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And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

Joshua 14:10-12

Caleb took a stand and argued that people should believe what God said and act on it when it was very unpopular to do so. Aside from Moses, Aaron, and Joshua, everyone else was focused on the size of the giants and the walls of the cities rather than the power and promises of God. Caleb declared that God would give the victory if the people obeyed, but they refused to listen. God promised Joshua and Caleb that because of their faithfulness, they alone from that generation would enter the Promised Land, and He kept that promise. As an old man of eighty-five, Caleb came to Joshua and asked for his promised inheritance—not land in a place that would be easy to conquer, but rather land in a place where the giants were tall and the cities were strong.

Caleb had not relied on his own strength as a young man, and now when he was old, he was still trusting in God. He was willing—even eager—to take on a challenge that was daunting. He knew that God was able to overcome any enemy, and that if God was with him, he would be victorious. Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said, “You and God make a majority.” If our faith is in God then it does not matter how big the challenge we face is. It does not matter whether anyone else believes. Victory follows faithful obedience.

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 2:15-17

Perhaps one of the most common sinful attitudes people have toward others is a feeling of superiority. We compare our strengths to other people's weaknesses and smugly conclude that we are better. We overlook our own failings and focus on theirs and confidently assume we have no need to improve. But the successes or failures of others are not the standard by which God measures our lives. Compared to His perfection, all of us fall far short of what we should be. Even in cases where we might truly be better in some way, that is still a reflection of God's grace rather than our excellence. “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).

Some people are saved after many years of living in the world apart from God. Others are saved at a young age, having grown up in a Christian home without ever being exposed to certain sinful habits or behaviors. But in truth both groups of people need Jesus just as much. Neither can claim any hope of salvation apart from Him. The same is true for our Christian life as we strive to grow in Christlikeness. Paul wrote, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him” (Colossians 2:6). We are justified by grace through faith, and our sanctification processes the same way. We must never forget how much we need God.

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 9:35-36

One of the distinguishing characteristics of Jesus was the way He viewed people. While the disciples sometimes grew frustrated by the constant throngs of people gathered around the Lord and wanted to get away, Jesus cared about their needs. He saw them—not just glancing at them before moving on to something else—but really looking at them as individuals. Because of the way He looked at them, His heart was filled with compassion. Where others often saw nothing much, Jesus viewed the harvest field of the world and recognized their great need. “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35).

When we see the eternal need of people, it should move us to action. The words of pioneer missionary to Africa Robert Moffat lit a fire in the heart of David Livingstone. He said, “Do not sit down in lazy contentment. Do not choose an old station. Push on to the vast, unoccupied districts of the north. In that direction, on a clear morning, I have seen the smoke of a thousand villages. There no missionary has ever been. There, sir, is your field.” Livingstone devoted his entire life, at great personal cost, going to as many of those thousand villages as he could and telling people about Jesus. He suffered sickness, attacks by wild animals, opposition, and slander. But his compassion demanded a response. It is simple to say that we care about people, but when we genuinely do, it will always show up in our actions.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

1 Corinthians 3:7-10

Among the many problems in the church at Corinth was a division among the people over which preacher they should follow and who was worthy of the most praise and attention. Paul wrote, “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:12). Those divisions led to a lack of fellowship and unity, and they weakened the church. There is nothing wrong with hearing different preachers and teachers and even having a favorite. However we are to give thanks for what each one has taught us rather than comparing them and holding up one above another.

All of us have different roles to play in God's work. In the end, He will not ask us what others did, nor will He compare us to others. When Jesus foretold to Peter his death for the cause of Christ, Peter immediately tried to turn attention to John. “Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me” (John 21:21-22). Jesus rejected that attempt. He was focused on Peter, and He wanted Peter to be focused on Him, not on others. If we want to be wise we must keep our focus right. God laid the foundation, and it is up to us how we build on it.

Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, And gather yourselves together round about: Thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: For there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: Come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; For their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

Joel 3:11-14

There are some eight billion people alive on Earth today, and that number continues to grow. One day each and every one of them will stand before God. There are only two choices. Either they have accepted Christ as Savior and will spend eternity with Him in Heaven, or they have not accepted Christ and will spend eternity apart from Him in Hell. No one knows when that day will come. It may be many years from now. It may be today. We are not told when the end of time will be. In fact, Jesus declared that such knowledge was not meant for us. “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power” (Acts 1:7).

What we do know is that we have been given the responsibility for reaching all the world with the gospel. Rather than spending large amounts of time and energy trying to uncover prophetic signs of the times, we have a responsibility to reach the multitudes. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Lord's plan for spreading the gospel is simple: His children are to do it. Every day we have an opportunity to be witness of what God's grace has done for us and how others can receive it.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 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?

2 Peter 3:10-12

A person taking a trip to Nome, Alaska, is going to pack a different set of clothes than a person traveling to Key West, Florida. The reason is simple: they have a good idea of what the weather will likely be, and want to dress accordingly. Knowing what is coming determines the preparation we make. What is true in the physical world is true for our spiritual lives as well. Though we do not know the exact timing of future events, we do know that this present world will come to an end. That places a responsibility on us to be ready every day for whatever comes. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:12).

Most of us remember the feeling of procrastinating on a project our parents told us to complete before they came home, and how desperately we scrambled to make it at least look like we worked on the assigned task when they showed up before we finished. The knowledge that Jesus could come at any moment and we will see Him face to face should guide our conduct every day. “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 2:28).

So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Luke 14:21-24

Though some of Jesus' parables were more straightforward, others had multiple layers of meaning and application. The story of a man planning a large dinner party is one of those. There is a lesson regarding the way people respond to God's invitation and offer of salvation: rather than rejoicing at being invited, they made various, mostly silly, excuses to avoid attending the dinner. There is also a lesson that God is not looking for people who are already acceptable or perfect or held in high regard by society, but instead welcomes those who will come to Him no matter their situation.

But there are also lessons in the commands given to the servants for those of us who have been saved. The host of the party commanded them to act with haste, to “go out quickly” and bring people to the dinner. He also commanded them to act with urgency, to “compel them to come in.” We have the good news, the only hope for the lost and dying world. It is our responsibility to take the gospel to those who have not yet received it, and we should do so not as another item on a checklist or schedule, but as a priority. This is what Jesus did. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). This is what we are to do as well.

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

Psalm 61:1-4

There were two constants in David's life. Most of his adult years were spent battling enemies, both inside and outside the nation of Israel. And most of his adult years were spent in reliance on God, seeking Divine help, protection, and power. David experienced many dark and difficult days, as we sometimes do. When David felt he was about to be overwhelmed, he cried out to God for help. Over and over we read his prayers and pleas for God to work. Trouble is real, even for Christians. We face times of sadness and even depression of spirit. 

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “I know, perhaps as well as anyone, what depression means, and what it is to feel myself sinking lower and lower. Yet at the worst, when I reach the lowest depths, I have an inward peace which no pain or depression can in the least disturb. Trusting in Jesus Christ my Saviour, there is still a blessed quietness in the deep caverns of my soul, though upon the surface, a rough tempest may be raging, and there may be little apparent calm.”

The thing that gets us through times when we feel overwhelmed is not having all our problems disappear. The thing that gets us through is the power and grace of God. Paul wrote, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). The power of God to raise us up is more than enough for any challenge we face. We simply rely on Him and keep doing what He has called us to do.

And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that. And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

Judges 8:2-4

Just six days before he died, John Wesley wrote a letter to William Wilberforce. The young politician had been leading the fight to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire, but ten years of toil without progress had left him discouraged. At a particularly low point, the words of Wesley encouraged Wilberforce to keep going. “Unless the divine power has raised you up....I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that [the slave trade], which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might.” Wilberforce continued the fight until after nearly twenty years the victory was won.

There will be days when we are discouraged. There will be times when it seems the battle will never be won. There will be nights that seem they will never end. In those moments, we must remember that God is at work and that if we will rely on Him rather than giving up, He will provide all that we need to keep going. Recognizing the importance of the work God has given us to do helps us keep going when things get tough. “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25).

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

Acts 9:22-25

The change made in Paul's life following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus was complete and total. Everything he had fought so hard to stamp out he now believed. He immediately began fulfilling the mission God had given to him. Later Paul recounted his assignment from the Lord this way: “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee” (Acts 26:16).

God did not promise Paul things would be easy or simple or that his preaching would be well received. In fact, Paul's preaching was so pointed and powerful that right from the start of his ministry people wanted to kill him. Again and again he had to be delivered from plots to assassinate him. Yet through all of that he just kept on preaching the gospel. Most of us have never experienced true persecution because we live in a country where freedom of religion is a long tradition. However God does not promise us that freedom. In many countries around the world people are being beaten, jailed, and even killed because of their faith.

Of course, we are not to seek out persecution, but we should determine now to remain faithful if such trials come into our lives. And it is for us to remain faithful today regardless of any trials we may face. The reason Paul was willing to keep going despite the cost was the love he had received from the Lord and the love he had for Him. “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

2 Corinthians 5:1-4

The story goes that not long before he died at the age of eighty, John Quincy Adams met a friend on the streets of Boston. The man asked, “How is John Qunicy Adams?” The aged former President replied, “John Quincy Adams himself is very well, thank you; but the house he lives in is sadly dilapidated. It is tottering on its foundations. The walls are badly shattered, and the roof is worn. The building trembles with every wind. And I think that John Quincy Adams will have to move out of it before long. But he himself is very well.”

All of us face the reality that unless the Lord returns, our bodies will age and we will eventually die. Yet those of us who have trusted Christ as Savior have the wonderful promise of a new and perfect body in a perfect place. This world is not all there is. And as the old song put it, it is not our home. We are just passing through this life on the way to Heaven. We do not know how long we will live, but we do know what will happen when this life is over. If the day comes when our earthly bodies are placed into a grave, we will still be alive. In fact, we will be more alive than we are right now and will be in the direct presence of God. As Paul wrote, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

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. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

2 Timothy 4:9-13

Just five days after being sworn in as President, Franklin D. Roosevelt paid a visit to retired Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. who was celebrating his ninety-second birthday. Holmes had been appointed to the court by Teddy Roosevelt, and for nearly thirty years served as one of the most noted members of the body. Roosevelt found the elderly justice reading a copy of Plutarch's Parallel Lives, with biographical sketches of numerous Greek and Roman leaders. When FDR asked why he was reading that (with the implication that at his advanced age Holmes was wasting his time) Holmes replied, “To improve the mind.”

We never reach the point where we have learned all there is to know about God and His Word. No matter how many years we have been saved, how many church services we have attended, and how many times we have read the Bible, there is always more to discover. Even as an aged prisoner, knowing that he would never be released from jail, Paul asked Timothy to bring him copies of the Hebrew scriptures. Even before his conversion, Paul as part of his training as a Pharisee had become intimately familiar with the Old Testament. It is likely that he had memorized most of the first five books of the Bible. After his conversion, Paul studied the Old Testament even more in light of now knowing Jesus personally. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul as one of the human penmen of much of the New Testament. So from every angle, Paul was familiar with both the Old and the New Testaments. Yet, even after all of the years Paul had spent in Scripture and even as he knew he would soon be martyred, Paul was still seeking and finding truths and insights from the Word of God.

Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 

1 Corinthians 11:17-19

There was a good deal of concern among army leaders when the Spanish-American War began in 1898. The divisions from the Civil War were still very real, and a number of the soldiers had fought for either the North or the South in that conflict. There was concern that these men would not be willing to fight together, even against a common enemy. But Lieutenant-Colonel Curtis Guild, Jr, stationed in Cuba, recounted how the former enemies were brought together. “On Christmas eve of 1898 I sat before my tent in the balmy tropical night chatting with a fellow-officer of Christmas and home. Suddenly from the camp of the Forty-ninth Iowa rang a sentinel’s call, 'Number ten; twelve o’clock, and all’s well!' It was Christmas morning. Scarcely had the cry of the sentinel died away, when from the bandsmen’s tents of that same regiment there rose the music of an old, familiar hymn, and one clear baritone voice led the chorus that quickly ran along those moonlit fields: ‘How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord!’ Another voice joined in, and another, and another, and in a moment the whole regiment was singing, and then the Sixth Missouri joined in, with the Fourth Virginia, and all the rest, till there, on the long ridges above the great city a whole American army corps was singing.”

Christians come from all different regions, backgrounds, ethnicities, social standings, and experiences. Yet what unites us above all the differences and divisions is the gospel. We who have trusted Christ have the same Savior. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. And God calls us to have a fervent love for one another. "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).

Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:31-33

One of the primary things the world around us is looking for is peace. Whether that is peace for an individual, a community, a family or a nation, peace is hard to come by. Nations sign treaties and agreements and then break them and resume war. It is not uncommon for people to proclaim peace when it is not real. Even in ancient times this tendency was common. Jeremiah wrote, “For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 8:11). Many people think that if they could just accumulate a little more money or remove a difficult person from their life, there would be peace. But peace never comes from our circumstances.

Peace, real peace, comes from God. It is based, not on the absence of trouble, but on the knowledge that the ultimate victory has already been won. When we choose to pray and give thanks rather than worry, we are able to experience a peace that cannot be explained in human terms. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). We do not have to be discouraged or defeated by trouble. We do not have to be filled with anxiety and worry because of tribulation. No human experience can overcome the peace that God offers to us as His children. No amount of hardship or suffering can take away His peace. Jesus told us there would be hard times ahead, but the promise of His presence and His victory over the world give us confidence as we rest in Him.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Revelation 21:1-3

Though the Bible tells us with great certainty that Heaven is the eternal destination of the children of God, it does not give us a large amount of detail and description of Heaven. We see glimpses of it, but the fullness of the glory and majesty of Heaven is not possible to put into words. In fact, Paul declared that he was not allowed to share what he had seen when God gave him a preview of what Heaven would be like, possibly when he was stoned and left for dead at Lystra. “How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:4).

The glory and beauty of Heaven is not merely in its golden streets or crystal clear river or wall made of precious stones or gates of pearls. The glory and beauty of Heaven is the presence of God Himself. All of eternity will be spent in the place where He is. The cares and pains and heartaches of the world will be left behind and forgotten. The need for fervent and urgent prayer will be replaced. The longing for purpose and meaning so many feel will be met by the presence of God. We will no longer need clocks and calendars, for time will reach an end. We will never need a light for Jesus is the constant and unchanging light of Heaven. This is our eternal home.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Matthew 24:4-8

War has been a constant throughout human history. There are currently wars being fought between countries, such as the war between Russia and Ukraine. And there are civil wars or insurgencies presently being waged in more than a dozen countries. Sadly, the reality of war in this world is not going to change until the Lord returns. In 1928, still feeling the effects of what we now know as World War I, diplomats from many nations worked to prevent a future war. Eventually the Kellogg-Brian Pact, sometimes called the Pact of Paris, was signed by more than sixty countries. The pact was an agreement to outlaw war as an instrument of policy, and to promise to negotiate differences between nations rather than fighting. Yet just three years later Japan invaded Manchuria, and eight years after that Germany invaded Poland launching World War II.

Human efforts to bring an end to war and conflict may be admirable, but they will never be fully successful. Jesus definitively declared that wars would continue, and in fact that they would increase with the passing of years as the end of time approached. He also warned that deception around end time events would increase. Our job is not to figure out what all the signs mean, but to be ready for the Lord whenever He might return. In the meantime, we are to keep on working for Him, not with a sense of dread or doubt, but with a confidence in His promises and His ultimate control over everything.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-8

One of the small but crucial events of World War II happened at Vermork, Norway, in 1943. After conquering the country, the Nazis had set up a manufacturing plant there to produce “heavy water” which was a vital element for their nuclear weapons program. Recognizing the threat posed by Hitler acquiring atomic bombs, the Allies tried various plans to destroy the facility, but all of them failed. Finally a small team of commandos who were all expert skiers were inserted near the plant. While the bridge leading to the plant was heavily guarded, the ravine it crossed was not. The Germans thought no one could get through the ravine so they didn't guard it at all. The commandos infiltrated the plant, set timed explosive charges and left without being detected. The damage to the plant provided a crucial delay that kept Germany from finishing their nuclear program.

When we leave areas of our lives unguarded, we place ourselves at great spiritual risk. We have an active enemy focused on our destruction and seeking opportunities to destroy our lives. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Every day we need to be on high alert, putting on our spiritual armor and being ready for battle. The devil is constantly looking for openings. If he finds us asleep when we should be watching, we will be defeated.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Ephesians 6:13-16

In ancient times battles were fought at close range. Aside from bows or slings, there were few weapons capable of inflicting damage on the enemy. Standard battle tactics dictated that the soldiers stand close together, holding their shields in front of them. Most battles were decided when one side broke and ran. This is when the most casualties occurred. Often soldiers who were fleeing would throw down their weapons and gear so they could run faster. This only made them more vulnerable to attacks as now they had no defense. In warlike cultures such as Sparta, fleeing battle was considered the worst kind of cowardice. The common saying, “Come back with your shield or on it” reflected the importance of courage.

The Christian life is often depicted as a battle, and that is because it is a spiritual battle. For that battle God provides armor and a weapon, and He expects us to use them to stand our ground. The tools for spiritual victory are in our hands because of God's provision and grace, but the responsibility for using those tools courageously lies with us. Too often Christians back away from the enemy, abandoning their defenses and fleeing from the battlefield. We are not to run from Satan, but to resist him by submitting to God. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). We cannot resist Satan in our own power and strength, but if we put on our armor and stand firm, we will be victorious.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Revelation 3:10-12

The seven letters Christ told the apostle John to write to seven key churches in the first century were sent during a time of intense opposition and persecution. John himself had been exiled to the very lightly populated Island of Patmos off the coast of what is now Turkey in an attempt to stop him from preaching to people in the Roman Empire. Each of these letters encourages the believers to remain faithful to God no matter what they faced. And each of them includes a special promise for those who overcome. The letter to the church at Philadelphia does not contain the correction of errors that the other church needed, but it does include a powerful call to patiently continue standing for what was right.

The successful Christian life is not lived in a single moment of decision or a short period of discipleship. It is lived out through faithful consistency over time. This was the testimony that Daniel maintained throughout his decades in Babylon. Though far away from home, he continued serving God. That was his well-deserved reputation. “And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” (Daniel 6:20). The king knew that Daniel served God "continually." May the same be said of us today—and tomorrow and next year.

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

Titus 1:9-11

Paul gave Titus a difficult assignment by sending him to Crete. The island was noted throughout the region as a place where people were lazy and dishonest. “One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies” (Titus 1:12). They did not need to be coddled or affirmed, but rather they needed a strong dose of the truth. So Paul instructed Titus to appoint leaders who would not just believe the truth but be willing to speak it even in the face of opposition. The “gainsayers” would speak out against the truth, but Paul noted that sound doctrine could overcome their objections.

Our world is becoming increasingly removed from the truth. In fact, today many people challenge the very idea that there is such a thing as objective absolute truth. That's why we hear people saying things like, “My truth is...” as they try to justify their actions and beliefs. There is no such thing as “my truth” or “your truth.” There is absolute truth, and it is found in the Word of God. Our challenge is to hold firmly to the truth—not to be harsh or judgmental, but to be committed to what is right. The truth is still the truth even if no one else believes or accepts it. Our assignment is to be a source of sound doctrine and good instruction to all those who are willing to receive it. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 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 5:17-21

The impact of the Holy Spirit on our lives when He is in control is dramatic. It is not in the flashy dramatic antics of things like barking on the platform or falling down laughing or babbling words that no one can understand, as we sometimes see people claim as evidence of the Holy Spirit at work. Instead, it is a joyful way of living, filled with songs and thanks and humility. None of these come naturally to people living in a fallen world, but they are produced by the power of the Spirit when He is given free rein to bring His fruit to life in and through us. Every believer needs this power. It is not reserved just for those in vocational ministry. The power of the Holy Spirit is just as necessary for a welder, a teacher, a parent or a retiree as it is for a pastor or missionary.

To be filled with the Spirit, we must first be emptied of ourselves. Jesus said, “Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep” (Luke 6:25). Satan delights in filling our lives with things that keep us from focusing on God. He is just as happy to use good things as sinful ones—as long as it keeps us from being open to God's direction and control. The more that we yield ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit, the more holy and sanctified our lives will be. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Timothy 4:1-4

Jehoshaphat was mostly a good king over Judah, but he foolishly entered into an alliance with the wicked Ahab of Israel to fight against Syria. All of the false prophets Ahab gathered told the two kings that the God of Israel would prosper their efforts and give them the victory. But Jehoshaphat was not convinced and asked instead for a prophet of the true God to speak. Though Ahab had killed or exiled most of them, there was one man left. “And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so” (1 Kings 22:8).

Micaiah was not popular with the king because he told the truth rather than speaking comforting lies. Many times people do not want to know what God says but prefer a watered-down version that is more pleasant than dealing with “thus saith the Lord.” We see that a great deal in our day, but rather than causing us to trim our message to gain acceptance and approval, it should simply remind us of the importance of speaking the truth. God's approval must be our priority, not the popularity of our message or the size of the audience. In a time when people do not want to hear the truth, it is more important than ever that the truth be told in the love of Christ.

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

When we were growing up, most of us heard the expression, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” While the idea behind the statement may have been well-intentioned, it isn't correct. Words can hurt. Many people carry deep wounds over things that were said to them or about them even years before. We have a responsibility to ensure that the things we say are uplifting rather than damaging. When we speak in haste in anger or frustration, we are unlikely to be using gracious words. Instead, we should be kind in the way we speak to and about other people. “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness” (Proverbs 31:26).

Control over our words is not something we can accomplish in our own strength. We must have the help of the Holy Spirit if our words are to be edifying and filled with grace. “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). While the task is impossible alone, we are never alone. God does not leave us to fend for ourselves, but instead gives us the power of His Spirit to guide not just our actions, but our thoughts and words as well. It is important to remember that the words flow from our thoughts. If we are constantly critiquing others internally, it will not be long before that is reflected in how we talk about them.

But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 3:7-9

Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, fought a brilliant series of battles against Napoleon's French forces that eventually culminated in the final defeat of the emperor at Waterloo. Wellington was sometimes outnumbered and was frequently forced to fight with allies who were more hindrance than help. Yet he never lost a battle. Before one crucial conflict in Spain, Wellington told one of his subordinates, “Though they may overwhelm me, I don’t think they will out-maneuver me. First, because I am not afraid of them, as everyone else seems to be; and secondly, because, if all I hear about their system is true, I think it a false one against steady troops. I suspect all the Continental armies are half-beaten before the battle begins. I at least will not be frightened beforehand.”

If we go into our spiritual battles frightened by the opposition we face, we are partly defeated from the start. Instead, we must recognize that God is in control, and that He has already defeated all the enemies we face. When God commissioned Ezekiel to deliver His message to the people, He told the prophet in advance that they would not listen. Success for Ezekiel was not found in the number who heeded his message, but in his faithfulness to deliver it. God cautioned him not to be afraid of them, no matter how they responded, because fear would tempt the prophet to be silent rather than boldly proclaiming God's truth. People may criticize and condemn us for speaking out what God has said, but we must remain confident, not in the results, but in His control.

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Matthew 16:21-23

Jesus taught His disciples many things during the three and a half years of His earthly ministry. But often, when He told them spiritual things, their focus on the current world kept them from seeing what God intended. Most of the Jewish people in the time of Christ were looking for a Messiah who would drive out the Romans and allow Israel to become an independent nation once again. Even many of the disciples seem to have viewed that as the plan for Jesus. Even after the resurrection, they still expected that. “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).

But that was never God's plan. Jesus came into the world specifically “to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). He knew that He was destined for the cross and the empty tomb, and He did not allow anything to deter Him from that path. “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). There was no other means of providing salvation as a free gift to all who would believe apart from the cross. Jesus declared that He “must go.” Hearing about Jesus' impending death upset the disciples, but His death and resurrection is the only hope we have of Heaven.

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

1 Corinthians 15:14-20

One of the things that worried and confused many believers in the early church was what would happen to those who died. They knew that Jesus had promised to return, and they expected His return to happen in their lifetime. So they did not know whether there was hope for those who died before Christ returned. Paul wrote, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Paul went on to explain, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him" (1 Thessalonians 4:14).

Most of us have stood at gravesides and wept as we buried loved ones. Yet in the midst of the sorrow we feel, there is hope for the future. That hope is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In fact, the bedrock foundation of the Christian faith is the belief in the truth that Jesus not only died, but that He rose from the dead. Without that central truth, nothing that we teach or preach has any meaning. Without the empty tomb the Christian faith has no power to save, and is no different from any other religion. Jesus died on the cross, making the payment through His blood for our sins, but if He had stayed dead the door to salvation would not have been opened. We would have no hope for the future, and even in this life we would be miserable. But Jesus is alive. The power of death could not restrain or hold Him. The stone in front of the door of the tomb could not stop Him from rising from the dead.

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

Isaiah 57:15-18

God is so high and holy that He is far beyond our comprehension. His glory and majesty are so great that for us even to look at Him would be fatal. That is why God did not let Moses see the fullness of His glory. “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live” (Exodus 33:20). Instead, He hid Moses in a cave and after He passed by allowed Moses to come out and see Him going away. Just that limited exposure was enough to make Moses' face shine so brightly that the people were terrified of him when he returned to the camp. Even the angels closest to the throne of God that Isaiah saw in his vision of Heaven have extra wings to cover their faces from the majesty of God's glory. He is high and lifted up.

And yet in His love and mercy, He allows us to be His children, and when we come to Him in humility and dependence, He welcomes us with open arms. Nothing we do could ever compare to God's power, yet He displays that power on our behalf. Nothing we can achieve can compare to God's work, yet He allows us to be part of that work. Nothing we can say will add to His incomparable glory, yet He delights in our praise. “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3). The sin that would forever keep us apart from Him is cleansed by the blood of Christ, and God dwells with His people.

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

Psalm 24:3-6

There is a longing in the heart of every person for what only a personal relationship with God can provide. People have tried almost everything imaginable to fill the void apart from Him, but it is impossible. No amount of seeking pleasure, rising to prominence, or acquiring possessions will substitute for God. Solomon had virtually unlimited resources and power and indulged every desire he could think of, but he still found life to be empty and meaningless apart from God. If we want to have a close and personal relationship with God, we must be spending time in His presence. That requires that we keep our hearts right. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).

Charles Spurgeon said, “The man whose heart is pure, will be able to see God in nature. When the heart is clean, he will hear God's footfall everywhere in the garden of the earth in the cool of the day. He will hear God's voice in the tempest, sounding in peal on peal from the tops of the mountains. He will behold the Lord walking on the great and mighty waters, or see him in every leaf that trembles in the breeze. Once get the heart right, and then God can be seen everywhere. To an impure heart, God cannot be seen anywhere; but to a pure heart God is to be seen everywhere.” If we allow sin to linger in our hearts rather than confessing and forsaking it, we will inevitably find our fellowship with God broken. God sees our hearts, and they must be pure before Him for us to walk in closeness with Him.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Psalm 51:7-12

David's awful sin of adultery was compounded by his attempts to cover it up, which ended in the murder of one of his closest men. He continued in his attempt to sweep everything under the rug until he was confronted by the prophet God sent to expose the sin. Nathan risked his life confronting David, but rather than killing the man who accused him, David repented. He confessed his sin to God. Several of the psalms of David reference these events as he sought God's forgiveness. That is what we should always do when we sin, clearly confessing what we have done wrong and asking God to forgive us. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).

In his prayer of repentance and confession, David focused on his own responsibility for what he had done. He made no excuses for his sinful conduct. He did not blame anyone else for the way things had happened. David knew that he was the one to blame. If we come to God telling Him all about why our sin was the fault of someone else, we will not find our relationship with Him restored. Shifting blame onto others is the direct opposite of coming to God in contrition and seeking forgiveness. Until we are willing to look at ourselves alone for the cause of the problem, we are not really repentant for what we have done.

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 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.

Matthew 12:33-35

No group more strongly rejected the message that Jesus was the Messiah than the Pharisees did. They were outraged that this upstart prophet from Galilee who had not attended the approved schools and received the official stamp of approval was so popular with the people. During a discussion about what to do about Jesus, they revealed a great deal about their motives for refusing to believe. “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation” (John 11:48). They viewed Jesus as a threat to the way of life they had developed and were enjoying. They were not willing to acknowledge their need of salvation, or that Jesus was the promised Lamb of God.

Although the Pharisees had perfected the performance of the outward rituals of religion, there was no genuine love for God in their hearts. They only cared about how things looked on the outside, and the evil in their hearts and their lost condition were revealed by their response to the Lord. “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me” (John 8:42). We must guard our lives against the temptation to focus on making sure that the outward things appear right while allowing ourselves to harbor evil in our hearts. Though we may be able to fool others for a time, God sees the heart, and He knows not just what we do but why we do it.

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:12-14

Because we are fallen people, born with a sin nature, doing what is right does not come naturally to us. We find it easy to go astray, and at the same time find it easy to convince ourselves that we are still on track and headed in the right direction. Apart from the work of God in our lives, we have no hope of overcoming sin and living a holy life. Left to our own devices and wisdom, we will inevitably fail to do what is right. Jeremiah wrote, “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). The good news is that we are not left alone. God's Holy Spirit lives within every child of God, providing guidance, direction, warning and conviction.

Before we were saved, we did not have the ability or power to defeat the devil, even if we had the desire to do so, which we did not. Satan always wins against the lost: “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:26). But as born-again children of God, the importance of personal holiness should lead us to fervently and diligently seek God's help in overcoming sin. With God's help we can overcome any temptation to sin. We no longer are bound to sin as we once were. The only power sin has over us now is the power we choose to give it. If our goal is to please God as it should be, then we must be seeking His face and help in maintaining the holy life to which He calls us.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

1 John 5:13-15

Our ability to come to God with our prayers and petitions is one of the great privileges we receive when He adopts us into His family. He invites and instructs us to bring our cares and burdens to Him, seeking His provision for what we need. We are not orphans forced to make our own way through the world. We have all of the limitless resources of Heaven and the power of Almighty God available to us. That power comes when we pray. Yet all too often we neglect this great resource, trying instead to rely on our own strength, plans and ability to meet our needs. James wrote, “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:4).

One of the primary reasons Christians do not pray is a lack of faith and confidence in God. We would never say out loud that we doubt His love and care, but our failure to pray reveals that we may harbor such feelings in our hearts. God loves us, and He wants us to be confident in Him. The world and the devil tell us that God is too busy, or that He doesn't care, or that we don't deserve the answer we need. God has plenty of time. He loves us beyond our ability to understand, and He gives us good things because of His grace, rather than our goodness. We need to rely on Him, praying confidently and expecting Him to answer. Robert Murray M'Cheyne wrote, “Learn that urgency in prayer does not so much consist in vehement pleading, as in vehement believing. He that believes most the love and power of Jesus will obtain the most in prayer.”

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:4-6

The first thing God did in His creation of the world was to bring light where before there had only been darkness. The command to create light is the first statement by God recorded in Scripture. “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:3-4). Throughout the Bible light is associated with God and goodness, and darkness is associated with Satan and evil. Jesus made that distinction clear when He came into the world to be the Savior of the lost. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:4-5).

After Christ's resurrection, He returned to Heaven, leaving His followers with the task of carrying on the mission of taking light to a dark world. When the world around us moves further away from God and the darkness intensifies, the light becomes even more apparent—provided that we are properly reflecting God's light to those around us. The old saying, “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness” is a good concept, but it is not quite a fully accurate description of our assignment. The candle is already burning brightly with God's greatness and glory. We don't need to worry about that part. We must make sure that we are not doing things that obscure that light from those who need to see it.

I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

John 5:43-47

In keeping with his philosophy and view of the world, Thomas Jefferson regarded Jesus as a good moral instructor, but not divine. He rejected the accounts of miracles, including the virgin birth and the resurrection as something added to the story later. Using scissors and a razor, he culled through the four Gospels and kept the parts he accepted in a book titled The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth. Writing to a friend, Jefferson declared that as a result of his editing, “There will be found remaining the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man. I have performed this operation for my own use, by cutting verse by verse out of the printed book, and arranging the matter which is evidently his, and which is as easily distinguishable as diamonds in a dunghill. The result is an octavo [book] of 46 pages of pure and unsophisticated doctrines.”

The Bible is not a collection of fables and doctrines added later by religious leaders to accumulate power. It is the very Word of God, and it is the only source we have for absolute truth. All works of man are tainted, but the Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit giving the human writers the words that make up the Scriptures. It does not need editing or revision or correction. It needs to be read, studied, memorized, taught, heard, and meditated on day after day. Most of all, it must be believed.

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Philippians 3:4-7

One of the most important tools for evaluating the financial health of a business or organization is the profit and loss statement. Simply knowing how much total money came in does not tell you enough to determine if things are going well. You also need to know how much money is going out. So the P&L as it is often called not only lists the income from operations, but also the expenses incurred in producing that income. There are categories for the cost of the product being sold, the expenses of advertising it, the payroll and other costs for the employees, and the amount of taxes paid. When all of the expenses are added together, they are compared to the income, and final net profit or loss is determined.

Paul had many things he could have placed on the “income” side of his life's profit and loss statement. He had the credentials and training and resume to be judged as a success by the world. Yet to Paul those things counted as “expenses” instead. The search for gain in Paul's life, the goal that drove him to make incredible sacrifices for the sake of the gospel, was Jesus. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:10). All of the fame and wealth and toys of this world are not gain on the eternal scale. None of the possessions that so many people devote their lives to acquiring will matter in eternity.

And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Luke 19:37-40

Part of the design of God's creation is that the things He has made give Him honor and glory. “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 150:6). Though sin has marred the perfection of God's original design, the natural world still announces God's glory in every part of creation. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1). The only part of the world that does not automatically and continually praise God is the people He made. In fact, sometimes there are concerted efforts made to stop people from glorifying God.

The Pharisees were the religious leaders of the Jewish people during Jesus' day, but despite their detailed knowledge of the Scriptures and seeing the ways in which Jesus fulfilled the ancient prophecies, they refused to receive and accept Him as the Messiah. In part, this was because they were jealous of the large crowds who flocked to hear Jesus, as even Pilate recognized. “For he knew that for envy they had delivered him” (Matthew 27:18). When the crowds praised Jesus acknowledging Him as the King, they demanded in fury that the Lord stop them from speaking the truth. He declared that even the stones would speak if they were silent. This is also a reminder to us that we should never fail to praise the Lord and give Him honor and glory.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 11:23-26

Death entered into the world when Adam sinned, and it has been a constant presence ever since. All of us know that unless the Lord returns, we will one day experience the end of this life. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Yet for a believer, the reality of death is not a source of fear and dread. We know that, because of the sacrifice of Jesus and the grace of God, we will leave this life for a far better place where we will be with God. This world is only a temporary home, and death is merely the doorway to eternity.

D. L. Moody wrote, “Some day you will read in the papers that D. L. Moody, of East Northfield, is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone up higher, that is all; gone out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal, a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body like unto His own glorious body. I was born of the flesh in 1837. I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die. That which is born of the Spirit will live forever.”

The future holds no fear for the child of God who is living in faith and believing God's promises. Even the worst the world can threaten is to send us to Heaven more quickly. God keeps all of His children, and our future with Him is settled and secure.

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 3:7-9

Though it was Paul's habit to go first to the synagogue when he reached a new city and preach there that Jesus was the Messiah, the bulk of his ministry was directed not toward the Jews, but to the Gentiles. When he spoke to a Jewish audience they had the background and the promises of the coming Messiah which Paul declared to have been fulfilled in Jesus. But when he spoke to Gentiles, as he did in Athens, he was bringing them a message they had never heard before. “Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18).

As our society becomes increasingly less religious, we can no longer assume that most people have at least a basic knowledge of the Bible and Christianity. For this reason, we must patiently and thoroughly explain the realities of the gospel—the sinfulness of man, the price for sin, Christ's death for our sins, His burial and resurrection, and His free gift of eternal life. Christians today need a faithfulness to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ just as Paul did before pagans who had never heard of the God of Israel. Jesus is the message. His birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection are the only hope of Heaven. He must be the center of all that we say and do. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

1 Timothy 1:14-16

Before his conversion, Saul of Tarsus was the most violent and vehement opponent of Christianity in the world. He led the persecution of the early church, seeking out those who were followers of Jesus with such ferocity that many of them scattered not just away from Jerusalem, but out of Israel completely. That is why he was on the road to Damascus where he met Jesus and everything changed. The life story of the Apostle Paul is a wonderful demonstration of the power of the gospel to transform the life of those who receive it. It is also a powerful reminder of the patience and longsuffering of God. Paul certainly deserved judgment for his attacks on innocent believers, but rather than immediately destroying him, God patiently granted him mercy.

None of us deserve the salvation we received as a gift of God's grace. If we got what we deserved we would already be in Hell. But God has great love for sinners and patience to give them time to repent. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). While God's patience is great, however, it is not unlimited. Those who continually reject Him will eventually reach a point at which the opportunity for salvation will be lost. But God's patience should encourage us to continue reaching out to family members, friends, and coworkers who are not saved. The fact that they have not yet accepted Him does not mean we should give up.

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Acts 6:7-10

The members of the early church spread across the city of Jerusalem preaching the gospel to everyone they could find. Many people believed the message that Jesus was the Messiah, even among the religious leaders who had rejected Him during His ministry. The disciples did not hesitate to speak to anyone because the gospel is for everyone. And it is the message that the lost need more than anything else. When we share the gospel in the power of God's Spirit from a burdened heart, things will happen. “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:6). We must care enough about the lost to tell them the Good News before it is too late.

William Booth said, “'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father’s house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face—whose mercy you have professed to obey—and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world.”

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

1 Thessalonians 1:6-9

The Bible is filled with warnings against pride and self promotion. We are not meant to be building up our reputation and seeking our glory, but rather to glorify God and humble ourselves. Yet when we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit in obedience to the Word of God, it does produce a notable impact on others. Our faith should be so real that it is visible in the way we live, work, talk, and worship. Our faith should be unmistakable, shaping every part of our lives. Our faith should be an example that others can follow. This is not saying that we are something special, but that we are living the way Jesus lived. Paul wrote, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Our behavior reflects on our Father in Heaven. We carry His name. When we live in righteousness and obedience, it does not bring credit to us, but to Him. “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12). A Christian is meant to stand out from the world rather than blending in. Our values, our conduct, and our morals are not shaped by what is popular in our society, but by what God said.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Romans 1:1-4

The events that unfolded during the life and ministry of Jesus were not accidental. Hundreds and even thousands of years before His coming, the Old Testament prophets had foretold the time and place of His birth, His sacrificial death, and His resurrection. Every single one of those prophecies was fulfilled to the letter. The evidence that Jesus was the Messiah was indisputable. Beyond the prophetic promises there were also the numerous miracles that Jesus performed—things that were utterly impossible for a human being to do. Yet, even with all of this evidence, there were many who did not accept Him. Even Jesus' own brothers did not believe He was the Messiah until after He was raised from the dead.

Today, we have not only the Old Testament Scriptures but the completed Bible, including the details of the life of Christ that those people did not have. Yet today there are still people who refuse to believe the account of the Bible and the core truth that Jesus is the only hope of salvation.

The Apostle Paul devoted his life to sharing the gospel with others, and each Christian is called to that task as well. God has chosen us specifically for this task. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16). The necessity of sharing the gospel is not just for a select few pastors, missionaries, and Christian workers, but for every child of God. We are to take what we have received and share it with others.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Ephesians 4:1-4

If anybody had an excuse to feel like God had not kept His promises and taken care of him, it was the Apostle Paul. He faithfully and fearlessly proclaimed the truth of the gospel across the Roman Empire. In response he was beaten, stoned, jailed, falsely accused, and imprisoned. Paul could have used those hardships as an excuse to stop serving God. Instead, he saw all these troubles as nothing compared to the importance of the cause and the certainty of the reward. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

What Paul recognized and was that circumstances do not dictate conduct. The necessity of walking in a way that was worthy of being a child of God was the same in jail as it was in a synagogue. The fact that Paul was in jail did not change his responsibility to God and others. The fact that the people in Ephesus to whom he wrote were free did not change their responsibility either. In every situation, they were to do what was right and what would bring honor and glory to God. “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:12). In whatever situation we find ourselves, we are to do what is right, living up to the high privilege God has given us to be called His children.

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

2 Corinthians 3:1-3

German power spread in the late 1930s and the extent of Hitler's hatred for Jewish people and plan for their destruction became more widely known. A young British stockbroker named Nicholas Winton was asked to go to what was then Czechoslovakia and help refugees who had fled from Germany and Austria. Despite the obstacles, he worked with various governments to obtain permissions and visas, and eventually helped transport 669 children, most of them Jewish, to safety in England. He did not seek fame for his work, and it was almost fifty years later before the public found out what he had done. A British television program had him as a guest, and without his knowledge had assembled a number of those children, along with their children and grandchildren. Winton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in recognition of the scope and effect of his work.

Nothing we can build or accomplish compares to the impact that we make by investing in the lives of others. The legacy that truly lasts is not a building or a business or an empire, but the people for whom we have made a difference. Jesus could have chosen any number of ways to go about His ministry, but He focused much of His time and effort on just a few people into whose lives He poured Himself. That group of ordinary men went out and changed the world. Those who do not spend time investing in others will find little left behind when they are gone. Every day is an opportunity to write a “living epistle” that will endure.

They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Isaiah 65:22-24

One of the things that has helped Amazon become one of the largest companies in the world is their ability to quickly deliver things that are ordered. Rather than waiting for weeks for something to arrive, many items are delivered within a day or two, and some even on the same day they are ordered. The thing that allows Amazon to provide such quick service is a network of distribution centers where common and popular items are stored. Tracking buying patterns with advanced technology, Amazon frequently sends things that have been ordered before to the closest distribution center to the customer so that as soon as they reorder it can be promptly delivered.

God knows all about what we need long before we come to Him in prayer seeking His help. He knows what we will ask before we go to our knees. He knows if there is something better than what we ask, that will advance His purpose and enhance our lives more than what we would choose for ourselves. And God never back orders an answer. He never sends a note that the “product” we asked for is no longer in stock. He has unlimited resources, and is able to meet every need we will ever have without straining or stretching. God does not always answer our prayers immediately, but in those moments when there is no time for delay we will find that He is more than ready to respond—even before we start praying.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Ephesians 4:11-14

The center of God's plan for His work in our world today is the local church. Jesus loved the church, so much so that He "purchased [it] with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). Jesus gave Himself to establish the church: "even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25).

To carry on the work of the church God provides the members with different gifts and talents to be used. These gifts are not for our own benefit, but to build up the body and prepare it to be used by God. As each member contributes, using what God has given to them, the stronger the church becomes. The stronger the church becomes, the more like Jesus the members become. The more like Jesus the members become, the more the church will make an impact on the world.

Charles Spurgeon said, “There is nothing which my heart desires more than to see you, the members of this church, distinguished for holiness. It is the Christian’s crown and glory. An unholy church? It is of no use to the world and of no esteem among men. Oh, it is an abomination, hell’s laughter, heaven’s abhorrence. And the larger the church, the more influential, the worse nuisance does it become when it becomes unholy. The worst evils which have ever come upon the world have been brought upon her by an unholy church.”

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

John 4:34-36

Adoniram Judson knew that he would face great difficulty being the first person to bring the gospel to the nation of Burma. The climate was dangerous. The people spoke a complicated language which almost no one outside the country could understand. The ongoing war between Burma and England made Judson suspect—being American and speaking English identified him as an enemy to the authorities. Judson suffered great physical hardship and spent time in a harsh Burmese prison. It was more than six years before he saw his first convert. Certainly Judson had plenty of excuses to quit, but he remained committed to the work. He understood the importance of the task, writing, “Life is short. Millions of Burmese are perishing. I am almost the only person on earth who has attained their language to communicate salvation.”

The need of people to hear the gospel has not lessened since Jesus told His disciples the harvest was ready. What was true then is still true today. All around there are people who will spend eternity either in Heaven or in Hell. None of us know how long we will live or how much time others have to accept God's offer of salvation. What we do know is that we must not delay. Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). The opportunities of today are not guaranteed to still be present tomorrow. Nothing should be allowed to deter us from telling people the good news while there is still time for them to hear it.

Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Romans 16:25-27

Leaving the Port of Baltimore early on the morning of March 26, 2024, the cargo ship Dali lost power and struck one of the support piers for the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing the bridge to collapse into the water below. Built in 1977, the Key Bridge was more than a mile and a half long, making it the third longest continuous truss bridge in the world. For almost fifty years it served as a major highway in and out of Baltimore, and millions of vehicles passed over it. Yet when the support pier was destroyed, the bridge collapsed in an instant.

It is impossible for any of us to stand without a firm foundation. The foundation for the Christian life is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our faith is not a wish or a hope, but a solid and unshakable support for our lives. We are to be grounded and settled and firm in our faith. Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The strength is not in us, but in the power of God that grows and develops through His Word. He has revealed Himself to us, and all of His promises are faithful and completely reliable. We are challenged in life as the storms blow and the foundations are tested. But if we are built on the rock of God's promises, our lives will not be shaken and collapse.

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:21-24

Many people in the world today believe that there are many ways to get to God. They are looking for philosophies or religious practices that appeal to their intellect or their senses. They are searching for dramatic signs that will give them a new perspective. But there is only one means of salvation. Jesus said, “All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:8-9). We have no other message to give to people. Jesus is the only way of salvation and our only hope of Heaven. He must be at the very center of everything that we do and say and share with others.

Not everyone will receive the gospel message, but that does not mean the message needs to be changed or updated. We do not need to know who will respond or how they will respond; we simply need to deliver the good news. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins is the only message that can transform lives. All human efforts at reformation and renewal come up short, because those who attempt them are bound by the sinful nature all people have since the fall. Only a perfect Savior could die as a sacrifice to make atonement for sin. Why Jesus came and what He accomplished is the message we have been commanded and commissioned to take to the world.

According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 1:11-14

No one did more to try to stop the spread of the gospel in the first century than Saul of Tarsus. The more the good news was preached and Jesus lifted up as the Messiah and Savior, the more angry Saul became, and the more extreme was his response. “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3). Saul was carrying a great deal of baggage and a heavy load of sin when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. In that moment everything changed. The man who once led the opposition to Christian became its most powerful advocate. Many people did not know what to make of this dramatic life change. “But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed” (Galatians 1:23).

The past did not define Paul. God's grace defined him. His life was a living confirmation of the power of the gospel he preached. The same should be true of us. While most of us do not have testimonies of conversion that are as dramatic, all of us needed God's salvation just as Paul did. And all of us should be grateful and rejoicing, giving thanks to God for the grace that made us part of His family. The work that we do for Him is not a testimony to our merit, but rather to His mercy. All of the glory and praise belong to Him alone.