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CURRENT RADIO SERIES His Story Your Story   CURRENT TV SERIES His Story Your Story

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. --Psalm 46:1 Christians fail. I’m sure that doesn’t surprise you. But what may surprise you is how spiritual failure happens. You see, it doesn’t happen suddenly, but comes slowly after a series of bad choices or seductive compromises along the way. Think for a moment about those huge redwood trees that typically live hundreds of years. They stand strong through all kinds of natural assaults, but then suddenly and without warning, fall to the ground. Now here’s what’s interesting. When they examine those fallen redwood trees, they usually discover that little beetles made their way into the core of that tree and ate it away from the inside. So when the tree fell, it fell hard. But its death was a slow and steady process. So often that’s what happens in the lives of Christ followers. Serious compromises are made and then the failure... the fall happens. Is it possible that this is happening to you? Are you making compromises that are slowly eating away at your faith? Beware of this tool of Satan. He’ll say, “Just lower your standards a little bit. No one will know… no one will see you.” Refuse to tolerate thoughts and ruminate over temptations that the enemy presents to you. Call on the name of the Lord, your refuge and strength! He is your help in times of trouble. ARE YOU MAKING COMPROMISES THAT ARE SLOWLY EATING AWAY AT YOUR FAITH?

Living for Others

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
1 Timothy 4:14–16

The famous evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman told the story of a hiker who became lost in the mountains during a snow storm. He tried to continue forward, but could not find any landmarks. Realizing his peril, he looked for a place of safety but found none. Finally, he tripped and fell into the snow. Chapman said, “As he fell his hand struck the body of another man who had fallen in the same place. This first man was unconscious, and the man who had just fallen rose to his knees, and, bending over the prostrate form, began to chafe his hands and to rub his face, until by and by the man’s eyes opened. He had saved another’s life, but he had also saved himself, for the exercise had kept the life in his own body.”
The temptation that all of us face is to live our lives focused on our own needs, wants, goals, and ambitions rather than realizing the importance of investing our lives into others. The Christian life is not just about us. When we follow the pattern Jesus set and pour ourselves into helping others, we find great benefit for our own lives. When Jesus gave the gospel to the woman at the well while His disciples searched for food, it renewed His strength in a powerful way. “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). God gives strength to those who seek to serve Him.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

You cannot live like Jesus unless your heart is burdened and broken for the needs of others.