Following Through
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Philippians 4:8–9
Perhaps the most famous battle in history, Waterloo marked the final defeat of Napoleon by the combined British and Prussian armies. Knowing that he would be outnumbered if his two opponents combined their forces, Napoleon had ordered Marshall Emmanuel de Grouchy to attack the Prussian forces who were retreating from an earlier battle. Napoleon believed that this would give him time to deal with the British under Wellington separately before turning his attention back to the Prussians. Grouchy was slow to respond to his orders, and though he carried them out, eventually defeating the Prussian rear-guard, he failed to stop the main column from advancing. They reached the battlefield in the nick of time, and with those reinforcements, Wellington defeated Napoleon.
The Lord has given us a number of instructions in His Word. Knowing them is good, but it is not enough. We must actually do the things we are commanded to do. We must execute our orders. Many people fail to accomplish what they should for God because they are not putting what they know and have learned into practice. Bible study and learning what God intends is critical, but it is only the first step of the process. To be who God calls us to be, we must put forth whatever effort and obedience is required to actually do the things He says. In the Upper Room Jesus said, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:15).
Philippians 4:8–9
Perhaps the most famous battle in history, Waterloo marked the final defeat of Napoleon by the combined British and Prussian armies. Knowing that he would be outnumbered if his two opponents combined their forces, Napoleon had ordered Marshall Emmanuel de Grouchy to attack the Prussian forces who were retreating from an earlier battle. Napoleon believed that this would give him time to deal with the British under Wellington separately before turning his attention back to the Prussians. Grouchy was slow to respond to his orders, and though he carried them out, eventually defeating the Prussian rear-guard, he failed to stop the main column from advancing. They reached the battlefield in the nick of time, and with those reinforcements, Wellington defeated Napoleon.
The Lord has given us a number of instructions in His Word. Knowing them is good, but it is not enough. We must actually do the things we are commanded to do. We must execute our orders. Many people fail to accomplish what they should for God because they are not putting what they know and have learned into practice. Bible study and learning what God intends is critical, but it is only the first step of the process. To be who God calls us to be, we must put forth whatever effort and obedience is required to actually do the things He says. In the Upper Room Jesus said, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:15).
Today’s Growth Principle:
There is no victory apart from action.
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment