Written by Chuck Swindoll, these encouraging devotional thoughts are published seven days per week.
Read Matthew 20:26–28
I’ll never forget a trip I took with my older son to shoot the rapids on the Rogue River in Oregon. While our group was receiving instructions from the guide, I began to study the canoes. Some were old and worn, but a few were obviously new. Being selfish, I wanted Curt and me to get the new ones, so I whispered in his ear:
“Curt, start moving over to the left.”
“Why?”
“Just do as I say, Son. The two canoes on the end are new. Let’s get ‘em.”
Read Ecclesiastes 12:6–7
It's been a while since you took stock of where you are going, hasn’t it? And how about an evaluation of the kids? Or your marriage? Or your own future? You know what I mean: trimming off the fat of lazy thinking and taking a lean, hard look at your remaining years.
Read 1 Peter 5:5–7
Maybe we should confess that one reason we find it so hard to set selfishness aside and adopt the spirit of a servant is that we’re driven by dreams of success. We want to be winners.
Curiously, however, most people admit they never realize what they truly desire in their pursuit of success: contentment, fulfilment, satisfaction, and relief. On the contrary, the roads that are supposed to lead to success are not only rocky; they’re maddening.
Read Matthew 16:23–24
Those four words stood out in bold print.
They appeared as if they were forming an enormous monument, each letter seemingly chiselled out of granite. At the base of this strange “monument” were hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people with their arms stretched high, as if worshipping at a shrine. And then, in very small letters, this caption appeared at the bottom of the editorial cartoon: “Speaking of American cults...”
Surrounding the borders of this picture were four familiar lines from well-known commercials:
Read 2 Corinthians 4:1–2
Let's think about an essential mark of following Christ: absolute honesty.
Remember these words?
Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this. (2 Corinthians 4:1-2)
And how about these?
Read 1 Timothy 1:12–14
Even toward the end of his life, the apostle Paul had not gotten over the great mercy he had received from Christ:
Read 1 Corinthians 2:1–5
The great apostle Paul was just like you and me. He had a love for God blended with feet of clay. Great passion...and great weakness.
The longer I thought about this blend, the more evidence emerged from Scripture to support it. Read Paul’s words to the Corinthians:
Read Colossians 1:15–16, 18
In many churches, Christians tend to get so caught up in a success-and-size race that the primary calling of following Jesus gets lost in the journey. We have skidded into a pattern where the “haves”—the most influential or financially successful individuals in life—and not the “have-nots” call the shots. Truth be told, it is difficult to follow when you’re used to being out front leading the pack.
Read Philippians 2:3–4
I love the story of a sea captain who, while navigating his ship through a storm, found himself on a collision course with what he thought was a large vessel in the distance. He ordered the approaching vessel to alter its course ten degrees south. The reply came back: “Alter your course ten degrees north.” Incensed, the captain shot back, “Alter your course ten degrees south. This is the Captain! I am a battleship!” The reply came back: “Alter your course ten degrees north. This is ensign third class. I am a lighthouse!”
Read Matthew 20:21, 25–28
Journey back with me for a moment to one of the many scenes that demonstrated just how ordinary Jesus’ disciples were. What makes this account interesting is that mother of two of the disciples. She’s Mrs. Zebedee, wife of a Galilean fisherman and mother of James and John. Her bold request still makes me smile:
In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left. (Matthew 20:21)
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