Sincerity
Read Philippians 1:9–10
“Angela Atwood was a dear, honest, sincere girl, who—like Christ—died for her beliefs.”
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Insight for Today
Written by Chuck Swindoll, these encouraging devotional thoughts are published seven days per week.
Don’t Quit
Read 1 Corinthians 15:58; 16:13–14
Years ago, I listened as Anna Sklar, the author of a book titled Runaway Wives, shared some shocking statistics:
Early in the twentieth century, for every wife or mother who walked away from her home and responsibilities, six hundred husbands and fathers did so. Just ten years later, after the women’s liberation movement, for each man who did that, two women did the same.
Pause and let that sink in. Do the math.
Short and Sweet
Read James 4:14
Average life spans are shorter than most of us realize. Unlike the great redwood trees that can last for a thousand years, most other things come and go quickly. Several examples illustrate how temporary things really are:
Copper plumbing: twenty to twenty-five years
Face-lift: six to ten years
Car muffler: two to three years
Dollar bill: five to six years
Painted line on the road: three to four months
Pro basketball player’s shoes: one week
An Abundant Life
Read John 10:9–10
Call it the rebel in me, but I simply cannot bear plain vanilla when life has so many other flavours far more interesting and tasty. God has so much more in view for all of us.
Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:9-10)
When God’s in the Whirlwind
Read Nahum 1:3
Blow that layer of dust off the book of Nahum in your Bible and catch a glimpse of this:
He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. (Nahum 1:3)
That’s good to remember when you’re caught in a rip-snorting, Texas frog strangler as I was last week. I reminded myself of God’s presence as the rain clouds were split apart by lightning’s eerie fingers and the ear-deafening claps of thunder. As I witnessed that atmospheric drama, I reminded myself of its Director, who was having His way in the whirlwind.
Move toward the Unexpected
Read Exodus 3:2–6
Most folks I know like things to stay as they are.
Being creatures of habit, we resist change; we protect our comfort zone; we are uneasy with the unexpected. We admire pioneers...so long as we can just read about them, not participate in their journeys. We applaud explorers...but not if it means we must load up and climb and crawl with them. Creative ideas are fine...but “don’t get carried away,” we warn. Plans that involve risks prompt worst-case scenarios from the lips of most who stand back in the shadows.
Sound a Clear Call
Read 1 Corinthians 14:7–8
“Don't garble the message!”
If I heard that once during Marine boot camp, I must’ve heard it four dozen times. Again and again, our outfit was warned against hearing one thing, then passing on a slightly different version. You know, changing the message by altering the meaning just a tad. It’s so easy to do, isn’t it? Especially when it’s filtered through several minds then pushed through each mouth, it is amazing how the original story, report, or command appears after it has gone through its verbal metamorphosis.
Enjoying Good Things
Read 1 Timothy 6:17
Wealth is said to be the parent of luxury.
Perhaps you’re reluctant to entertain any dreams since daily reality turns them into nightmares of unfulfilled desire. It is possible that you are even labouring under the whip of that eternal taskmaster, Fear, who buffets your fondest fantasy with three brutal blows from his lash—public criticism, personal guilt, and perverted humility.
Monuments
Read Matthew 6:33
The four monuments of human nature:
Fortune, Fame, Power, Pleasure
Built in clusters, making them appear formidable...and acceptable. As the idols in ancient Athens, our society is saturated with them.
Fortune. How neatly it fits our times! Its inscription at the base is bold: “Get rich.” The figure in the statue is impressive—a hardworking young executive, a clever, diligent businessman unwilling to admit the greed behind his long hours and relentless drive.
Avoiding Self-Praise
Read Galatians 6:1–3
“Self-praise,” says an ancient adage, “smells bad.” In other words, it stinks up the works.
God says He hates “haughty eyes” (Proverbs 6:17). He calls a proud heart “sin” (Proverbs 21:4). He says if praise is going to be directed your way, “Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth” (Proverbs 27:2). The apostle Paul, who had much to brag about, drove home the message with these words:
