Our eternal destiny will be the completion of whichever path of growth in our character we’re choosing right now, whether good or bad. Heaven and hell will simply be the end of the road we’re traveling by the decisions we’re presently making.
Honesty takes humility, but if we won’t humble ourselves, we can’t grow. Growth is uncomfortable, but it’s the healthiest thing in the world. So may we be honest enough to accept the truth, whatever it is — even the truth that requires us to change.
Real character consists of doing the right thing, both when it’s easy and when it’s not. Throughout the coming week, let’s work on clarifying our principles and then building up our commitment to those principles. Let’s do what’s right!
Jesus prayed that His disciples might be “sanctified,” or “made distinctive,” by the truth: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). This is the only worthy way to gather the Lord’s people together and make them distinctive.
We have to pay attention and be careful. We have to examine our lives often and make the decisions that are required to get on the right path and stay there. We cannot afford to drift along, living by default. We must live our lives on purpose.
Let’s work on having a more accurate and complete understanding of ourselves. Let’s pray that God will aid us in seeing all that He wants us to see about ourselves as His children. The more truth we have in our hearts, the closer we’ll be to God.
If we’ve read our Bibles, one thing ought to be clear: sacrificial giving will never impoverish us. Those who loosen their grip on the things of this life and give unselfishly of their means will find themselves being enriched in more important ways.
When we’re choosing between our priorities, there ought not to be anything that takes precedence over being with the Lord’s people when they meet. In this matter of choice, let’s work on making better choices, those that most greatly honor the Lord.
There’s no greater motivation for evangelism than gratitude for God’s grace. If we’re grateful for the blessings that we enjoy in Christ, the first thing we’ll want to do is share those blessings with other people. Let’s be grateful evangelists!
The choice whether to obey the gospel and faithfully accept God’s gift is a choice of great consequence. When we choose to obey God, we choose life over death. In passages like Romans 2:5-11, these two alternatives are made very clear.
