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And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:6–7

One of the most poignant moments of the Christmas story is the arrival of Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem to find that there was no place for them. Even Mary's advanced pregnancy was not enough to convince anyone to open their doors to the desperate couple. Yet that was only the beginning of a pattern that would follow Jesus in His ministry. Again and again he was asked to leave or threatened with death if He stayed.

Harry Ironside said, “I suppose hundreds of people were crowding into Bethlehem. The wealthy would make reservations ahead and preempt the good places to stay. You can imagine there would not be much attention paid to this poor carpenter. One cannot but wonder, however, whether the innkeeper himself ever realized what a wondrous Guest he had failed to find room for. Surely he must regret now that he did not make it possible to entertain them, no matter how crowded the inn might have been.”

Before we critique the people of Bethlehem for not making room for Jesus, we must look at our own lives. Do we have room for Him in our time, our finances, our conduct and our worship? Or do we try to squeeze Him in whenever other priorities lessen and we have spare time? “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).

Christmas is a special day to remember Christ’s willingness to come for us. As we thank Him today for His sacrifice, may we renew our commitment to make Him the center of our lives all year long.

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Genesis 22:1-2

Though Abraham is called the “father of the faithful” and believed God for impossible things, there were times when even his faith failed. When many years passed without the arrival of the son God had promised, Abraham and Sarah took matters into their own hands. As a result, Ishmael was born, and a lasting division was created within the family. Though some of the consequences of sin may remain, when we seek God's forgiveness, He provides it, and removes the sin from our record forever.

Thus, when it came time for the great test of Abraham's faith, when God instructed Him to offer Isaac on Mount Moriah, God referred to Isaac as his “only son.” The consequences of Abraham's sin lingered, but the guilt and condemnation were removed, and taken away forever. God does not partially forgive those who seek His pardon and grace. He completely forgives. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:17).

Doubtless there are things about the year that is ending that you would like to forget. There are sins and failures and shortcomings—all of us have them. Although, God does not hold grudges. Instead, He graciously offers a new start and freedom from guilt and shame. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

2 Timothy 4:9-12

After being thrown out of school at age nine for throwing a desk at his teacher and being sent to juvenile detention at twelve after threatening to kill his mother and brother, the future seemed to hold little for Ryan Green. But there were people who believed in his potential and refused to give up on him. When he was exposed to the world of opera for the first time, a dream took root in Ryan's heart. He devoted himself to studying music and preparing his voice. He won several competitions and performed major roles in operas in concert halls around the world. Today, he is a member of the Vienna State Opera in Austria and continues to travel and sing in major roles.

As we work with people, we will face the temptation to give up—to decide that they are a hopeless case and there is no use spending any more time or energy or resources on trying to help them. But God does not give up on us, and we should not give up on others. Paul and Barnabas took Mark with them on their first missionary trip, but he abandoned their work at one point and went home. Later, Paul refused to take Mark with him because of that failure, which led to the breakdown of his long partnership with Barnabas. Yet, in the final years of his life, in his last letter to Timothy, Paul asked for Mark, because “he is profitable to me.” Barnabas never gave up on Mark, and it made a difference.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.”

Isaiah 41:10–12

Most of Frances Ridley Havergal’s life was marked by pain. She suffered from ill health most of her life, and died a painful death at just forty-two years old from complications with peritonitis. In the days before antibiotics and effective and widely available pain medication, it was a grueling life. Yet Havergal never lost the faith she learned growing up in her father’s church as a little girl. To celebrate the start of 1874 she wrote this poem:

What shall I wish thee? Treasures of earth?
Songs in the springtime, pleasure and mirth?
Flowers on thy pathway, skies ever clear?
Would this insure thee a happy New Year?

Peace in the Saviour, rest at His feet,
Smile on His countenance, radiant and sweet.
Joy in His presence, Christ ever near!
This will insure thee a happy New Year.

David spent much of his early life ignored, belittled, and rejected even by his own family. Then when he did become known in Israel, he spent years running from Saul who was jealous of David’s popularity with the people. He knew hardship and battle and danger as daily companions. Yet David wrote, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

Proverbs 27:23-26

When D. L. Moody decided to give up his lucrative business career and enter full-time ministry, he had no formal training and had not even finished high school. But, he had a burning passion in his heart to reach people with the gospel. Ministry for Moody was not a casual pursuit but a whole-hearted, dedicated, and committed effort. When none of the churches in Chicago expressed interest in his help, Moody began his own Sunday school program, reaching young people in poor neighborhoods where many churches were not active.

One of Moody's biographers, Laird Simons wrote, “Already one thousand scholars were members of his [Sunday] school, and three hundred adult converts attended his regular services. He found himself pastor of an earnest congregation [which] he kept engaged in distributing tracts, and testifying for the truth in byways and amid their neighbors. No pastor ever looked more faithfully after the welfare of his individual members. On New Year's day it was his custom to visit every attendant...from house to house...and praying tenderly for the welfare of each. In this manner, he has been known to visit two hundred families in the course of a single day.”

No great work for God has ever been accomplished by those who are not willing to labor diligently in His harvest. He deserves nothing less than the very best we can give Him. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 11:8-10

Charles Spurgeon routinely spoke to crowds of 6,000 or more at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. On New Year's Eve in 1891, he spoke to only a handful of friends who were with him in Mentone, France, where he had been seeking treatment for his painful illness. Spurgeon did not know when he spoke that night that in less than a month he would see the Lord, for whom he had faithfully preached, face to face. Although, Spurgeon did know that he trusted God.

Spurgeon said, “Could we procure a telescope which would enable us to see to the end of the year, would we be wise to use it? I think not. Great mercy has hung up a veil between us and the future; and there let it hang.” The following morning he preached a brief New Year's sermon at his hotel. “The vista of a praiseful life will never close, but continue throughout eternity. From psalm to psalm, from hallelujah to hallelujah, we will ascend the hill of the Lord where we will bow before the Divine Majesty in the bliss of endless adoration.”

While God does not expect us to be foolish or unwise in our lives, He does expect us to trust Him regarding the future. The path ahead will not be clear to us until we see God face to face. But, every day of our lives is already known to Him. We can trust Him even when we cannot see Him.

And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Luke 19:15-17

One of the final parables Jesus taught before His crucifixion was the story of a nobleman who trusted his servants with money before taking a long journey. The primary purpose of this parable was to address God's plan for the future—that Jesus had come as a Saviour rather than to set up an earthly kingdom. But, one of the main applications of the parable is that each of us has been trusted with gifts and abilities and resources by God. One day we will stand before Him to give an account of how we have used our gifts.

When the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, 2018 will close forever. There will never be an opportunity to go back and recapture time wasted, money poorly spent, opportunities to witness lost, unkind words spoken in anger or deeds we regret doing or not doing. But, that realization should not fill us with despair, but hope. When the sun comes up, a new year will start. Each of those days can be used to good purpose.

The certainty of the time when we must give account to God for our service should encourage and motivate us to stop worrying about other people and instead focus on how we can best serve Him each day. Paul reminds us, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10).

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 13:33–35

As Jesus spent time with His disciples on the night before the crucifixion, He knew that they would soon be launched into a new beginning as they took up the work and ministry for which He had been preparing them. Yet even on that last night, the disciples were still focused on their own selfish interests. “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest” (Luke 22:24). As Jesus ate the Passover with them, they still did not grasp what He had told them was coming.

After Jesus’ powerful example of service to others that night—when He washed the disciples' feet— Jesus gave them a new command to follow: to love each other in the same way that He loved them. Some people call this the “eleventh commandment.” Then Jesus said that love would be the defining characteristic by which His followers would be known. Our world speaks of love frequently, but only rarely are those who use the word talking about the kind of love God commands us to have. And sadly too often the world does not see that love on display in the church either.

Jesus said that the love Christians have for each other would be the evidence that would convince others we are following Him. We often focus on outward expressions or evidence of conduct, but though those are important, the most important test of whether or not we will be seen as genuine disciples is our love for each other.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:12–14

Senator Daniel Webster was known for his eloquence, his devotion to the United States, and his unshakable faith in God. The story goes that he was dining with some literary men in Boston. During the dinner, the conversation turned to Christianity, and Webster clearly stated his belief in the deity of Christ and his dependence upon the atonement. One of those present said to him, “Mr. Webster, can you comprehend how Christ could be both God and man?” Mr. Webster promptly replied, “No, sir, I cannot comprehend it. If I could comprehend Him, He would be no greater than myself. I feel that I need a super-human Saviour.”

Faith is a requirement for the Christian life because even having the Bible and the Holy Spirit within to help us understand and apply it to our lives, God's nature is beyond our understanding. The mind of man is not able to comprehend an unlimited, eternal deity. When we do not understand, we must accept that what He says is true and act accordingly.

This is what faith in action looks like. We not only give mental assent to what God says, but we allow it to control what we do. Paul reminds us, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” (2 Corinthians 5:7). God has the right to demand our obedience without explanation. He is always right, and we are safe when we follow and obey Him in faith.

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

Galatians 5:13–15

One of the men chosen to represent Maryland at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, to set up a new government for the United States was James McHenry. McHenry was a doctor who immigrated from Ireland and served in the Revolutionary War with George Washington. The fort in Maryland where Francis Scott Key saw the Stars and Stripes still waving after a night of British bombardment is named for him.

Much of what we know about the discussions and agreements that led to the passage of the Constitution comes from a diary McHenry kept during the proceedings. On September 18, 1787, the day after the members of the body signed the Constitution and adjourned, McHenry recorded this exchange (with his original spelling and capitalization intact):

a lady asked Dr. Franklin
well Doctor what we got
a republic or a monarchy—
A republic replied the Doctor
if you can keep it.
The lady here aluded to was
Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia

Continuing freedom is not a guarantee, in either the political world or in the spiritual realm. It can easily be lost. Paul warned, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). There are many ways in which freedom can be lost, but one of the most common in both human government and individual spiritual lives is for people to become selfish and focused only on themselves. When liberty becomes license, it will not be long before it is lost.

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

John 20:26–28

In 1867, Rose Hartwick Thorpe wrote a poem called “Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight.” Thorpe set her poetic account of an old English folktale in the days of Oliver Cromwell and the English civil war that took place in the 1600s. A young woman named Bessie learns that the love of her life has been sentenced to be executed when the church bells ring at sunset to announce the curfew. Determined that the bell not ring, she begs the church sexton to abandon his duty, but he refuses. Undaunted, she climbed to the bell tower and wrapped her hands around the clapper. Though the sexton pulled on the rope, the bell did not ring. The poem ends with these lines:

O’er the distant hills came Cromwell; Bessie saw him; and her brow,
Lately white with care and anguish, glows with sudden beauty now,
At his feet she told her story, showed her hands, all bruised and torn;
And her sweet young face, still wearing traces of the anguish borne,
Touched his heart with sudden pity, lit his eyes with misty light.
“Go! your lover lives,” cried Cromwell. “Curfew shall not ring to-night.”

Jesus Christ owed no debt for sin, because He lived a perfect life. But He paid the debt that we owed, and the marks are still visible on His body. His great love for us provides the offer of salvation, but we must accept it. Salvation is a free gift, but must be received.

John 8:9–11

In an attempt to trap Jesus, the religious leaders brought an adulterous woman before Him and asked what should be done. They thought they had placed Jesus in a no-win situation. If He said she should be stoned, they would accuse Him of breaking Roman law. If He said she should not be stoned, they would accuse Him of breaking Jewish law. Instead of falling into their trap, Jesus pointed out that they were not following the law of Moses which required those who testified against someone in a capital case to carry out the sentence themselves. “The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you” (Deuteronomy 17:7).

After the ashamed accusers (who were not really interested in following the law) had left, Jesus gave the woman two things that she desperately needed: forgiveness for past sins and the ability not to be bound by her past life. When we trust Christ as Saviour, we are not just forgiven but also set free. Paul wrote, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin” (Romans 6:6–7). No believer is compelled to sin, but instead can walk in freedom.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

Matthew 23:25–28

Leona Helmsley was famous for two things. She was fabulously wealthy, and she was mean. Helmsley was so harsh to those who worked for her that she was called “The Queen of Mean.” She even used her image as a demanding perfectionist in advertising for her hotels. Helmsley’s relationship with her family was no better than the one with her staff. In fact, the largest beneficiary in her will was her beloved dog Trouble, to whom she left $12 million. Also in her will was the instruction that the dog be buried next to her in a mausoleum. She even left money to have the mausoleum washed or steam-cleaned at least once a year.

Many people are more concerned with outward appearance than with what is on the inside. While appearances do matter to our testimony, they are far less important than our character. No matter how successfully we may conceal what is within our hearts, God sees and knows every thought and desire we have. And no matter how often we wash and scrub or even steam clean the part that people see, if we are dirty on the inside, the best that we can accomplish is to be sparkling bright tombs. The heart is where God looks, and it should be our focus as well.

“And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

Ruth 1:15–17

Ruth had married a young man from Israel in Moab where she lived, but after both her father in law, her husband, and his brother died, she faced a crossroads decision. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, had been left without support with her husband and both sons dead, so she decided to return to her people in Bethlehem. While Orpah chose to remain in Moab where her family lived, Ruth insisted on going to Bethlehem with Naomi. This meant that she was leaving behind her family, her language, and her religion on a permanent basis.

We live in a mobile society, so it is easy for us to undervalue the commitment Ruth was making. She had no plans to turn back. She was fully committed to staying with Naomi no matter what happened. Before she started down the road to Bethlehem, she had decided it was a lifelong choice, and that she would even be buried there in Israel rather than among her family in Moab. God rewarded her faith and she eventually married Boaz and became the great grandmother of the great king David.

The Lord strongly condemned those whose commitment to Him was only halfhearted. “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

“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

In May of 1863, near Chancellorsville, Virginia, the Union Army under the command of “Fighting Joe” Hooker outnumbered the Confederates under Robert E. Lee almost two to one. They were confident of victory, but a daring decision by Lee to split his forces changed that. Lee sent nearly half his outnumbered troops on a long march under the command of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson to strike the Union forces from behind. The surprise attack worked, winning one of the biggest victories of the entire war. But it came at a very high price.

When the fighting ended on the evening of May 2, Jackson and some of his aides rode out to scout the field of battle. When they returned, they were mistaken in the darkness for Union cavalry attempting a raid and their own troops opened fire on them. Jackson was hit by three bullets. Doctors amputated his arm in an effort to save his life, but on May 10, Lee's best and most effective general died—killed by his own men.

Too often Christians forget that they are all members of one body. Churches are riven with dissension and discord, when they are meant to be sources of encouragement and strength. That help we give and receive is one of the primary reasons behind the command God gave us to faithful church attendance. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”

Galatians 6:1–3

While many parents of athletes and entertainers have been heavily involved in their adult children’s lives and careers, often with negative results, perhaps none of them have been more famous recently than LaVar Ball. He has worked to turn his three sons, all talented basketball players, into a brand in their own right. But even as he promoted them, he couldn’t resist adding a little self promotion as well. In March of 2017, Ball was asked by an interviewer about his own playing career. Ball boasted, “Back in my heyday, I would kill Michael Jordan one-on-one.” His actual record shows that in his single year playing collegiate basketball, Ball averaged just two points and two rebounds per game.

Pride often leads us to deceive ourselves about our talents, gifts, abilities, and importance in the world. However, it seldom fools others, who see through our facade and self-importance and have a more rounded assessment. The problem with pride is that it is never satisfied. We must continue feeding it by achieving, or sometimes inventing accomplishments. It blinds us to the reality of the world around us, and to what God values—a humble heart.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Do not desire to be the principal man in the church. Be lowly. Be humble. The best man in the church is the man who is willing to be a doormat for all to wipe their boots on, the brother who does not mind what happens to him at all, so long as God is glorified.” If we only look for things that will satisfy our pride, we may miss our greatest opportunities for service.

“For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.”

1 Corinthians 12:14-20

Dr. Paul Brand, who was born to missionary parents in India and later went there for nearly twenty years of ministry as a medical doctor working with leprosy patients, wrote about the use of the Bible’s analogy of the church to a human body. Brand said, “The Body of Christ, like our own bodies, is composed of individual, unlike cells that are knit together to form one body. The joy of the body increases as individual cells realize they can be diverse without becoming isolated outposts.”

Statistics say that between 60 and 100 churches close every week in the United States. While some of these are churches that long ago turned away from Bible truth, others were churches that preached the truth but for one reason or another failed to continue and grow. One of the major problems is self-focus.

We live in an increasingly isolated society. Despite all the connections made possible by social media, many people are actually lonely in real life. They are missing the meaningful connections they need, and this can be true in the church as well. It is vitally important for us to truly care for each other. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

John 14:10–12

There is a beautiful story that tells of a group of German students who volunteered to go to England not long after the end of the Second World War. In an effort to help heal the rift between the two nations, they planned to help restore an English cathedral that had been greatly damaged by German bombs during the Blitz. One of the items they worked on most was a statue of Jesus with His arms spread wide that bore the inscription, “Come unto Me.” They were able to repair most of the damage, but they had great difficulty with the hands. After talking it over with the church officials, they decided to leave the hands off the statue, and change the inscription to read, “Christ has no hands but ours.”

Jesus perfectly fulfilled the will and purpose of His Father during His life on earth. The night before He went to the cross, Jesus prayed, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). Though Jesus did all that was planned for Him, it was not all that would ever need to be done. So He left His work for us to finish. God certainly does not need our help or our talents to make up anything He lacks, but He has chosen to let us be part of His plan for our world.

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

Philippians 2:1–4

God greatly blessed the work of Missionary Hudson Taylor in China. As hundreds accepted Christ as Saviour, the need for more workers became pressing. Taylor made it a habit as much as possible to interview all the candidates who were interested in joining the China Inland Mission. The story goes that he would ask, “Why do you want to go as a foreign missionary?” Various answers were common, especially things like, “Because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel,” or “Because millions are perishing without Christ.” Taylor would say, “All of these motives, however good, will fail you in times of testings, trials, tribulations, and possible death. There is but one motive that will sustain you in trial and testing—namely, the love of Christ.”

Only love will keep us going when things go wrong, when others turn against us, when opposition increases, or when disaster strikes. Some people serve for a time and then stop, and that is normally because they had an insufficient source of motivation. Often we are on guard against wrong motives like pride, but forget that even good motives that are not the right motive are insufficient. If our work is driven by the fact that Jesus loves us and we love Him, there is no sacrifice that is too great to make for Him. He deserves the very best that we can offer, and love compels us to give it to Him.

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

Dr. Curtis Hutson used to tell the story of a drunk man speeding down the road. When he was pulled over, he asked the policeman how much the ticket was. Hearing the reply he said, “Go ahead and write up two tickets. I’ll be coming back through in about an hour, and that way you won’t have to stop me again!” He would never have said something like that if he had been sober. But he was “under the influence” of alcohol.

Paul uses drunkenness to contrast and compare the effect of being filled with the Holy Spirit. A person who is intoxicated does not behave as he normally would. Instead his words and actions are being guided and shaped by the force that is controlling his brain. In the same way, although for a completely different reason, being filled with the Holy Spirit means that we are no longer in control, but rather we have surrendered that control to God so He can guide our steps.

Many people have had more to drink than they realize, and become drunk because of it. But it is not because someone forced liquor down their throat. Rather, they choose to give themselves over to drink, and drunkenness results. Likewise, we cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit unless we yield ourselves to His control. The choice must be ours. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16).

“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

There have been times through the years when I’ve had to call someone into the office to correct them about something in their job performance. Perhaps it was an assigned task they had failed to carry out, or a job they had not accomplished in an acceptable manner. I’ve never found those conversations to be particularly fun. I don’t enjoy having them, and people don’t enjoy having things pointed out that they need to improve. But correction is vital because without correction, nothing ever improves.

And this is not just something for employers or parents or pastors. Paul tells us that Christians in the church are to admonish—to warn or correct—each other. This is something most of us just don’t want to do. We worry that people will think we are being Pharisees or judgmental or cruel, so we remain silent rather than speaking up. But all of us have blind spots, and we need people in our lives who are willing to step forward and take the risk to admonish us when we need to be corrected.

The key to admonishing in the right way so that it is effective is found in the first part of the verse—God’s Word must richly dwell in our own hearts before we are competent to admonish others. Those whose minds are filled with the Bible will correct only things that need correcting, and do so in the right spirit.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

James 1:22–25

Most of us look at ourselves in the mirror on a regular basis. We have mirrors in our homes, our offices, and our cars. All of those mirrors show a reflection of what is in front of them. Sometimes we are pleased with what we see, and sometimes we realize that some kind of change needs to be made, but the mirror never makes those changes for us. In fact, if one of our mirrors tried to comb my hair or straighten my tie, I’m pretty sure I would head for the door.

But when James compared the Bible to a mirror, he noted that by looking into the Word of God and doing what it says, we will be changed in such a way that we will receive God’s blessing. The purpose of God for our lives is for us to become more and more like Jesus. “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 means God has given to us to complete that process is His Word. Only as we fill our hearts and minds with the Scripture and meditate on it day and night will we walk as God wants us to walk.

“For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.”

Deuteronomy 11:22–24

The largest nuclear accident in history occurred at Chernobyl in 1986. The massive release of radiation and fallout was not the result of a design flaw or an equipment failure. Two electrical engineers in the control room decided to find out how long a turbine would “free wheel” with the power turned off. To accomplish their purpose, they manually overrode six separate systems and alarms. The disaster was not the result of a lack of warning, but rather a failure to heed the multiple warnings that were given.

Before the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, Moses told them that they faced a choice. If they would follow God, He would give them complete and total victory. Any student of history knows that Israel, even at its greatest size by land mass, only possessed a small portion of the land God promised to give to them. God fought battles and gave them victories while they were obedient, but soon they turned aside from following Him and began worshiping idols instead.

The defeats that Israel suffered were foretold ahead of time. Again and again prophets warned of the consequences of disobedience. And again and again they ignored them and were punished. If we ignore what God has commanded us to do and not do, the result will be the same. Someone said, “You can sow wild oats and pray for crop failure, but it won’t work.”

“How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end. If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?”

Jeremiah 12:4–5

The people of Israel in Jeremiah’s day were confident that they could make their way without God’s help. But they found themselves defeated again and again. And Jeremiah warned them that what was coming next would be an even greater challenge as he asked pointed questions: If you can’t outrun the people who work with the horses, how will you outrun the horses? If you grow weary during relatively peaceful times, how will you handle it when a flood comes?

The point of these questions was to point people to God as their source of strength. But where many people fail is that they do not build up strength ahead of time. R. A. Torrey said, “The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came... Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.”

Just as physical exercise strengthens our muscles, spiritual exercise strengthens our faith and our obedience. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14). Spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible reading, church attendance, and witnessing strengthen our spiritual muscles so we can accomplish God’s plan and purpose in our lives.

“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”

Revelation 5:11–13

The vision of Heaven that John was given reveals a place that is filled with praise and worship. Nothing less would be fitting for the King of kings and Lord of lords. But if Heaven is filled with worship to the only One worthy of it, Earth certainly is not—not even in many churches. A Barna survey revealed that, “Most Americans go to church to satisfy or please themselves, not to honor or please God.”

Church and worship, and indeed all of life, is meant to be about God rather than about us. He alone is to be praised and worshiped.  The fact of His goodness and graciousness does not automatically create worship and praise. We must be reminded again and again to keep our focus on Him. Four times in one psalm we find this instruction: “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31). This is not a repetition to fill space, but rather a powerful admonition to us to give thanks and honor God for all that He has done for us. Expressing our gratitude to God is a powerful protection against the temptations we face.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

John 10:27–30

There are about twenty different contests held around the world each year to determine who has the strongest hands. One of the most common competitions is the “pinch grip” where a weight is held only between the fingers and the thumb, and is not allowed to touch the palm of the hand. In 2010 at the World of Grip championships, David Horne set a new world record, lifting more than 260 pounds with just his fingers. He then went on to win the championship in five of the next six years as well.

While David Horne’s hands are certainly very, very strong, they are nothing compared to God’s hands which hold His children safe and secure. Many Christians live with insecurity, doubt, and fear when God wants them to live in perfect confidence. The idea that someone who has been saved can then somehow lose that salvation is contrary to what Jesus taught. Anyone who has genuinely trusted Christ as His Saviour is as safe as if he were already in Heaven.

There are certainly things we can do which will displease God and bring difficult consequences into our lives. We surely must not use the fact that we are secure to indulge in sin. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1–2). But when we sin God does not turn His back on us. He does not take away the free gift of salvation that He has given to us.

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.”

Titus 3:8–9

Henry Ford introduced the Model T car in 1908, but sales didn’t really take off until a few years later with the development of the automated assembly line. By the 1920s, Ford was selling more than a million Model Ts each year. In the early days of automobiles, it was often difficult to find someone competent to repair any problem with the car, so Ford started issuing an owner’s manual with each vehicle. This laid out simple steps that could be taken to perform basic maintenance and extend the life of the car. 

God has given us an instruction manual in His Word, with things we must do and things we must avoid in order to live as He wills. There are no optional items in God’s book—these are not the Maker’s recommendations, but His instructions. And they must be followed, not just now and then, but on an ongoing basis. Many people fall because after they have done right for a while, they let down their guard and try to take it easy.

Spiritual victory demands continued and careful maintenance of the things God has commanded. It does not come naturally for us. But it must be done, over and over again. Ellen Sturgis Hooper wrote, “I slept, and dreamed that life was beauty: I woke, and found that life was duty.” Just as with a car, it is possible to skip the maintenance that is needed in our spiritual life, but it will have negative results. Instead, we need to continue our spiritual disciplines and do right day after day, being “careful to maintain good works.”

“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Mark 12:28–30

Though locks have been around since ancient times, with examples being found in archaeological excavations in Nineveh, among other cities, the modern secure lock as we know it today got its start in the early 1800s. Disturbed by theft of naval property, the British announced a contest for someone to create a lock that would withstand the attempts of burglars to open it. Jeremiah Chubb presented his lock to the government in 1818, and after three months effort, a trained lock-picker could not open it. Chubb received a prize of £100 for his invention and went into business making locks and safes. Chubb’s lock could only be opened with the proper key.

The key to living as God commands is found in our love. If He is first in our hearts and minds, obedience to the rest of what He tells us to do will come easily. But if we love anything or anyone more than we love Him, the door to obedience will not be unlocked. Being a good Christian is not a matter of keeping a list of rules. Judas did such a good job looking good outwardly, even though he was a thief and a traitor inwardly, that the other disciples trusted him to keep the money for the whole group, not suspecting that he was stealing from them the whole time. Growing in our walk with God is a matter of the heart. If we do not love God above all, we are missing the master key.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Ephesians 4:29–32

Everett Dirksen represented the state of Illinois first in the House of Representatives and then in the Senate from 1932 until his death in 1969. Though he was a gifted speaker, Dirksen was best known for his ability to form close friendships that allowed him to work across the divisions that often appear in politics. One of the secrets to his success was the help he provided to others. Dirksen famously said that when there was a controversial issue up for a vote that did not have a direct bearing on his constituents or his principles, he would figure out which side was going to win and then vote for the other side. Dirksen said, “My friend, the winners never remember and the losers never forget.”

Acts of kindness should not be rare, particularly within the body of Christ, but in too many cases callousness and even cruelty are more commonly displayed instead. There is no shortage of people who could use a kind and encouraging word. There are plenty of people struggling to make it from one day to the next, who wonder if anyone cares for them. There are many who echo the lament of David: “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul” (Psalm 142:4). It takes very little to be kind, but kindness has a powerful impact.

“And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”

John 2:14–16

Because we live in a world that is increasingly turning its back on God, we are constantly surrounded by a sea of wickedness. And because that wickedness is being praised and promoted, it is easy for us to adopt a casual attitude toward sin. We would not do those things ourselves, but we are lulled into thinking sin is really not that bad. It is. In the time of Christ it had become common practice for the Temple to be filled with commerce rather than worship. That grieved Jesus greatly, and He physically reacted by driving the sellers out with a whip.

In the days of the rebuilding of Jerusalem under Nehemiah, the Israelites found a similar response from their leader to the accepted practice of intermarriage with the heathen nations around them. “And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves” (Nehemiah 13:25).

Of course we should love sinners, but we must still hate sin. Our reaction should be driven by what God thinks rather than by how it may seem to us. Matthew Henry said, “If we would be angry and not sin, we must be angry at nothing but sin; and we should be more jealous for the glory of God than for any interest or reputation of our own.”

“And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room….Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”

1 Kings 19:16, 18

After the great victory on Mount Carmel, where God answered his prayer and sent fire from Heaven to burn not only the sacrifice, but even the stones of the altar, Elijah could have rejoiced in God’s power and gone on to his next assignment. Instead, he fled alone into the desert, fearing Jezebel’s threat to take his life. When God confronted him, the depressed prophet complained that he alone had remained faithful to God. “And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:10). God’s response to him, in the verses above, was that he was, in reality, not alone. There were seven thousand people in Israel who had not turned from God to worship Baal.

In a society where believing what God says in the Bible and speaking it out loud can end a career, and where evil and wickedness is not just tolerated but aggressively promoted, it is tempting to think that we are alone. But in truth, there are many faithful Christians all around the world who have not abandoned what is right for what is convenient. We are not alone. Even if it were true that there was no one else doing right, we would still not be alone, for God never leaves or forsakes us. Even in Elijah’s moment of despair, far away from everything he knew, God was there.

“Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

2 Corinthians 2:8–11

John Selwyn was born in New Zealand in 1844. After going to England for his education, he set out for the Melanesian Islands as a missionary. The inhabitants of Norfolk Island were not open to the gospel and often were harsh in their treatment of foreigners. One day as Selwyn was talking to a teenage boy, the boy became angry and struck him in the face. Selwyn said nothing in response, and walked away. After a few years, Selwyn’s health failed, forcing him to return to England. Many years passed, and another missionary was summoned to talk to a dying man who wished to be saved before he met God. When the missionary asked his name, he replied, “Call me John Selwyn, because he taught me what Christ was like when I struck him.”

The choice to forgive is more than just a matter of obedience to God and following the example of Jesus. It is vital both to our own physical and spiritual health, and it is vital to our relationships with others. The things that we hold close and refuse to let go keep us trapped far more than they trap the person who did them. Forgiveness does not mean the offense did not happen or that we deserved what happened or that there are no consequences to the offender. Forgiveness means that we have released it into God’s hands, and we trust Him to deal with the offender as He sees best.

“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.”

Hebrews 10:32–34

The Great Pyramid in Giza has been standing for more than four thousand years. Built to serve as the mausoleum of a pharaoh named Khufu, this massive structure was, for most of its existence, the tallest man-made building on Earth. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and it is the only one that has largely survived intact. It was not built with an eye toward ease, convenience or cost—it was built with an eye toward permanence.

Every day we are faced with choices between the temporal and the eternal. There are only so many hours in each day and so much money in the budget. The question we face is how we will choose to invest our resources. Wise Christians understand that the greatest and most important investment we can make is an investment in the things of God. Paul noted this truth when he wrote to thank the church at Philippi for their financial support he said, “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account” (Philippians 4:17).

It is easy to only care about ROI, return on investment, for our earthly treasures. But we should be far more concerned with what we are accomplishing that will last. Is the way we spend our time, money, and abilities building up treasure in Heaven? If not, a major change needs to be made. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

“And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.”

Genesis 45:3–5

When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and made Jacob believe his favorite son had been killed by a wild animal, they committed a great evil. Yet when they were finally reunited with Joseph, though he had the power to inflict any punishment he wished on them, he forgave them. Joseph was willing to forgive because he recognized God had been at work. The problem was that his brothers had a hard time accepting that they had been forgiven.

Seventeen years passed before Jacob died. When they returned to Egypt after burying Jacob in the Promised Land, they feared that Joseph had just been biding his time. “And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him” (Genesis 50:15). They had been forgiven, but they were still living with guilt and shame for what they had done.

Often we do that, both with God and with others. We realize the seriousness of our offenses, and genuinely repent and seek forgiveness. But when we receive it, we do not live as if we have been forgiven. There will be consequences for past actions, but the guilt has been removed. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

“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

The Bible tells us a great deal about God’s hatred for sin. If we truly understood how revolting and repugnant sin is, we would do far less of it. But when we sin, there is a dramatic effect on our relationship with God. It does not impact our standing as members of His family—nothing can undo our salvation—but it tears apart our fellowship and closeness with our Saviour.

Over the years, I’ve heard many Christians talk about how prayer doesn’t “work” the way the Bible says it should. Often there are excuses made, but God’s prayer promises have not changed. He is still able to do anything. Sometimes the problem is one of faithfulness (God calls us to be importunate in our prayers, Luke 18:1), but many times the problem is that we allow sin to remain in our lives, covering it rather than confessing it. That prevents our prayers from even being considered. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18).

Sin separates a Christian from fellowship with God just as certainly as sin separates the lost from eternity with God. Again and again people try to cover their sin and cling to it, rather than giving it up. Someone said, “The reason people struggle to resist temptation is that they don’t want to discourage it completely.” There are many reasons to avoid sin, but one of the most compelling should be the thought of losing fellowship with God. We should long for His presence and the close relationship that follows obedience.

“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.”

Malachi 1:6–8

The expression “close enough for government work” has been around for more than one hundred years. Originally it meant something that was almost perfect, able to meet rigorous standards and ready to be tested and put into use. But in the 1960s it became a condemnation instead. Now it refers to something that is not done as well as it could or should be done. Regardless of what human standards we may reach or fall short of, God does not accept less than our very best.

The instructions given under the law for which animals were acceptable for sacrifice were clear. “And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 15:21).  But by the time of Malachi, the people were giving God anything that was defective, while keeping the best for themselves. God called this “evil” and He has not changed His mind. When God gave to us, He sent the very best that He had—Himself, Jesus. Our salvation was purchased by a perfect Lamb. “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (1 Peter 1:19).

“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 most famous of Aesop’s fables is “The Tortoise and the Hare.” The boastful rabbit is challenged to a race by a turtle. He gleefully accepts, certain of victory. When the race begins, the rabbit hurries off, soon leaving the turtle far behind. Rather than completing the race, he decides to take a nap. It is only when he awakens that the rabbit realizes the turtle is almost to the finish line. He races to catch up, but loses the contest.

All of us are tempted at times to rest on our laurels. While we certainly should be thankful for past victories and accomplishments, it is far more important for us to be focused on the future. God has greater things ahead for us, but if we have decided to coast because of what we have already done, we will miss them. Many people have missed opportunities to glorify God and live up to their calling because they decided they had already done enough.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Living on the past is one of the faults of old churches. We, for instance, as a church, may begin to congratulate ourselves upon the great things God has done by us, for we shall be sure to put it in that pretty shape, although we shall probably mean the great things we have done ourselves. After praising ourselves thus we shall gain no further blessing, but shall decline by little and little.”

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

Acts 4:34–37

The members of the early church in Jerusalem included many who had come from across the Roman Empire for the Jewish feast days. Many of them were far from home, and their financial needs were acute. There were no facilities or programs such as we take for granted today, and no real organized structure to meeting urgent needs. But their needs were met by those in the church who had the means to give to help them.

Among those who stepped forward in this way was Joses, better known to us as Barnabas. The gift that Barnabas made was not convenient. Cyprus is roughly 250 miles from Jerusalem. Arranging the sale of land from so far away would not have been easy. But because of his compassion for those in need, Barnabas did the work necessary to be in possession of the money so that he was able to provide financial support.

Over the years, I’ve observed that it is almost never the “right” time when people most need help. There are always competing priorities and conflicting claims on our time. But to be a source of help and hope, we must be willing to do what is necessary. Paul wrote to Corinth, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2 Corinthians 12:15).

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

2 Peter 3:11–13

In November of 1922, Howard Carter faced a crisis. He had been working in Egypt, excavating ancient tombs and burial places since before the First World War. For a number of years he had been sponsored by Lord Carnarvon, but the wealthy English noble had grown tired of the lack of results. He informed Carter that he would not pay for another year of digging in the Valley of the Kings without a notable discovery. Then a young water boy stumbled on what he thought was a stone, but turned out to be the top of a staircase cut into the rock. Those steps led to the tomb of Tutankhamun, King Tut, which was still intact after more than three thousand years. It was one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in all of history. The treasures found within remain one of the most popular attractions in the world.

Carter did not give up because he was looking for something he believed to be of great value. Since the first century, God’s people have been looking forward to the fulfillment of the promise the angels made to the disciples after Jesus ascended to Heaven. “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). If we abandon our hope for the Lord’s return, we will not live as He has commanded.

“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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

In 1794, the young nation of America faced its first serious internal conflict. Congress had enacted a tax on the distilling of alcohol which was widely unpopular, especially in the western part of Pennsylvania. In what came to be known as the Whiskey Rebellion, distillers first refused to pay the tax, and then took up weapons against those who came to enforce the law. In response, President George Washington personally led more than twelve thousand soldiers into the resistant region. Faced with such overwhelming force, and with its members not willing to fight against the hero of the American Revolution, the revolt quickly evaporated. Washington’s presence at the head of the troops made a great difference in the result.

There is no substitute for being together in the personal presence of someone we admire, respect, and love. Many of us have had the experience of being away from home, perhaps even out of the country, but still having the opportunity to talk to family via live video calls. That’s better than a regular phone conversation, and way better than nothing, but it is still a far cry from being there in person. As Christians, we have the glad promise that one day Jesus is returning. And He’s not simply “sending for us,” but He is coming personally. The night before the crucifixion He told the disciples, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”

Luke 19:41–44

If you visit Jerusalem today and go to the Mount of Olives, you will find a small church building located part of the way down the mountain going toward the city. It is called Dominus Flevit, the Church of the Lord’s Tears. It is built on the spot where tradition says that Jesus was when he wept over the Holy City. The dome is built in the shape of a teardrop. In the floor is a mosaic dating back hundreds of years that depicts a hen and her chickens, recalling what Jesus said about how He willingly would have gathered the people unto Him if they had been willing to come.

The Saviour entered Jerusalem, but He was rejected by the majority of the people because they did not recognize the gift of eternal life He was offering them. It is no different in our day. Many people know about Jesus, but they do not see themselves as being in need of salvation. Some people think because of their church membership, their good deeds, or their family heritage they will be fine in God’s eyes. But the best we can offer God falls far short of His standard of perfection. Rather than rejecting Christ, they should receive His freely-offered gift of salvation. And those of us who already know Christ as our personal Saviour should be sure to tell others about Him before it is too late for them.

“Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

Ephesians 1:2–4

In our day, we think of a eulogy strictly as something that belongs at funerals, where a friend, family member, or pastor speaks of the life of the deceased. As such, it sounds very strange to our ears to speak of a eulogy for the undying and eternal God we worship. But the original meaning of the word was not limited merely to the end of life. The compound Greek word eulogetus means “a good word” and this is the common word used when the Bible instructs us to bless God.

People can be a blessing to us in many ways, offering comfort, financial help, counsel, and fellowship to meet different needs that we have. But how can we be a blessing to God? There is absolutely nothing that He needs from us. We cannot add to His wisdom or wealth or power. Everything already belongs to Him. “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof” (Psalm 50:12). But when we praise Him, when we speak good words about God to ourselves and to others, He is pleased.

Praise toward God should be natural to those of us who have received His gift of salvation. Even when we do not feel like praising Him, we are reminded that it is not optional, but commanded. If you have a respiratory system, this applies to you. “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 150:6). Praise God for His goodness today.

“For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.”

Mark 13:34–36

At 7:20 on a Sunday morning, the phone rang at a radar station on Oahu Island. It was Lt. Kermit Tyler, responding to a message he had received a few minutes earlier regarding a huge blip that had shown up on the radar screen just after 7:00 that morning. Tyler told the radar operator, George Elliot, Jr. that it was nothing to worry about—just a flight of B-17 bombers flying in from California. And with that, the last warning that could have allowed a response before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was overlooked. The first wave of planes, 183 strong, had shown up on radar, but the US forces, with a peacetime mentality, were caught off guard.

The Bible tells us repeatedly that we are engaged in daily spiritual warfare against a powerful enemy who is dedicated to our destruction. Yet all too often Christians are caught off guard, losing the battle against sin because they did not take the warnings seriously. Jesus alerted Peter to the fact that he would deny his Lord in very strong terms. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). Yet despite that warning, Peter went to sleep while Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, and hours later he denied even knowing Jesus. Peter’s story is an example to us that we must give attention to biblical warnings. Every time we let down our guard, we give Satan an opening that he will certainly take.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”

Philippians 1:3–7

The Bible is filled with stories of people who waited for fulfillment of the promises they received from God. Abraham waited about twenty-five years for the birth of Isaac. Yet when all human hope had vanished, God worked a miracle to allow a couple long past child-bearing years to have a baby. The promise was kept because it did not rely on Abraham, but on God. Abraham’s faith failed at times along the way, but God had not forgotten, and in His time He did all that was necessary to complete the promise.

We have nothing to do with saving ourselves. Salvation is all about what God does for us, not what we bring to offer to Him. We simply call out to Him in faith for salvation. And it is the same God who saved us who promises to care for us during this life and the next. We can fully trust that promise, because we can fully trust the One who made it. David endured many trials and afflictions in his life. He spent years on the “most wanted” list as Saul tried to kill him. He slept in caves and even lived with the Philistines for a time. Yet David was able to say, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25).

“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

In one of the early Peanuts cartoons, Lucy looks at Charlie Brown and says, “I'm not sure what happiness means, but I look in your eyes and I know that it isn't there.” It is easy to look around our society and see people with sorrow in their hearts. This is one of the main reasons behind the growing use of alcohol and drugs and the increase in immorality. People try to drown out the pain in their hearts with some form of pleasure rather than turn to God, but that never works. In the United States, where the suicide rate had been stable or declining for decades, it has begun to rise again.

There is no earthly cure for hurting human hearts. For the physical heart there are all kinds of medicines, exercise programs, and surgeries; but for the spiritual heart, only God's grace can help. Apart from Him, we will never find a real and lasting cure for sorrow. Sin brought death and suffering into the world, and only God has the answer for sin. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

As Christians, we still endure times of sorrow and suffering. We live in a fallen world filled with physical and emotional pain. And sometimes, like Nehemiah, we experience sorrow specifically because of the spiritual needs around us. Yet, as Christians, we also have God’s promises to be with us and to give us a joy that reaches even deeper than sorrow.

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

Philippians 2:1–4

Not long after his long and successful career coaching North Carolina’s basketball program, Dean Smith instituted what was called “point to the passer” as a rule for his players. Whenever a player scored, he was to point to the teammate who had assisted with the basket. Smith said, “I was so tired of the star always being the one who scored the most points. I wanted to reward the passer.” After a few years, this became known as the “Bobby Jones Rule” named after one of Smith’s most outstanding players. Jones raced down the floor, receiving a perfect pass—and then missed the easy layup. But while he raced to get back on defense, he still pointed at the player who had passed him the ball to acknowledge his help.

The Christian life is not about self-promotion and rising to glory. It is not about getting ahead and becoming prominent so that you receive the praise of men. It is about obeying God, and to do that, we have to care about each other. Despite the fact that it goes against the grain in our society, we need to care more about other people than we care about ourselves. The selfish Christian does not add life and strength to the church, but rather drains it away. The proud believer does not bear the burdens of others but instead insists on his rights. These attitudes undermine what the church is meant to be.

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

Matthew 6:26–29

In 1653, Oliver Cromwell trusted Sir Bulstrode Whitelocke with a delicate mission. He was to go to Queen Christina of Sweden to negotiate a treaty of alliance with her. The instability brought about by the English Civil War and the overthrow of the king had upset old friendships, and Whitelocke was uncertain how he would be received. The night before he was to sail to Sweden, he could not sleep. When his servant saw his distress, he sought permission from Whitelocke to ask him a question.

“Pray, sir, do you not think that God governed the world very well before you came into it?” he asked. “Undoubtedly,” Whitelocke replied. “And pray, sir, do you not think that He will govern it quite as well when you are gone out of it?” the second question came. “Certainly,” Whitelocke said. The servant asked one final question: “Then, sir, pray excuse me, but do not you think you may trust Him to govern it quite as well as long as you live?” Without a word, Whitelocke turned over and quickly fell asleep.

Faith is not the belief that nothing will ever go wrong, but rather the certainty that God will remain in control. People who trust God sometimes lose their health, suffer financial reversals, and endure hardships. But they believe that God knows what is best and trust Him to do it.

“The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.”

2 Timothy 1:16–18

Until Bob Greene wrote Once Upon a Town in 2002, most people had never heard about the North Platte Canteen. World War II troop trains, carrying soldiers on their way to war, passed through the small Nebraska town. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, word spread that the next train would have soldiers from their town on it. Five hundred people were at the train station with food, gifts, and letters. But when the train arrived, it carried soldiers from Kansas rather than Nebraska.

The people gave what they had prepared for their own young men to those soldiers they did not know. Then they decided to keep doing it. Every day the troop trains were met with food, snacks, and drinks. The stop in North Platte was only ten minutes, and the people of the town did all they could to make the young men feel loved and appreciated. The North Platte Canteen touched the lives of six million men by the time the war effort came to an end. Greene said that without exception, every soldier he interviewed to find out about what North Platte had meant to them wept as they recalled the gift they had received.

The Bible tells us almost nothing about Onesiphorus. We don’t know anything about his background, education, or profession. The one thing that we do know is that again and again, both in Ephesus and in Rome, he was a blessing to the Apostle Paul. Every day we have opportunities to bless and encourage others, refreshing their hearts, and we must not miss them.

“Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”

Romans 14:16–19

At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, the long-distance runners from Finland, the “Flying Finns,” were expected to do well. But on the twelfth lap of the 10,000 meter race, their favorite, Lassie Viren, collided with another runner and fell to the track. Undaunted, he got up and began chasing the runners ahead of him. Incredibly, he not only caught up with the field, but passed them. Viren won the first of his four gold medals while setting a new world record despite the fall. He chased down the field, exerting all of his strength to catch up.

That is an illustration of what Paul was talking about in Romans 14 where he instructs us to “follow after” peace. This is not a casual, occasional, conditional following. Instead it is a full effort, expending whatever is required in order to catch up with peace. Peace is hard to come by in our world, whether between nations, between people groups, or between competing religions. And too often, peace is hard to come by even in our churches.

Each of us has the responsibility to do whatever we can, without violating principles, to promote peace rather than waiting for someone else to take the first step. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). The only way we will exert the proper effort toward peace is if we value it highly. When we grasp the high value God places on His children getting along, we will work diligently toward that goal.

“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

1 Peter 3:9–12

One of the most destructive lies Satan uses against Christians is when he tells us that the hardship and suffering we are enduring is proof that God does not really love and care for us. It is easy for us to become discouraged and defeated when things are going wrong. But God is just as real when things are hard as He is when we clearly see Him at work. There are many difficulties that come simply as a result of living in a fallen world. At other times, we experience His chastening because He loves us too much to ignore our sin. Ironically, we sometimes blame God for not loving us because of the very chastening that is evidence of His love.

We see this in the life of Gideon. Because of Israel’s idolatry, God allowed the Midianites to defeat them in battle. When the angel appeared and told Gideon that he had been chosen to deliver Israel, Gideon was somewhat skeptical.  “And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites” (Judges 6:13). Amazingly, Gideon said this to the angel of the Lord—the very pre-incarnate Christ. God was with him; Gideon just couldn’t see it.