The Path to Victory

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Going the Distance CURRENT TV SERIES A Life That Pleases God “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” --John 14:21 When I was a child, we had a plot of land right behind our house that we turned into a baseball field. All the neighborhood kids would play there every afternoon before dinner. But one day, the electric company came in and turned part of that piece of land into a power relay station. Now there was still enough room on that land for us to play baseball. But all around the lot, they put up huge signs that said, “No Trespassing.” How could the electric company do that to us? We deserved to have that field, they stole it away, and now, they wouldn’t even share it with us! Though it took time, I realize now the power company put up those signs not because they didn’t like us, but to keep us from being electrocuted. And that’s exactly why God gives us rules as well – to keep us from being harmed by sin. Sin is more dangerous than any electric shock. Yet many become bitter at God for the rules He gives, not knowing they’re really there to keep them safe. So when God says “No,” remember it’s for your best, and trust He’s looking out for your ultimate joy! PURSUE OBEDIENCE TO GOD, KNOWING IT WILL KEEP YOU FROM HARM AND ULTIMATELY GIVE YOU JOY! The Path to Victory Friday, November 29, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:6–9 The world tells us to lift ourselves up, make sure that we are noticed, and insist that we receive credit for whatever we do. God tells us to humble ourselves, prefer others ahead of ourselves, and focus on His approval rather than that of people. One of these methods works, and the other does not. It is no surprise that it is God’s way that works, but it remains hard for us to humble ourselves. It goes against our nature. F. B. Meyer said, “I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other; and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them. I now find that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath the other; and it is not a question of growing taller but of stooping lower; and that we have to go down, always down, to get His best gifts.” No matter how difficult we may find the process of humility, there is no substitute for God’s power in our lives, and that power is never given to the proud. “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). One of the crucial aspects of humility is a clear recognition of how great God is. When we see a glimpse of His glory and power, it helps us recognize that without Him we cannot accomplish anything—that we have nothing of which to be proud. Today's Growth Principle: Pride renders us vulnerable to the attacks of Satan and places us on the path of defeat.