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“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Romans 8:26–27

Many of us are blessed to have a few close friends who really know how to pray. When we are facing difficult circumstances or trials, we often turn to these people and ask them to join us in seeking God’s help. It is a wonderful blessing to have such prayer support, and there is nothing wrong with asking others to pray for us and with us. It is a real encouragement to know that we are not alone in our praying.

But as Christians we have a far greater resource and partner in our praying—the Holy Spirit of God. All human prayer is necessarily limited. We lack full understanding of our circumstances, and we thus do not always know what the best solution to our problem is. Sometimes when we are convinced we know what God “should” do, we are completely off base. But our sincere prayers, offered in submission to the will of God, are heard and helped, even when they are misguided.

The Holy Spirit knows what is in our hearts and hears our sincere cries, even when they are not fully informed by His knowledge. In God’s grace our prayers are interpreted to what is best. Even better they are joined in by the Holy Spirit. And His intercession for us is not casual. Sometimes when we ask someone to pray with us about a need, their prayers are not intense. But the Holy Spirit is intensely involved in our prayer. This should give us great confidence as we wait for God to answer.

“Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.”

Daniel 6:9–11

Daniel’s enemies in the Medo-Persian Empire resented his status and his ability. As they schemed against him, they realized they had no grounds to denounce him. In modern terms, they bugged his phone and hacked his email, but Daniel had no secrets that revealed wrong-doing or carelessness. He walked in integrity and did his work with diligence. (That should be true of all of us no matter what our field of work is in life.)

Yet they did find one thing they could use, and that was Daniel’s utter devotion to his God. It was no secret to those around him that Daniel was a man of prayer. He had made it a habit for many years to pray at specific times during the day. This routine became the foundation of the plot they hatched against Daniel. Daniel did not start praying when a law was passed forbidding it—he just kept doing what he had always done.

Someone said that too many people use prayer like a spare tire, only pulling it out in case of an emergency. Prayer should be a constant, habitual, ongoing, and serious part of our lives. It should be apparent to those who know us that we are people of prayer. The modern trend toward self-reliance is a great hindrance to prayer, because it keeps us from acknowledging our utter dependence on God. Prayer attacks our pride at its root. Prayer allows us to access the provision God has promised to those who seek His face.

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

Ephesians 5:18–21

There are two major enemies of gratitude that keep many people from being thankful. The first is a sense of entitlement—the feeling that we deserve all of the good things we get. The second is a sense of greed—that we deserve even more than we get. Either of these attitudes stand in the way of living as thankful people. There is an old joke about a husband who wanted to get his wife something special for Christmas but didn’t have much money. He bought her a fur coat made of skunks. When she opened the package she said, “I can’t see how such a nice coat can come from such a foul smelling little beast.” Her husband responded, “I don’t ask for thanks, but I do demand some respect!”

Too many times we look at God’s good and gracious gifts, things which we do not deserve to receive at all, with contempt rather than thanksgiving. What we deserve is eternity in Hell. That would be getting what we have coming. The folly of Christians who, solely because of grace, have received salvation and innumerable blessings, complaining because they do not have everything they think they want is vast indeed. The Spirit-filled Christian does not gripe and murmur. Instead he rejoices and gives thanks in every situation. Many necessary things in life that come to us as part of God’s plan and purpose are not pleasant, but there are no times in which we cannot be grateful.

“I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.”

Psalm 145:1–4

Every one of us is going to leave a legacy of some kind. If you think of those who have gone before, whether friends or family, usually there are one or two words that sum up the main thrust of their lives. People are remembered for their generosity, their courage, their attitude, or perhaps a particular hobby or interest. Sometimes this legacy is a positive one, and sometimes it is not. Most people don’t like to think about the end of their lives, but each day we are building a legacy that we will leave behind. We do not choose it at the moment of our death, but over the course of each day we live.

There are few things that are more fitting for a Christian than to be known as a person who praises God. The impact of praise to God on our own lives is great, but the impact of that praise on others may be even more important. The stories passed down about what God did for Dad or how He answered a special prayer for Grandma are of enormous value. Each of us has so much for which to praise God, but unless we tell those stories to others, they will be lost. We have a responsibility to the future to be people of praise.

“Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”

Isaiah 58:9–11

When Haldor Lillenas was putting together one of his first hymnals, he recalled a song he had learned soon after moving to America and learning English, God Leads Us Along. He wanted to include it, but needed permission from the writer. Lillenas tracked down the author’s widow who was living in a poorhouse, and she was delighted to have her husband’s song shared with others.

Despite her circumstances, she was rejoicing. She told Lillenas, “My husband and I were married while we were very young. God gave us a wonderful life together; he led us from day to day. But then God took my husband. Now God has led me here, and I’m so excited and glad about it! God has used me in this place. Many people come to this place and they are so sad and in such great need. They need help and comfort. I have been able to cheer many of them and lead scores of them to the Lord Jesus Christ.”

God does not promise us ease and comfort, but He does promise to guide us through this life and never leave us. He is just as present and loving in our moments of pain as in our moments of joy. And we must always trust His guidance.

“And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks. And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.”

Judges 8:26–27

God granted Gideon a miraculous victory over the Midianites that brought deliverance from painful bondage to the Jewish people. With a tiny group of three hundred men, Gideon routed a massive enemy army and put them to flight. Then, once the victory had been won, in one of the great tragedies of Scripture, Gideon took the spoils of war that had been gained only by God’s power and grace, and used them to make a false idol that eventually he and many others began to worship.

While most people do not carve statues of gold or silver to worship in our day, there are many who worship something in place of God. Charles Spurgeon said, “If you love anything better than God, you are idolaters: if there is anything you would not give up for God it is your idol: if there is anything that you seek with greater fervor than you seek the glory of God, that is your idol.”

It is not by coincidence that the first commandment said, “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2–3). God is not willing to be one among many or even first among equals. He is God alone, and nothing and no one will be allowed to take His place. The throne of our heart must be His completely.

“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”

Genesis 13:10–12

Lot had a close relationship with one of the greatest men of faith in all of human history. His uncle, Abraham, brought Lot with him when he left his home to follow God’s leading to a new land. As a result of their time together, Lot not only learned about God but profited materially in a great way as well. Yet he was not wise enough to want to stay with Abraham, and when the men who kept their large herds began to argue over land, Abraham graciously gave Lot first choice of where to go. Lot not only chose the area around Sodom, the most wicked city of the day, but when he set up camp, his tent looked toward Sodom. That choice led to great loss and sin for Lot and his family.

A. W. Tozer said, “If I look at the world, I will conform to the ways of the world. If I look at the Word, I will conform to the will of God.” When we long to get as close to the world as we can and still feel good about ourselves as Christians, it will not be long before we pull back in our pursuit of God. There is a great drawing power in the things of the world. Satan is a master of temptation, and we must remain on guard to keep our hearts fixed on God.

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”

Isaiah 61:10–11

An English preacher named William Burt described how he visited the home of a family during his school days. The father he described as a good man but a “chronic growler.” As he sat with the family, their young daughter began describing the favorite food of each of her siblings. The father asked, “What do I like, Nancy?” After a brief pause the little girl replied, “Well, you mostly like everything we haven’t got.” Burt said that from that day forward he resolved to be careful not to complain.

Every Christian endures hardship and trouble. There are no people who float through life without problems. The difference between those who rejoice and those who complain is not their circumstances, but their focus. Some look at their troubles, while others look to the Lord. When Jesus sent the disciples out they returned with great joy over the results they had seen from their ministry. Jesus responded, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

The expression “rejoice in the Lord” is not meant to be a motto or a phrase we use without thinking. It is an instruction. He is the source of our joy, and His promises and faithfulness are the guarantee that we will receive all that He has offered, despite the circumstances of the moment.

“Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.”

Jeremiah 31:2–4

From the time it appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post on June 11, 1955, Norman Rockwell’s “Marriage License” proved to be one of his most popular and enduring paintings. It depicts a young couple trying to get the paperwork for their upcoming wedding finished before the office closes for the day. For his models, Rockwell used Joan Lahart and Francis Mahoney, a real life couple preparing for their wedding who lived near his studio in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Rockwell touched so many hearts because he captured the genuine love and affection the two young people had for each other—and he later gave them an oil sketch of that painting as a wedding gift.

Human love is wonderful, but it is always subject to the limitations we experience as fallen beings. God’s love is different. It is unlimited and because it is part of His very nature and character, it can never change. No power is able to take God’s love away from His children. “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 8:38–39). We should live in complete confidence rather than with fear or doubt because God’s love for us is everlasting.

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

John 17:3–5

There are many reasons people fail to accomplish all that they could or should in God’s work. One of the most common explanations for failure is that people stop doing what is right. The walls of Jericho did not fall down when the Israelites marched around the city on the first day, or the third, or even the sixth. It was not until they completed the seventh circuit on the seventh day that God stepped in to give them the victory. It is not always fun or exciting to do God’s will—it is simply obedience, again and again, that leads us to the place we should be.

It is easy to allow ourselves to become discouraged and decide that it doesn’t matter whether we keep going. Many have missed victories that could have been won if they had simply remained faithful and kept going. There will always be reasons and excuses for those who want to quit, but that is the time when it is most important that we do not give up. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). As the old poem puts it:

Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell just how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit—
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

“And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

Luke 15:5–7

Because this world is all we have ever known, it is hard for us to comprehend the perfection of Heaven. The place where those who have trusted Christ as Saviour will spend eternity has none of the flaws that are part of daily life here. There is no sin, no sickness, no sadness, and no night. Best of all, there is the constant presence of God Himself.

As wonderful and glorious and perfect as Heaven is, there is something that we can do here on Earth that brings rejoicing even there—to bring other men and women to Jesus. There is no more important task given to God’s children than for us to follow the example of Jesus and work to reach the lost. There are many good and right things that can and should be done, but the essential mission of every believer is to be a witness of the salvation we have received to others. There is an eternal Heaven and an eternal Hell, and every person we meet will spend forever in one of those places.

It is our task to see to it that we warn the lost. We are their only hope. And if we fail in this assignment, the consequences are grave, both for others and for our own lives. “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).

“But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;”

2 Corinthians 8:16–18

When Catherine Booth died of cancer in 1890 after many years of faithful service with her husband William in the Salvation Army, her body lay in state at Congress Hall in London. Thousands filed past her body, giving honor to the lady who had given so much to so many. The cream of London society and the rich and powerful filed by next to children from the slums and former drunkards. It is recorded that one elderly man paused by her casket and said, “I’ve come sixty miles to see her again. She was the means of saving my two boys.”

The impact that we make on the lives of others is a direct result of the amount of care and compassion we have for them. That is because it is that care that drives our actions. There is no more powerful motivation than love. It changes the way we view other people, and it changes the way we allocate our resources, time, and energy. We invest in what we care about, and when we care, others can tell. “And of some have compassion, making a difference” (Jude 1:22).

The world has many ways to counterfeit a number of the good things God calls us to do and be, but there is no substitute for compassion. The people with whom we work and to whom we minister will know whether they genuinely matter to us. And the more we care for others, the more we will devote ourselves to meeting their needs and reaching them with the gospel.

“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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

John 3:16–18

Jesus lived a perfect life, but He did not come to us primarily as an example. Jesus never said anything that was false, but He did not come just to be a teacher. Jesus healed many who were sick, but He did not come to work miracles. Jesus had great compassion on the people He met, but He did not come to be a helper. Jesus came into the world to be the Saviour of those who believe, and He is the only way that we can have a personal relationship with God and a future home in Heaven.

All around us, people are pursuing different paths to God, and we often hear that there are many ways to Him, but that is false. Jesus is the only way. Charles Spurgeon said, “That which saves the soul is not coming to a human priest, nor even attending the assemblies of God’s saints; it is coming to Jesus Christ, the great exalted Saviour, once slain, but now enthroned in glory. You must get to Him, or else you have nothing upon which your soul can rely.”

Salvation is freely offered to those who will come to Jesus, but there are no alternate plans. God only provides salvation through His Son. No substitutes or replacements will be accepted. God’s holy justice demands the payment for sin that only Jesus could provide for others. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5).

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

2 Corinthians 5:18–20

Jonathan Dolliver served as United States Senator from Iowa from 1900 to 1910. During much of the time he was in Washington, his elderly father lived with him and his family. When his father passed away, Senator Dolliver was surprised when the Italian Ambassador sent flowers and asked if he could sit with the family at the funeral. When Senator Dolliver asked why he wanted to come, the ambassador replied, “He was the only person who thought enough of me to speak to me about my soul.”

Many, if not most, of the people we meet day after day are living in this world with little, if any, thought or concern of eternity. Our society does its best to ignore and obscure the reality of death. People go to great lengths to extend their lives. Even the product that pays people’s heirs money upon their death is packed and sold as “life insurance.” Yet, no matter how much we try, we cannot escape the reality that death is coming to everyone.

This reality should be at the front of our minds as we meet people in different walks of life. Whether it is neighbors, co-workers, friends or family members, every person we meet has an eternal destiny. And we must try to reach them. “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences” (2 Corinthians 5:11).

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?”

Matthew 6:25–27

David Brainerd, the great pioneer missionary to the American Indians, traveled across the growing American colonies to take the gospel to places where it had never been heard. He suffered greatly from tuberculosis, which would lead to his death at just twenty-nine years of age. Yet despite his physical struggles, his faith was strong. In his journal he recorded being forced to take shelter in a hollow log as a severe storm raged. Unsure what he would eat as his stay lengthened, he prayed. In a few minutes a squirrel came and left a few nuts in the tree where Brainerd was staying. This happened for three days in a row until the storm finally passed and it was safe to travel again.

God is able to meet our needs even when it seems humanly impossible. But He usually works in response to our faith. When Jesus returned to Nazareth after doing miracles across the land of Israel, the people who had watched Him grow up did not see the same level of power displayed. The problem was not a lack of power on Jesus’ part, but a lack of faith in their hearts. “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58). Never lose heart because your circumstances seem to be impossible. God delights in demonstrating His power on behalf of those who trust in Him.

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Galatians 4:4–7

In his letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul describes two actions by God that are essential to our salvation. First, he reminds them that God sent His Son, then he follows up by pointing out that God also sent His Holy Spirit. The relationship between man and God, broken by Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden, could not be restored without the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit. God of course has the power to compel men to salvation, but He has chosen instead to invite them to be saved, and then allow them to either respond to the gospel or to reject it.

A. W. Tozer wrote, “Students of the Scriptures are aware that the Old Testament prophets and the writing apostles of New Testament times foresaw and proclaimed God’s coming day of judgment—the consummate settling of accounts between the Sovereign God and His rebellious and sinful creation. How desperately we would like to believe that in the face of coming judgment, all lost men and women will cry out to God, but such will not be the case.”

Salvation is never about us, but rather wholly the work of God. It is not our effort, sincerity, or emotion that determines our salvation, but our faith in what God has already done. It is only when we lay aside our own righteousness that we can claim the righteousness of Jesus Christ applied to our account. It is God alone who saves.

“For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

John 3:34–36

In our day we take electricity for granted, but in the early days following its invention, there were often times when the supply simply was not equal to the demand. There is an old story of a pastor going down the street one day and being surprised to find one of his members sitting on the porch instead of at work. He inquired whether something had happened to the workload, or with the employee. He was told that there was plenty of work, but there wasn’t enough power to run the machines, and all the workers had been sent home for the day.

Many churches have impressive programs and outreaches. They have invested in technology, planning, resources, and equipment to be effective in reaching people. They have programs and procedures in place to deal with almost any situation. Yet it quickly becomes obvious that while there is plenty of work to be done and lots of tools, there is no spiritual power. The work of God requires the power of God to be effective.

The Bible teaches us that while nothing we do can change the amount of God’s power, we can certainly change how much of that power is received and applied to our lives. Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (John 15:4). The duty of each Christian is to live in such a way that he has access to the power to do God’s will and God’s work.

“But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”

Galatians 2:3–5

There were several disputes in the early church as doctrines and practices had to be put into place to deal with administering a church since there had never been such a body before. Perhaps the most contentious issue of all dealt with Gentile converts. Some people believed that they needed to basically become Jews, keeping not just the moral law but the ceremonial law as well in order to be saved. Paul soundly rejected this teaching. There is no salvation apart from grace alone. “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Galatians 2:21).

Paul would have faced fewer battles if he had been willing to compromise on this issue, but it was too important to allow any confusion to remain. So when he took Titus, a Greek convert, with him to Jerusalem, Paul not only refused to compel Titus to be circumcised, but he publicly rejected the false teaching of those who pushed for that. What Paul referred to as the “truth of the gospel” is so important that no compromises can be made on what the Scriptures teach.

There is no value in being contentious and fighting over things that don’t matter. But there is great value in holding so firmly to the truth that we will not bend even an inch from what is right. Even if it costs us greatly, we should be willing to endure battle for the sake of the truth.

“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

Hebrews 13:14–16

In 1985, a gifted English musician and conductor named Clive Wearing suffered a severe viral infection that attacked his brain. Though Wearing survived, he was left with a profound case of anterograde amnesia, which meant he could no longer form new memories. Each time he saw his wife, he thought they had been separated for a lengthy period of time. He kept a journal of his experiences each day, but often found that he could not believe what he himself had written about the previous day. Wearing was, however, able to remember the music he had learned before his illness and continued to play the piano in public and conduct choral concerts.

Wearing’s wife, Deborah, conducted a campaign to provide better treatment for people suffering from amnesia, and wrote a book called Forever Today. In it she detailed the devastating impact of her husband’s memory loss on both of them and the way that eventually their relationship became stronger than ever. Though no one has control over the loss of memory due to disease or injury, we are to exercise our spiritual memory. This is true both of remembering what God has done for us, and of remembering what He has commanded us to do for Him.

Over and over in Scripture, we see God’s people forgetting what He told them and the tragic consequences that followed. We must heed the warning to remember God no matter what happens. “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage” (Deuteronomy 6:12).

“Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria: Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.”

2 Kings 18:28–30

Sennacherib greatly expanded the Assyrian Empire through a series of military conquests. He had defeated other nations both large and small, and when he prepared to attack Jerusalem, he was fully confident. His messenger was instructed to warn the Jews not to depend on their God. The gods of the other nations had fallen before his armies, and the Assyrians expected nothing to be different about the kingdom of Judah. Their massive army was camped nearby, ready to attack once the order was given.

Despite the caution not to trust in God, Hezekiah went to the Temple and prayed. There the prophet Isaiah met him and assured the outnumbered king that God had heard his prayers, and that a complete and total victory was coming without a battle at all. “And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses” (2 Kings 19:35).

Someone said, “It is far more important to pray with a sense of the greatness of God than with a sense of the greatness of the problem.” We are sometimes overwhelmed by the weight of the obstacles we face, but God never is. His power is unlimited, and all we need is faith in Him to see His might displayed.

“Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”

Psalm 150:3–6

The story goes that a man traveling for business ended up attending a church that was much more formal and liturgical than his regular place of worship. At one point when the preacher said something that really touched his heart, he said, “Praise the Lord” out loud. The congregation was shocked by the unexpected interruption. One man leaned forward and whispered to him, “We don’t praise the Lord here.” Another congregant responded, “Yes we do. It’s on page 15 of the Lectionary.”

Praise is not something that is supposed to be uncommon. As long as we have breath in our lungs, we should praise God. In every situation and every circumstance we have something to be grateful for, and it should not be kept hidden. Too many times we only praise God when everything is going the way we think it should. But even in our worst moments, His praise should fill our mouths. After being unjustly arrested, beaten and thrown in jail, Paul and Silas had reason to complain. They did not. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25).

Praising God is not restricted to Sundays at church. It should be part of our conversation with others and part of our thoughts. The words of praise that come out of our mouths are proceeded by thoughts of gratitude that build in our hearts until they cannot be contained. The praise we offer to God outwardly will not be what it should unless it is the overflow of what we are focused on internally.

“Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”

Acts 10:33–35

Because humans are fallible, our idea of justice is often slanted and skewed. Despite the best efforts to set up our legal system with safeguards, there are times when the outcome is influenced by much more than the facts of the case. Differences in age, income, education, or background sometimes matter more than the evidence when the outcome is being weighed. In a startling look at the way our assumptions can affect justice, repeated studies have shown that even appearance can make a large difference. Good-looking defendants are more likely to be found not guilty than less attractive defendants by a jury.

God does not treat us that way. He judges justly, without regard to who we are or where we come from. And He expects the same from His children. God demands that we use the same standard in treating others, regardless of what those around us may do. “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors” (James 2:8–9).

The world around us is divided by many factors, and too often people are treated differently because of something over which they have no control. It is wrong to allow the divisions and prejudices that are part of our society to creep into the church. All men stand equal before God, and all should be viewed by a fair and equal standard.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

2 Timothy 2:20–22

Most professions require training to become proficient. Many also require examination, certification, and continuing education. This is not random or arbitrary, but instead is intended to protect those who receive services. I certainly don’t want a surgeon who has never been to medical school or a lawyer who didn’t pass the bar exam working on my behalf. I want someone who is qualified and prepared to do the best possible job.

Service for God also requires qualification, but this qualification is not primarily a matter of the head, but the heart. There’s certainly nothing wrong with education, and all of us should strive to learn as much as we can. But the most important thing that God is looking for is someone whose heart is devoted to Him. “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22).

To qualify for God’s service, we do not have to be brilliant or gifted, but we do have to be cleansed by the blood of Christ and need to walk with the Lord in purity and truth. Just as none of us would choose to drink out of a dirty cup, God is not going to select us for His service when we harbor sin in our lives rather than confessing and forsaking it.

“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.”

Exodus 18:21–22

When Moses found himself overwhelmed by the task of judging the disputes and questions between the huge number of Israelites who had left Egypt and were traveling through the wilderness, his father-in-law advised him to pick subordinates who would be able to handle routine details, leaving Moses to adjudicate the major issues that those under him could not settle. These people were not picked at random. They would have enormous power, and be subject to great temptation. There was tremendous potential for abuse if the wrong people were put in power. In order to get the right people, the rulers were selected on the basis of their prior reputation as being “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.”

Each of us has a testimony—not just a recounting of the events that led to our conversion, but the way in which we have lived that has created a story about who and what we are. While it is true that character matters more than reputation, it is also true that reputation, largely, is the harvest of the seeds we have been planting. We may not be thinking about the impact we are having, but every day we are enhancing or destroying our witness to others. It is said that a friend once approached Plato with news of a serious false accusation that had been leveled against the philosopher and asked what they should do. Plato replied, “We must simply live in such a way that all people will know it is false.”

“But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”

Isaiah 49:14–16

When torrential rains from Hurricane Harvey slammed into southern Texas in 2017, there was massive flooding. Many people were trapped in their cars by swiftly rising water. One of those was a woman named Colette Sulcer who was in her car driving near I-10 with her three-year-old daughter. Forced to flee when water swamped their car, they were swept away by the rapid current. When Beaumont police officers were finally able to rescue them, Colette had propped her child up on her own body to keep her out of the water. Both were suffering from hypothermia, but while Colette later died, the baby was saved. Officer Carol Riley said, “The mother did the best she could to keep her child up over the water. She absolutely saved the child’s life.”

God has blessed the world with mothers who love their children, and that love is meant to be a picture of His love and compassion toward us. It is natural when mothers love and sacrifice for their children. While thankfully most are never called on to lay down their lives, it does not surprise us when they do. God’s love infinitely exceeds that of even the most devoted mother. He never forgets or forsakes His children. He never abandons us. He never allows us to go through hardship and suffering without offering us comfort. “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16).

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.”

Hebrews 11:13–15

Dr. John Rice told how growing up poor on a ranch in Texas, the only present he and his siblings received for Christmas was an orange. Before they ate their special gift, his mother told them to save the peels, setting them on top of the refrigerator, and she would later make candy from them for another treat. Dr. Rice said that he began thinking about those orange peels, and finally decided that since some of them were from his orange, no one would realize the difference if he ate a few of them. He said, “It wasn’t long before I put my hand on top of the refrigerator and found that I had not only eaten my own orange peels. I had eaten all of the peels from every orange.”

If our minds are constantly focused on things that we do not have, or things that we have left behind in the past, it will be easy for us to rationalize doing things to get what we want, even if we know they are wrong. Our focus is not neutral—it has a powerful impact on our conduct. The things that fill our minds determine what our feelings will be and eventually what our actions will be. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8).

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

Daniel 3:16–18

When A. C. Dixon was the pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, he was invited to attend a gathering of businessmen under false pretenses. He had been told it was to talk about insurance and investments, but it turned out to be a social club planning an upcoming dance. He stayed a bit, wanting to be polite, but then they distributed tickets for the dance and explained that each person was expected to sell them to raise funds for the organization. At that point Dixon later wrote, he stood up and said, “I am not in the habit of attending public balls, and I don’t know how to sell tickets to public balls. I believe your public ball is an abomination unto Heaven, and I cannot advise any of the members of my church to go.”

The temptation to go along with the crowd can be very strong, but easy and right often do not go hand in hand. As we’ve seen more and more in recent years, taking a public stand for what God says is right is no longer acceptable to many people. It may even have serious career or financial consequences. It is in those moments that the sincerity of our faith and our commitment to Christ are revealed. While none of us are eager to suffer persecution and hardship, we must be willing to do right no matter what others may do and no matter the cost.

“And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.”

Genesis 39:5–6

In the months leading up to World War II, the British government printed several posters designed to encourage the people during what they knew would be a long and difficult war. The most famous of these now is the red and white sheet that simply says, “Keep Calm and Carry On.” In fact, although more than two million were printed, very few of these were posted during the war itself and the sign was largely forgotten. It was not until 2000 that a newly discovered sheet was posted in a bookstore. That generated so much attention that reprints began being issued, and it became known around the world.

The key to the message during the war, however, and the principle that holds a parallel meaning for us as Christians, was not in the words, but in the single image that appears on the poster. Above the plain white words is a picture of the crown of England. The message was this—whatever happens, there is an authority that is in control and can be trusted. When we recognize this truth in the spiritual realm, we realize that no matter what our circumstances may be, God is still in control. This allows us to live in faith, continuing to do what is right regardless of the circumstances. The point of the poster was not to promise that bad things wouldn’t happen, but to remind people what to do when they did.

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”

Colossians 3:22–25

There are all sorts of performance standards held at different jobs, depending on the requirements of the position. A surgeon preparing for an operation goes through a cleaning process that is rigorous and detailed, but a man who is going to paint houses all day isn’t worried that there might be one tiny germ left when he washes his hands before work. The standard of cleanliness is not determined by the demands of the process, but by the need for results.

When there are parts of our jobs that require a certain level of performance, we should strive to reach that standard every time. Other areas may have more room for individual preferences or tastes. Some people are extremely careful about making sure not one paper is ever left on their desks. Others are like the pastor I read about whose deacon invited a man to visit the church. “I don’t like organized religion,” the man said. The deacon replied, “One look at our pastor’s desk and you will see that we are not an organized religion!”

Whatever job we have to do, we have the opportunity and the obligation to work as we would if God were watching—after all, He is. The standard we should be aiming toward is not what people will think of our work, but whether we will be able to tell God, “I did the best that I could.”

“Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”

1 Thessalonians 2:10–12

Though not all of the more than two hundred different kinds of chameleons can change colors, that is the trait we most associate with these small lizards. Through complex layers of skin and chemicals, they are able to regulate the way different wavelengths of light are reflected. Among the colors they can produce are basically all the colors of the rainbow, including combinations of pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown, yellow, turquoise, and purple. This is done for many reasons, including communication with other chameleons, as well as regulation of body temperature. But the main reason we think of when it comes to their ability to change colors is for camouflage. By blending in with their surroundings, chameleons are hard for predators to see, and it keeps them safe.

This is an astonishing miracle of God’s creation work, but it is not a good model for His children. We are not called to fit in or blend into the background. We are called to stand out—to be worthy of the example of the Lord who saved us. The temptation to lower our standards and deny our association in an effort to stay out of trouble has been around for a long time. Peter fell victim to it when Jesus was arrested. “And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew” (Matthew 26:73–74). Even if it is costly, our colors must remain clear.

“Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Colossians 4:3–6

I read about a pastor who was building a wooden trellis to support a climbing vine he had planted by his house. As he pounded away, he noticed that there was a little boy who was watching him intently. The youngster didn’t say a word, so the pastor kept on working, thinking the boy would get bored and eventually leave, but he didn’t. Finally the pastor asked, “Well, son, are you trying to pick up some pointers on gardening or construction?” “No,” the boy replied, “I’m waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer.”

Whether or not we’re aware of it, all of us are being watched. Whether it is by children, co-workers, neighbors, friends, or strangers, they are forming an opinion of us—and more importantly of Jesus—based on what they see in our lives. There is never a time when we are not teaching others about our faith. Over the years I’ve heard many people share disappointment over ways they knew their testimony had negatively influenced others—whether it was their own children, or co-workers, or someone else. In the moment, they simply hadn’t realized the impact their behavior would have on those who were watching.

None of us are perfect. But we should be careful that nothing we do would be a hindrance to someone else believing the gospel. Though each individual is responsible for his decisions, we do not want to be the cause of someone stumbling through how we live.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:22–25

Evangelist D. L. Moody was one of the most famous preachers in the world during his lifetime. His conferences in Chicago and Northfield, Massachusetts, drew guests from many nations. Moody was known for having God’s power on his ministry, and it made an impact on those who heard him. But many did not understand how the process worked. It is said that at one conference Moody was approached by a pastor who said, “I have come a hundred miles to get some of Moody’s spirit.” Moody replied, “You don’t want my spirit. What you need is the Spirit of God.”

Every day, we as Christians face the choice of who is going to be in charge of our lives. We can live, work, and act in our own strength and wisdom, or we can walk under the control of the Holy Spirit of God. When we insist on going our own way, we should not be surprised by the negative consequences that follow. God will not share control. He is the Lord and King, and He demands what He deserves—total surrender of our lives. The Christians who accomplish great things for Him do not do it on their own; they rely on His power and follow His leading. The Holy Spirit is given to every child of God, not to be an observer, but to direct our steps. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13).

“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

It is no surprise when liberal professors of religion deny the truth of God’s Word. We have come to expect it from what are regarded as the leading educational institutions in our country, despite the fact that some of those very schools were founded with the primary purpose to train preachers for the ministry. So when someone like Bart Ehrman, who teaches at the University of North Carolina said, “God, if He exists, cannot be Jesus Christ, or the God of the Bible” Christians are not shocked. What is shocking is that Ehrman grew up in church and described himself as a “born-again fundamentalist” at one point in his life. Whether he had been truly born again or not, I cannot know. But I do know that during his college and graduate training that his faith was undermined by the attacks of his professors, and today Ehrman calls himself an agnostic atheist.

There is no faith so strong that it cannot be overwhelmed if the influences in our lives all work to undermine that faith. We can keep faith in hostile cultures that speak out and work against it—just as men like Joseph and Daniel did—but we cannot keep faith if we allow those negative influences to direct our lives. No matter how gifted a teacher may be, if he does not believe the truth, he will not influence you toward God. As our society becomes more anti-Christian than ever, it is vitally important that we listen most to those who believe and speak the truth.

“Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.”

Psalm 51:6–9

Those who have been in the military or attended a school with strict requirements for cleaning know what is meant by a “white glove” inspection. It is easy to put a few things away, run the vacuum over the middle of the floor and call a room clean. But that kind of cleaning won’t pass white glove. In the literal sense of the phrase, the person doing the inspection would put on a pair of gloves before checking whether the room was actually clean. Those gloves would quickly reveal whether a thorough cleaning had taken place, or whether the occupant had done just the minimum to make things look good on the surface.

God looks at our lives and measures them against a standard of perfect holiness. He does not overlook sins just because we think they are small or insignificant. In fact, most of the major tragedies of character, the devastating public sins that seem to be so sudden, begin with small sins allowed to linger rather than being dealt with. Charles Spurgeon said, “Dread sin; though it be never so small, dread it. You cannot see all that is in it. It is the mother of ten thousand mischiefs. The mother of mischief, they say, is as small as a midge’s egg; and certainly, the smallest sin has ten thousand mischiefs sleeping within its bowels.” If we treat sin casually, it will not be long before we find ourselves enslaved to it. If we bring them to the Lord in repentance, He will cleanse us and help us walk in freedom from them.

“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

Acts 20:29–32

There is no doubt that grace is one of the most misunderstood doctrines in all of Scripture. People have many different ideas, and often they conflict with what God actually said. Grace is not a license to live in any way we choose. Instead, it is a powerful teacher and tool that molds and shapes the decisions, choices, and actions that make up our lives. Grace is a builder—a power given to us by God to help us become more like Jesus.

Before the world was created, God had a purpose and plan for our lives. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). The Lord could certainly have saved us and taken us to Heaven at the moment of our conversion. All of the things necessary for us to enter His presence are settled and accomplished the moment we trust Him.

But God has more in mind for us. Dr. Curtis Hutson had a sermon he often preached called “Salvation Is More than Being Saved.” The same grace that offers us entry into God’s family stays with us to accomplish our sanctification. Through the process of God’s grace being applied to our daily lives, we become more and more like His Son.

“And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”

Ezra 7:8–10

Through Moses and a number of prophets who followed, God warned the Israelites what would happen if they turned away from Him and began worshiping idols. They did not listen. One king after another led the people further and further astray. Things got so bad that a wicked king named Ahaz adopted the heathen practice of sacrificing his own son to a false god. “But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel” (2 Kings 16:3).

So just as God had said, the people were conquered by foreign armies. The God who had once defended Israel and given them victory in battle allowed them to be defeated. It was a judgment they deserved. But even in those days of judgment, God did not forget His people. When the seventy years of the Babylonian captivity ended, and the Israelites returned to the land, God sent a special teacher named Ezra to guide them to do what was right. Before Ezra was equipped to teach and lead Israel, he first had to prepare his own heart. It was not primarily his natural talent or his training that made Ezra effective. It was his love and devotion to God and His Word that made him a powerful influence on those around him.

“And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”

2 John 1:6–8

For many years Reader’s Digest has published first person accounts of humorous happenings. In 1994, they ran a story from Marion Gilbert: “One morning I opened the door to get the newspaper and was surprised to see a strange little dog with our paper in his mouth. Delighted with this unexpected ‘delivery service,’ I fed him some treats. The following morning I was horrified to see the same dog sitting in front of our door, wagging his tail, surrounded by eight newspapers. I spent the rest of that morning returning the papers to their owners.”

There is enormous power in rewarding good behavior, and that is the way God has created us. In fact, God Himself offers us rewards for our service on earth. “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Corinthians 9:25). Our greatest reward will be to hear our Lord say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Recognizing the power of rewards, it is very important for those of us who lead—parents, teachers, bosses, and influencers in any venue—to review the behavior we are encouraging. Our words of praise or tangible rewards will encourage others to continue the behavior that gained them. Yet many times we do not realize that we are rewarding the very things we want to stop. Instead, we should be sure that we are using the power of rewards to encourage the right actions.

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”

Acts 20:28–30

Shepherds, especially in the Western states of the US, face a real threat from predators. Wild animals like coyotes can devastate a flock in short order. Many methods to protect sheep have been tried, but one of the most effective is to introduce a guard llama to the flock. A single llama will bond with the sheep, and become intensely and fiercely protective. Studies show that using a guard llama reduces loss of sheep to predators by two-thirds. The llamas are not afraid of the attackers, and thus their mere presence can be a deterrent to attacks. When necessary, they will use their hooves as effective weapons to defend the sheep.

God’s people are under attack in this world. The Bible uses the metaphor of shepherds for the role of the pastor, and those who lead churches are charged with a special level of care for those in the congregation. But whether we are in full time ministry or not, each of us have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Many times a simple word of encouragement or caution from a friend is all that is needed to prevent great sin and suffering.

If our hearts are knit together as part of the body of Christ as they should be, we will care deeply about the needs of others, and do our best to strengthen and protect them from danger. “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.”

Proverbs 1:24–27

I read the following account from a pastor about a conversation he witnessed between a father and his first grade son.

Dad: “Max! Why didn’t you answer me when I called you?”

Max: “I didn’t hear you, Dad.”

Dad: “What do you mean you didn’t hear me?” Max did not respond.

Dad: “How many times didn’t you hear me?”

Max: “I don’t know, maybe three or four times.”

The Bible is called “the Word of God” for a reason: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). God speaks to us through His Word, telling us what He wants us to hear and what we need to know. Our responsibility is to listen and not ignore what God tells us to do. Saying that we do not hear His voice does not excuse us from the necessity of obedience. Instead, we should quickly and promptly do whatever God commands.

Listening to God is primarily a matter of the heart. If we love Him as we should, we will not feel like we are being treated badly when we are told to do or not do a particular thing. “While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation” (Hebrews 3:15). If we do not listen to what God says and respond, we have no reason to expect that we will escape the consequences of disobedience.

“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Acts 15:24–26

On November 19, 1863, almost by accident, President Abraham Lincoln gave what is probably the most famous speech in American history. He was not the main speaker when he gave what is remembered as the Gettysburg Address. But in his few words, Lincoln managed to capture both the purpose of the war and the American spirit. Recognizing the courage and spirit of those who had fought at Gettysburg, Lincoln said, “But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.”

The debt that we owe to those who have risked and given their lives for home and country is huge, and those sacrifices are fully worthy of honor and remembrance. Those who are willing to take on a great and dangerous task do so because they have found a cause that is worthy of sacrifice. It is not by accident that the Bible often uses the metaphor of warfare for the Christian life. Just as soldiers defend our country for a great cause, Christians are called to fight and sacrifice for the truth. “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3).

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

Matthew 12:34–36

As part of his pioneering missionary work in Africa, David Livingstone spent time on his travels exploring so future missionaries would be able to work in the heart of Africa. As an explorer, he made major geographical discoveries at a time when the interior of the continent was largely unknown to the outside world. After making one of the first successful crossings of Africa from the Atlantic to Indian Oceans, Livingstone’s final great expedition was a search to verify whether Lake Victoria in Tanzania was indeed the source of the Nile River as earlier explorers had speculated. Although Livingstone didn’t reach Lake Victoria, he was correct that it was the source of the great Nile River.

Just as understanding the source of the Nile would shape Europeans’ understanding of the continent of Africa, so it is for us when we understand the source from which our words and actions flow—which is our hearts. It is what is inside, rather than outward circumstances and events that dictates our responses. When people speak harsh and biting words, or respond with a lack of compassion and love toward others, it shows that there is an internal problem. Too often we make excuses for ourselves or others, saying things like, “I didn’t really mean that.” Yet Jesus taught that our words are the overflow of our hearts.

If we are focused on changing our behavior by changing our surroundings, we are doomed to failure. The only way we can make the outside what it should be is to first fix what is on the inside. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). When we love God and love others as we are commanded to do, it will impact our words and deeds.

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

2 Peter 2:1–3

There is an array of religious material and instruction available today. There are books, audio and video series, teaching programs, broadcasts, and online teaching on almost any topic you can imagine. Yet, when a vast quantity of those teachings are evaluated in light of God’s Word, it quickly becomes apparent that they do not match. In fact, our world is overflowing with false doctrine and false teachers.

This spread of heretical teaching should not come as a surprise because it is not new. There may be more forms of communication and availability of such teaching in our day, but warnings about false prophets are thousands of years old. The Apostle John warned, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

Each of us has a responsibility to be careful about the influences and teaching we allow into our hearts and minds. We cannot blindly accept a teacher just because he is popular or well spoken. Some of the most eloquent pulpiteers of history have been purveyors of heresy. While we must also be careful not to become critical and harsh, we must not allow anyone or anything to draw us away from the unchanged and unchangeable truth of the Bible.

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

1 Timothy 6:3–5

Shortly before World War II, a Dutch artist named Han van Meegern who had been dismissed by critics hatched a plan. He painted a work using the technique of Vermeer and submitted it as a genuine masterpiece. The critics hailed it, and it was exhibited as a newly discovered masterwork. Originally van Meegern planned to reveal the hoax and his role in it to embarrass his detractors, but when he realized the huge price the painting would bring, he decided instead to sell it and pocket the money.

He eventually sold the painting to a Nazi collector after German forces conquered the Netherlands. After the war, when the victorious Allies were returning artwork to original owners, they called on van Meegern. When he could not produce proof that he had purchased the painting (since he had forged it himself), he was arrested and charged as a collaborator. Officials did not believe his eventual confession until he painted an identical copy and revealed himself as a skilled forger.

The desire for material wealth has led many people astray. Most people do not go to the extreme of van Meegern, but many have sacrificed principles and truth for the sake of financial benefit. Jesus made it clear that we must choose between loving God and money. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.”

John 14:27–29

The night before Jesus’ crucifixion (which despite His repeated teaching the disciples still did not expect) Jesus gave them a promise of peace. Because He knew what was about to happen, He knew that they were going to be in great need of comfort in the coming days. In this time of final preparation, He not only told them about His peace, but He told them that there was a difference between the way God gives and the way the world gives.

The gifts of the world are usually not what they appear on the surface, and even when they are good things, they come with strings attached. The world does not give freely. And the gifts of the world are not permanent. It was realizing this truth that prompted Moses to choose to endure the hardships of standing for the truth rather than taking the easy route and enjoying the temporary pleasures of Pharaoh’s palace. “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25).

There is nothing in this world that compares to the immeasurable love of God for His children. When we understand the depth of His love, we understand why He gives differently than the world does. He has no ulterior motives or hidden agendas. He only wants what is best for us.

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

1 Timothy 4:1–3

It is easy for anyone with discernment and a basic knowledge of the Bible to see that our world is awash in false teaching. And yet almost all of us know people who have been deceived by those whose purpose is to lead others astray. It is important for us to be fully grounded in the truth, and it is important that we understand the traits and characteristics of false teachers so that we can resist their doctrine.

One of the characteristics of false teachers is that they place restrictions where God has not. Certainly there are many things God forbids, and no matter how many of them society or even churches decide to accept, all of those are still wrong and should be forbidden. Sin is still sin, no matter how many people decide that things have changed. But false teachers go beyond forbidding what God has condemned and add their own interpretations and doctrines on top of the Scriptures.

They know that numerous restrictions that go beyond what God requires give them power and control, even though they often do not obey those restrictions themselves. This was the tactic of the Pharisees who opposed Jesus. He described their false teaching this way: “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Matthew 23:4). The Bible is the standard against which all preaching and teaching must be measured for truth.

“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

Isaiah 6:3–5

I read about a young couple who moved into a new home. As they ate breakfast together on their first morning there, the lady who lived next door was hanging her laundry on an old fashioned clothes line to dry in the sun. “That laundry doesn’t look very clean,” the wife remarked to her husband. “Perhaps her washing machine doesn’t work very well, or she should try a different laundry soap.” Each time the neighbor hung her laundry, the lady made a comment on how dirty it looked. Then a few weeks later, something changed. “Wow her laundry looks clean this morning,” the lady said. “She must have changed something.” “Not really,” her husband replied. “I washed our windows.”

Many times we are quick to see the flaws and faults in others. Those failings may be imagined or real, but in either case they seem glaring to us. On the other hand, our own faults frequently seem to escape our attention. Isaiah was a prophet with a message from God for a people who were not living right. At first Isaiah’s focus was on the people, and if you read the first chapters of Isaiah, you will find “Woe to them” a repeated theme. But when the prophet saw God, his first concern was not for the people, but for himself. Measured against God’s perfect holiness, all of us fall short and stand in need of God’s mercy.

“But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”

Acts 24:14–16

I came across a humorous story about a man who went to seek advice. He confessed to the counselor that he had been doing some things that he knew were wrong, and his conscience was bothering him. “So you’re looking for some help to strengthen your will power so you stop doing what you’re doing?” he was asked. “No,” the man replied. “I was hoping for something that would weaken my conscience.”

While the Bible is the only unfailing and completely reliable guide to what is wrong, God has given each person an internal moral compass. The conscience can be a powerful voice that helps guide our behavior, but it can also be beaten into silence so that it no longer warns us that what we are about to do is wrong. First Timothy 4:2 describes this as a seared conscience: “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.”

If we want our conscience to play the role God intended, we have to work at it. Paul said, “I exercise myself” when it came to keeping his conscience right. The best way to strengthen our conscience is to fill our hearts and minds with the Word of God. When we use that as our guide, our conscience will be giving us the right warnings before we act. The more we listen to those warnings, following Scripture and yielding to the Holy Spirit, rather than just doing what seems best for us or convenient, the stronger our conscience will become.

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

John 6:35–37

Dr. John Rice told of witnessing to an elderly man after a funeral. The man had raised his hand to indicate that he was not saved, and when Dr. Rice asked him why not, he explained that he did not know how to be saved. After they talked for a few minutes, Dr. Rice explained it this way: “God furnished the Saviour and you furnish the sinner.” He later recounted, “He looked up to me startled and then his eyes lightened and he began to chuckle while the tears still ran down his gray, beard-stubbled face. ‘Well, I can certainly furnish the sinner, if He is willing to furnish the Saviour,’ he said.”

So many people are working and struggling in an effort to procure salvation. They do certain things and avoid others, hoping to gain merit and favor with God. They live with fear hanging over their heads that they will somehow miss out despite their efforts. In reality, all of us fail to measure up to God’s perfect standard of holiness. But the solution to that is not for us to do more or to do better. It is to turn from our sin and accept God’s free offer of salvation. Jesus illustrated this truth by holding up the simple faith of children as our model. “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein” (Luke 18:17).

“Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”

Luke 9:22–24

There is surely no more recognized symbol of Christianity than the cross. We see it on buildings, in art, in cemeteries, in churches, and on clothing and jewelry. Yet the actual cross was nothing less than an instrument of torture and execution perfected by the Romans. And while we often speak of the cross in metaphorical terms, the cross Jesus carried was real. It was made from heavy wood, and He was forced to carry His own means of death to the place where He would die. When the weight caused Jesus to collapse, another was compelled to carry that cross in His place.

When Jesus instructs us to take up our cross and follow Him, He is not telling us how to have our “best life now.” He is calling us to a life of service and sacrifice according to the example that He set. Of course, simply knowing this does not make doing what we should easy. Many times we are tempted to avoid a particular cross that entails hardship or suffering. Charles Spurgeon said, “‘Any cross but the one I have,’ cried one. Surely it would not be a cross if you had the choosing of it, for it is the essence of a cross that it should run counter to our likings.” Being the Saviour was not free or easy for Jesus, and we should not expect our service to Him to come without cost.

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Matthew 5:43–45

We hear a great emphasis on justice all around us. Many people are focused on making sure they get what they deserve, or at least what they think they deserve. The reality as taught in the Word of God is that the last thing we should seek is what we deserve—for we deserve to spend eternity in Hell apart from God as the just consequence of our sins. Instead, He freely offers salvation through Jesus Christ to those who believe.

But even beyond the grace of salvation, God displays His grace day after day. He has the power to create physical distinctions so that Christians could have different weather from the general population. During the plagues of Egypt, God protected the Israelites from much of the suffering. “And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth” (Exodus 8:22).

Instead, God allows the sun to shine on everyone, not just the righteous, and everyone to benefit from the rain that falls. We take these things for granted, but they are gifts from God which we do not deserve. We receive them because of His grace. In the same spirit, He calls us to extend grace to others, even those who do not deserve it.