CURRENT RADIO SERIES Lifeworks

CURRENT TV SERIES All Things New

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” --Genesis 1:26 There is one large question that looms over the creation story: Why? Why did God create the material world, and create us in His own image? He had to make a decision to spend six days creating all of this, so what was His reasoning? I think that first and foremost, God created us for His pleasure. It pleases Him to have a relationship with us. It’s not that God was lonely. He has hosts of angels worshiping Him. And He is self-sufficient, so we don’t give Him anything He lacks. But God delights in having a relationship with us. I also believe that God made everything for His praise. The Bible states in many different passages that all of creation praises Him. Every man, woman, and creature praises God either here on earth or eventually in His presence at the gates of heaven. Besides His pleasure and His praise, God also made us for a specific purpose. The Bible says in Romans 8:28-29 that we were created and redeemed so that we might be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. I want you to keep this in mind today as you go about the activities of the day. Remember that the God of the universe desired so much to have a relationship with you that He created you to be like His own Son! Thank God today that you are known and loved by Him. Genesis 1 is a great week-long story of how God loves us and created us. Just make sure you not only know where you came from, but where you’re going. And share with others this week the good news that God loves them, and invite them to come to know Jesus as their Savior so someday they can stand before Him as His child. YOU WERE CREATED FOR THE PLEASURE AND PRAISE OF GOD, AND TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE.

Stay on Guard

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“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. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
1 Peter 5:8–10

One of the most selective and exclusive units in the entire US military is the honor guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Those who are chosen for this honor man their posts day and night in all kinds of weather. They stand guard during freezing snowstorms, howling hurricanes, and driving rain. Their commitment to the job is complete, and it is summed up by the Sentinel’s Creed:
“My dedication to this sacred duty is total and whole-hearted. In the responsibility bestowed on me never will I falter. And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection. Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements, I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability. It is he who commands the respect I protect, his bravery that made us so proud. Surrounded by well-meaning crowds by day, alone in the thoughtful peace of night, this soldier will in honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance.”
We are tasked with something of great eternal significance by God, and success in this task requires our vigilance. We have an enemy who is dedicated to our destruction, and the very moment that we let down our guard he will strike. The devil doesn’t play fair. He doesn’t wait for us to put our guard up before he attacks. He will take advantage of any opportunity we give him by letting down our guard and slacking in our vigilance.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Victory in the Christian life requires consistent, diligent attention to the attacks of Satan.