Standing Up for Jesus (Daniel 3:16-18)
 
Daniel 3:16-18, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
 
Frank Luke Jr. was born on 19th of May 1897 and died on 29th September 1918. Luke served in the us air force as a fighter ace pilot in World War I, who was a Medal of Honor recipient. Following the United States' entry into World War I in April 1917, Frank enlisted in the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps on September 25, 1917. After being commissioned as a second lieutenant in March 1918, he deployed to France and was assigned to the 27th Aero Squadron. The 27th was under orders to destroy German observation balloons. Because of this, Luke, along with his close friend Lt. Joseph Frank Wehner, continually volunteered to attack these important targets although they were heavily defended by anti-aircraft guns on the ground. The two pilots began a string of victories together, with Luke assaulting the balloons and Wehner as his wingman.  
 
Between Sept 12 and Sept 29, Luke was credited with shooting down 14 German balloons and 4 airplanes. Luke achieved 18 victories in 8 days, a feat unsurpassed by any pilot in World War I. He passed away after a crash landing behind enemy lines on September 29, 1918.  
 
Frank was credited with 19 aerial victories, ranking him 2nd among United States Army Air Service pilots after Captain Eddie Rickenbacker. He was the first airman to receive the Medal of Honor and the first USAAS ace in day. Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, a United States Air Force pilot training installation since World War II, is named in his honor. 
 
Sometimes the occasion to take a stand for God and His glory is all of a sudden on top of us. In those moments, how can we stand in the face of such opposition? In the words of three young Jewish men who were being held captive in a foreign land, under the rule of a pagan king, faced with the opportunity to deny their faith and worship a cultural idol, we find the principles of standing for righteousness. 
 
Place your faith in the sovereignty and strength of God.
First, we see that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood the fear of God vs. the fear of man. They were convinced that God was more powerful than any man who would oppose them. Simply put, they placed their faith in the sovereignty of Almighty God! God is able to control any person, any situation, any problem, in any way He sees fit. God is sovereign!
 
Place your faith in the knowledge that God knows your situation and will defend His glory! Second, we see that these three men were confident that God is active and moving in their situation and is able to do what He chooses in regard to it. Their trust was not only in the sovereignty and strength of their God, but also in the knowledge and personal interest of God in their situation. They placed their faith in the character of God to defend His own glory and name . . . and them if He chose to do so.
 
Boldly take your stand for God!
Third, we see that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made their stand in no uncertain terms. Daniel 3:18, But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. I love that! No turning back. No possibility of compromising. The line is firmly drawn. I take my stand for God alone!
 
In the end, the fiery furnace did await them but the miracle that occurred only served to highlight the sovereignty of God and His interest in defending His glory and His children. The result was a national testimony for God in Daniel 3:24-30, Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
 
You may find yourself needing to take a stand for God without anyone else to help you, but as you stand, you will find that God is there standing with you. You are never truly alone as a child of God. Whatever He has called you to do can be accomplished through His Spirit and His power. Take a stand for God today!
 
Questions to Consider:
Do I realize that trials are just ways for the Lord to display His glory through my willingness to take a stand?
What is my typical response to a trial? Do I follow the three principles listed above?
 
Prayer: Almighty Father, thank You that You are always sovereign and in control. Help me to see that my life is simply a way for You to display Your glory to an unbelieving world. Forgive me for fearing what I should be turning over to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
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Stop Making Excuses (Nehemiah 4:1-14)
 
Nehemiah 4:1-10, But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their  stone wall.4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: 5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. 6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. 7 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,  8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. 11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. 12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. 13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
 
Peter Malam Brother was born on 30th of September 1917 and died on 18th December 2008. Brother served in the U.K. Royal Airforce in the Air Commadore during World War II. While on patrol in August 1940, Acting Flight Lieutenant Peter Brothers' flight of eight aircraft came into contact with around 100 Luftwaffe bombers. Despite being so heavily outnumbered, Brothers did not hesitate to immediately lead in his fight against the enemy. But before he could attack, he was fired at by a number of Messerschmitts (German airplanes). Brothers kept his cool and turned to face them. He found himself in a stalled position and had to use all his skill to spin out of it and recover. He then sighted a Dornier 215 bomber, quickly targeted it, and shot the bomber down. Later on, during the same say, Brothers would also destroy a Messerschmitt Bf 109. Peter Brothers was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for these actions on 13 September 1940. By the time of the Battle of Britain, Brothers was an experienced RAF pilot. His outstanding leadership skills were a huge asset during those intense months. He led by example and did all he could to boost the morale of his men and, in particular, new pilots. Later in the war he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for these actions on 13 September 1940 DSO for his courage and brilliant leadership.
 
The job that Nehemiah took on of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was vital to the safety and future of the people. A city without walls had no means of defending itself from even minor attacks. So Nehemiah left his high position in the palace of the Persian Empire and made his way back to Jerusalem to take on the task. Not everyone was pleased at his arrival. In Nehemiah 2:10, When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. These men tried everything they could to hinder the work.
 
When Nehemiah was informed that his enemies planned an attack, he responded in a way that is a great example for us. As the old saying goes, “Pray like it all depends on God and work like it all depends on you.” Nehemiah sought for God's help, but he also set up a guard schedule and posted sentries to look out for danger.
 
There will always be some reason why it seems like the work of God cannot be done.  Judah makes excuses about why they are not able to build the wall.  They say that the bearers of burdens are too tired and weak and that there is too much rubbish around.  The others, however, did not use tiredness or too much rubbish as a excuse for why they were not building.  They just got on with the job.
 
Don’t be surprised if you face these same kinds of problems: taunts and attacks, efforts to spread fear and discouragement, mockery and insults, temptations and trials. Don’t be shocked by conspiracies from people desiring to entice you from God’s path and cause you to embrace errors and become confused. Instead of being discouraged or distracted by this opposition, surrender your life to God and be a person of prayer. Be filled with His Word and the power of His Spirit. Be ready to engage in spiritual warfare and don’t let the devil have even the smallest victory. Persevere!
 
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.
 
We each react in different ways to opposition. But Nehemiah’s example helps us remember to keep on task and to trust God, even when the going gets tough. Remember these four points when you face trouble. There is so much potential for fear; fear that we made the wrong choice, that we heard You wrong, that those who ridicule us are right. Lord, we need to hear and recognize Your voice. We can face anything if You are with us.
 
I wonder what excuses you and I use for why we are not doing what we should be doing.  Everyone has an excuse for what is happening in their life and why it can’t be done.  Instead of making excuses we should be making prayers to God, believing Him for great and mighty things, and attempting great things for God! There may be some legitimate difficulties in your life, but the power of God is far greater than any excuses you may face.  With men many things are impossible, but with God all things are possible.
 
Points to Ponder:
The labor that we do is ultimately for God, not for man, and deserves our cheerful and willing work.
Faith in God leads to more action on our part, not laziness that expects Him to do all the work.
 
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me complete the work You’ve given me to do with boldness and determination. Thank You for Your call on my life! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
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​Keep Your Windows Clean (Mattthew 7:1-5)
 
Matthew 7:1-5, Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
 
There was an older couple who watched their neighbor every morning through their window. As the younger neighbor hung her clothes out to dry on the line the elderly woman noticed how dirty the clothes looked and commented to her husband about the filthy garments. The next morning the same thing happened. As they sat at their kitchen table, they ate breakfast and talked negatively about the dirty clothes of the neighbor. This went on for several weeks.
 
One morning however, they woke up and looked out the window; much to the elderly woman’s surprise she said, “Honey, look there! Her laundry looks so much better. Someone must have taught that poor lady how to clean those clothes properly.” Her husband replied, “No Dear, I just got up earlier today and washed our windows!”
 
It is much easier to see the dirty laundry of other people when we fail to notice the dirty windows of our own lives. It is a very dangerous thing to be judgmental. Jesus said in Matthew 7:3, And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?. I have learned in my own life – when I spend more time trying to fix myself, I spend less time trying to fix others. Keep the windows clean, and you’ll not see the dirty laundry!
 
Yet every day we are judged and we judge others. Everything from hairstyles to child rearing to financial decisions can cause raised eyebrows and cynical glances. People are by nature judgmental, but does that make it okay? Do we need to communicate every assessment that pops into our heads? 
 
But while it is easy for us to focus more on others' shortcomings than our own, it's not helpful. Looking at our own faults and failures requires a great deal of humility and honesty. But only when we do that first can we possibly be a position to help someone else. One of the most prominent characteristics of this critical, fault-finding, judgmental person is that he predictably focuses on things that are of little importance and treats them as matters of vital importance. When our own sin is forgiven, cleansed, and repented of, and when the log is taken out of our own eye, then we will see our brother’s sin clearly and be able to help him get victory in his own life. We will then see everything clearly.
 
In growing our relationships with fellow believers, we are called to encourage, counsel, and exhort them toward godliness, which seems to include the need to judge their behavior. Fortunately, we can count on Jesus to clearly outline how to judge in the right way.
 
Before we judge someone else we must first examine our own life first. The criticizer fails to examine himself. He is inconsistent in his judgment. The word "beholdest" has the idea of continuing to look. Too often we continue to look at the failures of others: we continue to gossip, criticize, and revel forever in the bad news. When we judge and criticize, we reveal a very serious problem: we have a beam in our eye. We are blind to the truth of our own nature. We too fail, and we fail often. Therefore, we must do away with our own critical spirit. An old poem puts it this way: There is so much good in the worst of us. And so much bad in the best of us; That it hardly behooves any of us. To talk about the rest of us.
 
Although the criticizer feels he is just to just, the criticizer is not fit to judge. He is as sinful as the next person, yet he is not considering his own sin. He feels free to be critical of those who come short and fail, yet he does not look at himself. He condemns others, yet he justifies himself. Notice: God justifies neither the criticizer not the sinner. The criticizer is the weaker of the two. It is the weak who judge and criticize the most. They have a great need to boost self over others in order to feel good about themselves. The criticizer does not examine himself. Self-examination hurts, so few of us do it. Yet God says in I Corinthians 11:31, For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
 
We are not ready to judge until we have carefully examined our own lives. It is not possible to be perfectly blameless, but when we do sin we must confront it, deal with it, and not repeat it. Confess and clean your slate. It is in that type of blamelessness that we are able to rightly judge one another. Blaming others or focusing on their faults keeps us from dealing with the things in our life that we can and should fix.
 
Questions to Consider:
So the next time you feel the urge to judge someone, be sure to check your motives.
Have you dealt with your critical spirit?
What about your own shortcomings?
 
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are so good to have such patience with me, a sinner who needs You desperately. my pride seems to lurk around every corner! Forgive me for my critical attitude. Forgive me when I tear down others rather than look in the mirror and correct my own issues. Help me to always know deep in my soul that I am no different with regard to sin than any other human on this planet; in need of forgiveness. Let me always see the sin in myself first, and with your eyes only, see the sin in others after. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
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Lot Lost a Lot (II Peter 2:7-8)
 
II Peter 2:7-8, And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
 
A key characteristic of people who are truly right with God and completely devoted to living by his principles and standard is that they love righteousness and hate wickedness (Hebrews 1:9). Their souls are distressed and grieved by the sin, immorality and ungodliness in the world. Lot was a saved man. The Bible tells us in II Peter 2:7-8 that he was a “just or righteous man” whose soul was vexed by the sin around him. And yet, Lot fell into some of the most tragic and miserable sin recorded in Scripture. He lost his family, his testimony, and his legacy. How did this happen? And how can we avoid the same spiritual collapse? Lot’s story offers us powerful answers.
 
He had everything a man could ever want: a loving family, an abundance of possessions, a good name, and a personal relationship with God; but He traded it all away because of his love for the world. I am not talking about the latest televangelist who was caught in a scandal; I am referring to the nephew of Israel’s great patriarch: Lot. Lot jeopardized all the blessings of God with an insatiable hunger for worldliness.  Peter says that Lot vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds. The word vexed means "tormented and distressed." It carries the idea of being weighed down and wore out. Lot was tormented and distressed by the overwhelming depravity all around him. He should have never went to Sodom, but certainly he should have left as soon as he saw the wickedness. He did not leave. Like many of God's people of today, Lot kept his mouth shut and blended in with the world. Lot paid a big price for his disobedience. It cost him his walk with God. He lost his family to the world. He lost his wife. Even his daughters who came out with him brought the philosophies and practices of Sodom with them. If Abraham hadn't interceded for him, Lot would have died with the sodomites. When God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot lingered.  Listen to what Peter had to say about Lot’s carnality in II Peter 2:7-8, And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) God’s deliverance was not based on any merit of Lot, but it was based on the fact that he was a child of God.
 
Lot had a righteous soul. Lot was a saved man. He never got involved in the wicked practices of the Sodomites, but he did tolerate it though he was repulsed by it. It weighed him down and wore him out, but he stayed there. Remember that it was largely a financial decision that landed him there. But Lot, nevertheless, was a righteous man. He wasn't righteous because of his actions, but because of his faith. He had a righteous standing before God. I am thankful that as believers our sins are gone and we have the imputed righteousness of Christ. What a security!
 
Lot was a believer, but he is one who had a very poor testimony in this world. Lot loved the praise of men and the things of this world more than God (John 12:42-43; I John 2:15). Not only did Lot dwell among the world, He delighted in the world.  As a result, Lot lost a lot.  Sure, Lot himself was saved, but he lost his livelihood; he took nothing with him out of the city.  He lost his loved one; Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt.  He lost his legacy; his daughters tricked him into having sex with them, and they bore two sons by their own father.  He escaped the destruction of the city but he was not altogether spared.  Love not the world, neither the things in the world, you just might lose a Lot! What a warning for our day. God will not spare apostate false teachers. He did not spare the apostates before the flood and He will not spare apostates after the flood. God did not withhold His judgment.
 
The Right Companions:
Lot began his journey well. He walked alongside his uncle Abraham, who was called in James 2:23, … the Friend of God. When Abraham stepped out in faith, Lot followed. Their companionship had a spiritual effect on Lot, at least temporarily. Proverbs 13:20, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Throughout Scripture, we see how godly friendships shape godly lives: Joshua and Caleb, Jonathan and David, Elisha and Elijah, Timothy and Paul, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Daniel. These relationships provided examples to follow, encouragement to do right, and accountability to stay the course. So ask yourself: Who are my Abrahams? Are you surrounding yourself with those who will point you toward God or toward compromise? “You are or soon will be who your friends are.” 
 
The Right Commitments:
Abraham was called God’s friend because he obeyed God’s commands (John 15:14). He had a personal, living, daily walk with the Lord. Lot, however, was familiar with Abraham’s walk, not his own. Lot had a borrowed faith. He thrived when he was near his godly mentor, but when separation came, his spiritual foundation crumbled. Genesis 13:9, Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. When Lot separated from Abraham, it became clear that he had been drawing power from Abraham’s relationship, not from God Himself
 
The Right Choices:
Life eventually separates us from our spiritual support systems. Children grow up and leave home. Pastors retire or are called elsewhere. Faithful friends move away. If our faith is only borrowed, we will falter. We must become friends of God ourselves. Lot didn’t have what Joseph had in Egypt: a personal reverence for God that said in Genesis 39:9, “how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Nor did he have Daniel’s resolve, who purposed in his heart not to defile himself (Daniel 1:8). Jeremiah, even when tempted to quit, confessed that God’s Word was like a burning fire shut up in his bones (Jeremiah 20:9). Their faith was real, active, and unshaken by separation. Lot’s downfall was not a sudden collapse but the slow unraveling of a borrowed spirituality. He failed because he never developed his own walk with God. He knew of Abraham’s faith, but not the God of Abraham. Don’t make the same mistake. Be thankful for the Abrahams in your life, but don’t rely solely on them. Develop your own daily walk. Be a friend of God. Build your own altar. Worship the Lord for yourself.
 
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Exercise to be Holy (I Timothy 4:7)
 
I Timothy 4:7, But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
 
It is amazing what we will do to avoid exercise. Physical assertion is not on top of the “to do list” for many. I heard about this company that posted this on their bulletin board: “This firm requires no physical fitness program. Everyone gets enough exercise jumping to conclusions, flying off the handle, running down the boss, knifing friends in the back, dodging responsibility, and pushing their luck.” Thanks the management. In I Timothy 4:7 Paul specifically tells Timothy that their must be exercise daily if we are going to walk with Jesus and influence this world for Him.
 
Paul gives Timothy some clear instruction about exercise. This is not a suggestion or a recommendation, but a commandment to everyone who follows after Jesus Christ. Exercise: (gumnazo) means “to train, to discipline. The word speaks of the rigorous, strenuous, and self-sacrificing training an athlete undergoes. The present tense of the verb tells us that this was to be Timothy’s constant pursuit. This is what Dr. Ted Traylor calls the formation of Godliness. He says, “In the formation of Godliness we must work out, we must look up, and we must bear down.” There’s nothing wrong with bodily exercise, but our ultimate goal daily is not only to maintain, but build upon and build up our spiritual man. Some are diligent in bodily exercise, but give no work at spiritual exercise.
 
I heard about this executive who was just buttoning up his coat after a physical examination. He said, “Doctor, if there is anything wrong with me, don’t try to hoodwink me by giving me a long scientific name. Just tell me in plain English what’s wrong with me.” The doctor said, “Well, to be perfectly frank, you are just plain lazy and need more exercise.” The executive said, “Thanks, doctor. Now please give me the scientific name, so I can tell the people at the office.” Some people are lazy physically, but more than that they are lazy spiritually.
 
Some Christians never exercise and work out by spending time in prayer, Bible study, or service for the King. We are commanded to exercise, but not just any exercise. We are commanded to exercise toward godliness. Godliness: (Eusebeia) this is a compound word in the Greek language. The word “eu” which means “well” and the word “sebomai” which means “to be devout, piety, godliness, holiness.”
 
I Corinthians 9:24-27, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
 
Trusting in Jesus will bring you blessing from heaven and berating from hell. Paul gives Timothy some direct instruction about exercise toward godliness. We should all daily be growing in our faith, in the likeness of the Son of God, in our love for the word of God, in our obedience to God, in our service for God, in our witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Warren Wiersbe said, “When I see high school football squads and baseball teams going through their calisthenics under the hot summer sun, I am reminded that there are spiritual exercises that I ought to be doing. Prayer, meditation, self-examination, fellowship, service, sacrifice, submission to the will of others, witness—all of these can assist me, through the Spirit, to become a more godly person.”
 
When the apostle Paul wrote Timothy, he instructed his young protégé to “exercise thyself rather unto godliness” (I Timothy 4:7). Paul was familiar with the Olympics of his day, and referred to the games quite often in his writings. But instead of training the body, Paul taught Timothy to train the spirit. He was to exercise his life in a direction of godliness.
 
It is a fact that bodily exercise is good for the body. Bodily exercise or physical training is good. Exercise: We get our English word for gymnasium from this Greek word. At the gym we go to work out and get in shape. Paul tells us that bodily exercise profits a little. Profits: ophelimos, o-fel'-ee-mos; helpful or serviceable, i.e. advantageous:-profit (-able) useful. Physical exercise profits a little, for a little while, but godliness is profitable for all things and affects us for all eternity. It is good to work out and be in physical shape, but if we waste our life trying to build the physical man to the neglect of our spiritual life we have done a great dis-service to ourselves. Promise: epaggelia, ep-ang-el-ee'-ah; an announcement (for information, assent or pledge; especially a divine assurance of good), message, promise.
 
It’s been said that training to be holy is very different from trying to be holy. Trying to be holy doesn’t work, training does. To exercise godliness you must be deliberate. One does not “accidentally” work-out.  No one mistakenly lifts weights or jogs three miles. The same principle holds true when it comes to our spirituality.
 
To be godly we must train ourselves. We must have an intentional program, a set of core values and a strong will to live within the parameters of the Word of God. We must stick to a daily regime of prayer, meditation, and spiritual disciplines. Horatius Bonar stated, “Holiness is not measured by one great heroic act of mighty martyrdom…it is the small things that a holy life is made of.” We grow strong spiritually the same way we grow strong physically, by exercising a little every day.
 
Paul tells Timothy that godliness is profitable in this life and in the life to come. It has profit in all things at all times. We can be assured that when we live for Jesus that we are not wasting our time or our talents. I Corinthians 15:58,  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
 
We have a promise for this life and for the life to come. H.A. Ironside said, “Do not neglect your soul as you care for your body. Do not be so much concerned about bodily exercise that you fail to take plenty of time over the word of God and in prayer that you may be strong, healthy Christians, whose lives will bring the approval of the blessed Lord at His judgment seat.” We are exhorted to live here and now for the then and there. We must live in light of eternity!
 
Spending daily time in the Word and committing Scripture to memory is as key to gaining spiritual muscles as daily weight-lifting is to gaining physical muscle. The past few weeks, we’ve also studied the importance of the spiritual disciple of prayer. Through spiritual exercises, God transforms us and renews our minds. Day by day, He works through those practices to make us more like Him.


If we want to get stronger spiritually, we know what we have to do. We have to train for godliness. Building spiritual muscle helps us endure whatever this life throws at us and equips us to share this hope with others! Even better, spiritual exercise is an investment with eternal reward.  
 
Points to Ponder:
We are to be growing!
Strong faith is built, one faithful step at a time.
Spiritually exercise will develop you into a stronger, more resilient believer?
 
Questions to Consider:
Are you growing?
Are you closer to Jesus today than you were last year, last month, last week, or last night?
What is the single most difficult issue you are facing in life right now?
How are you responding to the challenges in your life?
 
PRAYER: Lord, I want to strengthen my faith in You. Help me be disciplined and self-controlled so that I can be dedicated to training for godliness. I want to keep growing and learning. Help me to identify areas of my life that I can swap out other activities for time spent training for godliness. Help me be disciplined and give me wisdom to make healthier spiritual choices. Day by day, I want to be more like You. You are the goal and prize. In Jesus Name, Amen.
 
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​Burn Your Plow (I Kings 19:19-21)
 
I Kings 19:19-21, So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
 
As Elijah journeyed, he came upon Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who had twelve separate plows being pulled by twelve yoke of oxen. When Elijah came to the one Elisha was using, he cast his mantle upon him.
 
Elisha understood the significance of what Elijah had done. He had not only called him ‘into the ministry’ but had tapped him to be his successor. Therefore, Elisha asked leave to bid farewell to his parents. Elijah in effect said, if that be case, go back to plowing. He in effect asked, do you not realize what I have done to you? God has called you to be my successor.
 
It seems that Elisha did in fact bid farewell to his parents and then returned to Elijah. He then butchered one of the yoke of oxen, cooked its meat, and gave to perhaps his servants and family who came to honor his departure. He then departed with Elijah, becoming his servant and a student of the great prophet whom God had so mightily used.
 
Elisha's name means "God has salvation." Elijah didn't say a word to the young man but merely cast his mantle (outer garment) over him to indicate that the Lord had called him to serve the prophet and then be his successor. Elisha and his family were part of that "remnant of grace" that God had set apart for Himself. No matter how bleak the days may seem, God has His people and knows when to call them.
 
There was Elijah's call to Elisha demanded surrender and obedience to the Lord. Elijah left Mt. Sinai and struck out to pursue the new mission God had given him. He went to Elisha to issue the most important call assigned him, the call of his replacement. When he found Elisha, the young man was not idle but, rather, working hard in the fields plowing.
 
Elijah, the prophet of Israel walked by Elisha, the young farm boy, and unexpectedly threw his mantle around Elisha, while he was working. Elisha chased after his newfound mentor and began ministering to him. Throwing the mantle around the shoulders of a person was a symbol of God's call. In this case, it was a symbol that the young man was to be Elijah's successor, that he was being chosen to bear the mission of the prophet.
 
Responding immediately to God's call, Elisha ran after Elijah and requested time to say farewell to his father and mother (I Kings 19:20-21). Elijah granted him permission to say his farewells, but he strongly encouraged Elisha to consider God's call, not to change his mind (I Kings 19:20).
 
With permission granted, the young appointee returned briefly to his family to celebrate his appointment and departure with a final meal (I Kings 19:21). Note what else Elisha did: as a symbol of turning from his old life to a new life, he slaughtered his oxen and burned the plowing equipment. He was definitely breaking with his old life and beginning a new service for the Lord. Sitting down with his family and friends, he enjoyed a final meal with them. Then he set out to join Elijah to become his successor-in-training.
 
When God calls us to a particular task, we must surrender to His call. We must obey Him. No greater joy exists upon this earth than the joy of serving the Lord. For this reason, when the call comes to serve the Lord, we must surrender and obey. We must get up and go forth to do the task He is calling us to do. When the Lord calls us to serve Him, we must surrender to His call.
 
1)  Abraham surrendered to the call of God (Genesis 12:1-4).
 
2)  Noah surrendered to the call of God (Genesis 6:22).
 
3)  Moses surrendered to the call of God (Exodus 3:9-10).
 
4)  Gideon surrendered to the call of God (Judges 6:14).
 
5)  David surrendered to the call of God (I Samuel 16:11-13).
 
6)  Elisha surrendered to the call of God (I Kings 19:20).
 
7)  Isaiah surrendered to the call of God (Isaiah 6:8).
 
8) Jeremiah surrendered to the call of God (Jeremiah 1:4-10).
 
9)  Paul surrendered to the call of God (Acts 9:6).
 
10)  Christ Himself surrendered to the call of His Father (John 4:34).
 
However, just before he followed Elijah, Elisha did something amazing, he burned his plow, and killed his oxen. Elisha's conduct seems to contradict what Jesus said in (Luke 9:57-62), but this is not so. Elisha was wholehearted in his obedience to follow after Elijah, he was "burning his bridges behind him." He had no intention of taking his hand off the plow and then going back to it.
 
Elisha made sure he had nothing to go back to. For Elisha, there was no plan alternative. He accepted the invitation of God, and sold-out to his call. He realized that in order to latch on to the will of God, he had to first let go of those things that could potentially hold him back.
 
Most believers want the blessings of God on their lives; however, when it comes to letting go of certain things, we have a tendency to keep hanging on. Those things we hold on to can keep us from fully and completely following after God. We all have our plows. But God calls us to set them aflame. What holds you back? What keeps you from wholly pursuing God? Whatever it is –let it go. Get on fire for God, and with that very fire, burn your plow.
 
PRAYER: Lord, I surrender my life to your plan and divine will. Help me to orchestrate my desires with yours and to walk in obedience to your leading. May your will be done in every part of my life. Teach me to surrender my desires and dreams, knowing that your plans are far greater than anything I could ever envision for myself. Mold me and shape me into the person you have created me to be, so that I may bring glory to your name. In surrendering to your will, I find true freedom and peace. Help me to let go of my own understanding and to fully trust in your wisdom and sovereignty. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
 
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Finding and Fulfilling God’s Purpose (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:11-14; Matthew 5:16; II Timothy 1:9; Romans 8:29)
 
At seventeen years of age, he was aimless and without direction. Although he was from a privileged family, he couldn’t find his lot in life. His disinterest and indifference gave way to the nickname “Useless.” Sensing the need for discipline, his father knew he had to do something to help his son; so he sent him to West Point. “Useless” fervently fought his father about the decision, but eventually gave in.  After several months of being away from home, he returned to his family a changed man. He was confident, poised, and resolved about his direction in life. No one called him “Useless” anymore; instead, they called him by his real name –Ulysses. Ulysses S. Grant would go on to win the Civil War and eventually become president of the United States. Had it not been for his father’s resolve, Ulysses might have been “Useless” his entire life. All he needed was some direction and encouragement. As parents, we have a great responsibility to point our children in the right direction. We are to help them find their God-given purpose so they can use their God-given talents. It is only then they can become “Useful” in the work of the Lord. Every person who walks this earth has something in common: a longing for fulfillment. God created us this way. It’s in our DNA. By design, we can never find satisfaction in the things of this world. God’s point is clear and compelling: In our very make-up, we have an innate longing for Him, and life has no meaning apart from Him.
 
The following five verse declare the Lord has a purpose for you:
Ephesians 2:10, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
 
Titus 2:11-14, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
 
II Timothy 1:9, Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
 
Matthew 5:16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
 
Romans 8:29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
 
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. lived through some of the most momentous events of American history. As a young officer in the Massachusetts militia, he was wounded three times during the Civil War. After a brilliant legal career, Holmes was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Teddy Roosevelt and served as a justice for nearly thirty years. He was widely respected, and on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday, a nationwide radio program was broadcast in his honor. Asked to say a few words, Holmes concluded his remarks this way: “And so I end with a line from a Latin poet who uttered the message more than fifteen hundred years ago: ‘Death plucks my ear and says, Live—I am coming.’” This life is often the sole focus of people’s attention, but this life is only a brief moment in time in preparation for eternity. James 4:13-14, Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
 
All of us will one day give an account to God for how we have used the time, energy, gifts, and resources He has provided. Romans 14:12,  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. I Corinthians 3:12-15, Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
 
God didn’t create you haphazardly. He designed you with intention, equipping us with gifts, passions, and experiences that align with His masterplan. And the work He’s prepared for you to do is good and meaningful, whether it’s behind the scenes or in the spotlight. Living in God’s purpose doesn’t require a perfect life or a ministry title. All it requires is a heart that’s willing to follow.
 
Here are some easy, practical steps to help you walk in His purpose every day:

• Pray. Ask God to reveal His will and give you courage to follow it.
• Read the Bible. Let His Word guide your decisions and sharpen your understanding of His ways.
• Serve others. Purpose is often discovered in service, not in self-seeking.
• Put God first. Align your priorities with His, and seek His Kingdom above all.
• Follow His commands. Obedience is how we show our love for God
• Practice kindness. Reflect God’s character by showing compassion and grace.
• Discover your gifts and strengths. Pay attention to how God has uniquely wired you.
• Find what you’re passionate about. God often works through the desires He’s placed in your heart.
• Invite others into your life. Purpose is lived out in relationship. Discipleship, community, and encouragement all flow from connection.

 
Your purpose isn’t a one-time revelation; it’s a daily decision to walk with Jesus, listen to His Spirit (Galatians 5:16), and trust that God is working through you (Philippians 2:13). From the time you were created, God has had a purpose for you. And when you live with that awareness, every step you take becomes sacred.
 
We only get one opportunity to live and serve God. There are no do-overs—no going back to claim wasted days or years. Each day comes but once and will never be replaced. Strive to use the time you have been given to accomplish as much as possible before it is too late. God’s calling includes not only what we do but also who we are. Every experience in life is a tool that the Lord uses to shape, equip, and fine-tune us to become the person He intends each one to be. Begin looking for the Lord’s hand in your life. He is always there, directing and moving.
 
Points to Ponder:

• Though sometimes we can't see it, God is continually shaping and equipping us to accomplish His purposes.
• If we’re willing to fit our requests into God’s greater plans, we will experience the joy of being used by Him for great purposes.
• God created you with a unique and powerful purpose—and through Christ, you have everything you need to live it out victoriously.

 
Prayer: Father, I acknowledge the lesson that Solomon learned the hard way: that the things of this world will never satisfy me. Only You will. Forgive me for chasing after the wind. Please make me sensitive to Your correction when I wander toward empty pursuits. Thank You for designing my soul with that deep desire for You and for filling the void in my life with Yourself. In the name of Jesus, who is abundant life, amen.
 
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Listening to God (James 1:19)
 
James 1:19a, Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, …..
 
Best friends since childhood, a wall-street investor and a farmer walking through Central Park conversing. At one point the farmer said to his friend, “Did you hear that cricket?” His banker replied, “With all the noise in this park, how do you hear a cricket?” The farmer said, “You hear what you train yourself to hear.” To prove his point, he took a few coins from his pocket and threw them on the sidewalk. Everyone nearby immediately stopped and looked.
 
If we are going to walk with God in the midst of a society that is set on going in the other direction, we must hear His voice. There will always be other voices calling out to distract us from our course, but our ears should be open and eager to hear what God has to say. This is what James had in mind when he instructed us to “be swift to hear” (James 1:9).
 
Though the world speaks loudly, God often whispers. This was the experience Elijah had when he was alone on a mountain, he witnessed loud and powerful events: “And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (I Kings 19:12).
 
Hearing that “still small voice” is vital to the renewal of our strength for the Christian walk day after day. But it does not happen unless we are willing to focus our hearing to discover what God has to say. Jesus spoke of those who know Him hear His voice. John 8:47a, He that is of God heareth God's words: ... John 10:4b, … and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
 
There are times when God speaks loudly, but most of the time He speaks in a still small voice. If we are wise, we will be listening intently when He does.  To do so, we must plan some out some quality time with God each day and study His Word and allow Him to guide you.
 
Questions to Consider:

• Can you be still long enough to listen to His still small voice?
• Are you willing to pray sincerely and them wait quietly for God’s response?

 
Points to Ponder:

• If you sincerely desire to hear His voice, you must listen intently, in your heart.
• God’s voice will always agree with the Bible.
• When listening for God’s voice always remember that God's voice will be in harmony with God's Word.

 
Prayer: Lord, every day of my life there are many things I hear. Some I’d rather not hear and others I need to hear. No one else gives me greater joy than to hear from You. When I open my eyes in the morning, I long to hear from You. When my head rests on the pillow at night, I desire you hear from You. When troubles, successes, sadness, and joy come my way, I yearn to hear from You. Whether I’m fearing or at peace, my delight is to hear from You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
 
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What To Do About Worry (Matthew 6:25-34)
 
Matthew 6:25-34, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
 
People cope with worrying in a number of ways, some drink to dismiss it, others shop for a distraction, some take naps or go to bed early to avoid it. None of these remedies work because the panic still sets in. In Matthew 6:25, 31-34, Jesus stated three times, “Take no thought for your life” He is telling us not to worry. The Greek word used for “worry” is the concept of being strangled or choked. It leaves you frustrated when you ought to be free and if you are His disciple, then you should stop it. Worrying is a sin because it is doubt in the power and goodness of God. Some people don’t like to call worrying a sin. They convince themselves that they are just “concerned” about something. Legitimate concern is when you are in control of your thoughts and feelings. Legitimate worry is when the matter controls your thoughts, actions, and emotions.
 
We may not like to consider it, but worry is actually a sin. When we worry, we are doubting God, lacking genuine faith in Him. We are not the first generation to experience worry and anxiety. When we study the Bible we find many occasions where people worried and doubted God. Worry is part of the fallen nature of humanity. We are filled with a sense of self-preservation, and far too often we depend more on ourselves or surrounding influences than we do God. Consider a study that I discovered that is quite interesting, putting things in proper perspective. "A doctor once made a catalog of the worries of his patients. He found that 40% of them worried over things which never happened. And 30% of the worries were over past matters which were now beyond their control. Then 12% were anxious over their health, although their only illness was in their imagination. And 10% worried over their families and friends and neighbors, although in most cases these people were endowed with enough common sense to look after themselves. Finally, only 8% of the worries had real causes which needed attention. If the doctor's analysis was correct, nine-tenths of our worries are entirely useless and are unworthy of concern."
 
 It is possible to face the same problem three different times: before it occurs, when it occurs, and after it occurs. Many people face their problems before they happen, this is called fear. Then they face their problems when they occur, this is called reality. Then they face their problems after they are over, this is called regret. If you will notice, much of our anxiety is based upon something that has not happened, or has already occurred, to which we can do nothing about. I believe much of our worry is unsubstantiated. The enemy causes us to see things that are not real. He manipulates circumstances, relationships, emotions, and decisions causing us to consider the worst possible scenario. Many people experience restless and sleepless nights due to unwarranted worry and fear. If the enemy cannot plague you with worry, he will torment you with regret. He pushes the rewind button repeatedly in your mind. He causes you to relive bad decisions, knowing you can do nothing to change the outcome. He is a master manipulator and works fervently to discourage your life.  Face only those problems that are a reality of today. Refuse the worry and regret of problems that are nonexistent.
 
Many Christians spend so much time worrying that they don't even recognize it as a problem. Worry is just part of the background noise of daily life. It is true that we live in an uncertain world where we do not know the future. It is true that we live in a fallen world where things often go wrong because of the damage sin has done to God's design. But it is also true that we have a loving Father who both knows the future and is able to meet any need that we have. Oswald Chambers wrote, “We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are an indication of how really wise we are; it is much more an indication of how really wicked we are. Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way. Our Lord never worried and He was never anxious, because He was not out to realize His own ideas; He was out to realize God’s ideas. Fretting is wicked if you are a child of God. All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God.” When we look at the future with worry, we are either denying or forgetting God's love and promises. Though we would never question God's integrity out loud, allowing worry to fill our minds and hearts declares that we do not trust Him as we should.
 
Points to Ponder:
Worry is an insult to God's love, care, power and provision which He has promised to us.
We can trust God to do what is best for us every day.
Faith overcomes worry because it is focused on God rather than on ourselves and our problems.
 
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I’m Saved and I Know It (I John 5:11-13)
 
I John 5:11-13, And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
 
We have assurance about salvation because God has made it clear, understandable, simple, and has guaranteed His promise of salvation by faith in Christ. His record or witness is that eternal life first of all, is a gift. It is not earned by good deeds, religion, or self-righteousness. Paul made it clear that we are not saved by our deeds and Isaiah brought out the fact that our own righteousness is corrupt. Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. John continued and stated that eternal life is found in Jesus Christ. If you put your faith in Jesus you have eternal life. If you don’t have faith in Christ, then you don’t have salvation. John 3:18, He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:36, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
 
John makes it clear that the Christian can know that he or she possesses eternal life. The truths that John shared were to assure the believer that believing in the Son of God gives that person eternal life. That is God’s promise. What a blessing! Knowing you are on your way to Heaven is an important matter to God and also the Christian. Why? For one reason, it is a great source of peace, hope, and joy for the Christian. The Christian knows he or she is prepared for death. It is also important to know you are on your way to Heaven if you are going to effectively share the Gospel with unbelievers. How could you really witness for Christ if you did not know you were going to Heaven yourself? Why would an unbeliever want to trust in the Lord if you were uncertain about your own salvation? Thank God, we have a “know so” salvation, not a “think so” or “I hope so” salvation. What a treasure we enjoy as believers of knowing for certain we have eternal life. Don’t underestimate the value of that truth and knowledge. You are a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords if Jesus is your Saviour. You have a home being prepared for you in Heaven. John 14:1-3, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] 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. [3] 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.
 
While on a train traveling from Princeton, Albert Einstein was met by the conductor. Reaching for the ticket in his pocket to prove his purchase, Einstein mistakenly misplaced it. The conductor replied, “Sir, I know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. No worries.” Einstein thanked the young conductor and went about reading his journal. As the conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets, he turned around and saw the world-renowned physicist on the floor looking under his seat. The conductor went back to Einstein’s seat and reaffirmed, “Sir, you don’t need a ticket, I know who you are.” Einstein responded, “Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I am going.” Einstein, who was one of history’s greatest minds, proves a point with his misplaced ticket: intelligence, status, and notoriety will never ensure your eternal standing. The greatest assurance one can experience in this life is having the certainty of the life to come. Matthew Henry said, “He whose heart is in heaven need not fear to put his foot in the grave.” There is nothing that replaces the peace and assurance of knowing your name is recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life. When you know who you are in Christ, you have confidence of where you are going.
 
After you have received the gift of eternal life, God doesn’t want you to live in doubt. He wants you to know that you have received eternal life and a new relationship with Jesus Christ. This is the theme of the entire book of I John. Let’s look at three undeniable promises of eternal life God has given us.
 
The Promise of the Written Word.
The Bible, of course, is God’s written Word, it is full of passages which reaffirm the believer’s assurance. Perhaps the most familiar verse is I John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son God: that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
 
The Promise of the Living Word.
God’s living Word is His Son, Jesus Christ. A word is an instrument of communication. Jesus Christ is the one final, ultimate instrument which God the Father used to communicate to man.  In John 6:47 Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
 
The Promise of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit, one of the three Persons in the Trinity, is also involved in assuring the believer of his salvation. Romans 8:16, The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you enter into a relationship with God. You become a child of God (John 1:12). You are born into a family (John 3:3–7). The Bible compares this spiritual birth into God’s family with the physical birth into your earthly family. When you were born as the child of your father and mother, a relationship was established. Even though you may disown your parents, or they disown you, you cannot change the relationship they are still your parents, and you are still their child.
 
Nothing can alter this same fact spiritually. At the moment of your spiritual birth, you become a child of God. He is your Father, you are His child, and nothing can break that relationship. Some would argue and say our relationship with God is broken when we sin and we cease to be His child. This is simply not true. Our fellowship with God is broken, but not our relationship. When David had committed adultery and murder, he prayed in confession to God, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” (Psalm 51:12). He did not pray, “Restore unto me thy salvation.” He did not need to, David’s relationship with God had not been altered, just his fellowship and joy.
 
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