There are awesome tasks to be accomplished, fearful dangers to be risked, terrible temptations to be overcome, and serious needs to be filled. There is no way that we can make it on our own, but since God is our strength, our confidence is in Him.
Even when we’re doing the Lord’s work, it is still true that we require replenishment and refreshment. Prayer is one of the activities through which we gain spiritual strength. If we don’t take time to pray, we won’t be strong spiritually.
God knew precisely the type of leadership that would contribute to the kind of strong relationship He wanted us to have in the church. Let’s be appreciative, and let’s help our children to have healthy attitudes toward leadership in God’s family.
Let’s consider the importance of a “together” attitude about our labor in the Lord — and be ready to subordinate our individual desires to the needs of the Lord’s work. In Christ, we have a goal that is greater than any of our personal concerns.
A creature in God’s image who tries to be happy by selfish means is trying something that is, in the long run, an impossibility. May we learn this week, by meditating on God and His word, that blessedness comes from pouring ourselves out for others.
God loves us and wants the very best for us. If He has ever asked us to say no to anything and yes to something else, it is only because He wants us to share the joy He has. He governs us in order to give us the life He created us to enjoy.
Even if the sign out front says the church we attend is “of Christ,” that does not make it so. Regardless of the name we wear, if we are not governed by Christ’s authority, and if we do not love Him as we should, then we have no connection to Him.
Being “example conscious” will prompt us to go the extra mile so that others see an unmistakable, unequivocal example of godliness in our lives. Let’s not deprive our friends of what may be the only godly example they have a chance to be exposed to.
Let’s meditate on the importance of obedience to God and determine that we’re going to accept the responsibility that goes along with knowing what we know about the truth. God wants us not only to know the right thing but to do the right thing.
We ought to appreciate the local congregation as the Lord designed it, contributing wholeheartedly to the work God has given the church to do. To the extent that we can enjoy our work together, we will enjoy the happiness of heaven . . . together!
God will not force us to accept His salvation. He makes salvation available to all (John 3:17), and grants the gift to those who accept it on His terms (John ...
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“O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and ...
When we get to heaven, we will be completely happy. But our thoughts will not be centered on how happy we are. We will be so completely caught up in ...
We need to view obedience in a more kindly light. Wherever we look in the New Testament, we see Jesus recommending obedience as something to be honored and appreciated. It ...
If the seed of the kingdom is going to grow, the fields of our hearts have to be plowed up. And the harder the ground, the more painful the plowing ...
When we hear Jesus honestly, a crisis is produced deep within us. Is this teaching true? And if it is true, what are we going to do about it? The ...
Repentance is hard, especially when sinful habits are deeply ingrained in us. There is not much chance of getting away from the clutches of sin if we don’t flee from ...
“There is nothing any more permanent than a temporary solution.” If that’s true anywhere, it’s certainly true in our spiritual lives. Rebellion against God is bad, but we must also ...
If we are lost, we may spend eternity blaming God for not being more forceful to break down our resistance. But if it’s not love that brings us back home, ...
We need our God deeply. Created in His image, we yearn for Him. Whatever else we may accomplish in this world, this truth can’t be denied: cut off from the ...
Are we helped in this life by the good lives of those we come in contact with? Yes. And should we give thanks for the helpful influence of godly people? ...