WISDOM RETREAT@ Crosswalk.com

Bar the Gates!
Romans 6:13
Do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

John Bunyan, one of history's greatest Christian authors, wrote the story of a fierce battle to take control of a city from its rightful ruler. This famous allegory, Bunyan's second most popular work, is entitled The Holy War. His depiction of the human soul is a city, Mansoul, with five gates: Ear Gate, Eye Gate, Nose Gate, Feel Gate, and Mouth Gate.

The enemy of the city is Sin, who comes on a daily basis to attack at one of its five gates. Sin speaks to the Ear Gate; he presents vivid, alluring pictures to the Eye Gate; he tempts the other "Gates" as well.

The interesting thing about this battle is that Mansoulcould never be defeated by outside attacks, and Sin could never win in his assaults against the five gates . . . except in one way: someone on the inside had to open one of the gates and let Sin in.

In reality, these five gates are not Bunyan's allegorical creations at all—they are for real! Bunyan had grasped what both Paul and Peter understood: that the soul of man is destroyed from the inside, not the outside.

This is why Paul urged the believers to stop presenting their members to sin. The word presenting in this verse is a military term, used in the transferring of weaponry or arms. Paul was actually saying, "Don't let the enemy use your body as his weapon. Don't let the enemy have your rifle or your sword so he can use it against you! Don't leave yourself unarmed . . . don't open the gates!"

Unquestionably, you cannot be a holy child of God while allowing your eyes to feast on unholy scenes. Most of today's new film releases contain scenes of adultery or fornication. It is a fact, according to recent statistics, that over ninety percent of all sexual content in the average film is between unmarried people or people who are married to someone else.

If you choose to watch sin on the big screen, whether in a theater or your family room, you have just opened the Eye Gate and invited Sin to come in.

If Sin can't get through one gate, he will try another. So, what are the lyrics to your favorite songs, and the lifestyle of your favorite artists? Most secular music today is filled with the same perversion that you see on the screen; merely listening to it may be as deadly as watching it . . . keep the Ear Gate closed!

You are in a Holy War, Christian, just as John Bunyan said. And you may be your own worst enemy! Sin is pounding at each Gate, but he can only come in if you allow him entrance. Sin can't win the battle from the outside.

Don't betray your Mansoul! By all means, reinforce the boundaries . . . fortify the walls . . . bar the Gates!

Prayer Point: Thank God for His available strength to enable your battle against the onslaught of sin. Ask Him to bring to mind any area of your senses where you might be allowing sin to gain entrance into the city of your soul. Confess the treason against His holiness and ask Him for strength to close the Gate and lock it tight.

Extra Refreshment: Read 2 Peter 3.

Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.

"Not Guilty!"

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.

I have documentation from Rabbi Reuven Lauffer [Jerusalem, Israel] of an incredible story . . . one relating to the Holocaust: the incarceration and slaughter of Jews in the concentration camp known as Auschwitz. This true story took place toward the end of World War II.

At Auschwitz, as in all the camps, there was no lack of great Jewish scholars. One night ten of those learned men made up a Jewish court of law and put God on trial.

The central premise of the trial: how was it possible that God, who is totally good, could create such a living hell as Auschwitz? The debate raged back and forth all night; finally, the court returned a verdict of "Guilty!" God was guilty of failing His people.

However, upon adjourning the court, the entire barracks rose and began to pray their morning prayers. Even after finding God guilty, they prayed to Him!

What an incredible statement of faith it was for these Jews to continue praying to God, even while the torture and systematic killing continued. Yet, I thought how tragic that they were now praying to a God they believed had left them all alone.

If we were honest with ourselves, each of us could point to a time when we felt as though God had left us . . . and it took infinitely less than genocide to make us accuse God of abandonment.

When Moses gathers the people to hear his final counsel, he is 120 years old. His life drawing to a close and the final opportunity looming before him, Moses speaks to the Israelites, reminding them that God does not leave His children.

Think about it—they had just come from 400 years of generational slavery! They had not yet entered into the land which God had promised them!

A man's last speech is usually devoid of self-aggrandizement and is often saturated with words of truth. Moses spoke the words of our text; he believed—he knew—that God does not ever leave His children.

How did Moses convey this truth? He knew it in his heart; he professed it with his lips; he lived it until the end.

This marvelous promise of security should serve to strengthen us in the face of any and all trials. Our trust is in the Lord and His promises, as recorded in Scripture.

The words of the last verse from the great hymn "How Firm a Foundation" take on new meaning when we sing:


The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I will not desert to his foes.

That soul, though all hell

Should endeavor to shake

I'll never, no never, no never forsake.

Do you cast your cares upon Jesus Christ (1 Peter 5:7) or charge that He isn't concerned? In the midst of your conflicts and struggles, do you trust and rest in God or indict, try, and find Him guilty of neglect?


Jesus said, ". . . lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).


Do you believe the words of Christ? If your answer is "Yes," then the verdict must be... "Not guilty!"


Prayer Point: If you have had doubts about God's faithfulness, ask Him to increase your faith. Then ask Him to help you remember all that He has done for you and those whom you know and love. Take time to thank your trustworthy Father.

Extra Refreshment: Read and try to memorize 2 Timothy 2:11-13.

Dressed for War
Ephesians 6:11

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

In World War II, as Germany prepared to invade Poland, the Poles readied themselves for battle. They were experienced warriors with a long history of repelling enemy attacks from barbarian neighbors. The Polish army was renowned for its skilled horsemanship—the Cavalry was well-trained and their horses were among Europe's finest steeds.

When it was learned that German forces were advancing, twelve brigades of their finest Cavalry were prepared. With swords flashing in the sunlight, the officers sounded the charge and their horses surged forward with powerful strides. Remember the time frame—World War II.

In his biography of Winston Churchill, Manchester wrote that the Cavalry galloped into oncoming, newly-designed German panzer tanks. The outcome was predictable—total annihilation! Horsemen with swords battled iron tanks.

I'm convinced that we, as believers, often expect to take on the enemy of our soul with methods similar to that of galloping on horseback at full speed, heading into the path of an oncoming tank division.

Even worse, we enter our daily activity without so much as a thought that we have an enemy who is on a search-and-destroy mission. Satan seeks to deceive, to distract, and to defeat any attempt by Christians who desire to advance the kingdom of light and the glory of the Prince of Heaven.

Paul warned us that the battle would be fierce. But in Ephesians 6, he tells us how to dress for war:

Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

So . . . are you properly prepared for battle? You can't go against tanks on horseback! In the same way, you can't resist the enemy of your soul armed with an hour of church, a blessing before meals, and a prayer at bedtime. You are to clothe yourself in a warrior's armor which has been designed by God for the dangers of daily, state-of-the-art battle.

Get dressed for combat . . . today!

Prayer Point: Pray through this passage, mentally putting on each piece of armor and asking the Lord for His strength to wage war with the temptations of life.
Extra Refreshment: Read Ephesians 6:19-24.

Breaking a Spiritual Sweat
1 Timothy 4:7-8

But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Godly living is not a sport; it's hard work. It isn't something you do when you feel like it, or if you have some spare time for it, or if you are naturally good at it.

Paul said to train yourself for godliness. The word train is gumnazo, from which we get our word gymnasium. That is, Paul was saying to his son in the faith, "Timothy, go into the gymnasium of the Word and work up a sweat. In fact, if you're not breaking a spiritual sweat, you're probably not working at it hard enough."

Later in the same paragraph, Paul tells Timothy that this godliness is something for which we labor and strive (1 Timothy 4:10). The Greek word for labor is the root of our word agonize.

Imagine—Paul speaks of gaining godliness with words like "agonizing" and "training," just as an athlete would train and push himself to run a race. Actually, Paul uses that very analogy in a different letter wherein he says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it"

(1 Corinthians 9:24). Consequently, godliness only comes as we train, agonize, and then run with all our strength.

I have heard people say, "I don't read the Bible because it's too hard to understand"; "I don't pray like I ought to because that has never come easy for me"; "I'd like to memorize Scripture but it takes forever." Christian growth requires spiritual sweat!

One of the greatest running backs in NFL history died at the age of forty-five. Walter Payton's skill and ability when he received the ball in his hands was legendary. When he retired after the 1987 season, he was the all-time leader in rushing yards. Though his on-field exploits impressed his fellow players, it was his off-season training which elevated him to iconic status in their eyes. Besides weight lifting, his daily routine included running near the Pearl River in Mississippi. He ran through the sand (65 yards of beach) or up the levee (a 45-degree slope).

For his legacy, Payton didn't want his statistics to be the focus, impressive as they were. "I want to be remembered," he said, "for giving it my all."

May we be men and women who "give it our all" for something far more lasting than a football game—let's train, and agonize, and run after, and with . . . godliness!

Prayer Point: Ask the Lord to forgive you for excusing apathy and the lack of discipline in regard to spiritual matters such as prayer, Bible reading/study, and memorization. Thank Him for His patience with you as you've taken time to learn that these disciplines are called "spiritual disciplines" because they require—discipline.

Extra Refreshment: Read and memorize 1 Timothy 4:7-8. This will not only refresh your heart but advance you another step in your spiritual discipline!

Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.

Persecution—It's a Promise!

2 Timothy 3:12

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

We are presenting a distorted message to the world when we try to make Christianity synonymous with health, wealth, and prosperity, while hiding the crux of Christianity—the cross. Discipleship is impossible without the cross, and following Christ is all about bearing it.

Pat Robertson is a man who teaches the distorted health-and-wealth message, deceiving many. In his book, The Secret Kingdom, he urges Christians to employ what he calls "the laws of prosperity to which God Himself is bound," and writes: "It's a bit like tuning in to a radio or television station: you get on the right frequency and you pick up the program."

But what about those believers who are never healed of their diseases, nor get the financial miracle they are hoping for? According to Robertson, they "have either failed to grasp the points we have been making about the operation of the kingdom, or they are not living according to the principles we have been exploring."

Michael Horton, a reformed theologian, wrote a scathing rebuke of Robertson's "prosperity theology" in his book entitled Made in America. He wrote:

The gospel is now consumer-centered, rather than God-centered. It is as if God must be justified before the sinner; now it is the unbeliever who has to be satisfied with God and His terms . . . and so we package our gospel in attractive terms and with attractive promises . . .

Oh, how far our generation has fallen from the "true theology" modeled by our forefathers of the faith. Hebrews 11:36-38 says:

And others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawn in two, tempted, put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated . . . wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

Evidently they hadn't tuned in to the laws of prosperity nor found the right frequency! The twisted prosperity theology of Robertson, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, and a multitude of others, is truly a theology that has been "made in America"—consumer-oriented, consumer-driven. Instead of Sovereign God, we have sovereign man. If we discover the "key" to success, God will hand over the goods. Embedded in this false teaching is the tragic heresy that if mankind isn't happy, then God isn't a just God.

Are you following Christ out of consumer-driven motives? Are you expecting Him to bless you with more material things as a reward for wearing a cross on your necklace or having a fish sticker on your bumper? If you believe the text for today, you know that God has promised the opposite of health and wealth in this life—He's promised persecution to those who live godly in Christ Jesus.

The god of many televangelists is not the God of the Gospel. Don't tune in to the wrong channel . . . stay on His frequency!

Prayer Point: Ask the Lord to give you a willingness to accept whatever state you're in—whether poverty or prosperity. If you are prospering, pray that you will not trust Christ less; if you are struggling to make ends meet, pray that you will trust Christ more.

Extra Refreshment: Read Romans 8, where Paul describes the beauty of the "true" gospel, and reminds suffering believers where their hope is found.

The Aisle Seat

John 13:34-35

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Rebecca Pippert, in her fascinating book entitled Out of the Salt Shaker and into the World, told the story of her arrival in Portland, Oregon, where she met Bill, one of the students on the campus where she served. He was a brilliant young man with messy hair and, as she recalls, he was perpetually shoeless. From outward appearances he was a little strange, but inwardly he was inquisitive and incredibly bright.

One day Bill decided to attend a middle-class church that was across the street from the campus. He walked into this church of well-dressed people in his tattered jeans, tee shirt, and, of course, barefooted. In truth, this was the first time he'd ever been inside a church sanctuary.

People looked a bit uncomfortable, but no one said anything as Bill walked down the aisle looking for a seat. The church was quite crowded that Sunday, and as he came to the front pew he realized there were no seats left. So without any hesitation, he sat down on the carpet in the middle of the aisle, the same way he sat when his Christian friends invited him as they met for Bible study. He casually crossed his legs and waited for the service to begin.

The tension was palpable as people murmured, craning their necks to see the stranger in the aisle. Then one of the elderly deacons—a man who was well-respected in the church—began walking down the aisle toward the student. Rebecca's friends who witnessed this scene told her that they whispered to each other, "Well, you can't exactly blame him for scolding the guy . . . he is a disruption to the service!"

As the well-groomed deacon neared Bill, the church was deathly quiet. All eyes were glued front and center to see what would happen next. With some difficulty, the old man lowered himself to the floor and sat down next to Bill. He crossed his legs and shared his hymnal with the college-aged boy. The crowd was stunned.

That Sunday the deacon not only worshiped there on the floor, but he reminded the congregation how to worship.

Jesus Christ considers us His representatives on earth and we are to win the world for Him. How? Bribe them? . . . threaten them? . . . scare them? . . . debate them? No!

We are to show them the love of Christ by showing them our love for each other; we are to reflect the character of Christ to those around us.

Unbelievers may rebuff your message, refute your argument, and reject your faith, but they can't deny your loving spirit toward them.

So, be on the lookout for aisle seats. You never know when you'll be in the perfect place to serve up a heaping helping of "loving spirit" . . . for the glory of Christ.

Prayer Point: Pray for humility; think of others as you go through this day, and try to love those in the world as God loves them.

Extra Refreshment: Luke 10:30-37 tells the story of the good Samaritan, an illustration of the kind of love God wants us to practice.

A Matter of Life and Death

John 3:36

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

Perhaps you saw the news of the tragic fire in Colorado some years ago. The headline of a USA Today article called it the "Colorado Tragedy," and a tragedy it indeed was. It was not only a tragedy because twelve men died in the fire, but because their deaths were brought about by one wrong decision.

The article related that firefighters carry in their belt pouches a blanket called a shelter. It consists of thin cloth-like layers of aluminum foil and glass glued together, less than an inch thick, and weighs about three pounds. It can be opened, allowing the firefighter to lie under it when the flames get too close. This wonderful invention has saved the lives of many firemen, but in this case, it cost them their lives.

The inferno that raged on Storm Mountain that dreadful Wednesday afternoon took an unexpected turn; the firefighters had successfully contained the blaze to less than fifty acres when all of a sudden, monstrous gusts of wind whipped it back into a fury, spreading the flames over two thousand acres in less than five hours. Many of the men were trapped. One firefighter recalled the event and said that without warning, the forest just exploded. The article reads:



With just seconds to outwit the fires, some firefighters ran back through walls of flame to burned-out, spent ground. They were among the thirty-eight who lived. But at least nine who died had tried to climb into their shelters, in the path of the fire, and found them insufficient shields against suffocating flames and heat. One firefighter summarized it this way, "The guys who used their shelters died; those who ran back into and through the wall of fire to ground that was already burned, lived.

When I read this, I couldn't help but think of humanity running for its life before the flames of eternal judgment. Many people carry their little shelters of religion, good works, baptism, money, or morality, but these shields will not be enough to withstand the heat of God's holy wrath.

The only ones who will live are those who run to scorched ground—ground where the fires of God's wrath have already burned. That ground is none other than Jesus Christ, who has taken upon Himself the wrath of God so that all those who stand "in Christ" will be saved.

Have you made the decision to follow Christ, or are you still hiding beneath your own shelter of misguided whims and ideas? Don't wait another second to make that choice.

It's a matter of life . . . and death!

Prayer Point: If you are already a believer in Christ, thank Him for taking your punishment on the cross and for offering to you His righteousness in return. If you are not yet a believer in Christ, you can accept Him right now. Simply confess that you are a sinner, believe that Christ paid the penalty for your sin on the cross, rose again from the grave and offers forgiveness for all your sin. Receive His free gift of salvation and commit your life to His authority.

Extra Refreshment: Read the entire chapter of John 3, where God's immense love for the lost world is revealed.

Let the Confession Begin!

Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

The term "priorities" used to be referred to only in the singular form—priority. It was "set your priority straight," not priorities. Today we have many priorities, and I'm afraid we're a lot like Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald's. When asked by The New York Times what he believed in, he responded by saying, "God, my family, and McDonald's hamburgers." Afterwards he added, "And when I get to the office, I reverse the order."

The problem is a universal one, and all humans, whether Christian or not, will be forced to deal with it. It is a problem called pride; we not only deceive others by it—we deceive ourselves.

This is how it usually comes down: because of pride, you go to church on Sunday and look and act like a Christian—everyone thinks you're an upright citizen. Then, like Ray Kroc, you go to your workplace on Monday and look and act like an unbeliever—your co-workers think you're an okay guy. In reality, you're the farthest thing from either description!

"Confession is the road to healing," as one songwriter once said, and it is the cure to self-deception. We all would like to think that we're good people, or at least better than average—certainly not as bad as the other guy! The truth is, just because we're saved doesn't mean we're perfect.

Consider the examples God gives us in His Word: Old Testament figures were saved by their faith in the promise of the coming Messiah: Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samson, David, and many others. In the New Testament, there is one who stands out from all who followed Christ: Simon Peter. These men of God faltered in their walk of faith—floundered in the sea of sin—failed God, themselves, and others. Yet . . . all repented and regained their testimonies with God and men, and six of them are listed in the Bible's "Hall of Faith" chapter, Hebrews 11.

Perhaps the world has to see us admit our sins and confess our wrong doings before they will be able to see their own need for confession and repentance. Christ died for sinners, and when sinners who have been saved reach out to sinners who are still lost, conversions will be the result.

Some people will hate us because of our message, as Christ promised in the gospel of John, but others will come to Christ through our transparency and love.

The point is simple—don't be a Pharisee. Never stop confessing your sin to God and to others, and never stop telling the world of their need for Christ's love and mercy, for "all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) . . . and that includes you.

Prayer Point: Confess your sins to God right now, and ask Him to reveal the people to whom you need to make reconciliation. Then, pray for humility to confess your wrong, knowing that God is glorified when you do.

Extra Refreshment: Read Psalm 51—David's prayer of confession after sinning greatly against the Lord.

Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.

The Right Answer

Romans 10:9-10
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

In 1955, a dance instructor and manager of an Arthur Murray Studio in Tampa had wearily turned in just before dawn on Sunday morning, after an almost-all-night dance party. He set his clock radio to awaken him to music at the appointed time, but was jarred wide awake by a voice that sounded as if it were thundering right out of heaven. It was the weekly broadcast of Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, a Philadelphia pastor and one of the first great radio evangelists.

Jim got out of bed to change the station, but before he reached the radio, the preacher stopped him with a question that set him back on the edge of the bed: "Suppose that you were to die today and stand before God, and He were to ask you, ‘What right do you have to enter into My heaven?'—what would you say?"

Jim was dumbfounded! He continued to listen to the explanation of the plan of redemption through faith in Christ—a message he had never heard before. On that remarkable Sunday afternoon, Jim made the transition from presumption to truth. He had presumed that he was good enough to make it into heaven; he didn't realize that he was calling God a liar—God, who says, "There is none good, no not one." He knew he would never make it!

That week he stopped by a corner newsstand and asked if they sold religious books. The owner had only one, The Greatest Story Ever Told. Each night Jim read a portion, and when he completed the book, it seemed as if the cross of Christ had been erected right in his apartment. He slipped out of his chair onto his knees and asked Christ to come into his heart and forgive him and cleanse him of his sins . . . he found the answer.

By the way, Jim's name was D. James Kennedy. He was founder and pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, founder of Knox Theological Seminary, as well as the international evangelism ministry called "Evangelism Explosion," training people in every country of the world, showing them how to share the gospel, asking that famous question.

What would your answer be today? Why do you think you're going to heaven? What right do you have to ever think you could live for eternity in the presence of God's glory? Do you have an answer?

There is only one way. You must travel on that bridge fashioned in the form of an old rugged cross—the eternal bridge between earth and heaven, between corruption and consummation, between religion and redemption. This is the bridge built by our Redeemer, and no religious acts or good deeds will allow you to walk across it. Heaven is on the other side for all who are willing to come by Christ's finished work alone.

If you have already believed in Christ for salvation, then ask yourself this question: "God is at work in the world around me; am I taking part in it? Is there someone in my life to whom I should pose this life-changing, eternity-destined question? If so, what are you waiting for?

Today is someone's day of salvation; go . . . ask the question!

Prayer Point: We have been offered the most precious gift by our Savior, Jesus Christ. As Romans 12:1 says, it is our "reasonable service" to give our lives completely to Him in response to His mercy. Ask God to begin to show you, through prayer and the reading of His Word, how you can best take part in the work of spreading the gospel.

Extra Refreshment: Read 1 Timothy 1—a reminder that God saves sinners, not good people.

Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.

To Enjoy Is to Exult!
Romans 5:11

And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

To exult in God is the greatest of all human activities. The Westminster Shorter Catechism put it this way: "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever."

Are you enjoying God?

Paul reminds us that we have not only been saved from the penalty of sin and from the wrath of God, but we have been saved for the praise of our Savior and for the worship of God.

If only Christians today could resound with praise to the true and living God with the same fervency as the pagans did to their goddess, Diana, in the ancient city of Ephesus! The world then would see passionate worship in our lives, hear it from our lips, and behold it on our faces. Our translation from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of light evidences a joy to the watching world. If only we enjoyed God more!

I read a humorous story of an occurrence on a train coming from Princeton. The conductor came down the aisle punching tickets, and held out his hand to the next passenger. Albert Einstein reached into his vest pocket—no ticket. Neither could he find it in the other pocket, nor his briefcase, nor the seat cushion of the bench next to him. The conductor finally offered, "Dr. Einstein, I know who you are . . . we all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket, so don't worry about it."

Einstein nodded, but didn't seem relieved. As the conductor prepared to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the brilliant physicist down on his hands and knees, looking under his seat. Rushing back, the conductor said, "Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein—don't worry! You don't need a ticket; it's not a problem." Einstein looked at him and said, "Sir, the problem isn't whether you know who I am— the problem is I can't remember where I'm going!"

Perhaps if we would remember that our "ticket" of salvation was bought with such a costly price; that we have been reconciled to God; that our final destination is an eternity of joy spent with God—then we would be able to "exult in God" with a passion that the world could neither match nor explain.

So rejoice in God, my friend! Your ticket has already been punched . . . you're on your way to your final destination!

Prayer Point: Thank the Lord for the glorious gospel which has not only erased your past, but has given you a new future. Praise God like you've never praised Him before, knowing that you could never praise Him enough.

Extra Refreshment: Read Psalm 98 and Psalm 100 if you need an example of exuberant worship.
Saved from the Flames

1 John 4:10
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

I will never forget reading about a Midwestern fire that swept across the prairie, devastating crops, houses, and everything else that lay in its path. It ravaged without warning, leaving families and homesteads in ruin. Only one family was unharmed, and this is their story.

They had seen the smoke coming from a distance and knew they could never outrun it. The father grabbed a brand from the hearth and set their own field afire, lighting smaller fires in patches along the surrounding area. The wind fanned the flames and carried them a mile or so ahead of the on-coming prairie fire. He loaded his family into the wagon and then drove into the middle of their burned-out field . . . and they waited.

Within minutes, the great wall of fire reached the edge of their field. Finding nothing to burn, it merely licked its way along the outer edges. Ultimately, the massive wall of flames met at the back of the field and continued downwind with a fury.

They were safe!

Why? Because they were standing on ground that had already been burned. It had withstood the fire and could not be burned again. It had become this family's propitiation.

Do you know why you will never have to face the wrath of God in fiery judgment? Because you stand in Christ—He is your propitiation. Against Him, the wrath of God has already burned, and for us who are in Him, the fire of God will never burn again. John tells us why God did this for us in 1 John 4:10: "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

We come to Christ as our Propitiator, not because of something we did or some measure of worth that we had in ourselves, but because of what He did on the cross and because of His eternal worth as God the Son.

There is a coming firestorm that will sweep up those who have not accepted the propitiatory work of Christ. It is a place called hell; in it, the wrath of God will burn against all those not standing in the finished work of Christ.

For those who have placed their faith in Christ, they are forever safe from that flame. Because of the cross, which is stained with the perfect blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God's judgment for sin has been fully satisfied.

The wall of flames has passed away for those who are in Christ . . . there is no need to fear.

Prayer Point: Thank Jesus for drinking the cup of God's wrath that you deserved, and for standing in the way of the fire that was headed for your doorstep. Thank Him for a love so great that He was willing to die on the cross.

Extra Refreshment: Read all of 1 John 4.
Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.

The Gift of Pain
Revelation 21:3-4
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

Many people believe that pain is God's one mistake. Pain usually gets bad press, but have you ever considered that a wise God created us with an ability to feel pain for a reason?

Dr. Paul Brand knew physical pain is a gift. As he studied the suffering of people infected with Hansen's disease—leprosy—he came to the conclusion that, at least in some cases, pain is vital to our survival.

While the word leprosy may conjure up images of stubby fingers and toes, ulcerated wounds, and distorted facial features, it is not the direct cause for these conditions. Because of pain deprivation, leprosy causes its victims to inadvertently destroy parts of their own bodies. Hansen's disease acts as an anesthetic, numbing the pain cells of hands, feet, eyes, ears, and nose.

While most diseases are feared because of their pain, Hansen's is deadly because its victims feel no pain. According to Dr. Brand, the destruction of facial features and limbs follows because the warning system of pain is gone.

In African and Asian villages where Dr. Brand worked, lepers reached directly into fire to retrieve a dropped potato. Patients at the hospital in India worked, gripping a shovel with a protruding nail; extinguished a burning wick with bare hands; stepped on broken glass. They simply couldn't feel the warning signals telling them to stop.

No wonder Dr. Brand concluded his findings by saying, "Thank God for inventing pain." Pain is both an essential and unavoidable part of life; the art of living is learning how to respond to pain. God uses pain in several ways: to correct us—"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes" (Psalm 119:71); to construct us—". . . tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character" (Romans 5:3b-4a).

Pain, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, communicates a clear message: something isn't right! The loss of a loved one, a job, physical ability, or any other type of earthly pain has been caused by Adam's sin in the garden, as well as our own sin.

But there is the remainder of the verse in Romans 5:4 that says, ". . . and proven character [produces] hope." Our perspective has to go beyond our lives—it has to stretch out into eternity. That gave the Apostle Peter hope and joy:

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7).

God has promised to set everything right; let God's gift complete its perfect work! And while you wait, give Him glory—while you suffer, honor Him. While you get that which you don't want—and don't get what you do want—exult in Him alone. God isn't finished . . . yet.


Prayer Point: Pray for strength to face the trials that stand in your way, and to withstand the painful consequences of living in a sin-struck world. Then thank God for the "hope" of eternal life.

Extra Refreshment: Read Revelation 21 & 22.
Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.

Confession, Cleansing, and Conversion
1 John 1:9-10
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

In 1971, a revival came to many churches in Western Canada. It made news in the secular press because of the number of people who journeyed to stores and other businesses to make restitution for their past sins.

Whether it was paying delinquent income tax, admitting dishonesty in business dealings, or going to the border to confess they had lied about goods brought over from the States—hundreds of people were willing to do anything to be fully right with God and man. One author writing about the incident recorded:

When these Christians displayed such a desire for righteousness, the world both admired and hated them. On the one hand, people were thankful that Christians had the courage to make past wrongs right; but on the other hand they deeply resented such integrity. For in the process of seeing righteousness at work in the lives of others, they saw their own hidden sins exposed.

The Bible describes two very different kinds of Christians: those who claim the name of Christ but refuse to live for Him, and those who not only claim the name of Christ, but live for Him as well. The hypocritical Christian is loved by the world because he gives people all the more reason to castigate the church and call it "that bunch of hypocrites"; it actually makes them feel good about themselves. The distinctive Christian, however, is hated by the world because he exposes the world for what it really is—fallen and sinful.

True Christianity is like the glass of a mirror. Not only do we reflect the glory of God to the world, but we show the world its marred image, exposing all its defects and its attempts to hide the blemishes.

This is why we must confess our sins constantly to God and to others, not only to renew our fellowship with Christ, but to show the world where our true identity lies. Indeed this is one of the greatest witnessing tools that you and I have—to live repentant lives before men.

Will you sin? Yes. Will you struggle at times with sin? Absolutely. Will the world notice it? You bet they will. But then, to their shock, they hear from you an apology . . . confessions . . . attempts to make restitution. In so doing, you declare to the world the message of the gospel: People sin . . . but there is a Savior!

Prayer Point: Ask God to reveal any sin in your life that you are hiding, or may not even recognize. After confessing it to Him, pray for the strength needed to change. Is there anyone who needs an apology from you? Is there restitution that you should make? Ask the Lord for courage to make amends and set the record straight.

Extra Refreshment: Read Psalm 32—a prayer of repentance and restoration.

Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.

Chosen to Cheer

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

A young boy waited anxiously to hear what part he would have in his 2nd grade school play. The boy had told his mother that every child in the class would be given a special part, but she didn't want to overly encourage him. She knew he probably wouldn't get a speaking part and feared that he might become discouraged. Therefore, she simply smiled and kept her worries to herself.

It was a good thing she did. The next day when her son came home from school, she was standing by the door. As he approached, he was beaming from ear to ear. "Did you get a part?" she asked, trying to mask her surprise. "Oh, yes—I did!" "Well, what part did you get?" his mother wanted to know. "You won't believe it, Mom!" he responded, "I've been chosen to cheer!"

Wow, what an attitude! I don't suppose this is the answer his mother was expecting to hear, but I'll bet she was humbled by it and very proud of her son.

Wouldn't it be terrific if we were a lot more like that little boy? Oh, how different our homes would be then . . . not to mention our churches.

What would the church be like if people came to cheer everyone else on? Sunday morning would be more like a pep rally than a funeral procession; instead of spilling out our own problems and frustrations, victories and successes, we would be quiet and listen, and encourage others.

In Hebrews 10:24-25, the apostle Paul writes with fervor, "and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

The word for encourage in this verse is parakaleo, which means "to put courage into another, or to cheer on another." How well do you do that?

I suggest that you pick out some pom-poms! You have been chosen by God, not only for a speaking part, but also for the role of applauding and cheering others as they run their race for Christ.

Hurry! . . . there's the starting gun!

Prayer Point: Pray that God will make you a better cheerleader for His name's sake . . . that you will not only lay aside your own desire for encouragement, but you will pray for God to show you people who could use your encouragement.

Extra Refreshment: Read Romans 16. Notice how the entire chapter is filled with encouragement and honor to those "to whom it is due."

Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.

The Bubbles Are Always Right
Proverbs 14:12

There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

I arrived on the Island of Malta while on a mission trip and stayed in a hotel which overlooked the Mediterranean Sea. The water was crystal clear and as I stood on the balcony, I could see the rocks at the bottom of the sea, shimmering as sunlight pierced the water.

There was a swimming pool near the edge of the water, and I watched scuba divers taking lessons and practicing the elements of the sport. Before ever venturing out into the Mediterranean, they safely mastered the basics in a pool.

As I watched them, I was reminded of one of my seminary classmates who was an avid scuba diver. He regaled me with his adventures on several occasions when we were together.

One insight from his experiences made a profound impact on me. I learned that when a diver was deep under water, he could lose all sense of direction. He becomes weightless—no sense of gravity—and swimming without a natural source of light causes him to become disoriented and swim sideways, thinking that he is rising to the top.

In fact, a diver can become so convinced that his perception is correct that he continues to swim in the wrong direction until he eventually runs out of air and drowns. My friend then said that the only way to keep this from happening is to follow the direction of your air bubbles. "No matter how you feel, or what your brain may tell you," he said, "the bubbles are always right."

The world today is like a group of scuba divers: disoriented and void of direction. Absolutely convinced that their perception of right and wrong is correct, they ignore the warnings, while the bubbles of truth tell them otherwise. Instead, they willfully follow the directions of other disoriented expert divers who say, "Live like this . . . believe like this . . . think this way . . . go that way"—and all the while their tanks are running out of oxygen.

According to the book The Day America Told the Truth, 74% of Americans think it is all right to steal from people who they believe will not really miss it; 64% believe it is acceptable to lie, as long as no one gets hurt; 93% say they decide moral issues by their own experience or opinion. Choosing to ignore the bubbles, they swim to their deaths.

The Word of God has been given to us that we may have direction for living. As Christians, we have no excuse for moving through life disoriented; the verses in Scripture are like the air bubbles from a diver—they show the way up.

Make sure you're swimming in the right direction . . . just follow the "bubbles"!

Prayer Point: Thank the Lord for showing you through His Word how to live a life that pleases Him, instead of leaving you on your own, disoriented, and on a path that leads to death.

Extra Refreshment: Read John 8:12-59.

Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.

Equal Blame—Equal Blessings
Galatians 3:28-29

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

Pastor Gary Tolbert told the story of a little boy who had come to see the sights of Washington, D.C., with his parents. When they arrived at the Washington Monument, the boy was speechless as he stared at the obelisk stretching into the sky. He noticed a guard standing by and walked up to him, saying, "I want to buy it," pointing at the monument erected in memory of our first President.

The guard said, "Excuse me?" The child said a little louder, "I want to buy that!"

The guard bent down and asked, "Well now, just how much money do you have?" The boy reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter. The guard said, "I'm sorry son, that's not enough."

The boy replied, "I thought you'd say that," and he reached into his other pocket and pulled out a nickel and four pennies, holding his hand up to the guard for him to count the money.

The guard looked at the boy, then squatted down and said to the disappointed negotiator, "Listen son, you need to understand three things: First, you don't have enough money to buy this thing—34 cents or 34 million dollars wouldn't be enough to buy the Washington Monument; second, you need to know that the Washington Monument is not for sale; third, you need to know that, if you are an American citizen, the Washington Monument belongs to you—it's already yours."

What a wonderful picture of Christianity! No matter what kind of person you are—red, yellow, black or white; tall or short; fat or thin; rich or poor; Baptist or Presbyterian; pessimist or optimist (and I could go on and on!)—you are an equal shareholder in God's kingdom if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ.

In fact, your half-dollar and your neighbor's fifty dollar bill are on equal par when it comes to earning favor with God—you can't tip Him. You can have His favor and all its rewards freely through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has already purchased salvation and offers it to you through the sacrifice of His Son.

Just as the Washington Monument belongs to both a little boy with pocket change and a millionaire businessman, so also the promises of God belong to every believer.

The truth is, we are equally deserving of condemnation, but by God's grace we have become equally endowed with an inheritance that will never pass away . . . claim it today!

Prayer Point: How are you reaching out to those who are different from you? In what ways are you developing relationships with men and women who have a different ethnic, social, or family background from you? Ask God to give you opportunities to develop strong relationships with those who are different from you outwardly, but share oneness with you in Christ.

Extra Refreshment: Read Matthew 20:1-16.

Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.
A "Forever" Kind of Love

Romans 5:7-8

For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

We find it easy to love people who are easy to love. In reality, we tend to like people who are like us. Furthermore, we assume that God's love is bound by the same standards. If He loves us, we assume it must mean that we are not all that bad. Not only is this view false in every way, it destroys a deep appreciation for the amazing beauty of God's love—that He loved the unlovely, and died for the unloving.

D. A. Carson illustrated the difference between our vision of love and God's:

Charles and Susan are walking down the beach, hand in hand. They've kicked off their shoes and the wet sand squishes between their toes. Charles turns to Susan, gazes deeply into her large hazel eyes and says, "Susan, I love you; I really do." What does he mean? If we assume he has decency and Christian virtue, the least he could mean is something like, "Susan, you mean everything to me. I can't live without you. Your smile paralyzes me from fifty yards; your sparkling good humor, your beautiful eyes, the scent of your hair—everything about you transfixes me . . . I really love you."

Or do his words I love you mean something like, "Susan, in spite of the fact that your nose is so large it belongs in cartoons, your hair has enough grease to lubricate an eighteen-wheeler, your knees make a camel look elegant, and your personality would scare Attila the Hun, I really love you."

I'm guessing Charles meant the first one! Yet this is how human love differs from God's love. When Romans 5 tells us that God "loved us," it doesn't mean that God looked down on us and said. "You mean everything to me. I can't live without you: your personality, your witty conversation, your beauty, your smile— everything about you."

Not a chance! When God says, "I love you," He is saying, "Listen—your nose and greasy hair, your disjointed knees and selfish personality, your wretched sinfulness—all make you disgustingly unattractive to Me. But I love you because I have chosen to love you, through My Son, your Savior."

My friend, if you think you deserve God's love, even to the smallest degree, you will never feel totally secure in Him. You will live in perpetual fear that you might do something undeserving of His love and, if that is the case, then you definitely will!

Don't be afraid. This is the amazing beauty of God's love toward us, that "while we were still sinners, He died for us." The truth is, there isn't anything you can do that will ever change His mind. His love for you is the same yesterday, today . . . and forever!

Prayer Point: Thank the Lord for loving you so much that He not only chose to die for you while you were still in your sins, but He chooses to love you every day in spite of your sin. Pray that He will give you strength to obey His command to love others in the same way He has loved you.
Extra Refreshment: Read the whole chapter of Romans 5.

God Will Make a Way

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thousands of Christians in North America have heard one of Don Moen's praise songs which he wrote to affirm God's sovereignty in the Christian's life. However, most Christians who have sung this song do not know the kind of hopelessness from which the lyrics came.

Don Moen was awakened in the middle of the night by a phone call from his mother-in-law; a tragic car accident had just occurred. Don's sister-in-law, Susan, her husband, and their four little boys were on an automobile trip when tragedy struck. They all were seriously injured, and their eight-year-old son was dying from his injuries.

As Don and his wife grieved and poured out their hearts to the Lord, they felt helpless to communicate any hope to Susan and Craig. Don recalls asking the Lord to help him express hope to the family members. In a very short time, Don scribbled some lyrics and composed the music for a chorus that, to this day, gives believers a deep sense of hope in the midst of difficult times. The lyrics read:

God will make a way,
Where there seems to be no way;
He works in ways we cannot see,
He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide,
Hold me closely to His side;
With love and strength for each new day,
He will make a way. He will make a way!



To put it simply, the only way to have hope is to have Him. The only way to have peace is to have Him.

As Paul reminds us in Romans 15:13, hope—as well as peace and joy—come through faith. It is true that many people claim to have faith in God during the good times, but when trials come their way, their faith is clearly lacking. In times when our vision of God becomes blurred by sorrow, the eyes of faith are more important than ever.

George Macdonald, author and mentor to C.S. Lewis, once wrote: "I think faith can never have a greater victory than when it will trust even in the midst of darkness and doubt and temptation." What a great definition of victorious faith!—faith in our victorious God who never loses control of His people . . . and His planet.

The truth is, God's will for us isn't even nullified by our suffering, nor does it end at the grave. Our hope rests in the promise that our lives will stretch far beyond these few fleeting moments on earth, into an eternity of heavenly joy and satisfaction.

Are you willing to believe that God will make a way where there seems to be no way? He works in ways we cannot see . . . He will make a way!

Prayer Point: Faith in the promises of God naturally leads to a hopeful expectation of their fulfillment. Pray that God will increase your faith in Him, not allowing it to waver amidst difficult circumstances, but instead, causing it to grow stronger through them.

Extra Refreshment: Read Psalm 42.
Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.
The Gift of Pain

Revelation 21:3-4

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

Many people believe that pain is God's one mistake. Pain usually gets bad press, but have you ever considered that a wise God created us with an ability to feel pain for a reason?

Dr. Paul Brand knew physical pain is a gift. As he studied the suffering of people infected with Hansen's disease—leprosy—he came to the conclusion that, at least in some cases, pain is vital to our survival.

While the word leprosy may conjure up images of stubby fingers and toes, ulcerated wounds, and distorted facial features, it is not the direct cause for these conditions. Because of pain deprivation, leprosy causes its victims to inadvertently destroy parts of their own bodies. Hansen's disease acts as an anesthetic, numbing the pain cells of hands, feet, eyes, ears, and nose.

While most diseases are feared because of their pain, Hansen's is deadly because its victims feel no pain. According to Dr. Brand, the destruction of facial features and limbs follows because the warning system of pain is gone.

In African and Asian villages where Dr. Brand worked, lepers reached directly into fire to retrieve a dropped potato. Patients at the hospital in India worked, gripping a shovel with a protruding nail; extinguished a burning wick with bare hands; stepped on broken glass. They simply couldn't feel the warning signals telling them to stop.

No wonder Dr. Brand concluded his findings by saying, "Thank God for inventing pain." Pain is both an essential and unavoidable part of life; the art of living is learning how to respond to pain. God uses pain in several ways: to correct us—"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes" (Psalm 119:71); to construct us—". . . tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character" (Romans 5:3b-4a).

Pain, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, communicates a clear message: something isn't right! The loss of a loved one, a job, physical ability, or any other type of earthly pain has been caused by Adam's sin in the garden, as well as our own sin.

But there is the remainder of the verse in Romans 5:4 that says, ". . . and proven character [produces] hope." Our perspective has to go beyond our lives—it has to stretch out into eternity. That gave the Apostle Peter hope and joy:

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7).

God has promised to set everything right; let God's gift complete its perfect work! And while you wait, give Him glory—while you suffer, honor Him. While you get that which you don't want—and don't get what you do want—exult in Him alone. God isn't finished . . . yet.

Prayer Point: Pray for strength to face the trials that stand in your way, and to withstand the painful consequences of living in a sin-struck world. Then thank God for the "hope" of eternal life.
Extra Refreshment: Read Revelation 21 and 22.

Chosen to Cheer

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

A young boy waited anxiously to hear what part he would have in his 2nd grade school play. The boy had told his mother that every child in the class would be given a special part, but she didn't want to overly encourage him. She knew he probably wouldn't get a speaking part and feared that he might become discouraged. Therefore, she simply smiled and kept her worries to herself.

It was a good thing she did. The next day when her son came home from school, she was standing by the door. As he approached, he was beaming from ear to ear. "Did you get a part?" she asked, trying to mask her surprise. "Oh, yes—I did!" "Well, what part did you get?" his mother wanted to know. "You won't believe it, Mom!" he responded, "I've been chosen to cheer!"

Wow, what an attitude! I don't suppose this is the answer his mother was expecting to hear, but I'll bet she was humbled by it and very proud of her son.

Wouldn't it be terrific if we were a lot more like that little boy? Oh, how different our homes would be then . . . not to mention our churches.

What would the church be like if people came to cheer everyone else on? Sunday morning would be more like a pep rally than a funeral procession; instead of spilling out our own problems and frustrations, victories and successes, we would be quiet and listen, and encourage others.

In Hebrews 10:24-25, the apostle Paul writes with fervor, "and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

The word for encourage in this verse is parakaleo, which means "to put courage into another, or to cheer on another." How well do you do that?

I suggest that you pick out some pom-poms! You have been chosen by God, not only for a speaking part, but also for the role of applauding and cheering others as they run their race for Christ.

Hurry! . . . there's the starting gun!

Prayer Point: Pray that God will make you a better cheerleader for His name's sake . . . that you will not only lay aside your own desire for encouragement, but you will pray for God to show you people who could use your encouragement.

Extra Refreshment: Read Romans 16. Notice how the entire chapter is filled with encouragement and honor to those "to whom it is due."

Seriously!
Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Sir Isaac Newton, the English mathematician and physicist, is considered by many to be the greatest scientist who ever lived. He was accorded the honor of being the first scientist to be buried in Westminster Abbey.

The well-known story relates that, on seeing an apple fall in his orchard sometime during 1665 or 1666, Newton conceived that the same force governed the motion of the moon and the apple. He calculated the force needed to hold the moon in its orbit, as compared with the force pulling an object to the ground. And that's how he discovered gravity!

Seriously, what you may not know is that it seems to have been due to the influence and tact of Sir Edmund Halley at his visit in November, 1684, that Newton undertook to attack the whole problem of gravitation, and practically pledged himself to publish his results: these are contained in the Principia. The printing of the work was slow, and it was not published until the summer of 1687. The cost was borne by Halley, who also corrected the proofs, and even put his own research aside to press the printing forward. Historians call it one of the most selfless examples in the annals of science.

Newton began almost immediately to reap the rewards of prominence, while Halley received little credit for his work. But he is known for discovering the comet named after him, which appears briefly every 76 years. However, one profound biographical fact regarding Halley stated that he didn't care who received credit for discoveries—his single mission in life was to advance the cause of science . . . and he did.

It seems there is an ever-growing problem in the church today, stemming from confusion surrounding our mission in this world. Why exactly are we here? The members of the early church seemed to have had this answer figured out. Gibbon noted in his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire that the most sacred duty of the new convert was to diffuse among his friends and relatives the blessing which he had received. Harnack, another church historian, wrote that the great mission of Christianity was accomplished by means of casual missionaries.

Why has it become so difficult in our own society to determine why we are here? George Barna, in his book What Americans Believe, revealed the results of a survey of people claiming to be born-again believers. When asked, "Do you have a responsibility to explain your religious beliefs to others who may believe differently?" less than 45% answered affirmatively.

This is a far cry from the passion and fervency displayed by our brothers and sisters who have gone before us, living and dying to advance the gospel. They took the great commission seriously . . . and it didn't matter who got the credit.

Have you committed your life to advancing the cause of Christ? Think about it . . . seriously!

Prayer Point: If you do not come in close contact with unbelievers on a regular basis, then pray that God will bring someone into your life with whom you can share the Gospel. If you already have relationships with those who are unsaved, pray that God will not only open doors of opportunity for you to witness, but that He will give you boldness when that time comes.

Extra Refreshment: Read the book of Jonah and witness God's incredible mercy on display, as well as His heart for the lost.

God Will Make a Way
Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thousands of Christians in North America have heard one of Don Moen's praise songs which he wrote to affirm God's sovereignty in the Christian's life. However, most Christians who have sung this song do not know the kind of hopelessness from which the lyrics came.

Don Moen was awakened in the middle of the night by a phone call from his mother-in-law; a tragic car accident had just occurred. Don's sister-in-law, Susan, her husband, and their four little boys were on an automobile trip when tragedy struck. They all were seriously injured, and their eight-year-old son was dying from his injuries.

As Don and his wife grieved and poured out their hearts to the Lord, they felt helpless to communicate any hope to Susan and Craig. Don recalls asking the Lord to help him express hope to the family members. In a very short time, Don scribbled some lyrics and composed the music for a chorus that, to this day, gives believers a deep sense of hope in the midst of difficult times. The lyrics read:

God will make a way,

Where there seems to be no way;

He works in ways we cannot see,

He will make a way for me.

He will be my guide,

Hold me closely to His side;

With love and strength for each new day,

He will make a way. He will make a way!

To put it simply, the only way to have hope is to have Him. The only way to have peace is to have Him.

As Paul reminds us in Romans 15:13, hope—as well as peace and joy—come through faith. It is true that many people claim to have faith in God during the good times, but when trials come their way, their faith is clearly lacking. In times when our vision of God becomes blurred by sorrow, the eyes of faith are more important than ever.

George Macdonald, author and mentor to C.S. Lewis, once wrote: "I think faith can never have a greater victory than when it will trust even in the midst of darkness and doubt and temptation." What a great definition of victorious faith!—faith in our victorious God who never loses control of His people . . . and His planet.

The truth is, God's will for us isn't even nullified by our suffering, nor does it end at the grave. Our hope rests in the promise that our lives will stretch far beyond these few fleeting moments on earth, into an eternity of heavenly joy and satisfaction.

Are you willing to believe that God will make a way where there seems to be no way? He works in ways we cannot see . . . He will make a way!

Prayer Point: Faith in the promises of God naturally leads to a hopeful expectation of their fulfillment. Pray that God will increase your faith in Him, not allowing it to waver amidst difficult circumstances, but instead, causing it to grow stronger through them.

Extra Refreshment: Read Psalm 42.
A Message for Prodigals

Psalm 37:23-24

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.

Maria and her daughter Christina lived in a small hut in a Brazilian village. Christina's father had died when she was just an infant, and her courageous mother had done her best for the child. Maria made her living by cleaning houses, though it provided very little income. The day came when Christina was finally old enough to earn her own way.

Instead of finding a small job in the village where she had grown up, she dreamed of going to the great city, Rio de Janeiro, and seeking an opportunity there. But when she told her mother of her desires to leave the village, a look of fear came into Maria's eyes and she said, "The streets are cruel, Christina. There's nothing for you there."

Maria knew that if her daughter went to the city, the only work she would find at her age would lead to prostitution. That's the reason Maria's heart was broken the morning she found her daughter's pallet empty. She knew where Christina had gone, and she feared she may never see her again.

Maria immediately gathered some clothing and boarded a bus for the city. When she arrived in Rio De Janeiro, she went to a small drug store, stepped into a photography booth, and made as many pictures of herself as she could afford. Armed with her bag of clothing and a purse full of little black and white photographs, she headed for the back streets, entering bars, hotels, and nightclubs—anywhere prostitutes gathered. She taped her picture to walls, mirrors, bulletin boards, and bathroom stalls, in hopes that her daughter may see one of them and read the message written on the back.

Tired and broken hearted, out of money and photos, Maria gave up the search and rode the rickety bus back to her village without ever finding Christina. The mother wept for her lost daughter.

Months later, Christina glanced across the lobby of a hotel to see a familiar face taped to a mirror. Recognizing it, she quickly ran to the mirror and pulled the picture off. It was indeed her mother. With trembling hands she held it, staring at her mother's face. Turning the photo over, she noticed the writing on the back. When she read the words, her throat burned and tears began to stream down her face. The note said, "Wherever you are, whatever you have become, I will forgive you. Please come home."

So... Christina did.

What a beautiful picture of true mercy; yet this is merely a glimpse of the mercy which God shows to us. Regardless of all the thousands of times we sin, the thousands of choices we make which are contrary to His Word—He continually pursues us and loves us.

Even when we run away, He searches for us, leaving a message that never changes: "Wherever you are, whatever you have become, I will forgive you." And you can count on it... He will!

Prayer Point: Thank the Lord that no matter how many times you have failed—and will fail—Him, He never stops forgiving and loving you. Pray that He will help you to love others with that same kind of love.

Extra Refreshment: Read Luke 15—an incredible illustration of God's mercy toward His children.
Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.

Take a Good Look!
James 1:23-24

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

J. B. Phillips was a British scholar who paraphrased the New Testament. Because of his nationality, he occasionally threw new light on a passage through his use of the British explanation of terms.

One example is found in his interpretation of Romans 3:20. In England, what Americans call a ruler was known as a straightedge; when Phillips paraphrased the passage "For through the Law comes the knowledge of sin," he wrote, "Indeed it is the straightedge of the Law that shows us how crooked we are."

I can show you crooked . . . have you ever tried to hang striped wallpaper? You know very well that it's only when you come to a corner, a door, or a window that you suddenly realize how crooked the wallpaper is. Stay away from stripes—they will wreck your marriage!

The straightedge for unbelievers is the Law, for by it, Paul says in Romans, they are condemned. But the straightedge for believers is the Word of God.

In His Word, God reveals to us how we should live and what He desires of us in our homes, our churches, our schools; on the ball field and golf course; at work and play. The Bible is the ruler by which a Christian measures his life, and the rule by which we should live.

This is what God's Word does for us. It not only shows us when we're doing things all wrong, but it also encourages us in knowing how to make the corrections.

In light of this, James describes God's Word as a mirror. While a mirror can, with absolute precision, reveal the dirt on your face, it can't wash it off. It can show that you need to shave your stubble, comb your hair, or brush your teeth, but it can't shave, comb, or brush anything. You have to do that.

As foolish as it would be for a man to look in the mirror and then forget what he looked like, so it would be for you and me to look into God's Word and forget what it says. The truth is, our response to the Bible is a good indication of the condition of our heart. Are you looking at yourself in the mirror of God's Word? Are you praying that God will change you into His image?

Don't be discouraged. We are all works in progress . . . just keep changing. Being a doer of the Word is evidence of true conformity; behaving in the manner of true believers is evidence of growth in Christ. Look again . . . you can become the mirror-image of our Savior.

Prayer Point: Ask the Lord to help you respond immediately to whatever His Spirit has challenged you to be as you've read this page. What needs brushing up? What needs cleaning up? Don't walk away—don't wait another moment.

Extra Refreshment: Read several sections of Psalm 119 and notice how the Word of God impacts the way we think, feel, and respond.

Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.

Me, Myself, and I

Ephesians 4:27

Do not give the devil an opportunity.

All too often, the worst enemy of the church is . . . the church. New believers do not grow in Christ because "older" believers who have not matured become the primary stumbling blocks by their poor example. Selfishness and arrogance so often serve in the church's most visible and crucial positions of ministry. One of the church's favorite hymns, Holy, Holy, Holy, has shifted its focus from "God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!" to "Me, Myself, and I!"

Warren Wiersbe wrote, "When the enemy fails in his attacks from the outside, he then begins to attack from within, and one of his favorite weapons is selfishness." Selfishness is defined as having the attitude that people exist merely to meet my agenda, my wishes, my needs, and the value of anything [people, church, God, etc.] is determined only in light of what it can do for me.

This attitude is revealed not only in outward behavior but also in secret thoughts. If left unchecked, it ultimately poisons the heart. Selfishness destroys friendships, marriages, ministries, and churches; it also destroys mission fields and all other sacred projects where God is clearly at work.

The Ephesian church was struggling with this problem, so Paul dedicated nearly an entire chapter to exhort the believers. He wrote, "Speak the truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger; and do not give the devil an opportunity."

These verses clearly warn us that the devil actually watches us. And he longs for opportunities birthed by selfish believers. No wonder he baits his hook with self-centered advice, whispering, "Don't think about others, think only of yourself: your desires, your life, your money, your plans, your career, your retirement, your position, your agenda, your ministry."

Frankly, we are all terminally infected with selfishness, and it lies at the core of every act. That is why selfishness is such a productive and powerful weapon in the hands of Satan. He will use it against us whenever he can. It must never be excused; it must never be coddled; it must be cut away daily! Sometimes . . . moment by moment.

Prayer Point: Thank the Lord for His example of selflessness and servanthood, and ask Him for the discipline to imitate His spirit throughout this day.

Extra Refreshment: Read Ephesians 4:17-32.

A Word to the Wise

Proverbs 2:2-6

Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Mankind has been seeking wisdom and knowledge since the beginning of time, but most people never find it. Why? Because in their pride and arrogance, they have sought for it inside themselves, rejecting God and His Word.

In their minds, wisdom is easy to come by rather than being a treasure that must be sought. Just listen to the best-selling advice of Oprah Winfrey, whom thousands of people follow:

Our real power comes from knowing who we are . . . and that begins with looking inside ourselves in silence. I've always believed you really need no gurus, no leaders, no guides—just yourself. You have all your own best answers. What you're trying to find is already there. Be still and know it.

She could not be more spiritually deceived. Psalm 46:10 does not say "Be still and know yourself," but "Be still and know that I am God." The Bible doesn't teach that our real power comes from within ourselves, but quite the opposite. In John 15:5b, Christ says, ". . . apart from Me you can do nothing," and in Philippians 4:13, Paul states, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." In other words, our power and wisdom come from Christ, not from within ourselves.

So who's right—Oprah or the Bible? Are the answers to life deep within your own heart, or deep within the heart of God? In Jeremiah 17:9, the prophet leaves no room for hesitation on this answer when he proclaims, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" Put differently, because of sin and our fallen nature, wisdom does not dwell within us. Instead, our hearts are sinful, evil, and prideful. Oprah is tragically mistaken . . . wisdom must come from outside ourselves.

James promised that ". . . if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him" ( James 1:5). David wrote, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

These passages leave no shadow of a doubt as to where true wisdom is found. We are in a world of darkness and in desperate need of light; how distressingly foolish to think that light can be found inside us. Not so! God is that light, and only by coming to know Him through His revealed Word will we be able to gain wisdom.

So, God is the ultimate prize. Seek after Him with all your heart, and along the way, you will discover . . . wisdom.

Prayer Point: Think of ways in which God has given you wisdom in the past, whether it was in making an important decision, turning from a sinful habit, or encouraging a friend. Thank Him for the light you needed to make the right decision or to take the next step. Don't hesitate to pray for more wisdom—you will need it today!

Extra Refreshment: Read Proverbs 8 to discover the riches of true wisdom.
Grace from Heaven's Bank

Romans 2:4

Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Understanding grace doesn't mean that you can sin without penalty. Understanding grace means that you never want to sin again. It is the goodness of God that motivates us to repentance and holy living.

I read of a rather unusual accountability partnership that demonstrated the power of grace over sin. Paul was trying to break his habit of using profanity. Swearing had become a second language to him and he desperately wanted to overcome it. He began meeting with another man from his church, and with Bill's help, set up an aggressive plan for purifying his speech.

Here's the plan: each Sunday Paul would report to Bill the number of times he had used profanity during the week and would put five dollars in the offering plate for each incident. The first week cost Paul one hundred dollars! Although the following weeks improved to some degree, he was not having the success that he desired, not to mention the fact that he was quickly running out of money!

After a few weeks, Bill had an idea that he thought might make the difference. He informed Paul that things were going to change the following Sunday, but he wouldn't tell him how they would change. Curiosity gnawed at Paul all week. A few times he tried to find out what the new plan was, but each time Bill simply responded, "Trust me, Paul. This new strategy will cost you less and challenge you even more."

Sunday finally arrived, and before the worship service began Paul looked more discouraged than ever. Bill knew his friend had failed again. This time Bill put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Paul, my new plan is called grace." Bill then took out his own checkbook, wrote in the church's name, dated it, signed it, and left only the amount blank. He handed the check to Paul and said, "Your sin still costs something, but you can go free on my account; just fill in the numbers—I'll take care of the cost. Oh, by the way, next week there will be more grace."

That first week of grace cost Bill fifty-five dollars, but the second week cost him only twenty. And there was no third week . . . Paul was so overwhelmed by the grace of Bill that his heart broke to think of his friend having to write another check to cover his sin.

It was only after the discovery of Bill's grace and love toward him that Paul was able to overcome his life-long, sinful habit of swearing.

If you are feeling overcome by sin today, look again to the cross. Counseling sessions, accountability, personal discipleship, and twelve-step programs won't be enough to ward off the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Only when you gaze upon the grace of God, realizing again that He paid the debt for your sin with the blood of His Son, will you find enough motivation to consciously quit your sin.

Christ handed you a blank check . . . how much will it cost Him today?

Prayer Point: Thank the Lord for His goodness—it leads to repentance. Thank Him for His grace—it is undeserved favor and love. Thank Him for His mercy—it withholds eternal punishment, which we so clearly deserve.
Extra Refreshment: Read Isaiah 53.

A Father's Love . . . and Loss

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Dr. Thomas Dooley, the late missionary doctor in Laos, in his book entitled The Night They Burned the Mountain, tells the story of Laotian friends giving him a tiny Himalayan moon bear as a pet. Dr. Dooley loved the cuddly ball of brown fur, so full of interesting antics. While he was working on a cage for the animal, an old Chinese man walked by him. The man stopped, stared, and then began to sob as he stood before the cage. Dr. Dooley walked toward him, hoping to discover the reason for his tears.

The Chinese man told him how he and his son had once worked together on a commune in Red China. He reminded the doctor that laborers on the communes during harvest time were not allowed to have even one grain of rice for themselves, for it all belonged to the Republic. But his wife had become very sick with beriberi and malnutrition, and one day his son concealed a few handfuls of rice in his clothing to feed his starving mother. His act was discovered and the authorities decided to make a public example of the young boy.

He was imprisoned in a cage, not unlike the one that Dr. Dooley had built for his pet bear, and the cage was placed in the center of the city. It was so small that the boy could not move or even sit up straight. The man went on to say:

His mother and I were forced to watch, she from one side of the square and I from the other. But the guards would not allow us to go near him. Day after day, as we looked on, my boy died slowly under the broiling sun, with nothing to eat or drink, covered with filth and flies. It was good when the guards pronounced him dead.

The prolonged tragedy in this story is that the father was not allowed to save his son. He was forced to sit helplessly by and watch the horror unfold, and the image would remain with him the rest of his life.

When I read this story, the crucifixion of Christ immediately came to mind. What an amazing thought . . . God the Father could have stepped in at any moment to save His Son from the agony of the cross, but He chose to allow His death. Unlike the Chinese father in Dooley's story, our Heavenly Father could have sent a legion of angels to rescue His Son, bringing judgment upon those who sought His life; yet He willingly stood by and watched the abomination unfold.

Why? Because He loves you so much that He freely offered His Son . . . for your sins and mine.

Prayer Point: Take a moment to think upon the horror of Calvary. In humble contemplation, praise the Father for His amazing love that caused Him to choose to sacrifice His son on your behalf.

Extra Refreshment: Read John 17—Christ's incredible prayer to His Father before His own death on the cross, capturing only a fraction of the Father's love for you and me.

Millions of Muslims throughout Iraq, Israel, and Jordan now hear the Gospel in their own language on Wisdom for the Heart! Click on The Forward Movement to read more about this exciting project.

Confession and Compassion

Matthew 9:13

"But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Do you want to sense the maximum attention of God? You must first give Him your maximum attention.

Do you want the Lord to be available to you? You must first be available to Him.

Do you want to touch the heart of God? You must first be available to His moving.

If you want to be part of God's effort to rebuild our broken world through the redeeming gospel of Christ, you must be willing to become part of God's solution—whatever it may be.

Isn't it easier just to pray, "Lord, do this. . . Lord, bless that . . . Lord, help him [or her] . . . Lord, provide in this way . . . Lord, minister in that way"? But what if you heard a voice from heaven that said, "Of the five requests you just prayed, four of them are up to you!"

God's work often requires your willingness. In the parable of the Good Samaritan it becomes clear that anyone who claims the name of Christ is not merely to pray for someone, but to pray for wisdom to know how to help.

Compassion for the lost and needy among us is what draws God's attention, for it comes from a heart modeled after His own.

With this in mind, is it any wonder that the average Christian really doesn't want the maximum attention of God? He or she really doesn't want to become part of His divine solution because it may cause a bit of discomfort or uneasiness.

It is one thing to get on your knees and pray for God to bless a person, but it is quite another to follow up that prayer with a letter, a phone call, a visit, an invitation, a gift.

If your compassion does not extend beyond your prayer time, it isn't genuine.

If we are to gain God's special attention as a co-laborer with Him, we must share in His anguish over the fallen world around us.

Aren't we rather self-centered to expect God to share our distress over what we care about if we don't share His distress over His concerns?

Let's not create a double standard in our thinking and living, but wholeheartedly imitate God's standard—following up with acts of sincere compassion after our prayers.

When we begin to pray and act in this way, we can be sure that God is not only hearing us . . . but He is pleased with us!

Prayer Point: Pray for someone you know who is in need, whether it is physical or spiritual, but start your prayer by asking what you can do to help meet that need. Don't just ask God for the solution—ask Him how you can become part of the solution.

Extra Refreshment: Read Luke 10:25-37.

Timeless Truths for a New Generation

2 Timothy 3:15

From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

One of the tragedies of our contemporary culture is that people are not convinced of the Bible's worth. I have often shared with our congregation the burden that people in the 21st century do not believe the Bible has anything to say to today's generation.

Six hundred Christians from a wide range of cultures were questioned, and it was discovered that 25% read their Bible more than once a week, and most of the remaining 75% don't read it at all. Did you catch that? Over half of so-called "Christians" today do not even read their Bible! The president of the research group summarized the findings of the survey:

People aren't reading the Bible because they think it is irrelevant to everyday life. Many people, even those who read the Bible, do not see the Scriptures as containing instruction and answers that deal with the everyday problems they face. They think of the Bible as they would a cookbook. It is a wonderful thing for putting together thirty-person dinner parties, but it doesn't have any recipes in it for tonight's dinner for the family. It's great for special occasions but not for everyday situations.

Is the Bible relevant today? In the 21st century, is the Word of God still as powerful as it was in Hebrews

4:12, when it was described as "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword?" Is our Bible today the same divinely-inspired book that Paul spoke of to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, praising it as "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work"?

The answer is yes!

The Bible that we hold in our hands today, translated from the original languages and passed down to us over the centuries, is just as profitable for every aspect of our lives in the 21st century as it was for believers in the first century.

If you've paid attention to history, you'll understand that except for technological advances, the world hasn't changed much. People will always be people, and as Solomon wisely said in Ecclesiastes 1:9, "There is nothing new under the sun." As long as there are people to inhabit the world, there will always be a dire need for truth and direction for living.

Praise be to God who has given us both in His Word! Perhaps the reason Christianity has taken somewhat of a "new face" in the present century is because we have forgotten whose face we are supposed to reflect. The Bible is clear—if we want to know God and His Son, Jesus Christ, He has been revealed in Scripture. His Word is not just a to-do list of spiritual chores, or an informative historical document; it is the way we can know Him and show Him to an unbelieving world.

Scripture is God's Truth to mankind in every generation, and it never grows old . . . it's timeless!

Prayer Point: If you have been taking God's Word lightly, having fallen into the belief that it is no longer relevant, confess that to God and ask Him to show you your desperate need for it. Then, thank him for calling men throughout the centuries who were willing to face death and persecution, so that you and I could have copies of the Bible in our own language.

Extra Refreshment: Read 2 Timothy 3—a promise that mankind will forsake truth in "the last days."
It's Possible . . . Not Easy!

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

God's will is not always easy but it is always possible. For with God all things are possible. Rest in the fact that God will never command you to do something you can't accomplish. He will never direct your steps without providing the strength to walk the path.

Jack Handey wrote in his book entitled Fuzzy Memories:

There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money every day at school. Since I was smaller than he was, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I started taking karate lessons. But then the karate instructor told me I owed him five dollars a lesson. Five dollars! So I just went back to paying the bully.

Truth be told, it's sometimes easier to pay the bully than it is to learn how to defeat him. However, God never commands you to live for His glory without helping you to overcome the obstacles you will face. Whether it is loving your spouse, witnessing to friends and family, or remaining pure on a college campus, Christ will enable you if you obey Him. Paul did not say, "I can do most things through Christ," but "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

While you're at it, stay alert to the fact that opposition usually means opportunity is close at hand. In fact, there is rarely opportunity without opposition, so you must be prepared for both opportunities and obstacles at the same time.

Paul intends to encourage us as we follow the leadership of Christ, which in real terms means never throw in the towel. He challenged the Corinthians and every Christian to be "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." What a great promise—your toil is not in vain.

Endurance that demands blood, sweat, and tears, will be rewarded one day. So get ready for today's obstacle course and run it with patient diligence. The hurdles may be high, the track may be uneven, the distance may be great, but it's possible . . . not easy!

Prayer Point: Ask the Lord to help you to discern opportunities masked by obstacles. Ask Him to give you the ability to see possible advancements in your character development that are presently cloaked in those difficult obstacles.

Extra Refreshment: Read Philippians, chapters 1 & 4.