Today’s Scripture: Romans 1-3

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known… This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:21-24

To find the secret behind the dynamic quality of the apostle Paul’s life, look at Romans 1. Here we find three “I am” statements that reveal the heart of this man of God.

In Romans 1:14, Paul says, “I am obligated both to Greeks and nonGreeks, both to the wise and the foolish.” Paul felt he had a debt to the world, not just to a select few, to tell them about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

In verse 15, the apostle says, “I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.” The Greek word translated here as eager has the idea of “burning up.” This is a strange thing when you consider that Paul was a Jew, and Romans hated Jews. He was small and frail, and Romans admired strength. He was not a powerful orator, and Rome was full of them.

The third “I am” is in verse 16: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Paul had a burning desire to share the gospel, because he was not trusting in his natural abilities nor was he deterred by the lack of them. His confidence was in God and in the message of the gospel.

If you can say from your heart, like Paul, “I am a debtor; I am eager; I am not ashamed,” the Lord will use you in a remarkable way.

Prayer

Lord, I am willing to be molded into a workman who need not be ashamed. Amen.

To Ponder

The most important factor in being used by God is not our natural abilities, but our desire.

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Today’s Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” – Matthew 6:24

My wife, Virginia, and I were in southern California, where I had been asked to speak at a military base. We were housed in a building overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and Virginia was sitting in front of the large bay window, watching the breakers roll in. “LeRoy,” she called, “look at this! When the sky is blue, the water is blue. And when the sky is gray, the water is gray.” I watched the water for a while and saw the same thing.

It was a good example of what happens in our lives, that is, whatever dominates our thoughts will be reflected in our lives.

A classic example of this is found in the story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10. We are told that Jesus loved him, but said, “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (10:21).

That young man took a careful look at Jesus, a careful look at his large pile of trinkets, and he turned his back on Jesus. He went over to his stock of baubles, sat down in the middle of them, and played with them for the rest of his life! Like the cloud over the ocean, his riches dominated him, so his life simply reflected what was on his mind.

Christian, follow Christ, and His beauty–not the things of this world–will be reflected in your life.

Prayer

Lord, I want to live with eternity in view. Help me to seek only You and give the things of this world their proper place in my life. Amen.

To Ponder

What would people say dominates your mind, based on observation of your life?

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Today’s Scripture: Jonah 1-4

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector.” – Luke 18:11

When God told Jonah to go to the great and wicked city of Nineveh and preach to the people, Jonah headed in the opposite direction. Why did he do that? Jonah 4:2 says, “That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”

It seems that if Jonah had believed God was going to be harsh and unmerciful, he would have been delighted to go to Nineveh and preach. Jonah wanted this bloodthirsty nation to get what he thought it deserved. But God’s mercy extended far beyond the borders of Israel, and Jonah knew it!

I was in a church once where all the people had a similar heritage and shared the same theological persuasion. They had a very comfortable fellowship, a good preacher, and everything was great. Then their pastor heard Dawson Trotman speak on the need to reach out to the lost. He began urging people to invite nonChristians into their homes and into the church to win them to Christ, but they were too wrapped up with “enjoying the Lord” inside their own congregation.

Christian, are you afraid God wants to use you in the lives of people you think deserve judgment? Afraid God wants you to show kindness where you would rather show resentment and spite? As we have received forgiveness in Christ, let us become His messengers of mercy to others.

Prayer

Lord, keep me from being self-centered. Amen.

To Ponder

Our resistance to being equipped to witness grieves the Holy Spirit.

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Today’s Scripture: Acts 27-28

“Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” – Luke 24:47-48

I remember when someone first taught me how to prepare my Christian testimony. I was told to sit down with a sheet of paper and a pen, and write my recollections from three areas of my life: my lifestyle before I came to Christ; how I came to Christ; and something of my life after I came to Christ.

I began to think and write, and finally I was ready to boil it down to three minutes, giving equal time to each part. Ever since then, I’ve had many fascinating opportunities to share my testimony.

In Acts 28, we find Paul giving his testimony over and over again while he is under house arrest, awaiting trial before Caesar in Rome: “They…came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and from the Prophets” (Acts 28:23). No doubt, as Paul reasoned with them from the Law, he gave them his personal testimony as well, trying to persuade them to turn to Christ in repentance and faith.

One of the things that made the apostle Paul so powerful was the fact that his life had a focus, like an arrow heading straight for the center of the target. His mission I n life was to be a messenger of the gospel, and he gave himself to it.

Christian, are you prepared to witness for Christ?

Prayer

Lord, by your Spirit, may I always be able to tell how grateful I am to be saved by Your grace. Amen.

To Ponder

If someone gave you three minutes to tell them about your Christian faith, could you present the whole gospel in a clear, cohesive way in that amount of time?

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Today’s Scripture: Acts 24-26

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. – 2 Corinthians 4:6

I heard about an automobile dealer who attended a weekend Christian conference for men. Even though the man was a church member, he wasn’t particularly interested in the things of the Lord. He came as a favor to the friend who invited him.

During the weekend, something happened to this man. He had never heard the message of Christ explained in such a clear way before, and somewhere during that weekend–to put it in his own words–“The light went on.” He went away from the conference a changed man. He has a hunger for the Word now and has begun to memorize key portions. He’s studying the Bible with a group of other men, and he has begun to witness to his business associates and friends.

His story reminds me of the testimony of Paul as he stood before King Agrippa. On the road to Damascus, the light went on for Paul, and he was never the same. The Lord gave him a mission to help others see the light as well. Christ had appeared to him for a purpose: to go to the Gentiles and pass along the message that would open their eyes and turn them from the power of Satan to God.

In Acts 26:19, Paul said, “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.” Paul’s words carry the sense of a continuing change–“not once have I been disobedient to the heavenly vision.” For Paul, that day marked a change in lifestyle, a change of purpose, and a divine call.

Prayer

Lord, I love Your light. Help me to continue to walk with You today. Amen.

To Ponder

Once you have seen the light, you can never be content unless you are walking in daily fellowship with Christ and sharing His love with others.

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Today’s Scripture: Jonah 3-4

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” – John 15:8

I know a man who was the pastor of a church in the South when he and his wife began to feel that God was calling them to Africa. They came up with the usual reasons why they shouldn’t go: They were too old–he was forty-five; they had too many children–seven. And yet, two facts kept coming back to their hearts: Those without Christ were really lost, and the Great Commission still stands. So they went, and faced some rather tough years.

They left their beautiful home for a bamboo hut in the jungle. Their health and the health of their children were threatened by parasites and tropical diseases. They found themselves walking for miles through steaming heat, crossing treacherous rivers in dugout canoes, sleeping in rat-infested native huts. They watched in helplessness as a young mother brought her newborn baby, convulsing in the early stages of tetanus, because an old grandmother had rubbed country medicine–a mixture of dirt, leaves, and cow manure–into the baby’s navel. They had to stand by and watch as a young girl drank the deadly poison of sassa wood to prove she was not a witch.

As this family stayed on and related in love to their lost and ignorant world, they began to see fruit. The lostness of these people had brought them to Africa, and Christ’s love sustained them through the hard times.

This is not a love that casually says, “Be ye warmed and filled,” but a love characterized by sacrifice–a Christ-inspired and God-given love that knows no limits.

Prayer

Lord, increase my faith and strengthen my discipleship. Amen.

To Ponder

If Christ has called us to a labor, it is of eternal consequence.

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Today’s Scripture: Ezekiel 16-19

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” – Mark 16:15

Do you have anyone in your church who seems territorial about his or her ministry? This person may be in charge of the kitchen or the choir robes or the nursery or the Sunday school. If someone comes along with a suggestion for improvement, the person in charge blows up. It reminds me of the poster of the great big gorilla who says, “If I want any advice from you, I’ll beat it out of you.”

In light of that, consider Ezekiel 16:1-3: “The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable practices and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Jerusalem…” Ezekiel had been called by God to minister among the captives in Babylon. His older contemporary, the prophet Jeremiah, was left to preach to those in Jerusalem. Was Ezekiel trying to move in on Jeremiah’s territory here? No. God was using His messengers among His scattered people, wherever they were.

In the New Testament, we find Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, winning people to Christ in a synagogue in Greece. We find Peter, the apostle to the Jews, sharing Christ with a Roman centurion named Cornelius.

In the task of proclaiming God’s message, there are no territorial lines, and all of us need all the help we can get. I was speaking in a church where the pastor is a godly man with a very successful long-term ministry. His only territory was the harvest field of God, and he was open to everything he could learn from others. Christian, let’s labor together, because we can’t do it alone!

Prayer

Lord, keep me from staking out my “turf” at church, and strengthen me in my desire to quietly serve others. Amen.

To Ponder

Our service in the church is to build up the believers, to the glory of God. Our ministry to the world is to cooperate with our fellow believers in spreading the gospel, to the glory of God.

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Today’s Scripture: Jeremiah 33:1-11

After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!” – Acts 13:15-16

How do you feel when you make a phone call, and a recorded voice answers and asks you to leave a message at the sound of the beep? Or when your phone conversation is interrupted by call waiting, and your party asks you to hold while he sees if this call is more important than yours?

What we really want is to have someone listen to us as if they care. You know what I mean. You call long-distance to the Apex Washer, Dryer, and Ironing Board Company. You call and call, and finally get through. An operator says, “Hold, please.” After a long wait, the operator comes on the line again and says, “May I help you?” So you tell the person you’d like to speak to Mr. Green. “Who’s calling?” You give your name. “Hold, please.” Finally you get Mr. Green’s office. “May I speak to Mr. Green?”

“I’m sorry, he’s away from his desk. May I take a message?”

Sound familiar? Think about that in light of God’s remarkable promise in Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you.” No hold buttons. No busy signals. Never an interruption by someone more important than you. You have His attention every day, all day, day and night. Because God loves you, He pays attention to you. He listens when you talk to Him.

Friend, that’s the example for us with our families. When your child calls, answer. When your spouse wants to talk after you’re home from work, talk. And listen! It takes such little effort, and it pays such big dividends.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for inviting me to talk to You about everything. Give me keen ears to hear Your response. Amen.

To Ponder

God’s ear is always open to the person who seeks Him.

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Today’s Scripture: Isaiah 31-35

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. – 1 Peter 5:2-3

Books and articles about leadership written by secular writers often differ from biblical principles. All too often, those who teach leadership are concerned primarily with style. Should the leader simply make the decisions and carry them out, or should he consult with the people to get their input before he acts?

The most important issue in leadership is character. It has always seemed to me that leadership style depends on the circumstances. For instance, I like the idea of consulting with people and receiving their wisdom on the subject. Why do solo thinking when one has a whole group of skilled people to draw from? On the other hand, if I’m in an airplane and the cockpit is filling with smoke, the landing gear is stuck, and an engine is out, I don’t want the captain coming back to the passenger section and asking my opinion about what to do. I want him to muster all his expertise, to recall all his training, and to get that airplane safely on the ground. I want him in total control and not asking advice from anybody.

So when the Bible deals with the subject of leadership, it doesn’t dwell on the style of the leader, but on the character of the leader. Notice the words of the prophet in Isaiah 32:1: “See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.” The leader’s daily walk of righteousness is fundamental. Now look at Isaiah 32:17: “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”

Prayer

Lord, help me to walk in Your righteousness, so that when I lead, I can do it with quietness and confidence.

To Ponder

In leadership, character is the bottom line.

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Today’s Scripture: Judges 9-12

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. – 1 John 3:16

I suppose anyone who has read the first eight chapters of the book of Judges could guess what takes place after the death of Gideon. The people turned from following the Lord. But the punishment that followed was not inflicted by some nation who invaded the land from without, but from trouble within caused by a selfish leader.

In Judges 9, we learn of the tyranny of Abimelech, who gained power by committing murder. God had not called him to a position of leadership. His carnal ambition and lust for power were his only call. He surrounded himself with a group of scoundrels who hastened his downfall.

History gives us examples of leaders of nations in our own century who have milked the economy instead of building it, stolen from the people and sent the money to the proverbial Swiss bank account. When things begin to crumble economically and politically, the leader gets in his private jet and flees to another country where he lives in comfort.

The lesson for us is clear. A selfish leader can bring untold grief to people under him. This holds true in a family, a church, an organization, or a nation. What kind of spiritual leadership opportunity is God giving you today? It could be in your family, your church, or with a small group of people hungry to grow in their Christian faith. Whatever the opportunity, accept it as a call from God, step out in faith, and seek His grace to be an unselfish leader. The Lord is waiting to do great things through you.

Prayer

Lord, help me to focus my leadership energy on goals that benefit Your kingdom. Amen.

To Ponder

Am I guilty of selfish leadership in the responsibilities God has given me?

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Today’s Scripture: Revelation 7-9

Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. – Romans 1:5-6

In 1983, I was privileged to attend the International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists in Amsterdam, Holland. That week of study, fellowship, and worship with thousands of traveling evangelists from around the world was an experience I will never forget.

Most of the delegates had been won to Christ by devoted messengers of the Cross, who left their homelands and brought their families to disease-ridden locales among suspicious, even hostile, people throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, India, and China. Many of their converts became missionaries to their own people and to those in other countries around the world. Seeing those people in Amsterdam, united in Christ, was like a preview of heaven.

In Revelation 7:9-10, the apostle John gives us a glimpse of a magnificent event in the future: “I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”

What a picture! Here are the fruits of the labors of consecrated men and women of God. But, Christian, the work isn’t done. What contribution are you making to world evangelization? Have you prayed about going for a short-term mission or for an extended time? Your skill may open a door to an effective ministry.

Prayer

Lord, use me in whatever way You choose, to bring people to Yourself. Amen.

To Ponder

The Lord is searching for people who will be willing to do whatever He requires for the Great Commission–to give, to pray, or to go.

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Today’s Scripture: 2 Timothy 2

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law. – Proverbs 29:18

There are many meanings of the word vision. For instance, vision can mean the object of imagination. But vision also can mean unusual discernment or foresight. Based on that, a visionary is a person who has a picture of what can happen in the future and is working hard to bring it about.

Dawson Trotman’s vision was to see God use the ordinary child of God to make an impact in the lives of others. What made his vision powerful was that he was living proof it could be done. He wasn’t a theologian or a scholar; he was a truck driver. And yet he was instrumental in bringing literally thousands of people to Christ and seeing them grow as disciples.

The heart of Daws’ vision came from a man who lived twenty centuries before him–the apostle Paul–and is stated in 2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” Paul’s vision was that every person who knew Christ would tell others how to come to Christ. And then they would stick with their new converts to teach them the basics of living the Christian life. The result was a plan to multiply generations of Christians who would keep sharing the faith with others.

The Great Commission of Christ is a vision that continues to capture the hearts and lives of men and women around the world. Do you have the vision? God wants to open your eyes to see the people around you as they are, and as they can be in Him.

Prayer

Lord, let me see the world through Your eyes. Amen.

To Ponder

The Great Commission is a purpose big enough to capture your entire life.

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Today’s Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. – Romans 1:16

There is no evidence of timidity on the part of the Christians from Thessalonica. The gospel message did not tiptoe from their lips, nor was it whispered in the hope no one would hear. Having received the gospel, these people entertained no thought of keeping it to themselves. By word and deed they made it known to others. They followed the example of Paul, with a burning zeal that prompted them to proclaim what God had done for them. In 1 Thessalonians 1:5-9, Paul describes his ministry in that city. “Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia…your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it.”

Paul was speaking of the gospel that came to them, and ultimately sounded out from them to all of Greece. The words sounded out are best described as the rumble of a tremendous thunderclap that reverberates long after its initial burst of sound. It pictures a bold, straightforward, continuing witness.

Friend, the message of the gospel of Christ, boldly proclaimed, can burst like thunder from your life today. And by the power of God, it will keep on rolling.

Prayer

Lord, give me a fresh vision of who I am, and gift me to tell others that You have called me out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Amen.

To Ponder

If God has shed His love abroad in your heart, you will want to proclaim Him to everyone.

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Today’s Scripture: Colossians 1-4

To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. – Colossians 1:29

The apostle Paul is remembered for many things: He was a great Bible teacher, a brilliant theologian, and a church planter par excellence. But all these things were an outgrowth of the primary focus of his life: “We proclaim [Christ], admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:28-29).

When we observe the life of Paul, we don’t see a man who meandered through life saying, “These forty things I dabble at.” Instead, we see a man of focus who said, “This one thing I do.”

We never see Paul losing his passion and excitement for his goal. Notice how he speaks of his work of bringing people to Christ and building them up in the faith. The word he uses for labor is kopiao, which means to work until you are ready to drop. Then he uses the word agonizomai, which means to strive, to struggle, to agonize. But he speaks of doing the work through God’s energy.

Christian, what about you? Does the prospect of walking with Christ and serving Him start your day with excitement and anticipation? You don’t have to be an evangelist or a missionary. All it takes is a clear focus on the person of Jesus Christ and what He has called you to do in your family, your job, your life. Why not give yourself to the task of winning people to Christ and helping them grow to their full maturity in Christ.

Prayer

Lord, may my walk be consistent through Your energy and power. Amen.

To Ponder

The focus of your life determines how you go through each day.

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Today’s Scripture: Acts 8-9

Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! – -1 Corinthians 9:16

There is a saying in management circles that “people do not do what you expect but what you inspect.” Today’s passage of Scripture indicates this is not true of the personal witness of a motivated Christian. For some Christians, witnessing is reserved for the one night a week when they go out calling in the visitation program. They talk to people about Christ, but that’s it for the week.

What a contrast with the report in Acts 8:4-5: “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.”

We find Philip in the city of Samaria, apparently alone, with no apostle looking over his shoulder, witnessing to the entire city. Later, in Acts 8:26, we find Philip out in the desert, responding to the Lord’s prompting to catch up with an Ethiopian man in a chariot. The man was seeking the Lord, and Philip had the wonderful privilege of introducing him to Christ.

I believe the key to this kind of ongoing witness is found in the preceding chapters of Acts, where we see the apostles and other believers filled with the Holy Spirit, being unable to contain themselves when it came to talking about Christ. For them, witnessing was the natural thing to do.

When Christ fills our hearts and minds, we will naturally share Him. We don’t need an external manager to inspect us in order to get us to perform. The motivation comes from within, from Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, give me a vision for the lost so that my witness for You isn’t a duty but the natural product of my relationship with You. Amen.

To Ponder

True witness for Christ is not coerced or forced; it is the overflow of a life of fellowship with the Savior.

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Today’s Scripture: John 13-21

Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed… They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” – Mark 10:32-34

A number of years ago, a young farmer in South Dakota felt God’s call to help people in the Third World. He believed his skill in agriculture could improve their lives and open doors to share his faith in Christ with them.

So God sent him into a very difficult and dangerous part of the world. From the time he arrived, he identified himself with the people, often living among them for months at a time in order to teach them better techniques of farming and caring for their animals. He would return from the bush sick and emaciated, but fulfilled in the knowledge that he was doing what God had called him to do. Over the years, he has become something of a legend among the people he serves.

I thought of him as I studied the twentieth chapter of John. After Jesus was raised from the dead, He appeared to His disciples. And on one occasion, as His disciples were gripped by doubt and fear–the two great enemies of witness–Jesus did a strange thing. He showed them His hands and His side, and spoke these words in John 20:21: “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

What was Jesus trying to get across by showing them His scars from the cross? In effect, He was saying, “Men, this ministry is no bed of roses. This is no stroll in the park. Following me may cost you your life.” To the apostles’ credit, they did not turn back. They were captured by the vision of taking the good news of Jesus Christ to all the world. I want to be that kind of person. Do you?

Prayer

Lord, free me from my fear and doubt as I see Your vision for the world, and work with You in fulfilling it. Amen.

To Ponder

There is personal cost for all who will follow Christ in daily discipleship.

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Today’s Scripture: Jude

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. – Ephesians 6:11

The city of Colorado Springs, where I live, is the home of the United States Olympic Training Center. Athletes from all over the country come here to train for the Olympic Games. And by the looks on their faces, they’re serious about it. They know they’ll have to compete against the best athletes in the world.

In the book of Jude, I find a similar sense of reality about the competition. Jude issues a warning to believers that we face a dangerous enemy. And the word pictures Jude paints of Satan’s followers are worthy of further study and consideration: He says they have gone the way of Cain and run greedily after the error of Balaam. He calls them clouds without rain; trees whose fruit withers; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever.

What does Jude tell us to do to prepare for this battle and gain the victory? “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life” (Jude 20-21).

Friend, that’s exactly what you and I need to do–continually build ourselves in the faith. We must guard our prayer times so that the pressures of daily living don’t crowd them out.

As I observe the Olympic athletes running, bicycling, and training around town, I’m reminded of my need to keep myself spiritually fit. It’s not a luxury, but a necessity for going head-to-head against a committed foe.

Prayer

Lord, help me to live each day on the basis of Your Word and what You’ve said I need to do to be spiritually fit. Amen.

To Ponder

Our enemy, Satan, is as real as if we could see him or touch him. We need to have a healthy respect for his subtle ways.

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