Victory is on its way, keep on keeping on

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But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. --1 Corinthians 15:57 There is so much that you and I can learn from the failures and victories of athletic champions. I learned one of these lessons by reading about legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. This great coach began his career at UCLA in 1948 at the age of 37. But it took him 16 years to win his first national championship! After his team had lost in the first round of the championships in 1950, 1952, and 1956, he read something that changed his thinking. It said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts!” You see, Wooden thought he knew everything about basketball, but he didn’t. So he invited other coaches to evaluate his players in practice. He hired assistants who would challenge his thinking. He re-evaluated everything. And eventually, UCLA became one of the great powerhouses of NCAA basketball! And from his experiences, Wooden gave us one of the great quotes about life. He said, “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.” Let me ask you something. Have you learned from your failures or have you let your failures defeat you?   Listen! We all experience failure, but God wants you to trust him and keep going. Stay in the Scripture. Learn from other followers. Don’t stop now, your victory will come! Give God everything and he will bring the victory! DON’T STOP NOW, YOUR VICTORY WILL COME!

Keep on Keeping On

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,”
Acts 14:19–21

Over the years as I’ve witnessed to people, I’ve received a number of reactions. Many have trusted Christ, but others have rejected my message. I’ve had people tell me to go away and leave them alone. I’ve had doors closed firmly and quickly in my face. But so far I’ve never been stoned and left for dead by people to whom I was giving the gospel. That happened to Paul in the city of Lystra. When he healed a lame man there, the people wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods come down to earth. Yet not long after, they were throwing rocks at Paul and thought they had killed him. The very next day Paul was back to preaching in the next town, and when he had finished there, he returned to Lystra and preached again.
Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said, “The test of your character is what it takes to stop you.” All of us face opposition when we try to do things that are good and will help others and build God’s kingdom. The devil is not pleased when we labor for the Lord, so he attempts to knock us off course. Sometimes he uses outright opposition, and other times he tries to lure us off the path with a softer temptation. But in every case, we must remember our commitment to walk the path that Jesus walked in obedience and dedication, regardless of what comes. Only then can we truly say we are following Him.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Those who give up because of adversity or difficulty will never accomplish anything meaningful for Christ.