PERMANENT UNQUESTIONABLE IMPACT

2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

The life of a person who gives over his life to God for His will is a life that will have a permanent impact on the world. Our Lord Jesus taught us in Hebrews 10:7, “Then I said, 'Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God.” To this day, although he may not be physically among us, Jesus Christ still has an unparalleled impact on the lives of the faithful because all that mattered to Him was to do the will of His Father. Faithful believers need to take the time to share the Word of God accurately with the unsaved and then put sincere effort into living right to bring a permanent impact upon the world. What is your impact on the community, region, country and globe going to be? Trust in Christ and you'll be sure to find out.

IF YOU DIED TODAY, HOW WILL YOU BE REMEMBERED?

Ecclesiastes 2:21

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 is all about the misfortunes of success. You might gain and control a massive amount of wealth, but at the end of the day you can’t take anything with you to the grave. All worldly possessions become meaningless unless you leave a legacy that turns misfortune into fortune. Jesus taught us in Matthew 16:26, “And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Leave a behind a legacy that makes people remember how God moved in your life. Leave behind a legacy that can be used to bring people to Jesus Christ. If today was your last day on earth, how would everyone remember you? What would your legacy be?

YOU HAVE A SECRET POWER

1 Corinthians 2:7

No, the wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of God, which was hidden in former times, though he made it for our benefit before the world began.

The greatest privilege given to us by God is the revelation of His wisdom. Matthew 11:25 says, “Jesus prayed this prayer: ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike.’” He also said in Mark 10:15, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." The secret has already been revealed to those who have a childlike faith. The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 1:4, “Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” Are you engaging your relationship with God with a childlike faith? If you are, you've already seen what God's power looks like in your life.

UNLIMITED INNER STRENGTH

Ephesians 3:16

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.

When critical decision making is required and you don’t know what's right or wrong, your inner strength needs to overcome your physical strength. When temptation comes upon you, rely on the inner strength given to you by the sweet Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity. Roman 8:6 teaches us that, “If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.” You can’t really successfully control your own life because your own personal strength will ultimately allow sin to exist in your life. However, if you let the Holy Spirit be your mighty inner strength, your body becomes a living and breathing temple of strength through the Holy Spirit. Which do you find yourself exerting more throughout your day, your inner strength or your physical strength?

BE PATIENT AND PERSISTENT

2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

Mature and responsible people work whether they like it or not. They go to school and study whether they like it or not. There’s a story about a preacher who had an urge to preach in a church building with no congregants in the pews and he preached as if the place was filled with people. Many years later, he was approached by a man who said to him, “Sir, a sermon of yours saved my life.” The preacher asked, “How so?” The man replied, “I was passing your building one day and hearing a voice, I stood and listened from the outside. I was an ex-convict and in despair, but that day I received the Lord after I listened to you.” Keep preaching the Word because you never know who might be listening, learning and changing the direction of their lives. Just as with all good things that take time, be patient and persistent.

WHO CAN YOU TRUST?

2 Timothy 3:14

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.

As you journey through the different levels of academic study, you'll find yourself bombarded by different philosophies, points of views and thought patterns. Generally, these things consist of humanity's attempt to find solutions to improve life. What's ironic is that the Bible has already achieved that goal. When times are unclear, force yourself to remember the truths learned from the teachings of the Word of God, the only absolute teaching that could transform lives completely for the better. Learn from it, share from it and then change the world around you with wisdom garnered from it. As we're taught in 2 Timothy 3:14, "remain faithful to the things you have been taught." The answer to Who can you trust? is easy. Trust the Lord and Savior that has been graciously faithful to you even when you actually deserved no good favor at all. Let your trust be active in Jesus because He can change your life.

COULD YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING?

John 21:15

After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.

"Do you love me?" Three times the Lord Jesus asked Peter this question, and Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, I love you more than these.” Now, Peter was not a regular fisherman. He had boats, nets and servants, making him more of a commercial fisherman and he likely had everything a common man could desire during Jesus' time. The Lord asked him the same question three times because Peter would have to abandon all his worldly possessions and leave behind everything gained via business to follow Jesus. When Jesus asked these questions, He had already been resurrected from the dead and had proven His power to conquer death. The greatest message that needed to be preached was already before Peter, and Jesus was really telling him how important it is for people to hear God’s message. Make God’s values your own values. Make what’s important to Him, important to you.

WHY MAKE SUCH A BIG DEAL ABOUT THIS?

Job 7:17

What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention?

What's so great about man that should require God’s full attention, and that He should have sent His only Son to die on the cross to save man? What makes us so important to God? The answer is simple: God owns you and created you in His image and likeness. There is something in you that belongs to God according to Genesis 2:7 where the Word teaches us, “And the Lord God formed a man's body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And the man became a living person.” Nothing else in God’s creation was given the breath of God except for man. This makes us unique and special to Him. It isn't your appearance, money, possessions, achievements, fame or popularity that would make you important to God, but that breath which is in you that belongs to Him. That's the big deal.

MAKE YOUR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS DISAPPEAR

2 Corinthians 8:9

You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was. Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ was sent from heaven because of God's gracious love. In John 6:38 Jesus teaches us, “For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.” He left heaven’s glory where streets are pure gold and the gates are made of pearl, to live on earth becoming poor so that those who would receive Him could become children of God and heirs to heaven's glory. Now that kind of inheritance would make a person very blessed and wealthy indeed. Wouldn't it great to make all of your financial problems disappear? You actually can, and it all begins with Jesus Christ and your relationship with Him.

MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES

Daniel 6:20

When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"

The book of Daniel teaches us about people who were envious of Daniel’s relationship with King Darius, that jealously conspired and spun an evil scenario that would force the king to sentence the respected prophet to death in a lions' den. What those conspirators failed to understand was that Daniel belonged to and worked for God. Under God’s authority and protection, the lions' den became Daniel’s den with the lions as Daniel's tamed visitors. Inside Daniel’s den, the lions came under God’s authority and those that worked for God were given rule over the beasts. Working for God obviously offers some very serious perks and privileges – if, and only if, you have Daniel’s kind of faith. So what kind of faith do you have?

NOTHING BUT A FILTHY RAG

Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

As Christians, our righteousness isn’t a result of our own good deeds since even with our best behavior according to Isaiah 64:6, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags.” The rags mentioned in this verse are actually the clothing used by lepers to wrap their bloody and pus-filled wounds. It’s because of God’s love that His Son was sent to heal us from our unrighteousness, allowing us back into God’s sight and at peace with Him. The peace that we now have, we only have because of Christ.

YOU CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING WITH YOU

1 Corinthians 7:31

Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away.

The Word of God teaches us how to have the right attitude about our valuable possessions and our feelings about them. Because our time and energy typically becomes focused while gaining possessions, these items often carry sentimental and unreasonable value. Some items may symbolize achievements (diplomas) or special events (trophies, rings). The Bible teaches us, however, to avoid becoming attached to our earthly possessions because earthly things will eventually pass away. God gives His children everything needed, but we have to be careful to not fall in love with the blessings, but rather to fall in love with the One that blesses because when world passes away, these possessions will be gone. Do you find yourself sometimes attached to things of the world? Just remember the One that provided those blessings to you and the gift of salvation He's giving you by grace.

LAZY LAZY LAZY

Proverbs 6:6

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise!

There’s a story I’d read about a girl who made Jesus her Lord and Savior. Her parents ridiculed her for the decision and they did their best to get her to renounce her faith in Christ. She remained faithful and told them, “By God’s grace I’ll never go back to my old life!” As time passed, her father noticed the change in her life and told her, “I guess it must be real because now you get up at six o’clock every morning to study the Bible. Before you were so lazy, we had trouble getting you out of bed!” King Solomon wrote about ants in Proverbs 6:7 telling us, “Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they work.” A person shouldn't have to be told or forced to get up and work, so don’t be lazy. Let your testimony on work ethics be a strong testimony of faith.

ROCK SOLID

2 Samuel 22:32

For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?

Edward Mote wrote the hymn “The Solid Rock” in 1836 and chorus runs like this: “On Christ the solid rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.” There’s very little in a person’s life that lasts forever because everything in our lives is in a constant state of change. You may be rich today and poor tomorrow, healthy today and sick tomorrow, alive today and dead in just a moment. Our Lord Jesus taught us in Matthew 7:24 that, "Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” Jesus is the only thing in your life that will last forever. Be wise and make sure that the rock solid Savior is the foundation of your life and heart's desires.

DISOBEDIENT PARENTS PRODUCE DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN

Ephesians 6:1

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.

Disobedient children exist because disobedient parents exist. God's very first instruction to parents was to teach their children to love God. If parents obeyed God's instruction, they would find their children in full obedience of their rules and requests. As children, we need to remember that our freedoms have boundaries and rules. I'd once read a funny story about a father and son where the son was turning 18 in a state where the curfew for minors was 11:00pm. The son told his father how happy he was that he could now stay out as late as he wanted. His father responded, “You can stay out as late as you want, but that car is under 18 and it has to be in the garage by 11:00pm.” Parents, you need to understand that if you obey the Lord, your children will learn to be obedient to the Lord and to you, as well. If your children aren't obeying you, and you want to find out why, you should probably begin by looking at your own relationship with God.

ARMED, READY AND WILLING

1 Peter 4:1

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you are willing to suffer for Christ, you have decided to stop sinning.

The harsh reality of life is that suffering is real and expected. Even God dealt with suffering when He took the form of a man in Jesus Christ and was beaten, humiliated and crucified for the sin's of the world. There’s an old tale about a king that was suffering through a painful illness and as a cure for his ailment, he was advised to take a happy man's shirt and to wear it day and night. He sent royal messengers to search and retrieve a happy man from the kingdom. Months passed, and after a thorough search the messengers returned with neither a happy man or his shirt. One day the king asked his messengers, “What did you find?” They replied, “O king, we found one such man, just one in the kingdom!” The king then asked “Then why did you not bring back his shirt?” One messenger quietly replied as he looked down, “Master, the man had no shirt.” You see, even in the darkest times of suffering one can still be content. As Christians, we need to be armed, ready and willing for suffering during our walk with Christ and it’s with the attitude of Jesus that we will be able to withstand the pain. Are you personally prepared?

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

Job 6:10

At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Job may have experienced some of the worst pain – mentally, physically or emotionally– ever experienced by a man. There will be times that Christians will go through discomforts while walking the Christian walk and some of those discomforts will even be caused by the people around us. Worse yet, there will be times when your pains will even caused by Christians. The Word of God teaches us in Philippians 2:3, “Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.” A spiritually mature person is comfortable in uncomfortable situations – just like Job. How comfortable are you in uncomfortable situations?

A WINNER'S ATTITUDE

Philippians 2:5

Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.

Firmin Abautiz was an elderly man known for being calm and never losing his temper. His temperament was so well-known that some would even intentionally try to provoke Abautiz. In one instance, his housekeeper intentionally neglected to make the beds. The next morning, Abautiz reminded her to make the beds, but the housekeeper claimed to have "forgotten" the task and nothing more was said between the two. For two more days, she continued to avoid the beds, and for two days she was reminded daily, and for two days she provided similar excuses. On the third day, Abautiz said to her, “You have not yet made my bed, but it is evident you are determined to do it. Well, I suppose you find the job troublesome. It’s of little consequence though because I’ve already become comfortable with the unmade beds.” Certain things are beyond our control because each person is allowed the freewill to choose and make decisions. Instead of losing the joy of life because of difficult situations, try to gain the joy of life by having a Christ-like winning attitude.

A GOOD PLAN AND A GOOD ATTITUDE

Psalm 118:25-26

O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

Psalm 118:25-26 is meant to be sung as one's begging of God for success. The same exact song was sung many years later by the masses when Jesus entered Jerusalem in Matthew 21:9, “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest!’” Hosanna in it's truest and most sincere translation means “God save us”. In life, we must realize that true success only comes through Almighty God, our Lord Jesus Christ. If you have the right attitude toward God and His plan for your life, you'll find success and blessings upon your life. Have you entrusted the successes of your life and endeavors to God? If not, what's holding you back?

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

Ephesians 4:32

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Isn't it beautiful to see when people are kind, tenderhearted and forgiving of each other? Maria Feodormena, the wife of the Russian Emperor Alexander III, once saw a letter signed by her husband that denied a pardon for a condemned man. The letter read as follows: “Pardon impossible, to be sent to Siberia.” The empress edited the note and moved the comma a tiny bit so that it read: “Pardon, impossible to be sent to Siberia.” That act of kindness spared a condemned man’s life and later that man was freed. Christian brothers and sisters, we need to be kind to each other because the long term effects of kindness are immeasurable beyond generations. What was your last random act of kindness?

MURDERED BECAUSE OF ENVY

Genesis 4:9

Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"

When envy and selfishness reign, death will no doubt soon follow after. However, when love and compassion are lived out, an abundant life will begin to blossom. Cain chose envy and selfishness over love and compassion. Had he chosen to love his brother instead of succumbing to his fleshly desires, he would have found life with Abel to be fruitful. Thomas S. Stewart was a blind law student at McGill. His brother, William, became his eyes and ears throughout every different phase of Thomas' collegiate life. Thomas graduated as the Valedictorian of his class, while William finished as the Salutatorian. Their story is a testament to how two can work together to achieve greatness when envy and selfishness are put to the side. Just imagine what could be accomplished if every believer would put aside his or her envy and selfishness. Just imagine what your life would be like if you would put aside your own envy and selfishness. Just imagine what that would be like.

DON'T LORD OVER OTHERS

1 Peter 5:3

Don't lord over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your good example.

Every Christian is a leader, particularly to those who don’t know the way or are new to the body of Christ. In Luke 6:39 Jesus gave the following illustration: "What good is it for one blind person to lead another? The first one will fall into a ditch and pull the other down also.” As a Christian, you've been commissioned by the Word of God to lead people living in darkness to God’s marvelous light and one of the best ways to achieve this is to lead by being a good example. Don't lord over people with orders and demands on how to have a good Christian walk. 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.” Your good example can lead the lost to salvation in Christ. Can you think of a time when your good example had an impact on someone who was lost? Can you think of a time when your bad example yielded regrettable results?

THE ENDURANCE TEST

James 1:12

God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Companies and institutions reward their employees with bonuses for good performances. Similarly, students who patiently study and pass the exams are rewarded with their deserved grades when their classes are completed. All of this is a reward pattern that has been taken from the very Word of God for His faithful children. Jesus said in Matthew 7:11, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Be faithful and obedient to the Word, perform the tasks given to you, pass the exams of life and at the end of your journey Christ will have a crown waiting for you as a reward.

YOUR TROUBLES WILL SOON BE OVER

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

Throughout life, it's guaranteed that we will have problems and turbulent times, but according to the Word of God those moments will be short-lived happenings that are for our benefit and growth. You just have to look at life through the spiritual eyes given to us by our spiritual Father. Jesus taught us in John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Our biggest enemy has already been overcome and defeated. Jesus is already victorious and we are on His side. Have you ever felt completely overcome while dealing with problems and trials? Take heart, Jesus has overcome and He's on your side.

YOUR SHAMEFUL DEEDS WILL HAUNT YOU

Psalm 51:2-4

Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my shameful deeds — they haunt me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

When we backslide and turn away from the right path, God still gives us His right and fair judgment. That judgment may hurt and we may even temporarily lose the comfortable peace, joy and happiness that He wants for us. The best remedy to regain His blessings is to recognize one’s mistakes and humbly come to the throne of God’s grace. Ask for cleansing from sin and for His forgiveness, and you’ll be off to a good start. After all, His judgment is justified.