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For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. --Romans 8:14 There’s a principle you need to know if you want to find and live in the will of God. It’s the principle of surrender. You and I should be so overwhelmed and moved by what God has done for us, starting with Christ and the cross and the resurrection, that we are willing to surrender our lives to him. We should say to the Lord, “Here I am, I’ll do whatever you want, Lord.”  I was a teenager when I felt the Lord calling me to preach. I went to my minister and told him that I believed God was calling me to preach. I said, “I just want to know what God wants me to do. If he’s not calling me, he’d better tell me!” And that minister said, “Jack, you go home, you live your life at Eastern Hills High School, on your baseball team, and in your classroom. Live for Christ every day. Win your friends to Christ, so that when he does call you and shows you what he wants you to do, you’ll be ready.” That was good advice. And it’s the advice I’m giving you today. Surrender completely to him. Say this little prayer, “Lord, You have all of me. I want to do what you want me to do, not what I want to do.” Then follow wherever God leads you, and do what he says. This is how you live in the will of God.   WE SHOULD SAY TO THE LORD, “HERE I AM, I’LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, LORD.”

Godly Determination

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.”
2 Kings 13:18–19

Some years ago the Wall Street Journal ran this story in a humor column. A man sitting on his porch noticed his teenage son leaving the house carrying a guitar, a pick, and a shovel. Somewhat taken aback, he asked, “What are you doing, Son?” The young man replied, “My girlfriend asked me to come over and serenade her.” His father said, “That’s a nice thing to do. What are the pick and shovel for?” “Oh,” the teen said, “She wanted me to sing to her from underneath her window, and her family lives in the basement!”
When we want to do what is right, not as a convenience or a whim, but as a commitment, we do not worry about the obstacles. We don’t care if others refuse to join in. We don’t mind if the results are slow in coming. We just keep on until we have reached the goal and achieved what God has called us to do. Many people start out well, but only do part of the task before becoming discouraged or distracted.
The only way to accomplish great things for God is to stay at the work. No matter how long it takes or how hard it is, if we are doing what is right, we should remain faithful. Most great achievements are not the result of a few spectacular moments of public effort, but instead come from patient and diligent work that continued on and on in the face of obstacles and opposition.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

God is looking for people who are fully committed and will not quit until the job is done.

Until I Fall In Love Again

The Great Hope of Our Future

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.”
Numbers 24:15–17

After recovering from a serious illness on a sea voyage late in his life, the famed poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson began to think more and more about eternity. Reflecting on the future he penned these lines:
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea.
For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.
This world is temporary and fleeting. There are many sorrows and pains that accompany life. And at the end looms the darkness of death. But for the Christian there is more—there is the promise that Jesus is waiting, and that we will see His face when this life has ended.
One of the most prevalent fears people have is the fear of death. Yet no matter how we try to avoid it, death is a certainty unless the Lord returns. For the Christian, death still may bring pain and sorrow, but it is different than that which is experienced by the world. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

The promise of entering Jesus’ presence takes away all fear of death for the believer.

Heartfelt =)

The Importance of Maintaining

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.”
Titus 3:12–15

Dr. D. J. Fleming who worked as a medical missionary in both India and China recounted a powerful story from the Boxer Rebellion that swept over China. The movement was violently anti-foreign and anti-Christian, and when the soldiers captured one town they came to a mission school for children. They placed a cross on the ground by the gate and announced that those who would trample over the cross would be free to go. The first seven children walked on the cross and were spared, but the eighth, a young girl dropped to her knees. For her refusal to trample on the cross, she was shot. Every remaining student followed her example and died rather than deny their faith.
There are many who start out well and continue on the right path for a little while. But when the pressure is on, and their faith may actually cost them something, they wilt and turn back. “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia” (2 Timothy 4:10). None of us are immune from this temptation. The devil knows that if he can make the cost of doing right high enough, many will falter. God is looking for people who not only do what is right, but who continue to do so no matter what comes. The Christian life is not a sprint, and we are called to maintain until we reach the end.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Do not settle for less than finishing your course through a life victoriously committed to doing right.

Using Whatever We Have

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
Mark 14:6–9

Critics of D. L. Moody were quick to point out that his messages, while intense, were hardly models of proper use of the English language. The story goes that after one sermon, a man came up to Moody and said, “By the way, I noticed that you made eleven mistakes in grammar in your sermon tonight.”
“That is very likely,” replied Mr. Moody. “I don’t doubt it for a minute. My early education was faulty. I often wish that I had received more schooling. But I am using all the grammar I know in the service of Christ. How is it with you?”
It is easy for us to criticize others for perceived flaws in the way they live for and serve God, but that is the wrong focus. “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4). Rather than condemning those who we feel do not measure up, we should be concerned with whether we are maximizing the gifts God has given to us to accomplish the most for Him. The measure God uses to evaluate our work is whether we have done all that we could, not how much we are capable of doing. It is a sin to waste the talents we have been given.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

There may be people more talented than you, but there do not have to be any people more committed than you.

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Breaking Free   CURRENT TV SERIES Unchained

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. --Matthew 6:33 You know, some people think of God’s will like some kind of cosmic Easter egg hunt. But God’s not playing hide and seek with you. This isn’t some guessing game where God is saying, “You’re getting warmer. Oh, now you’re cooler.” No! Our lives are not left to fate or fortune or circumstances. God wants you to know his will more than you want to know it! And it’s not something you have to fear, either. You may have heard me say this before, but it bears repeating: God will choose for you what you would choose for yourself if you had sense enough to choose it. It’s true! God always leaves his best to those who leave the choice with him! Now this doesn’t mean that God’s will is always easy. Sometimes God’s plan can be dangerous and difficult. Just ask Jim Elliott, the martyred missionary who died for his faith taking the gospel to South America. God’s will may not be easy, but it is always best, always perfect, always good, and always acceptable! Don’t wait until all else fails to try God’s will! Seek God’s kingdom first! Martin Luther put it this way, “Love God and do what you want to do.” Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and he’s going to lead you.   OUR LIVES ARE NOT LEFT TO FATE OR FORTUNE OR CIRCUMSTANCES.

Love: Beyond Responsibility and Obligation

Love: Beyond Responsibility and Obligation

Written by Meg

 

Yesterday night, one of the articles that caught my attention was my all-time favourite “The Qualities of a Godly Husband”. Thanks for my unknown viewer and for that let me share with you one of the stories that I believe as married couples need not to take for granted.

It is all about how well you know your partner?

Let me explain. Man and woman are two different individuals. Each has their own unique way of expressing their emotions, thoughts and actions. Generally, they are absolutely opposite but the good thing, these two are designed perfectly to complement each other. I had learned so much of this in the book “Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus” The Classic Guide to Understanding Opposite Sex by Dr. John Gray, PhD.

I encouraged every couple, husband and wife, married and soon to be married to read and re-read this book. There’s a lot to learn in here. It will elucidate one by one why man and woman act differently. By all means, couple will understand more his or her partner in a different level. It will also help both partners to communicate well, understand well that will bring them more happiness, joy and strengthen their relationship as well.

The challenge is... some couples are ignorant about how their partners behave as husband and wives, boyfriend and girlfriend which can lead to unresolved conflict and confusion resulting to infidelity, abuse and eventually broken relationship or even divorce.

Regardless of social status, beauty, fame and fortune, some may failed in relationship and marriage. I learned this from the story of late Princess Diana. A woman who wants love and affection from a husband who in the first place loved another one. My questions such as, what went wrong if they have everything is this world has to offer? Is she not enough? Why being so selfish can kill a passionate love?

(to be continued)

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I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. --Psalm 32:8 As children of God, you and I need to be so sensitive to the eyes of God. Do you know what that means? Well, let me share a little perspective with you.  When Deb and I first got married, forty years ago, I told her, “Get ready because we’re going to spend the rest of our lives in church.” And sure enough, we have. All three of our children grew up in the church. As I preached, I would keep my eye on the kids during the service to see if they were behaving. If you have children, you know what I mean. If they became disruptive, they would get what they affectionately refer to today as “the look.” If you’re a parent or grandparent, you know what I mean! Sometimes a glance got things back in order. But if it didn’t, they got a longer look, and then a stare, and maybe even a frown. You see, because they knew me and I knew them, I could guide them with my eyes. Well our relationship with God is similar. We need to learn to look to God’s eyes for his direction and guidance. Look for God’s eyes, and stay fixed upon him. And as you look to him, he will direct your steps.   WE NEED TO LEARN TO LOOK TO GOD’S EYES FOR HIS DIRECTION.

Faith that Makes a Difference

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
Daniel 3:10–12

According to a recent Barna Research Group study of people born between 1965 and 2002, most (84%) of the people who said they were not Christians knew at least one person who they described as a committed Christian. That seems like a good thing, but the follow-up question revealed that only 15% of those people felt like the lifestyle of those they described as Christians was significantly different from anyone else.
That is not the way the Christian life is supposed to work. Someone said that too many Christians today are part of the “secret service.” Identifying publicly with Jesus can be dangerous in some countries, and it is increasingly unacceptable in polite society to be a committed Christian. But it is only when we become truly committed to Christ that we can accomplish something meaningful. “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus” (John 19:38).
The approval that should matter most to us is not that of our peers or contemporaries, but that of God. He sees each time we take a stand for Him. He knows if our faith is making a real difference.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Taking a stand for Jesus is worth it, no matter what the cost may be.

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I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. --Romans 12:1 I want to remind you of something that’s of critical importance: This is your life! Your life had a beginning in your mother’s womb that was ordained by God, and someday your life will have an end…and God willing, there will be thousands of days in between. But it’s how you live your life over the course of those days that is of utmost importance. Life demands your complete focus on God. I’m reminded of when I played college baseball and the coach would say, “Wait for your pitch…watch for it! And when it comes, you swing with everything you’ve got!” So that’s what I’m saying to you today, “Don’t miss your pitch!” This is your life; don’t miss what God has for you! There are so many people who live their lives just punching the clock in and out and they never pause long enough to ask, “What is my life to be about?” We need to be fully engaged in living our lives for Christ Jesus. In fact, we ought to live in such a way that when we die, the evil one says, “Whew, glad that one’s gone!” Present your body to God for his service. Let it be your foremost goal to make a difference for Christ, and you’ll have a life well lived.   THIS IS YOUR LIFE; DON’T MISS WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU!

Every Part Is Needed

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”
1 Corinthians 12:22–25

Michael Costa immigrated to England from Italy in the 1800s and became a noted musician, eventually being knighted by Queen Victoria. Though Costa composed a number of pieces, he became best known as a conductor. In a time when it was common for music to be approached somewhat casually, Costa was noted for his ferocious attention to detail. According to one famous story, as he was conducting an orchestra and choral performance, and the sound of dozens of instruments and voices filled the cathedral, Costa stopped everyone cold. “Where is the piccolo?” he asked. The player had stopped, and the conductor could tell the difference.
Every one of us has a vital role to play in the work of God, and every one of those roles, no matter how large or how small it may appear to be, is important. We live in a society that glorifies the things that are most noticeable, but in truth without each of the parts, the whole will not be complete. When we are tempted to think that no one will notice if we slack off because our job isn’t that important, we must remember that God has designed and equipped each of us for a role no one else can fully play. God’s plan for His work calls for us to be faithful to carry out our assigned responsibilities.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

God is looking for people who are faithful to play the role in which He has placed them.

Christian parents of boy rescued from Thailand cave thank God he's safe

Christian Today staff writer Thu 12 Jul 2018 15:06 BST

One of the 12 boys rescued with their coach from the flooded cave in Thailand is a Christian – and his parents are thanking God that he is safe.

Adul Sam-on was born in Myanmar in Wa state but was sent to Thailand when he was seven years old for the sake of his education – the region suffers from separatist violence and many refugees have trodden the same path. Adul was taken in by a Baptist church and is sponsored by Christian charity Compassion International.

Compassion InternationalThe parents of Adul, who was rescued from the cave in Thailand, standing outside the church where their son attends the Compassion programme.

According to the principal of his school, Punnawit Thepsuri, stateless children like Adul have a 'fighting spirit' that makes them want to excel. Adul, he told the New York Times, was 'the best of the best'.

A gifted linguist, he speaks Thai, Burmese and Chinese, and was the only member of the Wild Boars soccer team to be able to communicate with the British divers who found them after a 10-day search.

Compassion InternationalThe soccer field where the boys practise at Baag Jong Church was used as a base of operations for the Air Force. The church provided accommodation and food for the Air Force team.

Interviewed by Compassion while the boys were still underground, Adul's mother said: 'Thank you so much for all prayers and all the encouragement. Thank you to God. I'm really thankful that they found my son and all 13 are alive.

'I'm so happy and so thankful to see my son again. Thank you so much to everyone that has been praying for us and the boys and helping us; thank you.'

Compassion said in a blog post: 'Let's continue to pray for the team and their coach as they begin their recovery process.'

 
 
 

Choosing your destiny

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Faith and Worry

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”
John 14:1–4
Toward the end of 1943, President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and Joseph Stalin were scheduled to meet in Tehran, Iran, to discuss strategy in the war against Germany. As the three leaders prepared for the trip, made even more dangerous by the ongoing war, Roosevelt wrote to Churchill and expressed some concern over the meeting location. He feared that Tehran was in range of German bombers, and they could be subject to attack. Churchill sent back this message: “See St. John chapter 14, verses 1 to 4.”
Those nine words, and the truth of the verses Churchill referenced, contain the cure for worry in any situation of life. Our faith is not that nothing will ever go wrong—Jesus spoke these words just hours before He was put to death on the cross—but that God is in control, and our eternal destiny is secure in Him. The more that we believe in God, the less we worry. Troubled hearts reveal that we are not trusting Him as we should.
The reminder that Jesus gave to His disciples just before the crucifixion was that there is more than this world in our future. The burdens and troubles and trials of life are real, but they are temporary. And the God who sees us through them has an eternity prepared for us. Nothing that anyone or anything in this world can do will change that. It is settled and secure according to the unfailing promise of Almighty God.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Worry vanishes when we remember that God is in control and we can trust Him.

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Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him… --Mark 10:21 I want to talk with you today about one of the most tragic pictures in Scripture. Jesus had just told the rich young ruler that he must sell all his possessions and give to the poor in order to follow him. The man went away brokenhearted because he was clearly unwilling to do what Jesus required. Do you know what Jesus did next? He did nothing. He didn’t cajole him and say, “Oh, come on back. I’m sure we can negotiate something.” He let the man go. This young man who had it all lost it all in an instant. He might have become a mighty preacher or used his wealth to the glory of God. He could have laid up treasures in heaven! But none of those things happened. Now you have a choice to make too. You can choose to follow Christ and to be with him forever or to be separated from him for eternity. Jesus will not force you to follow him, and he will not change the terms of salvation. You come to Jesus on his terms, or not at all! Right now Jesus is looking at you and loving you. And he invites you to turn loose of anything and everything that would keep you from following him. Pick up your cross. Follow him, trust him, believe him and receive him into your heart right now.   JESUS WILL NOT FORCE YOU TO FOLLOW HIM.

When passion saves lives

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“For wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” --Luke 12:34 Jesus has a way of getting right to the heart of our issues, doesn’t he? Think about the New Testament story when the rich young ruler asked Jesus how to find eternal life. Jesus told him, “Sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” Jesus knew exactly what was standing in this young man’s way of following him – his wealth and possessions. But the man rejected Jesus’ invitation. You see, there was a limit to the man’s interest in Jesus and Kingdom things. If it meant losing all his wealth, he didn't want to follow Jesus that much. In reality, he was an idolater; he loved his gold more than he loved God. He loved his possessions more than people because we learn that he wasn’t willing to get rid of his things in order to help the poor. Is there anything standing between you and eternity with Jesus? Maybe you don’t have an issue with money, but maybe you’re clinging to a sinful pleasure, a lifestyle, a behavior, or an attitude. Each of these things, and many others, can keep you and me from following Jesus…but not if we repent, turn from our selfishness, and follow Jesus. Let Jesus get to the heart of your issue and give you a new life.   IS THERE ANYTHING STANDING BETWEEN YOU AND ETERNITY WITH JESUS? “All the Adoration of My Heart” by Dr. Paul Chappell “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” Deuteronomy 10:12–13 When his evangelistic ministry took him to England, J. Wilbur Chapman was eager to meet with William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. Chapman sat and talked with the elderly man about his life and ministry, and then asked Booth why he had been able to accomplish so much for God’s kingdom. Booth replied, “I will tell you the secret. God has had all there was of me to have. There have been men with greater opportunities; but from the day I got the poor of London on my heart, and a vision of what Jesus Christ could do, I made up my mind that God would have all there was of William Booth. And if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army today, it is because God has had all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life.” The Christian who loves God with only part of his heart will never be willing to make the sacrifices and commitment necessary to do great things for Him. When Jesus met Peter after the resurrection, He did not berate the brash disciple for his denial. Instead He focused on the condition of Peter’s heart. “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs” (John 21:15).   Today’s Growth Principle:  If you love God as you should, no sacrifice will be too great to make for His service.

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The God Who Knows You

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.”
Psalm 139:1–5

I read about a little boy just four years old who had been working on memorizing the Lord’s Prayer. Week after week he heard it in church and said the words along with the adults. But as often happens, he didn’t quite grasp all the words. So one Sunday he joined in, saying, “Our Father which art in Heaven, I know You know my name.”
God does know our names. He knows everything about us down to the smallest details. Jesus said, “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7). The intimate knowledge that God has of us is a source of strength and comfort. It frees us from the fear that we have to make our way through this world alone. The same God who has the power to create all things has the knowledge of who we are and where we are and what we need.
There are more than seven billion people living on the Earth today. But that vast number is made up of individuals, each of whom is personally known to God by name. He does not look at us as a part of a mass of people, but as a single person worthy of His love and care. Only an infinite God is capable of such a deep level of involvement in the lives of so many people. That is the God we have—a God who knows and calls us by name.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

God is a loving Father who will never abandon or forsake or forget His children.

Best escapade =)

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Clean Inside and Out

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.”
Psalm 24:3–6

Today we look back on the life and ministry of Charles Haddon Spurgeon with great appreciation and respect, but during his lifetime he was frequently the target of bitter attacks. His uncompromising stand for truth never wavered, and many people criticized him for not trimming his message to better fit the prevailing opinions of the day. It is said he was threatened that if he did not stop preaching against certain sins his reputation would be ruined. Spurgeon replied, “Write all you know about me across the heavens.”
The only way we can make a statement like that is if we are living in close fellowship with God, not just in public but in private as well. When David wrote of the person who was able to enter God’s presence, he highlighted the importance of both inward and outward righteousness in the eyes of the Lord. It is not enough just to adhere to outward standards where our conduct can be seen by others. We must also be right and clean on the inside.
Praise God that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from every sin within, and the righteousness of Jesus is applied to our account before God. However, to grow in our relationship with God and to keep a right testimony before others, we must take care that we are living in such a way that our lives—private and public—are in accordance with the forgiveness God has already given us. We must not hide sin or disobedience within our hearts. The greatest dangers and temptations we face do not come from without, but from within.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

We will not long remain clean outwardly unless we first carefully guard our purity inwardly.

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Willing Workers

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.”
Nehemiah 4:6–9

Jack Barrymore, an early member of the noted acting dynasty, was a gifted performer, but was known for being extremely lazy even to the point of not caring for his personal hygiene or appearance. Barrymore was in San Francisco in 1906 when the great earthquake hit, and he took shelter in his hotel room bathtub from the aftershocks. When he finally went outside he was forced into a recovery crew by soldiers sent to help with the disaster recovery effort. After his safe return to New York City, a friend made this rather cutting observation: “It took a convulsion of nature to make Jack take a bath and the United States Army to make him go to work.”
The value of hard work may be disappearing from the culture around us, but it is no less important now than it always has been. The Christian who mopes and complains through his job is a poor testimony indeed. Instead we should view work as an opportunity for service to the King. No matter what the task assigned to us may be, it is worthy of our cheerful and diligent labor. It is only when God’s people join together and work with willing hearts and minds that we see truly great things accomplished for Him. Our attitude toward work matters a great deal.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

The labor that we do is ultimately for God, not for man, and deserves our cheerful and willing work.

A Father's Wisdom