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I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 1:14-17

When we think about God's unlimited power, one of the first and most obvious demonstrations is creation. Simply by speaking it into existence God created the world out of nothing. “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:8-9). Another commonly-thought of display of God's power is the miracles we see both in Scripture and in our own lives. God is not bound by what is possible for us. He has all power, and is able to work in whatever way is needed to accomplish His purpose. The seas can part, the sun can stand still, the barren can have children and the overwhelming enemies can be defeated.

Often people do not think of the gospel in terms of it being a demonstration and display of God's power, but there is no greater miracle than a child of the devil who is lost and headed for eternity in Hell to become a child of God who is saved and headed for eternity in Heaven. That kind of transformation is beyond any human power but it poses no challenge for God. “When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:25-26).

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

Psalm 46:1-4

God's people are not exempt from the troubles and problems that come from living in a fallen world. We face the same kind of loss, pain, hardship, sickness, and uncertainty that the world faces. The difference is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God. He never abandons or forsakes His children. Even an earth-shattering event that reshapes the landscape in dramatic ways does not have to shake our faith in His eternal and unchanging love and provision for us. “It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Sometimes we fall into the trap of doubt, wondering if God can be relied on. This is especially true when God does not work on our schedule. But God's love for us never fails, and even when we cannot see how He is working, He has not turned His back on us. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Mercy may seem slow, but it is sure. The Lord in unfailing wisdom has appointed a time for the outgoings of His gracious power, and God's time is the best time. We are in a hurry; the vision of the blessing excites our desire, and hastens our longings; but the Lord will keep His appointments. He never is before His time; He never is behind.” The Lord is not a distant deity who must be approached with caution lest disaster results. He is a loving Father who graciously cares for the needs of His children and wants what is best for them.

The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.

Psalm 29:3-7

Much of our world views God as something of a joke. He is often portrayed in popular culture as a doddering old man disconnected from the world and unwilling or unable to do anything about what is happening. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is all powerful, and He is active and involved in every part of His creation. He has the ability to do anything, even that which is humanly impossible, simply by commanding it to happen. If we truly understood the glory and power and majesty of God, we would hold Him in the fear and awe and reverence which He deserves.

The casual attitude of the world toward God can easily infect the church as well. He is just as high and holy today as He has been throughout history. God has not changed His holiness or become lessened in His perfection. We need a renewed sense of God's greatness. When Moses brought the people to Mt. Sinai to receive the law from God, they were terrified by the physical manifestation of God's power and presence. “And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die” (Exodus 20:19). As children of God we have been given the privilege of entering His presence with confidence because the righteousness of Jesus Christ has been credited to our account and our sins were placed on Him. We now have direct access to God and are encourage to boldly approach His throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). 

This access to God should not lead us to treat God in a cavalier way or to think less highly of His power and glory. He is still the holy, almighty God, and we should worship and revere Him as such. He is our loving Father who works powerfully in this world—and in our lives.

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Psalm 2:1-5

Since the rebellion of Satan even before the world was created there have been many attempts to overthrow God's rule and cast away His laws. Many of the most powerful empires in history were in direct opposition to God and His Word. Though they may have flourished and grown for a brief time, they quickly withered away. Nothing that man can do poses any challenge to God. It is laughable to think that anyone or anything could stand against Him for as much as one second. There is not even the beginning of a basis for comparison between us and Him. God said, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

Despite this reality, people act as though God's commands and directives are optional. Governments pass laws making it legal to do things God expressly forbids. Society loudly voices approval for things that are abominable in God's eyes. Even some churches are changing their beliefs and practices, leaving behind the Bible for human reasoning as their guide. Though God's mercy and patience are great, He is not weak or incapable of meting out judgment. And the Bible tells us that He will one day judge the world in His righteousness. 

The knowledge given to us of God's sovereign power and the certainty of His ultimate victory provides us the confidence to face the challenges of life with peace and faith. “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me” (Psalm 56:11).

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

God calls His children to live in a way that brings honor and glory to Him. Despite what the world around us may say or think, there are things that are right which we should do and things that are wrong which we should not do. God's standard of holiness and His commands are unchanging and they are the proper measure of how we should live. The key to living obediently and doing what is right is not in actions but in our thinking. Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said, “Behind every tragedy of human character lies a long process of wicked thinking.” Our thoughts are not random things over which we have no control. It is within our ability through the power that God provides His children to ensure that our thoughts are obedient to what honors and glorifies God.

If we let our thoughts control us, our enemies—the world, the flesh and the devil—will quickly fill our minds with things that will lead to sinful actions. If we humble ourselves before God and place our thoughts under His control, we will reject the things that lead us away from Him. We cannot control everything that enters our mind, but we can control what lingers there. So God calls us to bring our minds into the captivity—or under the control—of that which is in obedience to Him. The prayer of the psalmist is a good one for us: “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 19:14). 

Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive. Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.

Jeremiah 13:16-18

Jeremiah was called to be a prophet at a time when God's people were far away from Him. The final kings of Judah were a collection of weak and wavering men who led the people to worship false idols instead of the true God. They were proud of their power and achievements, but they failed to recognize that they were on the brink of judgment. Centuries later, Herod discovered a similar lesson when he accepted glory and credit that belonged to God: “And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost” (Acts 12:22-23).

Whether it is an individual or a nation, humility is a vital characteristic for those who wish to receive God's grace and blessing. In fact, pride prevents us both from seeing our need for God's grace and from God giving it to us. "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6). Every good thing that we accomplish is possible because of the talents and resources God provides for us. Every achievement and victory is gained because of the opportunities we receive from Him and the power He gives us. There is no place for pride, yet we are constantly tempted to lift ourselves up rather than humbling ourselves before God. If we truly see Him as the great and powerful God that He is, we will realize that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). And we will not take credit for that which He gives us and does through us.

What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

1 Corinthians 10:19-22

In Pilgrim's Progress John Bunyan described the town of Fair Speech that Christian and Hopeful came to on their journey to the Celestial City. One of the most prominent residents of the town was named Mr. Facing-Both-Ways. He was easy to get along with, because he never took a firm and settled position on anything. Charles Spurgeon said, he “made all his money as a waterman [using his boat to ferry passengers across a river], by looking one way and pulling the other.” The temptation to try to keep one foot in the world and one foot in the things of God invariably leaves us crippled and unable to move forward in either direction.

Living for Christ is an all or nothing proposition. We do not take part of God's Word and part of our culture and part of tradition for our doctrine. We either accept what God said fully, or we do not really accept it at all. The world in which we live is filled with alternatives to fully committing to God. But He is looking for nothing less. He does not want us to be focused on the past because He knows if we are, we will eventually return to the things we left behind to follow Him. “And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned” (Hebrews 11:15). Instead of trying to straddle the line between God and the world we must focus all of our love and attention on Him.

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

1 Timothy 6:19-21

When Brian Lee stood before a federal court in San Diego in 2014, he was finally held to account for his crime against the elderly couple who had hired him to set up their estate. Lee set up the trust fund as requested, but quickly began embezzling from his clients. Over a period of ten years, he stole more than $1 million from them before he was finally caught. In addition to his prison sentence, Lee was ordered to make restitution of the stolen funds. United States Attorney Laura Duffy who prosecuted the case said, “It is gratifying to achieve justice on behalf of these senior citizens, who unfortunately placed their trust in Mr. Lee. We hope that this case serves as a deterrent to other fiduciaries and trust administrators who might seek to take advantage of vulnerable victims.”

When we are trusted with something that belongs to someone else, it places a great responsibility on us. This is true for more than just financial and material things. It is true in the spiritual world as well. Paul reminded Timothy that he had been given the truth, and warned him not to let anything chip away at his faith. The very first temptation hinged on Satan questioning the veracity of God. “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:” (Genesis 3:4). We have been given the unchanging and eternal truth in the Word of God, and we must not allow anyone or anything to undermine our trust in it. The truth has been given to us to keep, not just for our own benefit, but to make an impact on the lives of those around us and on the future.

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

George Müller was a notorious sinner in his younger days. He started stealing money from his father when he was just ten years old. Before long, he developed a serious drinking habit, and was widely known for his immoral behavior as a student. His speech was foul, and yet when a fellow college student invited him to a prayer meeting, he agreed to go. Müller later wrote, “I had no Bible, and had not read in it for years. I went to church but seldom. I had never heard the gospel preached, up to the beginning of November 1825. I had never met with a person who told me that he meant, by the help of God, to live according to the Holy Scriptures.”

That night Müller's eyes were opened to the love of God. He said, “What all the exhortations and precepts of my father and others could not effect; what all my own resolutions could not bring about, even to renounce a life of sin and profligacy: I was enabled to do, constrained by the love of Jesus.” Every person born into the world is a sinner. Whether those sins are flagrant and open, or instead internal and largely concealed from the world they are real. Every person needs a Saviour, and Jesus is the only way to Heaven. The power of the gospel not only changes our eternal destiny, but it changes our lives here on Earth as well. It transforms us from being like the world to becoming more and more like Jesus.

They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them: But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.

Psalm 106:34-39

The land that God had promised to Abraham for his descendants hundreds of years before the Exodus from Egypt was famous for evil. Idolatry and immorality were present everywhere in Canaan. When the time for the Israelites to enter the land, God gave them specific and explicit instructions to not make treaties with the people living there, but instead to drive them out of the land. They did not heed His command. “Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out” (Joshua 17:13). When they could have won a complete victory, they settled for less than full obedience would have given them.

We too live in a culture filled with wickedness. Our assignment is spiritual rather than physical. God has not told us to drive out evil people, nor has He told us to withdraw ourselves from any interaction with the world to avoid sin. Jesus prayed, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15). But in one way our assignment is very much like the one given to Israel. We are to keep our hearts fully devoted to God, and not mix our worship of Him with the practices of the world. If we begin to let the world creep into our lives, it will not be long before we become more like the world instead of more like Jesus.

What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

Habakkuk 2:18-20

Idolatry was widespread across the nation of Israel. Though God had warned the people not to adopt the gods and goddesses of the people around them, they ignored Him. Though He had commanded them to not make images to worship, they routinely did. It was common practice in those days for there to be large idols of the various deities in the temples, and then people would make smaller versions to put on display in their homes as an evidence of their devotion. The prophet Habakkuk pointed out the absurdity of worshiping something that you made with your own hands. The tree or rock had no life or power before it was shaped and decorated as an idol, and idols have no power after they are turned into a “god” either.

We may not create household idols to worship like the Israelites did, but it is easy for us to put other things in God's rightful place. The English Puritan John Fawcett wrote, “To cleave to any created object, and to look for happiness from it, is to make an idol of it and set it up in God’s place. Should this object be a friend, a brother, a wife, or a child, the idolatry is still odious in the eyes of that God, to whom we owe our chief affection. Our warmest passions, our most fervent love, desires, hopes, and confidences should always have God for their object. It is His desire that our happiness should not center in any of the good things of this life.”

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

Proverbs 1:28-31

Alice Stewart was a British doctor and medical researcher. Both of her parents were pediatricians, and she followed them into the medical field and spent a great deal of her career on issues relating to children's diseases. Given a grant to study causes of childhood cancer in the 1950s, Stewart discovered that there was a direct link between the then-common practice of conducting x-ray examinations on pregnant mothers and their children developing cancer. Despite the thoroughness of her work, most doctors discounted her study and refused to change their approach. It was almost twenty-five years later before the medical community accepted Stewart's research. Thousands of children got cancer because the warning was not heeded.

Few of the problems we face as a result of disobedience to God come about because we were not aware of what was right and what was wrong. When there are decisions that must be made, we find that the Word of God contains commandments and principles to help guide us. God's directives are not given to harm us or keep us from enjoying good things. Instead, they are warnings that protect us from danger. If we reject God's instructions, we should not be surprised when the results are not what we expect. As the old saying goes, “We are not responsible for failures from advice not followed.” We have a choice when we approach the issues of life. We can go our own way ignoring what God has said, but we have been warned of the consequences that will surely follow. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight. Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

Isaiah 5:20-24

In December of 1980 brothers Frank and Thomas Romano were convicted in Florida on eighteen counts of racketeering and ordered to forfeit more than $1.2 million in illicit profits. But they received an unusual offer from an attorney who was close to the judge in the case. In return for a bribe, which they eventually settled at $150,000, the judge would be willing to order the return of much of their seized assets, and give them a lenient sentence. Unfortunately for federal Judge Alcee Hastings, the FBI had been tipped off to what was going on, and they watched every step of the process. Hastings proclaimed his innocence but was impeached by the House of Representatives for corruption and convicted by the Senate, becoming only the sixth federal judge in US history to be removed from office.

Though our world tries to blur the lines between right and wrong, God has drawn them clearly and His truth will never change. No matter how popular something may be in society, if God declares it sinful it is and always will be sinful. No amount of rationalization or excuse making will change the truth. A great part of walking uprightly depends on our willingness to accept God's authority and not try to change what He has said so we can be more popular or gain reward. If we follow God faithfully and consistently, submitting to His Word and refusing to slant it to match what others want to hear, God will sustain us. This obedience brings blessing into our lives and the lives of those who come after us. “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:7).

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Galatians 6:7-9

When David and Svea Flood went to the mission field in Africa, they had great hopes for God to do a work there. But instead of being welcomed by the people of the Congo (now Zaire) they were treated with suspicion and distrust. Most of the people refused to even listen to them. The only convert they reached was a six-year-old boy. Just after giving birth to a daughter, Svea died and David left the country, leaving his little girl Alina with another missionary couple to raise. Alina grew up in America, When she was forty, she saw an article in a mission report about a village in Africa where six hundred people had trusted Christ. She saw a photo of her mother's grave and wanted to hear more of the story. It turned out that the little boy, the Flood's only convert, had grown up, started a school, and led nearly the entire village to Christ. What seemed to be a complete failure had produced a great harvest.

We often do not see the full results of what God is doing through our work. When it seems like we are not accomplishing as much as we would like, we may actually be planting seeds for something amazing. Our task is to remain faithful to the work whether we see an immediate harvest or not. God knows what He is doing, and He sees the future. We must simply do whatever He places before us, trusting Him for the results. “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

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

Galatians 5:13-15

In 66 AD the Jews revolted against the Roman Empire. Their efforts initially enjoyed great success as they drove Roman officials from the country and defeated the XII Legion sent to put down the revolt. But great divisions arose between the leaders of various groups involved in the rebellion. The Zealots and Sadducees viewed each other with suspicion. When Vespasian arrived with four legions of soldiers, the city of Jerusalem was quickly surrounded and placed under siege. The fighting behind the walls between the various factions made an effective defense of the city difficult. There were assassinations and betrayals, and at one point one faction even burned most of the food supply, believing that would make the people fight with greater intensity. It is not surprising that the Roman army was able to conquer the divided defenders of Jerusalem. The city was destroyed, and the Temple burned to the ground.

Every day we are facing spiritual battles. Our enemies may not march in columns under banners while military music plays, but although our enemies are unseen, they are real. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). If we are divided and fighting with others within the body of Christ, our ability to be victorious is compromised. Any group riven by divisions, whether it is a church, a club or a family, will not be able to stand strong in the face of hardship and opposition. There is great power in the unity that we find in our shared love for Jesus Christ. This unity creates an attractive culture and shows those around us how powerfully God is working in our lives. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).

Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Acts 5:26-29

As part of the effort to consolidate the power of the Church of England, Parliament passed the 1662 Act of Uniformity. It forced all churches to follow the prescribed forms of public prayer and services laid out by the church in the Book of Common Prayer. More than two thousand pastors refused to allow their churches to be forced to comply, and most of them lost their positions. A century later George Whitefield wrote, “When cast out by the black Bartholomew-act [the Act of Uniformity] and driven from their respective charges to preach in barns and fields, in the highways and hedges, they in an especial manner wrote and preached as men having authority. Though dead, by their writings they yet speak; a peculiar unction attends them to this very hour.”

We do not need approval or permission from any religious or political body to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ faithfully. We must not need yield to pressure or threats that make us stop telling the good news to those around us. God has given us our mission, and we must not allow anything to deter us from carrying it out. Of course it is more comfortable to preach where we are welcomed and appreciated. But we must share the gospel everywhere. The world can oppose and object to our message. They may even pass laws making that message illegal. But they cannot stop us from doing what God has commanded.

And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

1 Samuel 7:10-12

Every Friday night an elderly man would go down to the beach in Florida near his home with a basket of shrimp which he would feed to the seagulls hovering overhead. The man was Eddie Rickenbacker, and his weekly visit was a reminder of the past. Already a famous race car driver and pilot, Rickenbacker was entrusted by President Roosevelt with a critical message for General MacArthur during World War II. But due to faulty navigational equipment, his B-17 crew went down in the Pacific Ocean hundreds of miles off course. Stranded on a tiny raft, they quickly exhausted their food. With the men on the edge of starvation, a seagull landed on Rickenbacker's head. He caught the bird, which provided not just one meal but also bait for fishing. The men survived twenty-four days until finally reaching an island. Rickenbacker never forgot the seagull that saved his life.

The things God has done for us, both large and small, should never be forgotten. We should never take His blessing for granted, or lose sight of the fact that it is His grace, not our merit, that provides us with His favor. The loss of gratitude is one of the first steps on the road to turning away from God. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21). The list of things God has done for us goes far beyond our ability to count, and it should never be ignored.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

1 Corinthians 13:11-13

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was one of the most gifted poets America has ever seen. He was a master of long form poetry, telling detailed stories in beautiful language. But Longfellow knew a great deal about sorrow and suffering, and his faith was tested more than once. His most severe trial was the death of his beloved wife Fanny. The famous portraits of Longfellow with a long beard do not show the scars that lay beneath where his face had been severely burned trying to save Fanny from the fire that took her life. Many years later when he reached the end of his own life, Longfellow wrote, “For the Christian, the grave itself is but a covered bridge leading from light to light, through a brief darkness.”

In this life, no matter how much we learn and how much time we spend in fellowship with God, we do not have the ability to grasp what lies ahead for us. We know the future is secure and we do not need to fear eternity, but there is much more waiting for us than we can imagine. When the “glass darkly” is removed and the full light of God's glory and love can be seen, everything about us will be changed. John wrote, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). This glorious hope means that even death holds no fear for us.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

When the cultivation of tulips became popular in the late 1500s, the Netherlands quickly became the center of propagation and development of a widely sought after flower. Much more colorful than most of the popular flowers of the time, the tulip became a status symbol for members of the aristocracy and wealthy businessmen, despite the fact that they only bloom for about a week once a year. The market for tulip bulbs exploded in the 1630s. The price skyrocketed to the point where a single tulip bulb of a rare strain could command more than a year's wages for a skilled workman. In his book Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, Scottish journalist Charles Mackey recounted the story of one tulip bulb being traded for twelve acres of land. But as more and more tulips were grown, the price dropped and by the next decades tulip bulbs were nearly worthless. Those who had paid exorbitant prices for them lost their money.

The things of this world are all temporary. And while it is wise to plan for the future and use the resources God has entrusted to us wisely, the wealth of this world must never be allowed to become our focus. Instead, our hearts need to be fixed on the things of God ahead of anything else. Paul wrote, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). The Christian who lives for temporary things is living by the wrong values. Eternity matters far more than the things of earth.

Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

Daniel 2:27-28

Noted painter and inventor Samuel Morse made no secret of his dependence on God for help in his work. Asked what he did when he was unable to move forward with a project Morse responded, “More than once, and whenever I could not see my way clearly, I knelt down and prayed to God for light and understanding.” His invention of the telegraph revolutionized the communication of messages across great distances, and his patent was one of the most valuable in history. Yet Morse refused to direct credit to himself. He said, “I have made a valuable application of electricity not because I was superior to other men but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must reveal it to someone and He was pleased to reveal it to me.”

Whenever God enables us to do something for Him, it is not to our credit and glory but to His. When God told Daniel what Nebuchadnezzar's dream was and what it meant, he could have puffed himself up and claimed that he was special and worthy of honor and respect. Instead, he plainly told the king that it was God—the true God of Israel—who made it possible, and that the dream was a message from that God. Daniel received promotion, not because he put himself forward, but because God honored his humble spirit. “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life” (Proverbs 22:4). Our purpose in everything we do should be to lift Him up, and the victories He gives us should always be used as a reason to praise Him more.

And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

Numbers 14:6-8

When ten of the twelve spies that Moses sent into the Promised Land came back with a fearful report about the size of the giants and the thickness of the walls of the cities, the people were terrified and refused to go and fight. Joshua and Caleb did everything they could to persuade the people, reminding them that the same God who had brought them out of Egypt and miraculously met their needs in the wilderness was more than able to give them victory, no matter how strong the opposition was. The counseled courage rather than fear, but the people refused to listen. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.”

God does not promise that our lives will be easy or without battles. He does promise to always be with us, and to hear and answer when we call out to Him. God does not want us to live in fear but in faith. Isaiah wrote, “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you” (Isaiah 35:4). Fear comes into our hearts not so much because of the problems we face, but because we are not confident in God as we should be. Answers to what are insurmountable problems to us do not challenge God at all. If we trust in Him, He is more than able to give us not just victory, but peace and confidence along the way.

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

1 Samuel 17:45-46

In ancient times, the idea of single combat—that one champion would be chosen by each side and the victor would determine the ultimate outcome rather than having the entire armies fight—was a way to limit the toll of a war. Rather than hundreds or even thousands of men being killed, the two selected for battle would represent their entire army. When the combatants were evenly matched the outcome might be in doubt. But when one of the combatants was over nine feet tall and carried a spear with the head weighing about fifteen pounds, the outcome seemed to be certain. That is why no one in the army of Israel was willing to answer the challenge to face Goliath. In human understanding it seemed to be a death sentence to fight the giant.

But David did not focus on the size of his opponent, but on the unlimited power of the God of Heaven. He had no fear of the giant, and responded to Goliath's mockery with a declaration of his faith in God and his certainty in the outcome of the battle. When God is with us we never need to fear any obstacle or opposition we face, no matter how large it looks. Even if everyone around us gives in to fear and will not fight, we can be victorious if God is on our side. With Him, victory is certain.

And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Exodus 33:12-14

The greatest source of hope that we have is the unfailing promises of God. We can count on His presence and provision in every situation and circumstance. In his journal the great missionary Hudson Taylor wrote: “Our heavenly Father is a very experienced One. He knows very well that His children wake up with a good appetite every morning. He sustained three million Israelites in the wilderness for forty years. We do not expect He will send three million missionaries to China; but if He did, He would have ample means to sustain them all. Depend on it, God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply.”

The battles that we face often demand far more than we could come up with on our own. But we are not on our own—we are never forsaken. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10). The unlimited resources of God are more than enough for any and every need we have. The vital thing for us is to remember our complete dependence on Him. When we allow ourselves to become proud and rely on our own strength and wisdom, we are inevitably headed for defeat. Instead, we need to turn to God and seek His provision for our lives.

And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. The Lord thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said.

Deuteronomy 31:1-3

In January of 2014 Southwest Airlines Flight 4013 left Chicago's Midway Airport to fly to Branson, Missouri. The flight was routine, but passengers noticed that the landing was abrupt—that the pilot bad braked extremely hard after touching down on the runway. When the plane stopped the flight attendant made the normal arrival announcement, but moments later the pilot said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to tell you we landed at the wrong airport.” Rather than landing in Branson, they had actually landed seven miles away at the Taney County Airport. Having never flown there before, the pilot had mistaken the lights of the closer airport for his intended destination. Despite the message from air traffic control that he was fifteen miles out, the pilot said he could see the runway and landed in the wrong place.

When we face uncertainty and the need to make decisions about what lies ahead, we have an unfailing guidance system available to us. God never leads us to the wrong landing strip if we trust in Him. All that we have to do to receive His direction is ask for it. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Yet too often we decide to rely on our own thoughts and feelings, we easily go astray. So often we ignore warnings from God that would have prevented us from going the wrong direction.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 6:11-13

After the Civil War ended, Major Edmund Ross returned to Kansas and resumed his career as a newspaper editor. When one of Kansas' senators died, Ross was appointed to the Senate to replace him. His most important act in the Senate was during the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson in 1868. Ross was expected to vote with his party to remove the President, but did not believe he was guilty. Later describing the moment when the Chief Justice called on him to cast his vote Ross said, “I looked into my open grave. Friendships, position, fortune, and everything that makes life desirable to an ambitions man were about to be swept away by the breath of my mouth, perhaps forever.” He voted not guilty, and the impeachment failed by one vote. As expected his political career was ended, but Ross had courageously stood for what he believed was right despite the heavy pressure of others.

While there are times when we are blessed to have others encouraging us to do what is right, there are also times when we must stand no matter what others say or do. Truth is still truth and right is still right, and no amount of pressure should be able to deter us from standing firm. The temptation to go along with the crowd or water down the message to be acceptable to a wider range of people is great, but it must be resisted. God is calling us to stand without wavering, courageously committing to doing what is right no matter what. That is what courage in action does.

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:5-7

One of the indelible characters created by L. Frank Baum for his Oz series of books was the Cowardly Lion. This lion had the appearance and characteristics of the king of the jungle, but he was literally afraid of everything. He recognized the problem posed by his cowardice:

I'm afraid there's no denying
I'm just an awful dandy-lion
A fate I don't deserve
But I could show my prowess
Be a lion, not a mouse
If I only had the nerve.

When the Wizard of Oz granted him a medal, the Cowardly Lion began to act courageously, standing up to defend his friends. Once he was convinced he was brave, his actions followed.

A spirit of fear and cowardice is often seen in our world today, even among people who are followers of Jesus Christ. But it does not belong in their lives. That spirit does not come from God. In fact it is the opposite of what God provides. When the disciples were distressed by the storm as they tried to cross the Sea of Galilee, Jesus came to them walking on the water. Their immediate response to His presence was not joy and courage, but fear. “And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (Matthew 14:26-27). It is the abiding presence of God in our lives that gives us the courage to continue no matter what obstacles we may face.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 15:4-6

Hundreds of people gathered in Santa Ana, California, on October 23, 2018, to watch as firefighters attempted to rescue a window washer who was trapped seven stories above the ground. His scaffolding had collapsed, leaving him hanging by a single safety rope, unable to move either up or down. One rescue team member made his way to the top of the building, then was lowered over the side down to where the stranded worker was dangling. The firefighter was able to connect the man to the rescue harness, and then they were both lowered to the ground together. The fire chief told reporters the rescue was made easier because the victim remained calm and allowed them to do their work.

Sometimes we are tempted to forget our utter and complete dependence on Jesus for every part of the Christian life. Jesus did not tell us that without Him we would not be able to do much, but rather than without Him we cannot do anything at all. We are completely dependent on Him and His life in us to accomplish His purposes for our lives. Thus, it behooves us to maintain close fellowship with Him through prayer and reading and obeying God's Word. As we walk in dependance on Christ, we find that God is able to do far more than we can even imagine—not through our power, but through His. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20).

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.

Colossians 1:18-21

England and France were rivals for power and dominion over western Europe and then later over North America. Between 1109 to 1815 they fought more than three dozen wars. Some were brief conflicts while others dragged out over decades. The Hundred Years' War began in 1337 and, despite brief periods when the fighting slowed or briefly stopped, did not finally end until 1453—116 years later. Yet for more than a century now, since the Entente Cordiale was signed in 1904, England and France have been close allies. They fought together through two world wars, and they continue to work together economically and militarily in ways few other countries can match.

Once all of us were God's enemies. No one is born in the right family. Jesus said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). But through His death on the cross, God made a way to reconcile us to Himself forever. Now, rather than us being set against God because of our sin, we are His dear children. Only the blood of Jesus is able to effect such a great transformation. Having received His grace we are to share it with others. “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

1 Peter 5:8-10

When Mary took the throne of England following the death of Henry VIII, anyone who refused his dictates to return to the Catholic church faced prison or death. One of the more prominent Protestant pastors, Edwin Sandys, was jailed and threatened with execution. He told his captors, “I know my years to be young, and my learning but small; it is enough to know Christ crucified. I will yield unto God, and not unto man; I have read in the Scriptures of many godly and courteous keepers: may God make you one! if not, I trust He will give me strength and patience to bear your hard usage.” Sandys eventually escaped from jail and fled to Europe where he remained until Elizabeth came to the throne and the threat to his life was removed.

The Lord does not promise that our lives will be easy. He does promise that He will never leave us, and that if we remain faithful to Him regardless of what happens, He will see to it that we are rewarded. “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). His grace offers us help and strength when the trials are more than we can bear. His faithfulness gives us hope when there seems to be no earthly solution to our problems. His promise is the assurance that we need that all will work according to His plan.

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Ephesians 1:9-12

Thousands of people flocked to hear Charles Spurgeon preach in London every Sunday. In fact the number of people who wanted to attend was so far beyond the capacity of the building that tickets were issued for different services to keep the crowd from overflowing. The story goes that a member of Spurgeon's church was visited by a friend from America, and he arranged tickets so his guest could hear his pastor preach. After the sermon as they walked toward the exit, he asked what his friend had thought and the American visitor replied, “What a preacher!” According to the story, Spurgeon happened to be passing close enough to hear, and said to a member of his staff, “I wish he had said what a Savior instead.”

The purpose of God for our lives is not for us to receive honor and glory. All the good things that we accomplish are only possible because of Him, and He alone deserves all the praise for anything we do. We must be careful not to allow pride and a desire to to be lifted up to fill our hearts and deter us from giving all glory to God. We should seek to do all that we can for Him, in gratitude for all He has done for us, but our motive cannot be our promotion. “And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest” (Jeremiah 45:5).

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

We have an amazing heritage in the lives of faithful Christians who have gone before us. Their lives set an example of what can be accomplished by those who believe the promises of God and act on them. The stories of many of these men and women of faith are found in Hebrews 11. But their race is ended, and they are pictured like a crowd in a stadium watching the contest below. It is our turn to take up the torch and face the challenges and win the victory. There will always be people to point out trouble and obstacles, and those who criticize whatever we do. Only God's approval matters, and nothing should deter us from seeking it.

President Teddy Roosevelt wrote, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:5-8

In 2021 an elderly man in Scotland named Martin Birkhans broke his hip. While he was in the hospital he contracted a sepsis infection that went to his spine. Doctors did not think he would survive; but when he did, they told Birkhans that he would never be able to walk again. He was placed in a care facility completely bedridden, but the director of rehabilitation there thought it was worth trying to help him. Birkhans was put into an intensive physical therapy program. The process was grueling, but he refused to give up. After nearly two years of treatment, Birkhans was able to not just stand but walk laps around the building. One of his care nurses said, “He never gave up. I have never seen anyone with determination like this. He needs a medal.”

There were many things that could have derailed Paul from faithful service to God. He faced intense opposition and persecution. He suffered great physical hardship and distress, and spent a large portion of his ministry in jail. Yet he continued until he reached the end of his race. In his final letter to Timothy, Paul encouraged his young protege to do the same—to keep going no matter how severe the afflictions might be. There is a reward for those who are faithful and diligent in their service to God. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:21).

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:3-5

Philip Bliss began working with D. L. Moody and Ira Sankey in 1869, and his songs became mainstays of Moody's revival campaigns. Bliss worked for the Root and Cady Musical Publishers conducting musical events and teaching others to sing and play music. During that time he wrote a number of hymns we still sing today. Bliss died shortly before his fortieth birthday, when his train to Chicago wrecked. The final song that he sang in a Moody crusade before his death was his beautiful hymn “Hallelujah! What a Savior!”

Man of Sorrows! What a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned he stood,
Sealed my pardon with his blood:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When the world looks at Jesus, many of them only see the caricature presented by our society. He may be seen as a hippie revolutionary, a rebel teacher, or a spiritual guru. Jesus' name is more often used for cursing than praying in our society. But He was the Son of God, and at great cost He came to purchase our salvation. Jesus summed up His purpose and mission this way: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). In order to make a way for us to be saved Jesus endured incredible suffering—not just the physical torment of the cross, but the stench and weight of our sins which He took upon Himself.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 5:3-5

When Michael Phelps was training for competition, he adopted a grueling schedule. He swam at least six days a week for at least five to six hours a day. Most weeks he would swim a total of 50 miles. To keep up his strength for the strenuous effort, he ate about 10,000 calories per day—enough to feed five people on a normal diet. Phelps was a member of the US swimming team for five Olympic games, from 2000 to 2016. In those competitions he became the most decorated Olympic athlete in history with a total of 28 medals, 23 of which were gold. In 2008, he broke Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics, winning eight during the competition in Beijing. The things he went through were hard, but the results were worth it.

The Christian life is filled with struggles. In addition to our own battles we often suffer the effects of living in a world marred by sin. Tribulation and hardship and difficulty are not something that should take us by surprise. Peter wrote, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13). If we approach the difficulties of life with the right spirit and mindset, we will find that they can be the most productive times of growth and development we will ever experience. Working through the trials and remaining faithful builds our strength and character, and prepares us to be victorious no matter what comes.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

When the commander of the army of the Central African Republic, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, overthrew the government in 1966, he declared himself president and filled that office for eleven years. Then in 1977, he declared the nation would be known as the Central African Empire and that he would be crowned emperor. Bokassa spent around $20 million on his coronation ceremony—about one third of the nation's entire annual budget. More than a tenth of that money went to the construction of a massive throne modeled on the one used by Napoleon as emperor of France. The throne, some fifteen feet tall featuring an eagle with its wings spread wide, weighed about two tons. Bokassa's rule as emperor was cut short in 1979 when his cruelty and extravagance led to his overthrow while he was out of the country.

When we come before the throne of God we are entering the presence of the Creator of Heaven and Earth. He is perfectly holy and just, yet His throne is also a place of mercy and grace for His children. John saw that throne and wrote, “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald” (Revelation 4:2-3). We do not need to fear coming into the presence of God because we have been made righteous by the blood of His Son, and He welcomes us before His throne.

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalm 50:10-15

The Grace Baptist Church in Philadelphia was founded a few years after the Civil War. Under the leadership of Pastor Russell Conwell it grew quickly, so much so that the buildings were not big enough for everyone who wanted to attend. Children could attend Sunday school on a schedule. One little girl named Hattie Mae Wiatt told the pastor she wanted to come, and he told her they were working to raise the money for a larger building. Not long after that conversation, she got sick and died. Her parents gave the pastor a change purse where Hattie had been saving money for the building. At her funeral Conwell told the audience about the 57 cents the girl had collected. Her vision inspired the church members, and they quickly raised money for the Hattie Mae Wiatt Sunday School Building and the church was able to continue to grow.

God does not need our financial help, for everything that we have and everything in the world belongs to Him. But He does allow and enable us to give acceptable offerings, and He then rewards us for doing so. This is just one more example of grace in action. It is also an important way in which we can be a positive influence on others. Generosity is contagious. When we give from what we have, even if it is only a little, it encourages others to give as well. This is a vital way each of us can glorify God.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9:8-11

When Hudson Taylor was preparing to go to the mission field in China, he set out to live by faith. Rather than asking for help from others, or even insisting on getting paid by his employer, he would pray. On one occasion Taylor was out of food and almost out of money. A poor man came and asked him for help and with some reluctance Taylor handed him his last half crown. He prayed and asked God to meet his needs. The next morning he received an anonymous letter containing a half sovereign—worth four times as much as what he had given. Taylor said, “How glad the merchants of Hull would be to receive 400 percent interest on their investments!”

God is always the source of our provision. No matter how much or how little we have, it came from Him, and we can trust Him for all that we need. We can trust Him and give even when our resources are limited. When God sent Elijah to the widow in Zarepath, she believed in what the prophet said (even though she lived in a country that worshiped Baal instead of Jehovah) and fed him. As a result God provided throughout the famine. “And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah” (1 Kings 17:16). No one who trusts in God is ever abandoned or forsaken, and no one who rests on His promises will ever see them fail. He is always faithful.

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:31-33

Despite the fact that he had almost no formal training, Adolph Menzel became one of the leading German painters during the nineteenth century. His painting captured moments of high drama and scenes from great battles as well as portraits of kings and generals. But his most famous painting is one he never finished. The painting depicts a crucial moment before the Battle of Leuthen in 1757 where Prussian forces faced an Austrian army twice as large and would defeat them. Frederick the Great met with his generals to challenge them to fight and win the battle. Menzel's composition was started, but the image of the king was not yet painted. When King Wilhelm saw the painting, he felt it did not highlight his illustrious ancestor properly. Menzel was stung by the critique and never finished the work. The place where the king should have been at the center of the painting was left blank.

Our lives are likewise incomplete if God is not at the center. He must come before anything and anyone else, even those closest to us. Jesus said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37-38). Instead of seeking the things of the world, depending on earthly things for our purpose and meaning in life we must keep our focus on God and the eternal things that matter to Him. Only then will our lives be successful in His eyes.

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

2 Corinthians 9:5-6

After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and America entered World War II, an idea from the First World War was revived. All across the country people were encouraged to plant victory gardens. By encouraging people to grow their own food, the government hoped to make more food available for the troops fighting overseas and help keep prices down. To promote the plan, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory garden on the White House lawn. Seed companies put together special packages to send out for people who wanted to take part in the program. There were more than twenty million victory gardens planted which accounted for 40 percent of the nation's produce. By the end of the war, the victory gardens had grown more than eight million tons of food. None of that food would have been available if the people had not planted the seeds they received.

The harvest only comes to those who put the seeds in the ground. This is just as true in the spiritual world as it is in the physical world. If we grudgingly withhold our “seeds” instead of planting them we should not expect to reap a bountiful harvest. As Solomon put it, “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty” (Proverbs 11:24). When it comes to our giving to God and His work, we should never be looking for how little we can get by with doing, but instead seeing if there are ways we can give even more. Every gift given to God from a generous heart produces a harvest of blessing, and eternal rewards for the giver.

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Malachi 3:8-10

After twice “selling” the Eiffel Tower, European conman Victor Lustig found the police closing in on him and fled to America. He continued his criminal career here, working as a counterfeiter and offering to sell machines that supposedly would replicate legitimate currency. Perhaps his boldest endeavor was a con he worked on notorious gangster Al Capone. Lustig convinced Capone to invest $50,000 in a scheme. Rather than risking the money, he kept it in a vault before he returned it to Capone two months later, explaining that the plan had fallen through so he was giving the money back. All that was part of Lustig's actual scheme. He then falsely told Capone that he was left financially destitute, and walked away with $5,000 of the gangster's money as a gift of appreciation for his “honesty.”

It takes a lot of nerve to rob one of the most feared men in the world, but every day people do something far more dangerous—they rob God. A Christian who is not giving back from what God has provided to him is a disobedient Christian and is missing out on blessings God desires to give him. Giving is not a matter of convenience or preference, but a matter of obedience. Knowing that everything we have belongs to God, it should not be a hard thing for us to show our love and gratitude by being generous givers.

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

Ezra 7:8-10

In his play about the life of Thomas More, A Man for All Seasons, Robert Bolt created this dialogue for his main character and a man he was advising about his choice of career. More asks, “Why not be a teacher? You'd be a fine teacher; perhaps a great one.” Richard Rich replies, “If I was, who would know it?” More responds, “You; your pupils; your friends; God. Not a bad public, that.”

There is a great need in our day for people who are willing to invest their hearts and lives in the teaching of others, not just in formal school settings, but in every part of life. Paul wrote to Timothy, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24-25).

The way that God has designed for truth to be passed on to others is through this teaching process. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). The key to being the right kind of teacher is found in the heart. Ezra became a great leader for Israel, influencing the people to follow the law of God. The secret to his success is that he had first prepared his own heart and filled it with the Word of God before beginning to teach others.

That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof: That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

Isaiah 44:26-28

God had warned the people of Israel that if they forsook Him they would be judged and removed from the Promised Land. Moses said, “And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you” (Deuteronomy 4:27). Yet the people did turn against God and He fulfilled the promised judgment. Yet even in His judgment there was mercy. He also promised that He would bring them to the land again—and told them how He would accomplish that part of His plan. Nearly three hundred years before it happened, Isaiah prophesied that a foreign leader named Cyrus would order the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Skeptics claim that Isaiah must have been written later, or by more than one person because of this, but God knows the future, and He had the prophecy recorded so that when it came to pass, people would remember it was just as He said. It is impossible for us to know the future, but we can still face it with confidence because we have a loving Father who knows everything, and has already put the pieces in motion to accomplish His purposes in our lives. God even uses those who do not know Him as instruments of His will, moving their hearts to do what He wants done. “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). There is great confidence in remembering God is in control.

How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

2 Corinthians 8:2-5

I came across a story about a missionary who came home from the field on furlough and announced his desire to take up a special offering for the work. One of his friends said, “Very well, Andrew, seeing it is you, I’ll give five hundred dollars.” “No,” said the missionary, “I cannot take the money since you give it, seeing it is me.” His friend saw the point and said, “You are right, Andrew. Here is a thousand dollars, seeing it is for the Lord Jesus.” Everything that we do is to be done not for the praise of men or to accomplish our purposes, but to honor and glorify God. Any sacrifice that we must make is worth it because it is done for Him.

That was the heart of the Macedonian believers that Paul wrote about to the Corinthian believers. Although these Christians were in "deep poverty," their love for Christ and for other Christians compelled them to give to God's work. In fact, they were so insistent that they had to plead with Paul to receive their gift for the work of the Lord. Paul explained to the Corinthian believers that the Macedonians' spirit of sacrifice was because they "first gave their own selves to the Lord." When we struggle with a willingness to give to the Lord or His work, this example of generous, first-century Christians can remind us that giving begins in the heart. We give to what or to whom we love most. 

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16:24-26

When James Calvert left England as a missionary to the Fiji Islands in 1838 he was literally putting his life on the line. Several of the pioneer missionaries who had gone to the Pacific island chain had been killed and eaten by the cannibals there. Christianity was regarded as a threat by many of the local people groups. At one point the ship's captain tried to warn Calvert of the danger. “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages,” he said. To that, Calvert replied, “We died before we came here.” Calvert spent eighteen years in Fiji, and saw God work in a great way. None of that would have been possible if he had not courageously risked his own life for the sake of the gospel.

Most of us are not facing death simply for telling others about Jesus, but we may face rejection or even persecution if we boldly declare the good news. No matter what the cost may be, we must be willing to pay it. After all that Jesus has done for us, we owe Him everything. This is not just a one time decision, but something we must do day after day. It is a matter of what we value most. Paul said, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.

Psalm 96:4-8

Franz Joseph Haydn was already considered by many to be the greatest living composer when he stepped to the podium in Vienna in April of 1798 to direct his new oratorio, The Creation. Hayden had heard a performance of Handel's Messiah on a tour of England, and on his return home had decided to write a piece of music that would depict the process by which God made the world. The audience was swept up in the work, and when the chorus sang, “And there was light,” the people stood to their feet and began to applaud. The music stopped and Haydn turned to the audience. Pointing up toward Heaven he said, “No, no, not from me, but from thence comes all!”

When we are tempted to lift ourselves up or seek the praise and approval of men, we must remember that God alone deserves all of the praise and glory. God is so gracious and generous with us, giving us far more than we deserve. He deserves all the honor and glory for what He has done. “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another” (Isaiah 48:11). If we have a clear picture of who  God is, we will not find it hard to lift Him up in our conversations with others. A person who is looking for reasons to praise and glorify God will never run out.

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:29-31

Though Hugh Latimer grew up in the Catholic church, his exposure to the writings of Martin Luther's friend and collaborator Philip Melancthon convinced him of the Pope's errors. He became one of the leading English reformers and a favorite of King Henry VIII. Latimer preached at St. Edwards Church in Cambridge, and it was not uncommon for the king to come to the services there. It is said that on one occasion Latimer was warned, “Latimer, the king of England is here, be careful about what you say.” Latimer knew the danger of preaching something the king might not like, but he also knew he had a greater responsibility. He responded, “Latimer, the king of kings is here, be careful about what you say.” Latimer would eventually be burned at the stake as one of the Oxford Martyrs, and his courage and commitment to Christ are still remembered today.

The world has never been friendly toward those who are fully committed to following Jesus and sharing His gospel with others. Though we here in America have largely enjoyed religious freedom, there is a growing trend of hostility toward faithful disciples of Jesus. Our responsibility is to stand firm no matter what opposition we may face. One of the characteristics of the early church that demonstrated God's power in their lives was the boldness with which they courageously faced those trying to stop and silence them. Threats, arrests, persecution, imprisonment and even death did not deter them. The example they set was one we can follow. When facing opposition they prayed and sought God's help, and He answered their prayers.

And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Acts 3:2-6

When Jesus sent the disciples out to begin ministering on their own, He equipped and empowered them for the work. He also reminded them that what they were going to share with others had first been given to them. They were not the source of changed lives, healed diseases, and people believing Jesus was the Messiah; they were merely the messengers. Jesus said, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Then, before Jesus returned to Heaven, He promised them that the Holy Spirit would come and give them the power to fulfill the Great Commission. That power came on the Day of Pentecost, and it shook the world.

A few days later when Peter and John went to the Temple and met a crippled man who was begging, they did not offer him financial assistance. Instead Peter, relying fully on the power of God, told the man to get up and start walking. This story reminds us of the importance of dependence on God rather than on ourselves. Vance Havner said, “The church can't say 'silver and gold have I none' anymore. We can't say 'rise up and walk' either.” If we fall into the trap of relying on our own strength, wisdom, and power, we will inevitably fail. Only when we are walking in the name and power of Jesus Christ can we triumph over the enemy.

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

Mark 1:23-27

When people heard Jesus speak, they immediately noticed a difference in the way He taught the Scriptures. There was an authority in His approach to Scripture and in how He taught it that was unmistakable. And it was not just people who responded to His voice. The forces of nature and even demons listened and obeyed when He spoke. In fact, the only part of creation that did not fully respond with obedience was people. But while the religious leaders were plotting to destroy Jesus, the crowds had a different attitude. “David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37).

We in turn are called to take the message of Jesus to the world around us. We need to speak with the same kind of power and authority—not because we have Jesus' perfection, but because He has given us the Holy Spirit so that we carry out His work. Peter wrote, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11). When we do God's work in God's power, we can confidently expect to fulfill the assignments He gives us.

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

1 Samuel 17:34-37

George Müller was on a ship from England to speak at a conference in Quebec, Canada, when dense fog off the coast of Newfoundland forced the ship to stop. Müller went to see the captain, who was a Christian, and informed him that he was to speak on Saturday and needed to be there. “I have never broken an engagement in fifty-seven years,” he said. When the captain told him it was impossible, Müller suggested they pray. But after a few moments of prayer, he said, “Get up, Captain, and open the door, and you will find the fog is gone.” The fog was gone, and Müller made it to Quebec in time for the meeting.

When we look back at the way that God has worked in our lives in the past, it encourages us to trust Him for the present and the future. The Lord never changes, and He is always faithful to keep His promises. Rather than allowing our present circumstances to discourage us, we should look back on His provision and realize that He will never leave us. When everyone in Israel's army was afraid to answer the challenge of Goliath, a shepherd who had brought food for his brothers was happy to take up the task. David had learned to trust God while defending His sheep, and He recognized that his faithful God could handle any challenge, just as He had before.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

1 Peter 4:12-14

Edward Slavens knew a great deal about trouble and trials. His father died when he was very young, and he had both a brother and sister who died as infants. Yet Slavens never lost his faith in God. He would grow up to be a preacher and song writer, holding revivals across the Midwestern part of the United States. No doubt drawing on his own painful experiences, Slavens wrote:

You can have a melody
Down in your heart,
When it's aching almost breaking.
Even though the sorrow
Makes the teardrop start,
You can have a melody
Down in your heart.

You can have a song
In your heart in the night,
After every trial
After every mile,
Anyone can sing
When the sun's shining bright,
But you need a song
In your heart at night.

The circumstances of our lives do not dictate whether we have joy. We can be experiencing great hardship, suffering, and even persecution and still be joyful. Joy is not found in what is happening around us, but in our relationship with God. From a prison cell in Rome Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). He was not telling people to do something he was not doing himself. Paul knew joy in the midst of suffering. Whether we are facing opposition from others or just the effects of living in a fallen world, God is always faithful. If we trust in Him we will have joy even on the darkest days.