If youth is in any sense the “prime” of life, there’s a good argument that can be made for giving those premium years to the Lord — rather than spending them on our selfish indulgence and then giving the Lord whatever years are left over.
Daily Bible study and prayer should be normal, routine activities in our homes. This week, let’s strive for seven days of progress in our spiritual priorities. Let’s think and talk together about our need to grow in the things that concern heaven.
Let’s concentrate our minds on the overwhelming victory that we are assured of in Jesus Christ. He never promised us that life in His kingdom would be without resistance; He only promised to help us deal with the devil’s resistance by His strength.
Our attitude about the Lord’s Day — and the feeling we have when we anticipate it — says a good deal about the state of our spiritual health. If we don’t find ourselves looking forward to the best day of the week, it’s time for a spiritual checkup.
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.
