Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
--1 Peter 1:13-16
A story is told about a sailor hundreds of years ago who was given charge of a ship overnight while the captain slept. It was his first time to have full command of the ship, and the only directive he was given was to sail due north, toward the North Star.
“Okay, Captain,” the young sailor said. “So should I just come wake you when we sail past that star?” The captain looked at him and said, “Son, we will never sail past the North Star. It will always be our guide to true north. It never changes.”
In much the same way, the statutes and ways of God are our true north. They’re our guide in life as we pursue holy living. And while we’ll never pass them, we can look to them and know the direction to go that will lead us down the path of godly living.
Never forget your true north… it’s the very character of Christ Himself. Pursue godly living by following your North Start: the Word of God and the Spirit of God. As long as you are heading in the right direction, you can be sure you’ll stay on the path toward Christ-like living!
STAY ON THE PATH TO LIVING A LIFE LIKE JESUS BY KEEPING YOUR FOCUS ON THE HOLY CHARACTER OF GOD.
First Things First
Thursday, December 26, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”
John 1:39–42
The Bible tells us that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. We don’t know how long he had been following John before Jesus came to be baptized, but the next day Andrew began following Jesus instead. The first thing Andrew did when they reached their destination was to go and find his brother Peter and bring him to Jesus. That was the most important thing he could do, so Andrew did not allow anything to take precedence over that task.
All of have friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, and acquaintances who need to know Jesus. And it is our responsibility to introduce them to Him. Not all of them will respond to the gospel, just as not everyone Jesus Himself talked to accepted Him as their Messiah and Saviour. But if we do not tell them the truth, where will they hear it? “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).
We need a renewed sense of urgency and priority when it comes to reaching people with the gospel. It is right for us to send and support missionaries to other places. But we have a responsibility to those around us to be a witness.
Today's Growth Principle:
There are many good things we can and should do, but none are more important than bringing people to Jesus.
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