The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
--1 Peter 4:7
Over the past few days we have talked about the end times. As you look forward to the return of Christ, I want to give you four attributes that I believe are important for you to exhibit each day.
The first attribute is prayerfulness. Now is the time for sincere prayer. Pray for yourself, your family, and the work of Christ. Make prayer a part of your daily life.
The second attribute is faithfulness. We need to be faithful to Christ and to His church. Make it a habit to be fully engaged in a Bible-teaching church, being faithful to worship, to use your spiritual gifts to serve others, and to encourage other believers around you.
The third attribute is godliness. Don’t be ashamed to live boldly and purely for Christ. Let your light shine each day so that your walk matches your talk.
The fourth attribute is readiness. Jesus Himself told us to be ready and watchful in these days. Lift your eyes up to the Lord daily. Live with reality that He is coming again!
As long as you’re still here, it’s not too late to live for Christ. Measure your life against these four attributes, and make them a personal priority.
In these critical days, God wants us to be prayerful, faithful, godly, and ready!
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.”
Luke 16:3–4
All of us face situations in our lives at times when we do not immediately know what to do. Whether it is an unexpected job loss, a serious medical diagnosis, a crisis in a family relationship, or even a natural disaster, we have a moment (or sometimes several moments) when we simply are not sure how we should respond. Christians are not immune to trouble and difficulty, no matter what popular television preachers may say. We have many of the same struggles, burdens, tears, pains, hurts, and heartbreaks that the world has. The difference is that we have a resource that is not available to the world—our faith.
Job was a wealthy man with a large family, but all that he had was taken away from him in a single day. On the worst day of his life, when he did not know what else to do, Job trusted God. “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:20–21).
All of us face situations that are beyond what we can handle, but we never have to face those burdens alone. God is always ready and able to assist those who turn to Him for guidance and help. The problem is never that He does not know or cannot help, but that too often we try to make it on our own without seeking His face.
Today’s Growth Principle:
When we are unsure of what to do, we should run to the Source of all wisdom and ask for help.
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