2 Timothy 1:6-8

Paul invested a great deal of time and training into the life of Timothy. He knew that a new generation of leaders would be needed to carry on the work after his life ended. In his final letter to Timothy, Paul is attempting to prepare Timothy to carry on the work without his guidance. Realizing that Timothy would face intense persecution and opposition, Paul reminds him of the source of power that could overcome whatever obstacles Timothy faced and allow him to be faithful in continuing his ministry.

Most of us do not have to endure the intense persecution faced by the early church, but the world is no friend to our faith, and there may come a day when we must choose whether to stand for the truth or give in to avoid suffering. The challenge in that day will be to trust in God's strength and power rather than trusting our own ideas and ingenuity. The point that Paul drives home to Timothy is that ultimately it is the gifts and power of God that allow us to stand even in hard times. Of course we do not have to wait for afflictions to come to trust in God and rely fully on Him. We can begin living with that approach in the current day, and indeed that is the kind of living that will bring honor and glory to God even as it prepares us to take a stand.

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7

Every aspect of God's nature and character is perfect, and because He is infinite, we cannot possibly understand or comprehend all that He is. The Bible tells us much about Him, and there are a few traits that are especially highlighted for us. One of those is God's great love for us. There is a great deal of misunderstanding about God's love. Some view God's love as a blanket approval no matter what they do or how they live. Others view God's love as something that does not particularly apply to their lives. Neither of these views are correct.

The Bible presents God's love as an active force that is involved in our lives on a personal basis. God does not just love the world—He loves each of us as individuals. And that love is so powerful and strong that it moved Him to action to provide our salvation. Jesus said, “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 3:16).

Remember that even before the world was created, God knew that man would sin and what the price of our salvation would be. Yet despite that enormous cost, He brought the world into existence. Yes, our God is holy and hates sin (and we must never lose sight of that truth), but He is also kind and merciful and loving, and ready to forgive when we call on Him.

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

1 Thessalonians 4:15–17

A pastor once asked Dr. John R. Rice during a question and answer session if he expected the Lord to return during his lifetime. Dr. Rice replied, “That’s what Paul thought.” It has now been almost two thousand years since Jesus went back to Heaven. On that day, the angels made a promise to the disciples who watched. “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Though many years have passed, that promise is just as certain today as it was when it was given. God does not operate on our timetable, and Jesus will surely return right on schedule.

It is important for us not to be lulled into complacency by the fact that Jesus has not yet returned. Jesus pointed out that such false thinking can quickly lead to bad conduct on our part. “But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken” (Luke 12:45). Each day of our lives should be filled with a conscious awareness that it may be this day that the Lord returns.

"And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?"

Nehemiah 2:1-3

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our lives, and it can (and should) be present no matter what our circumstances. Yet at the same time, there are legitimate sources of sorrow. When the king asked Nehemiah why he was sad, Nehemiah laid out the reasons for his grief—the sad state of the city of Jerusalem. He was not content to merely feel badly about the need, but wanted to do something about it. As we look at the world around us, there are many things that should fill our hearts with sorrow, and motivate us to action.

Jesus was heartbroken over the refusal of the people to listen to the message of salvation that He offered. He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13:34). Jesus did not just feel sorrow for the lost, but He went everywhere preaching the gospel and offering salvation to those who would accept the message. He has left us the assignment to continue that work, and we must be about this vital business.

"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, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

1 Peter 2:7-9

There are some religions that encourage their followers to don distinctive clothing as a quick means of identifying their belief when they are out in public. Whether it is special head wear, colored robes, or something else, their garb declares their belief. Christians are given a different set of instructions for standing out from the crowd. While our dress should certainly always be appropriate and honoring to the Lord, it is our conduct rather than our clothing that should primarily identify us as followers of Jesus Christ to unbelievers.

Richard Baxter said, “Men would sooner believe that the gospel is from Heaven, if they saw more such effects of it upon the hearts and lives of those who profess it. The world is better able to read the nature of religion in a man’s life than in the Bible.” Christianity is not meant to be something we put on for Sunday services and then take off for the rest of the week. It is meant to guide our words, our work, our thoughts, and our interactions with others. Throughout the history of the church, men and women of God have lived in a sacrificial loving way that could not be mistaken. They were often opposed and persecuted, sometimes even killed for their faith but they did not waver. In both life and word, we should be unmistakably followers of Christ.

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

Colossians 3:15-17

I am grateful for every good Christian book I have read. Each commentary, devotional, instructional book that has taught me valuable lessons has been a help to my life and service for the Lord. I have even written a few books to share principles with others. But all human books pale in comparison to the unending riches of the Word of God. It is the true and unfailing guide for us—the place where God has given us the resources and wisdom to shape our lives to His purposes and glory. Peter stated it plainly: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).

God's people need a renewed commitment to God's Word in our day. We need to read it more. We need to memorize it more. We need to meditate on it more. We need to read what God says and then put it into action. We need to do the things the Bible says to do and avoid the things it says to avoid. We need to be people who live out the Word in our daily lives. Christian living is not a matter of our strength of will to overcome the world. It is a matter of letting the Bible continually guide our living day by day.

“And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”

Luke 18:4–7

When Jesus wanted to highlight the vital importance of prayer, He did so with a parable of a widow seeking justice from a judge who wasn't at all interested in her case. Yet in her desperation, she kept coming and asking for help. Eventually the judge was worn down by her persistence in asking, and granted her request. This seems like an odd choice for an illustration of prayer. God is perfectly just in everything He does and He loves and cares for each of His children. But we have to remember the point of the parable. “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (Luke 18:1). Jesus used this parable primarily to tell us what happens if we stop praying—we faint.

There are prayers that require persistent, repeated praying before the answer comes. The Old Testament tells us that Daniel prayed for twenty-one days for an interpretation of a vision he had received. It was only later that he learned that the delay was because of a spiritual battle of which he knew nothing. There are times when we do not feel like our prayer will be answered, but unless God closes a door as He did when Paul requested the removal of his thorn in the flesh, we should continue to pray faithfully until the answer comes. Continuing to pray demonstrates that we have not lost our faith in God and keeps us from giving up.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Ephesians 6:18–20

One of the major problems that modern Christianity faces is that far too many believers are ignoring the spiritual warfare we face day after day. A soldier on the battlefield does not casually get up in the morning and go outside with whatever he happens to pick up. Instead he carefully puts on his protective gear and checks his weapons to make sure that he is ready for battle. Paul wrote to the Ephesians and laid out for them the armor that guards a Christian from the attacks of the enemy, and then he concluded with a powerful instruction on the importance of regular, faithful, and consistent prayer.

The moment we get out of bed in the morning we enter a battlefield that is just as real as any that a soldier has fought on. Every day we face an enemy who is committed to our destruction. Peter warned, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Praying is just as much a part of our defense as the truth that girds our loins, the breastplate of righteousness, and the helmet of salvation.

Prayer expresses our utter dependence on God. We cannot overcome the devil alone, but we can overcome him through God’s power. “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude 1:9). Prayer is crucial to preparing us to face the enemy each day.

“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face. Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.”

Deuteronomy 7:9–11

There are many things changing in the society around us. Beliefs that used to be widely and commonly accepted are under attack. Principles that were firmly held for centuries are being quickly replaced with “improved” ideas that are more in keeping with the spirit of our age. These changes can be seen not just in the world, but often in churches as well. However, the Bible makes it very clear that God is truth and that He never changes. Of course there have been occasions when people have mistakenly interpreted Scripture or falsely claimed they were teaching the truth when they were teaching error instead. But the Bible, properly understood and applied, is always right, and it stands firm no matter what human reasoning and wisdom may decide.

Charles Spurgeon said, “The law is also set above human opinion, for this man says, ‘You may do that,’ and a second claims that he may do the other, but the law changes not according to man’s judgment and does not bend itself to the spirit of the age or the tastes of the period. It is the supreme judge, from whose infallible decision there is no appeal. Right is right though all condemn, and wrong is wrong though all approve.” When people throw out truths that they have believed in search of something more appealing to the age, they are making a mistake, substituting their opinion for God’s truth.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

2 Peter 1:19–21

Jesus only invited three disciples to go with Him to the Mount of Transfiguration—Peter, James, and John. There they saw Moses and Elijah and heard the voice of God from Heaven confirming that Jesus was the Son of God and that He alone must be worshiped and glorified. Peter never forgot that experience, and when he was inspired to write his second letter to the persecuted Christians, he reminded them of that wonderful day. Then he made the vital point that the written Scriptures are more certain even than Heavenly voices. Peter called the Scriptures “a more sure word” using a Greek word that highlights stability and firmness.

The Bible never changes, and it has everything God knew that we would need for our lives. Many people are wishing for miraculous visions or voices to find God’s will, but His plan is for us to find our guidance through the indwelling Holy Spirit working through the Word in our hearts. As we read the Bible, we have all the information we need to choose to walk in God’s path. We do not need some outside sign to follow, but rather to fill our minds with the truth of the Word and then obey it. Because the Bible is divinely inspired rather than produced by men, it is stable and completely without error. We can always trust what it says.

“And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror; And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey; And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them:”

Jeremiah 32:21–23

In addition to delivering the Children of Israel from the cruel bondage of Egypt, God brought the people into the land of Canaan and gave them victory over their enemies. As a result, they had a place to live that was already developed—cities and towns with houses they did not have to build, and vineyards and farms that were already productive. Yet in spite of the great blessings they received, they quickly turned from following God to worship the idols of the people around them, bringing judgment down on their nation as a result. It is much the same today. We live in a land that has been greatly blessed, yet we are neither grateful nor obedient.

Every time we disobey God, we are showing that we do not appreciate Him, despite the bountiful blessings we have freely received from His hand. The temptation of our hearts is to not only take the blessings we receive for granted, but to believe that we deserve them, rather than recognizing that they are solely a result of God’s love and grace. Paul wrote, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). God is patient and kind, but He will not tolerate the ingratitude of our disobedience forever.

“Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

Psalm 33:8–1

Almost two thousand years ago, Peter correctly described the spirit, not only of his age but of ours as well. People do not like to consider that they will have to give account of their behavior, so they shape their thinking and ideology to avoid dealing with the truth. This allows them to soothe their consciences, but it does not change the fact that there is a God and that He is the Judge. Peter wrote that these people deny two cardinal truths—the Creation and the Flood. “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:” (2 Peter 3:5-6).

If God is not the Creator then He does not have the right to dictate how men should live. If there was no Flood then there is no need to fear that He will judge and punish sin. Yet despite the claims of man, both of these things are reality. God really did make everything we see around us out of nothing simply by speaking it into existence. And He really did destroy everyone in Noah’s day except for the eight people who believed the warning of coming judgment and took shelter in the ark. All men should recognize the authority of God and turn to Him in repentance before it is too late.

“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. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”

John 14:1–4

On His last night with the disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus gave them a wonderful promise for the future. Though He was going away, they would one day be with Him once again in the place He was preparing for them. They did not fully understand what He was saying that night, but the promise is just as secure for us today as it was the night it was made. One day we will be with Jesus in Heaven, because He has promised to receive us there through His grace.

A. M. Hunter recounted the story of a Christian doctor many years ago who was called to the bedside of a dying patient who was also a Christian. The man asked the doctor what to expect in the next life. As the doctor thought about how to answer, his dog that he had brought with him started scratching at the door. “Do you hear that?” the doctor asked. “It is my dog. I left him downstairs, but he has grown impatient, and has come up and hears my voice. He has no notion what is inside this door, but he knows that I am here. Isn’t it the same with you? You don’t know what lies beyond the door, but you know that your Master is there.”

The Bible doesn’t tell us everything about Heaven, but it tells us the most important thing—that Jesus will be there with us.

“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:”

Romans 9:1–3

Over and over during the descriptions of the life of Christ given to us in the Gospels we find an expression repeated that perfectly sums up the nature of our Saviour. “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). The Greek word that is used for moved is very strong. It indicates being gripped by something or picked up and carried. The compassion that Jesus felt for those who were lost and scattered moved Him to action.

All around us there are people with eternal souls who have no concept of the seriousness of their lost condition. They go through their days, mostly oblivious to spiritual things. They may go to a church on special occasions or holidays, or perhaps they do not go at all. They see little need for salvation, because they do not realize that they are lost. It should break our hearts.

We know that God has commanded us to be witnesses. Each of the Gospels include an account of what we commonly call the Great Commission, and it is repeated at the beginning of the book of Acts for good measure. God wants us to witness to the lost. But the driving force for evangelism must come from the heart. We should follow the example of Jesus and allow the knowledge of eternity to break our hearts for those who are not saved. “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:6).

“I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication. What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”

Psalm 30:8–12

Charles Spurgeon said, “Gladness in God is as a deep river; we have only as yet touched its brink, we know a little of its clear sweet, heavenly streams, but onward the depth is greater, and the current more impetuous in its joy. The Christian feels that he may delight himself not only in what God is, but also in all that God has done in the past. The Psalms show us that God’s people in olden times were wont to think much of God’s actions, and to have a song concerning each of them. So let God’s people now rehearse the deeds of the Lord!”

When we speak in gladness of what God has done for us, it builds and strengthens our faith, and encourages others to trust God for their needs to be met. God delights in the praises of His people. He gives us deliverance and provision because of His love for us, but also to fill our hearts with gladness so that our mouths will be filled with praise and thanksgiving. Of course there will be times of grief and mourning, but the Christian who is habitually sad is not living with a conscious appreciation of all that God has done for him. Let us say with the Psalmist, “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (Psalm 126:3).

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

2 Corinthians 4:1–4

During World War II, America was concerned with the possibility of bombing raids and even invasions. Although this never happened, a civil defense system was set up to prepare people in advance. One of the things they practiced was a “black out” drill—designed to keep enemy airplanes from being able to identify targets by light from buildings nearby. Windows were covered with dark curtains or blankets, meant to be sure that whatever light was inside was completely hidden from the outside world.

The greatest gift that anyone can ever receive is salvation. The grace of God takes lost sinners and moves them from the family of Satan into His family without our doing anything to deserve or earn it. You would think that anyone who had received such a gift would tell everyone about it, but in far too many cases Christians accept the free gift of salvation and then never mention it to anyone. It’s like we are conducting spiritual black out drills, and it is a tragedy.

The Lord commands us to share the gospel and let our light shine before the world. In truth, the darker the world around us becomes, the more important it is for us to share with others the only hope for their future—salvation through Jesus Christ.

“Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”

Acts 11:19–21

Over the years as I’ve witnessed to people, I’ve received all kinds of responses. Some quickly reject the message of the gospel, having no interest in hearing God’s plan of salvation. Some listen to the presentation without making any commitment one way or the other. Some raise all kinds of questions and objections, more interested in arguing than hearing. Some listen and want to know more. And thankfully there are some who immediately respond and put their faith in Jesus as their Saviour. Why do people respond to the gospel in the ways that they do? God has commanded us to be faithful to witness, but He has not given us responsibility for the results.

God has given man the freedom to accept or reject the gospel message. Once we have presented the message, the rest is up to Him. I think it is wise to learn how to answer common questions people may ask and know how to lay out the plan of salvation from the Scriptures. But soulwinning is not an exercise in selling something. Soulwinning is a matter of faithfully delivering the message of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some people have hardened their heart to the gospel, and some allow the conviction of God’s Word to penetrate their hearts. Our job is to share the message and then allow the Lord to work in hearts.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 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 10:14–17

Paul made a clear case for the vital importance of everyone who is involved in the work of God in reaching the lost with the good news of the gospel. The first principle, of course, is that there is only one plan of salvation. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Peter said, “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). This is the message that the lost world must hear.

But there are many different roles in the work of the gospel. Not all of us are preachers or missionaries where we proclaim the gospel in foreign places or to large numbers of people at a time. But all of us can witness to family members, friends, neighbors or co-workers. And all of us can do our part to equip and send those who are taking the gospel to others.

Sometimes we lose sight of how vitally important each part of the body of Christ is. There are no little or unneeded members of the body. Each of us has a role to play, and God calls us to do what we can in His work. Edmund Burke said, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.”

“Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike. And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.”

1 Samuel 30:23–25

While David and his warriors were away from their city, enemies came and captured their wives and children and took them away. David and his men pursued them, but some of the men were too weary to continue and stayed behind to guard what was left. Once the victory was won, a dispute arose over whether those who did not fight on the battlefield should have part of the spoils of the victory. David insisted that all of his men—those who were on the front lines and those who supported them—would have an equal share in the rewards.

It is not just those Christians who are in the spotlight who are doing God’s work. I stand in the pulpit and preach on Sunday morning, but the bus drivers, ushers, cleaners, maintenance people, and others are just as actively involved in the ministry of Lancaster Baptist Church. They may not be as visible, but they are vital.

The great Scottish preacher Alexander MacLaren commented on this truth. With an illustration from the life of the great missionary William Carey when he asked for prayer support. “‘I am going down into the pit; you hold the ropes,’ said Carey. They that hold the ropes, and the daring miner that swings away down in the darkness, are one in work, may be one in the motive, and, if they are, shall be one in the reward.”

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

Romans 8:12–14

While salvation happens in a single moment (it is immediate rather than something that takes place over time) the process by which God refines our hearts to make us more like Jesus is ongoing throughout our lives. We do not suddenly become everything that God means for us to be. Instead we must take on the work of killing the old nature. This is not something we do through will power of self control, but through the Holy Spirit. We are commanded to be continually mortifying—putting to death, the flesh.

Dr. John R. Rice said, “The new nature is our joy and our hope. We are born of God, we are made partakers of the divine nature. That makes Heaven certain for one who is truly born again. But the old nature is our daily problem, our grief, and our struggle. May God give us grace to recognize the old nature, not to lie about it, not to falsely claim that it is gone, but to face it day by day and conquer it and buffet it and mortify it, to the glory of God.”

Even after salvation, our flesh struggles against us to get us to do wrong. Paul wrote, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Romans 7:19). We can walk in victory only as we are faithful to fight this battle daily. And thankfully, God provides the strength and the grace to do so.

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

Romans 12:3–5

Our society has many means of measuring success and value. Some people focus on financial measures so that making or having more money equates to being a better person. Some people focus on fame and popularity as a measure of the success of a person’s life. God measures success differently, and it is His standard that we should be using, both in how we look at ourselves and in how we look at others.

The principle Paul lays out for us is that we must reject pride. Pride was the original cause of Satan’s fall, and it is through appeals to our pride that he often brings us down. The temptation to look at ourselves and think we’re not really doing too badly—especially compared to all those other people—leads to destruction. Instead we should view ourselves in relation to the body of Christ. The focus should not be on what we have done or on what talents we have, but on the God who graciously provides all of the abilities and possessions we have.

Even though we may have different skills and gifts than others, God’s plan is for each of us to join together to do His work. None of the parts of the body of Christ are unimportant, and none of the parts are more valuable in God’s eyes than others. Rather than measuring ourselves by those around us, we should be measuring ourselves by the way Jesus lived.

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

1 Peter 5:5–7

Humility doesn’t come naturally, especially in relation to the authorities God has placed in our lives. We want to have our own way rather than to be in subjection to authority. Yet over and over God highlights the importance of our willingness to go His way. Peter used the illustration of clothing to highlight this truth for us. In the same way that our clothing is what people see when they look at us, humility should be the trait that we show to the world.

Biblical humility is a realization that we bring nothing to the table that God did not give us in the first place. All of the talents and gifts that we have are the result of His grace, not our own merit. And whatever we accomplish for His kingdom is equally to His credit rather than ours. Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

The church today needs people who are willing to say with John the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Let us lay aside our pride and be willing to serve God however He chooses so that when others look at us, they see humility in action.

“LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.”

Psalm 3:1–4

David knew what it was like to stand in the face of opposition. He went out alone to face the giant Goliath when his own brothers criticized his motives. He had to flee for his life from Saul when the bitter and jealous king tried to kill him though David had served him faithfully. He had to flee from his own son, Absalom, who rebelled against him. There will be times when we will face the choice of whether to do right or not when we are being critiqued rather than encouraged. In those moments, we still must stand for the truth, even if it means that we stand alone. There will always be critics, but we do not have to heed their voices.

Teddy Roosevelt wrote, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly.”

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

Galatians 1:8–10

The churches in Galatia to whom Paul wrote were dealing with an influx of false teaching on the topics of justification and sanctification. Paul could have let this go to keep from making waves, but instead he publicly rebuked the false teachers and pointed out that they were erring from the truth. Why did Paul react this way? I believe the answer is found in his desire to please God. If we are seeking the approval of men we will be tempted to trim our message so that it does not point out sin and error. However if we seeking the approval of God, we will stand firmly for the truth.

We see this principle illustrated in the lives of the three Hebrew children. When Nebuchadnezzar made his golden idol and commanded everyone in the kingdom to bow down and worship it on pain of death, they refused. When he gave them a chance to reconsider and spare their lives, they still refused. They did not care for the approval of men, or for the consequences of doing right. Their faithfulness to God is a model we urgently need in our day. Many voices are calling on churches and pastors to stop identifying sin and speaking out on moral issues. While that might make us more acceptable to men, it would be a betrayal of the God we serve.

“Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.”

Deuteronomy 7:12–14

Scripture gives many commandments and instructions. Many people in our day are confused about the purpose of the rules and “thou shalt nots” of the Scriptures. Some view these rules as antiquated ways to keep people from having fun. Some view keeping God’s instructions as a way to earn favor in His eyes. Some view the rules of God as optional—something to be followed as long as they don’t impede what they want to do. All of these approaches are misguided.

God views His commandments as being given for our benefit, and when we arrange our lives in obedience, we are blessed as a result. Some of these blessings are things that we receive directly from God, but there are also blessings that come as we avoid the consequences of actions that God has forbidden. Sometimes people say they are being punished when what is really happening is that they are simply experiencing the normal results of their wrongful behavior. The Bible says, “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:15). We have no reason to expect God to deliver us from the consequences of sin that we have willfully chosen.

“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.”

Psalm 89:1–4

Every one of us is a teacher. We may not lead a school class of young children or a Sunday school class of adults, but we are still having an impact and influence on those around us. Often we are not aware at the time of how many people are paying attention to the things that we do and say, and only later do we find out how we have helped—or harmed—someone along the way.

Each day we have the opportunity to choose the words that come out of our mouths. The psalmist expressed his desire to have his words praise and exalt God, and that should be the goal each of us has for our lives. Our words are a vital part of the legacy that we leave behind, as they shape not only the way that we are remembered, but the way others think about God. I would like to be both known and remembered as a man who talked often of God’s mercy and faithfulness.

Jesus warned those who are careless with their words of what they will face as a result. “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36–37). We have multitudes of things for which to praise God, and those are the words that should fill our speech—verbal, written, and electronic.

“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.”

Numbers 23:19–21

Throughout their journey across the wilderness, the children of Israel were constantly complaining. They griped and complained about the miraculous provision of food God gave them in the wilderness. They quaked in fear before the inhabitants of Canaan and refused to go into the land. They foolishly failed to drive out all of the people when they finally did go in, and soon began worshiping the false gods of their neighbors. Their hearts were not devoted to God.

Yet in His amazing love and mercy, when they repented, God forgave them. And not only did He forgive, but He completely forgave. Balaam’s prophecy contains this wonderful declaration that God saw no evil in the people of Israel. How is that possible? Because in His grace, God views us through the atoning blood. In Old Testament times they were looking forward to the coming Messiah and His sacrifice for sin, and we look back toward it.

Often Christians are crippled with guilt over sins from the past. Yet if our sins have been confessed and forsaken, they have vanished from God’s memory. Though there may be effects that linger, the sin is covered and forgotten. Do not allow Satan to hinder your relationship with God by bringing up old sins. God remembers them no more and there is no condemnation.

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Jeremiah 31:33–34

The world is filled with lies and deception. The devil uses falsehoods and manipulation to try to deceive us—and sadly he is often successful. The wisdom and discernment we need to see through his schemes is not found in our own ability, but in the pages of the Bible. It is only as we learn and apply the truths of Scripture that we can overcome temptation and sin. The psalmist wrote, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Every Christian needs to be actively working to place God’s Word in his heart.

The devil does not play fair. He does not usually attack us when we are at church or when we are reading the Word and are spiritually strong. Instead he comes in moments of distraction and weakness. It is critical that in those moments we know the Bible well enough to respond properly. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He could have argued or rebutted Satan’s points. Instead He responded to each temptation with a direct quote from the Old Testament that served as the basis of His rejection of sin. As we grow in our understanding and use of the Word of God, we can respond and overcome the tempter just as Jesus did.

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:12–14

One of the greatest threats to our growth as Christians is the notion that we have arrived at a pretty good place and no longer need to develop our Christian walk and become more like Jesus. If the Apostle Paul did not feel like he had reached the peak but still needed to improve, there are certainly areas where we still need work as well.

People who are greatly accomplished in any field—athletes, musicians or speakers—often make what they do look simple, yet it is anything but. For example, professional athletes do not stop practicing because they have reached the highest level of their sport. Instead they practice even more, because the reality of any human endeavor is that if we are not getting better at what we are doing, we are getting worse.

The same is true in our spiritual growth. Everything that we have and everything that we accomplish is a gift from God, and nothing for us to brag about. The presence of self satisfaction with our spiritual life is a flashing red danger light. For it is when we are most confident and complacent that we are in the greatest danger of falling.

“The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

Ezekiel 22:29–30

As our society moves further away from the truth of God’s Word, and as those who still believe the truth are viewed as hopelessly out of touch with the modern world, the need for Christians to take a stand for what is right becomes even more vital. While we should never be obnoxious or offensive in our conduct and attitude, neither should we trim our message or soften our stand to be more acceptable to the world around us.

Dr. John R. Rice noted, “Jesus said, ‘Beware of false prophets’ (Matthew 7:15). In Jude 3 we are plainly told it is necessary to ‘earnestly contend for the faith.’ One is not a better Christian for ignoring God’s commands. If you would be true to Christ you must earnestly defend the faith and must beware and teach others to beware of false doctrine, false teachers.”

The cost of being a committed follower of Jesus Christ is meant to be high. There are many places in the world today when being a true Christian is literally life-threatening. But whether the cost is social disapproval, outright persecution, or even death, the willingness to stand and say that right is still right and wrong is still wrong is what God expects from us. The Christian who shrinks from speaking the truth in hopes of gaining acceptance from others will not impact the world for God. Only those who are willing to answer the call and stand firm regardless of the cost will truly make a difference.

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

Jude 1:20–23

Over the years, as our church and schools have grown, we have conducted a lot of building projects. For each building, there are many steps along the way. From the moment the architect begins drawing the plans, there is a process underway that requires completion. The most beautiful drawings and detailed plans do not bring a building to life. It takes lots of hard work to carry out those plans and make the building a reality.

The Christian life works in much the same way. Long before we were born, God had a design for our lives: to be like His Son and to do good works to bring glory to Him. “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). Salvation is simply the beginning of a process that is designed to reach the goal God has for our lives.

This requires that we be faithful to continue the work. Digging the hole for the foundation of the building is an encouraging sign of progress, but it’s just the first step. If nothing is ever added, there is nothing accomplished. I love the day when the steel frame for the building begins rising into the air, but again, unless the walls and windows are added and the inside finished, the building does not serve its purpose. Keep on working and growing, and you will accomplish the plan God has for your life.

“And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying, Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.”

2 Kings 22:11–13

As time passed and the children of Israel got further and further away from God during the days of the divided kingdom, they reached a point where they did not even realize how far from God’s plan they had strayed. Then during the renovation of the temple in the days of Josiah, a copy of the law of Moses was discovered and brought before the king. When he heard it, he trembled and repented, and called on the people to turn back to following God. One of the greatest revivals in the history of Israel followed.

The central place of the Word of God in our Christian lives is impossible to overstate. We must have faith to live the Christian life. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). We need to read the Bible for ourselves, memorize it and meditate on it, and hear it faithfully preached and taught on a regular basis. We cannot store up Bible now for the future—it is an ongoing process. Notice that Paul does not say faith comes from “having heard” in the past, but from a present day hearing of the Word.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

1 John 5:14–15

When Louisa Stead went to the beach with her husband and daughter, the outing was meant to be a relaxing family picnic. But while they were out, her husband saw someone drowning off the shore and went to rescue him. Instead, the drowning man pulled him under and they both perished. Louisa was left to raise a young daughter alone. In those days there was no social safety net in place to provide assistance.

At a particularly difficult moment in their lives, having exhausted every possibility of providing for the family, the mother and daughter prayed together one night for things they desperately needed. The next morning Louisa Stead opened her front door to find a box with groceries, clothing for her daughter, and some money. She put pen to paper and wrote these words:

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

When we pray, we have every right to confidently expect God to answer. While our prayers must always be in subjection to His will, He has given us the right to come into His presence and ask for our needs to be met. And we should do so in faith. It is an insult to God’s promises and love for us to not believe that He will meet our needs. Having already given us the greatest gift possible with our salvation, He will withhold nothing good from us.

“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.”

Galatians 5:7–10

In the classic cartoon Hopalong Casualty, Wile E. Coyote is trying as usual to catch the Road Runner for his dinner. Using his customary Acme Products, he lays several traps for the speedy bird. The key to one of his plots is a “Detour” sign that he hopes will lead the Road Runner off the right path and into one of his traps. As usual, the plan falls through and the hapless coyote ends up in the trap himself.

But the idea of using a detour to lead to a trap doesn’t always fail in real life—in fact this is a tactic that the devil often uses successfully against us. Usually his first attempt is not to get us to totally change direction and turn our backs away from following God. Instead he tries to get us to change course just slightly. Perhaps he offers what appears to be an easier road or a shortcut while telling us that it will still lead to the same destination.

That is the pattern Satan followed when tempting Jesus in the wilderness. Yet each time Jesus responded with the Word of God, staying the course that His Father in Heaven had laid out for His life. Jesus was not interested in an easier way to accomplish God’s plan. He realized that God’s purposes could only be accomplished by God’s methods, and that helped Jesus stick to His course and overcome temptation. There simply aren’t any shortcuts or detours that lead to good ends in the Christian life. Stick to God’s road and you will not go astray.

“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

We must never lose sight of the fact that day after day we are engaged in spiritual warfare against an enemy that is dedicated to our destruction. The devil doesn’t take days off. He doesn’t ever say, “Well, that Christian is pretty strong today, so I’ll just leave him alone.” If we stand firm against temptation today, he will come back tomorrow—and then again and again—looking for an opportunity to strike at any moment when our guard is down.

While we must be faithful in the fight against Satan, it is also important for us to remember that it is not our strength that wins the victory. When James wrote to the early church about battling against the devil, he highlighted the vital importance of our relationship to God as a necessary condition of victory. The closer we are to our Father in Heaven, the more power we find to resist temptation and stand for what is right.

Our standing in God’s family is eternally secure regardless of what happens in our lives, but our fellowship with Him is definitely affected by the manner in which we live. When we keep our thoughts and our actions clean, when we weep over things that are wrong, and when we are humble, we will be in close harmony with the Lord. The more in love with God we are and the closer we are to Him, the more holy our lives will be, and His presence will sustain us through the trials and temptations of life.

“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. 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. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

1 John 3:1–3

None of us know when the Lord will return, or even whether it will be during our lifetime. The promise of His coming back is certain. Peter warned that in the last days there would be those who would not value the truth that the Lord could return at any moment. “And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:4).

Whether or not we are watching for the Lord’s return has a powerful impact on our lives. It determines how we respond to temptation, how we spend our time, and how we invest our resources. Those who are expecting Him at any moment will live more pure and holy lives. They will not want to be ashamed when they see the Lord.

Most of us can remember a time when our parents assigned us a task to be completed before they returned home—a task that instead of beginning immediately, we put off. Then time flew and one thing after another captured our attention, and before we knew it, they were back and we had not completed the task we were given. Christians who are looking for the Lord’s return daily will not face that moment of shame.

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.”

Isaiah 59:1–3

God has designed prayer to be a regular part of the Christian life, just as much as eating and sleeping are regular parts of our spiritual life. Almost all of us pray less than we should, and often when we do pray, we do not receive the answers that we long for because we have not properly prepared our hearts and our lives to be effective in our petitions to our Heavenly Father. It is entirely possible for children of God to live in such a way that God simply does not acknowledge our prayers at all.

When we are harboring unconfessed sin in our hearts, we are hindering our prayers. Though we may be able for a time to conceal sin from those around us, we can never hide our sins—whether actions or thoughts—from the God who sees all that we do. And when He sees that we love our sins more than we love Him, it changes His attitude toward our prayers. Though our standing with God as His children never changes, our relationship and fellowship does.

God warned the children of Israel through the prophet Amos: “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts” (Amos 5:21–22). Rather than searching for outward explanations for unanswered prayer, our first search should be of our own hearts.

“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

Genesis 3:17–19

Because of Adam’s sin in eating the forbidden fruit, much changed in the world. But it is important for us to remember that Adam had work and assignments from God before the Fall. Work is not a curse, but a blessing. God does not intend for us to sit idle, but to be busy in His work. Jesus pointed this out to His mother and Joseph when they found Him in the Temple as a twelve year old. “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). The word must that Jesus used indicates something that is a necessity, not an option.

Work is good for us. Notice that God said, “cursed is the ground for thy sake.” The work that Adam would need to do after the Fall would be much harder. Now the ground that before had grown good plants would also produce weeds and thorns. It would require hard work just to get the food needed to sustain life. The reason this benefits man is that diligent, faithful work builds and strengthens our character. When we have it easy, we tend to let down our guard. But when we must labor, we value what we accomplish.

“And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

Mark 9:21–24

At the same time that Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, a distraught father brought his demon possessed son to the other disciples and begged them for help. They were unable to do anything about the problem, so when Jesus returned, the father appealed to Him to save his son. Notice the father said to Jesus: “If thou canst do any thing.” It is a tragedy when the powerlessness of our lives causes others to doubt whether God is able to help them.

The Christian life described in the Word of God is a powerful life. The early church made a dramatic impact on every city where a new group of believers began to gather. Sometimes there were revivals and sometimes there were beatings and martyrs—and often both—but there was no doubt that something was happening. Today many churches are having almost no noticeable impact on their cities. In fact, few would notice if they closed.

This lack of power does not go unnoticed. One of the reasons our society is so willing to abandon the moral principles we have followed is that they see no reason to believe or fear God based on the lack of His power and presence they see in our lives. Like the early Christians, we need to be willing to pay the price to experience God’s power working in our lives.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

Matthew 7:7–11

Though Jesus was constantly teaching, there is only one time in the Gospels where we find the disciples specifically requesting Jesus to teach them how to do something: “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). They recognized how important prayer was to Jesus, and they wanted to learn.

When it comes to prayer, we are to pray based on the nature and character of God. We are not informing God of a situation that is news to Him. He already knows not only our situation, but the best solution (far better than we do) and how He will respond. We pray to express our faith and confidence in God’s love and provision for us.

Jesus encouraged the prayers of His disciples to be grounded on the goodness of God. This is why we are confident. We know how far short we fall of what we should be and do. If our worthiness was the basis of our prayers, we would have no hope, but we pray in reliance on His love.

“This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not. I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots. 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.”

Psalm 81:5–7

The Psalms are filled with references to the way in which God demonstrated His power in the deliverance of His chosen people from their bondage in Egypt. God did not want them to forget what He had done for them. Yet over and over the history of Israel is filled with stories of the people turning away from God to worship the idols of their neighbors. The prophet Jeremiah recorded this sad statement of judgment from the Lord: “Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up” (Jeremiah 18:15).

The remembrance of our deliverance from the bondage of sin is a vital part of our commitment to follow God faithfully. No matter how many years we have been saved, we deserve that amazing grace no more than we did before. Our salvation is all His doing, and it should never be forgotten that everything we receive as His children is equally a result of His grace rather than our merit.

When we remember our deliverance, we keep our hearts right toward God. The warning to the church at Ephesus that John recorded in Revelation highlights this truth: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen” (Revelation 2:4–5). I believe every Christian should spend time each day thanking God for His salvation and deliverance.

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Hebrews 10:19–22

In addition to providing us the free gift of salvation, Jesus gives us membership in His family, making God our Father. This provides us the right to come with confidence before God Almighty and present our needs before Him. Yet far too many Christians neglect and thereby waste the amazing blessing of prayer. Dr. John R. Rice said, “All our failures are prayer failures.” When our prayer life is not what it should be, all the aspects of our Christian walk suffer.

Prayer is the means that God has given to us for our needs to be met, for our sins to be forgiven, for us to positively impact the lives of others, and for us to avoid temptation. Prayer, offered according to the pattern that Jesus gave us, is the means by which we seek God’s will to be done in our lives and in our world. Prayer is crucial to the Christian life. James Montgomery wrote:

Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,
The Christian’s native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters Heaven with prayer.

Yet even though most of us know the importance of prayer, we fail to pray as we should. We would not think of walking into an elegant restaurant with a friend who ordered an expensive meal for us only to not eat it. God has offered us all of His resources and wisdom to meet our needs and guide our lives, yet we do not pray.