Live for What Matters
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.”
Luke 9:25–26
In his prayer journal, the missionary martyr Jim Elliot wrote: “Father, take my life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it. Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for the world. Blood is only of value as it flows before Thine altar.” Indeed, Elliot backed up his written devotion with his very life. He and the other missionaries killed by the Ecuadoran tribe they were trying to reach had guns, but they made the choice not to defend their lives with force so that the door to the gospel would not be closed. As a result, the wives and friends of several of them did succeed in reaching the very group that killed those missionaries.
The world does not value the things of eternity. The prevalent attitude is summed up in the popular bumper sticker: “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But once we die, there is no value in the toys of this world. And even as we live, God is not interested in earthly trinkets. He paved the streets of Heaven with gold and made the walls out of precious stones. No amount of acquisition on our part is going to impress Him. Even worse, when we live only for the temporal, we miss out on the opportunity to do something lasting and important for Him. Many Christians will be ashamed when they look back at their lives and realize how few of the things that occupied their time and attention were of eternal value.
Luke 9:25–26
In his prayer journal, the missionary martyr Jim Elliot wrote: “Father, take my life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it. Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for the world. Blood is only of value as it flows before Thine altar.” Indeed, Elliot backed up his written devotion with his very life. He and the other missionaries killed by the Ecuadoran tribe they were trying to reach had guns, but they made the choice not to defend their lives with force so that the door to the gospel would not be closed. As a result, the wives and friends of several of them did succeed in reaching the very group that killed those missionaries.
The world does not value the things of eternity. The prevalent attitude is summed up in the popular bumper sticker: “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But once we die, there is no value in the toys of this world. And even as we live, God is not interested in earthly trinkets. He paved the streets of Heaven with gold and made the walls out of precious stones. No amount of acquisition on our part is going to impress Him. Even worse, when we live only for the temporal, we miss out on the opportunity to do something lasting and important for Him. Many Christians will be ashamed when they look back at their lives and realize how few of the things that occupied their time and attention were of eternal value.
Today’s Growth Principle:
If you spend your time, talent, and resources on what is eternal, your life will not be in vain.
The sower sows the Word. The ones along the path are those who have the Word sown [in their hearts], but when they hear, Satan comes at once and [by force] takes away the message which is sown in them.
—Mark 4:14-15
If you hear or study the Word, the devil will immediately attempt to steal it from you. He does not want the Word to take root in your heart and begin to produce good fruit in your life. When you learn the truth, deception is uncovered and you are set free. Satan hates and fears the Word. He will do anything possible to prevent you from learning God’s Word.
The reason Satan works so hard to keep you from the Word is simple: He knows the Word of God is a powerful weapon against him. It assures his defeat! That is why it is imperative that you learn to wield the spiritual sword. Reading, hearing, believing, meditating on, and confessing the Word cancels Satan’s evil plan. Tonight, determine to make the Word of God a priority in your life.
Seek the Truth
by Joyce Meyer - posted April 02, 2016The sower sows the Word. The ones along the path are those who have the Word sown [in their hearts], but when they hear, Satan comes at once and [by force] takes away the message which is sown in them.
—Mark 4:14-15
If you hear or study the Word, the devil will immediately attempt to steal it from you. He does not want the Word to take root in your heart and begin to produce good fruit in your life. When you learn the truth, deception is uncovered and you are set free. Satan hates and fears the Word. He will do anything possible to prevent you from learning God’s Word.
The reason Satan works so hard to keep you from the Word is simple: He knows the Word of God is a powerful weapon against him. It assures his defeat! That is why it is imperative that you learn to wield the spiritual sword. Reading, hearing, believing, meditating on, and confessing the Word cancels Satan’s evil plan. Tonight, determine to make the Word of God a priority in your life.
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