JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(Exodus 20:17) “You must not covet…anything…that belongs to your neighbour.”
Envy, in essence, accuses God of being unfair… a respecter of other people and unaware of what’s best for our lives.
Therefore, as a people whom claim to trust God in all aspects of our lives…we should engage in an all-out campaign, a war against envy when it sticks its ugly head up and into our business and life.
James insists that a believer’s life and behaviour are a litmus test… “If you are wise and understand God’s ways… then prove it… by living an honourable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13).
If a Christian holds bitter envy and selfish ambition in the heart, in essence, he is living a lie contrary to the wisdom of God.
True wisdom from God flows from a place of humility.
It seeks to magnify and glorify the Lord alone,
It does not seek self-promotion.
It rejoices when a brother or sister in Christ succeeds and graciously strives to live in harmony with others.
On the other hand, worldly wisdom is based on the carnal need to exalt oneself.
It secretly envies and critiques others.
It causes a person to boast, deny the truth, and harbour bitter envy in his heart.
When earthly wisdom seeps into the church, it can manifest as selfish, flesh-driven promotion… and a desire for personal gain and glorification.
A sobering revelation of this truth is found in (Acts 5:1-11) with the story of Annanias and Saphira …whom became envious of the attention given to Barnabas and others of the early church whom had gained respect and praise from other early church believers for their unselfish act of generosity… by giving money from the sale of a piece of land to the church so that others could have their needs met.
Filled with envy, Annanias and Saphira conspired to gain the praise of their neighbours by selling some land as well… but only gave a portion of the sale to the church and the support of the needy… and there was nothing wrong with that decision so far… according to (Acts 5:3)
But when asked if the portion they were giving was the whole amount… envious of the praise of Barnabas and others… they lied and said yes that it was the whole amount.
However in their lie… they were exposed by the Holy Spirit of their envious malignant jealousy… and as a result… breath/life was removed from them and they died in the grip of envy and sin for lying to God and the Holy Spirit.
A person who harbours bitter envy may see himself as zealous for the truth, but, in reality, he is bitter, angry, and full of personal pride.
God and others around him can see how far he is from the truth.
Bitter envy breeds contention, destroys unity, and brings disorder to the church (see 1st Corinthians 3:3)… (2nd Corinthians 12:20)… and (Galatians 5:20)
Bitter envy arises from sin in the heart… and is profoundly destructive… (Proverbs 14:30… “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones”
The Bible calls Christians to examine their hearts to see if they are pure and to test their actions to see if they are in the faith, living according to God’s wisdom…(1st Corinthians 11:28) (Psalm 139:23-24)
We must get rid of fleshly sins such as hatred, jealousy, envy, discord, and selfish ambition (Galatians 5:19–21)…
(Romans 13:13) “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy”.
(Proverbs 23:17) “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord”.
If we don’t… the sin of envy will lead to our downfall (Psalm 37:1-2)
God’s love “does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking” (1st Corinthians 13:4–5).
When God saves us, He gives us new life through the Holy Spirit, freeing us from lives “full of evil and envy”
(Titus 3:3-5) states clearly that “we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and deluded slaves to various desires and pleasures… living in malice and envy… hateful our selves and hating one another.
But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared… He saved us…not because of righteous or good things we had or had not done… but because of His mercy”.
This passage of scripture from Titus emphasizes the transformation brought about by Gods mercy and kindness… highlighting that salvation is a gift… rather than a result of our own deeds.
So if you find that you are leaning toward being envious of those whom God seems to be blessing and you don’t seem to be included… I encourage you to implement these next six steps into your life.
A sobering revelation of this truth is found in (Acts 5:1-11) with the story of Annanias and Saphira …whom became envious of the attention given to Barnabas and others of the early church whom had gained respect and praise from other early church believers for their unselfish act of generosity… by giving money from the sale of a piece of land to the church so that others could have their needs met.
Filled with envy, Annanias and Saphira conspired to gain the praise of their neighbours by selling some land as well… but only gave a portion of the sale to the church and the support of the needy… and there was nothing wrong with that decision so far… according to (Acts 5:3)
But when asked if the portion they were giving was the whole amount… envious of the praise of Barnabas and others… they lied and said yes that it was the whole amount.
However in their lie… they were exposed by the Holy Spirit of their envious malignant jealousy… and as a result… breath/life was removed from them and they died in the grip of envy and sin for lying to God and the Holy Spirit.
A person who harbours bitter envy may see himself as zealous for the truth, but, in reality, he is bitter, angry, and full of personal pride.
God and others around him can see how far he is from the truth.
Bitter envy breeds contention, destroys unity, and brings disorder to the church (see 1st Corinthians 3:3)… (2nd Corinthians 12:20)… and (Galatians 5:20)
Bitter envy arises from sin in the heart… and is profoundly destructive… (Proverbs 14:30… “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones”
The Bible calls Christians to examine their hearts to see if they are pure and to test their actions to see if they are in the faith, living according to God’s wisdom…(1st Corinthians 11:28) (Psalm 139:23-24)
We must get rid of fleshly sins such as hatred, jealousy, envy, discord, and selfish ambition (Galatians 5:19–21)…
(Romans 13:13) “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy”.
(Proverbs 23:17) “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord”.
If we don’t… the sin of envy will lead to our downfall (Psalm 37:1-2)
God’s love “does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking” (1st Corinthians 13:4–5).
When God saves us, He gives us new life through the Holy Spirit, freeing us from lives “full of evil and envy”
(Titus 3:3-5) states clearly that “we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and deluded slaves to various desires and pleasures… living in malice and envy… hateful our selves and hating one another.
But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared… He saved us…not because of righteous or good things we had or had not done… but because of His mercy”.
This passage of scripture from Titus emphasizes the transformation brought about by Gods mercy and kindness… highlighting that salvation is a gift… rather than a result of our own deeds.
So if you find that you are leaning toward being envious of those whom God seems to be blessing and you don’t seem to be included… I encourage you to implement these next six steps into your life.
1) Confess and repent of your impure intentions for wanting something other than for the glory of God. “But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth” (James 3:14).
(2) Count your blessings. Envy is rooted in dissatisfaction.
Frequently we are so upset at the good fortune of others that we can’t see our own blessings and advantages.
Somebody previously said, “Envy is the habit of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.”
(3) Understand what envy is telling you… about what needs to be changed in order for you to reach your destiny.
Pray this prayer…“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
(4) If feasible, spend time with the person you envy and learn more about their secrets of success.
In the process, you may realize they have a multitude of problems and issues that will reduce your envy.
(5) When anyone is mentioned with appreciation and admiration, instead of making a negative comment about them, try speaking words of praise.
(6) Reject seeing another person’s success as your failure.
Instead of thinking their blessings came at your expense… start believing that the God who blessed them wants to bless you too.
(Jeremiah 29:11) tells us “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and give you a future… not plans for evil”
Good Day.
(Exodus 33:14) “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
When you sense God’s presence and know He is with you, you can handle whatever life brings.
Try to imagine the assignment Moses had – liberating two million people from the grip of slavery… leading them through a wilderness where they were exposed to enemies and elements such as extreme heat and cold… feeding and clothing them… settling their disputes…and keeping them moving toward their destiny.
Here is what Moses prayed… “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us” (Exodus 33:15)
Moses preferred to go nowhere with God… than anywhere without Him.
This verse encourages us to ask ourselves… am I moving forward in life with God by my side?
Do we recognize the significance of His guidance in our decisions, relationships, and pursuits?
This reflection beckons us to cultivate a deeper relationship with God, one that acknowledges Him as our source of strength and direction.
Moreover, it challenges us to seek God’s presence actively, whether through prayer, meditation, or engaging with scripture.
Just as Moses would not settle for anything less than God’s presence, we too should strive to align our lives with His will, understanding that true fulfillment and purpose come from walking in communion with Him.
In essence, (Exodus 33:15) serves as a reminder that the journey of life is not merely about reaching destinations… but about experiencing the transformative power of God’s presence along the way.
When his affair with Bathsheba was exposed, David didn’t pray… “Don’t take my crown from me, or my kingdom, or my army.”
No, he knew what mattered most.
His cry was… “Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11)
David knew that his very existence... his life... and his future depended on the Holy Spirit being a central part of his life... with out Him (the Holy Spirit)... David knew he was lost doomed even.
In order to grow spiritually, we must develop an increasing awareness of God’s presence in our life.
Maybe your wondering how do you do that?
Instead of being a rock, become a sponge.
When you place a rock in the ocean, its surface gets wet but its core remains hard and dry.
But when you place a sponge in the ocean, the water alters the very essence of its being.
Slow down and sense God’s presence.
Begin by reading this scripture from
Write it down... repeat it over and over while opening every pore of your soul to God’s presence.
“The Lord your God is with you… His power gives you victory.
In order to grow spiritually, we must develop an increasing awareness of God’s presence in our life.
Maybe your wondering how do you do that?
Instead of being a rock, become a sponge.
When you place a rock in the ocean, its surface gets wet but its core remains hard and dry.
But when you place a sponge in the ocean, the water alters the very essence of its being.
Slow down and sense God’s presence.
Begin by reading this scripture from
Write it down... repeat it over and over while opening every pore of your soul to God’s presence.
“The Lord your God is with you… His power gives you victory.
The Lord will take delight in you, and in His love He will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you” (Zephaniah 3:17)
There is no greater satisfaction or sense of security in life... than having the experience of Gods presence in your life.
It is truly something to be desired and sought after more than any thing else in this life that you think you might need.
Good Day!
There is no greater satisfaction or sense of security in life... than having the experience of Gods presence in your life.
It is truly something to be desired and sought after more than any thing else in this life that you think you might need.
Good Day!
1st Corinthians 10:13) “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man.”
In scripture, Satan is called “the tempter” and “the accuser.”
First, he will tempt you, and when you finally succumb and fall to the temptations, then He will accuse you.
He wants you to feel unworthy and disqualified in God’s eyes.
But you’re not!
(Hebrews 4:15-16)… “We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are… yet He did not sin.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”
When you fail, stumble, fall, you can still go to God with confidence, knowing He will not only forgive you but provide the enabling grace to help you overcome temptation next time.
We all face temptation… it’s an unavoidable part of life.
Even believers who have walked with the Lord for many years deal with it.
Their areas of temptation may be different from yours, but Satan doesn’t give any of us a free pass.
However, when you are tempted… you can overcome temptation with the help of the Holy Spirit.
One of the first steps to conquering it is to start thinking it...
(Proverbs 23:7) "As a man thinketh in His heart so is he"…
Then start saying the right thing…
(Mark 11:23) "whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith".
One of the first steps to conquering temptations power and influence, is to start thinking and then saying the right things denouncing it.
The Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).
Your words give life to what you say… so, start speaking God’s Word.
Jesus said, “I give you the authority…over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
Claim that promise today!
For what God promises… He will give you the strength to do and overcome.
Good Day!
Then start saying the right thing…
(Mark 11:23) "whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith".
One of the first steps to conquering temptations power and influence, is to start thinking and then saying the right things denouncing it.
The Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).
Your words give life to what you say… so, start speaking God’s Word.
Jesus said, “I give you the authority…over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
Claim that promise today!
For what God promises… He will give you the strength to do and overcome.
Good Day!
(Proverbs 2:1-9) “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you… turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding…
Indeed… if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure… then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God”.
As we continue to mine the treasure of “relationship with God”… going beyond the shallowness of living life with little purpose or fulfillment …we find there are some tools that must be used consistently, to unearth the valuable ore that holds the treasure of Gods will for you and I.
The first is a tool called discipline!
Discipline to unearthing… “the Word of God”… and its intended purpose for our lives (Proverbs 2:1)
The discipline of desire… or passion… an inner desire to experience God in all of His uniqueness… in all of His greatness.
Second is the discipline of prevailing prayer.
(Proverbs 2:2-3) “Cry for discernment… lift your voice for understanding”
Perhaps the single most overlooked discipline in the Christian life and among the most difficult… is consistent prayer.
Prevailing prayer… on going, continual and unceasing prayer.
Don’t misunderstand… I’m not suggesting we should simply spend more time in prayer.
Increasing the number of minutes talking to God should not become our focus.
Instead, let us cultivate a mind-set passionate about “building relationship with God”… a lifestyle that includes a sustained, ongoing conversation with the Lord throughout the day.
Instead, let us cultivate a mind-set passionate about “building relationship with God”… a lifestyle that includes a sustained, ongoing conversation with the Lord throughout the day.
(1st Thessalonians 5:16-18) "Rejoice always pray with out ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances".
This means to maintain an attitude of prayer throughout your daily life.
Are you plagued by worry?
Let that prompt you to unload your concerns before God.
Dismayed by conflict?
Share them with the Lord and ask for His intervention.
Perplexed by a problem?
Ask God for insight, understanding, and discernment.
Don’t save up your problems and questions for a long session later in the day.
Converse with God moment by moment, as you experience life.
Pray as you go, but don’t neglect time for reflection.
Be sure to set aside a few minutes throughout the day… five to 10 minutes or as often as necessary… find a place and a time that will allow you to clear away distractions and give your mind a break.
Nothing mystical or mysterious here… but don’t be surprised when clarity displaces confusion.
Number three is the discipline of “daily consistency”.
(Proverbs 2:4) “If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures…”
We’re talking diligence and effort here!
The saying calls us to seek God’s truths as if we are digging for silver ore likened as a treasure… and to search His mind and His will as its contained in His Word… in the same way we would pursue hidden treasures.
This is no superficial game!
It’s an earnest, diligent pursuit of the mind of Christ!
While we don’t have to earn His favor… and we can be sure that He’s not withholding insight to make us work harder…
We must nevertheless cultivate a desire for His wisdom that’s no less intense… than our natural lust for wealth.
Cultivating a desire for “divine wisdom” begins with the decision to make it a priority… and to begin pursuing it.
In (Matthew 6:21) Jesus said… “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”
It’s a biological principle that you will increasingly value whatever you make a habit to pursue.
Shallowness and selfishness stand in direct conflict to Solomon’s encouragement to hunger and thirst for righteousness or a satisfying relationship with God.
Solomon declares that cultivating an earnest hunger for wisdom will be rewarded… “Then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:5)
So lets determine in our lives to move from shallow living… to a deep and rewarding relationship with the One whom loves us more than we can ever imagine.
Yes it takes commitment and hard work… but as the old cliché says… “nothing worth while come easy”!
Good Day!
Are you plagued by worry?
Let that prompt you to unload your concerns before God.
Dismayed by conflict?
Share them with the Lord and ask for His intervention.
Perplexed by a problem?
Ask God for insight, understanding, and discernment.
Don’t save up your problems and questions for a long session later in the day.
Converse with God moment by moment, as you experience life.
Pray as you go, but don’t neglect time for reflection.
Be sure to set aside a few minutes throughout the day… five to 10 minutes or as often as necessary… find a place and a time that will allow you to clear away distractions and give your mind a break.
Nothing mystical or mysterious here… but don’t be surprised when clarity displaces confusion.
Number three is the discipline of “daily consistency”.
(Proverbs 2:4) “If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures…”
We’re talking diligence and effort here!
The saying calls us to seek God’s truths as if we are digging for silver ore likened as a treasure… and to search His mind and His will as its contained in His Word… in the same way we would pursue hidden treasures.
This is no superficial game!
It’s an earnest, diligent pursuit of the mind of Christ!
While we don’t have to earn His favor… and we can be sure that He’s not withholding insight to make us work harder…
We must nevertheless cultivate a desire for His wisdom that’s no less intense… than our natural lust for wealth.
Cultivating a desire for “divine wisdom” begins with the decision to make it a priority… and to begin pursuing it.
In (Matthew 6:21) Jesus said… “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”
It’s a biological principle that you will increasingly value whatever you make a habit to pursue.
Shallowness and selfishness stand in direct conflict to Solomon’s encouragement to hunger and thirst for righteousness or a satisfying relationship with God.
Solomon declares that cultivating an earnest hunger for wisdom will be rewarded… “Then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:5)
So lets determine in our lives to move from shallow living… to a deep and rewarding relationship with the One whom loves us more than we can ever imagine.
Yes it takes commitment and hard work… but as the old cliché says… “nothing worth while come easy”!
Good Day!
(Proverbs 2:1-9) “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you… turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding…
Indeed… if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure… then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom… from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
He holds success in store for the upright… He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless… for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right, and just, and fair…”
We’ve all met them… those shallow, selfish individuals whom live life only thinking of them selves and what they think life, (in their own eyes) owes them.
Today I want to level our gun barrels at “shallowness”.
Let’s allow the scripture we just read… to speak out against our times of shallow living and selfish concern with forceful relevance.
With His reference to mining… as in searching for gold or silver... Solomon has taken us down a mine shaft as it were… to a place of hard work… but it will lead to a valuable discovery!
As I look closely at these nine verses in (Proverbs chapter 2)… I find that they can be divided rather neatly into three sections.
1. The Conditions: “If…” emphasizes the worker (Proverbs 2:1-4)
2. The Discovery: “Then…” emphasizes the treasure (2:5)
3. The Promises: “For…” emphasizes the benefits (2:6-9)
If you’re tired of the daily grind of shallowness and you no longer want to “fake it till you make it”… good for you!
You must remember however, that like mining for buried treasure... breaking out of that mold is awfully hard work.
Solomon wrote about that when he presented the conditions of “deepening” our lives.
He says… “If we will do this”… and, “If we are committed to doing that…”
It’s tough talk… but that is the only way you will ever experience the fulfilled blessing of God.
Its cloaked in a word called discipline!
I find there are four realms of discipline that we must come to terms with, if we hope to live beyond the grind of shallowness.
We’ll examine two today and then two tomorrow.
Number one is “The discipline of the written Word of God”.
(Proverbs 2:1) “My son, if you will receive my sayings, and treasure my commandments within you…”
It is essential that we “receive God’s word… His sayings”… and we “absorb them” on a regular basis… allow them to find lodging and take up residence in our minds.
Few things affect our world more detrimentally than ongoing “biblical ignorance”.
At the same time, we cannot overestimate the “positive impact of scriptural knowledge” on a society.
We need only look to the founding of the United States of America for evidence of that fact.
Many religious scholars today question whether “the Founding Fathers” of America were professing believers, as our Evangelical Churches of today would define the term… “Christian”.
Regardless, the vast majority at least maintained a “Christian worldview”, they held God in high esteem, revered the Bible as authoritative, knew God’s Word well, and adopted its precepts as their “moral foundation”.
All of the above is undeniable as history itself has recorded.
Their knowledge of biblical wisdom led them to “think deeply” first… and then make decisions based on principle… rather than pragmatism.
In fact, their scriptural knowledge made capitalism and democracy possible.
Living above the subtle, numbing hold of shallowness... requires the second realm of discipline and that is…“The discipline of inner desire”
(Proverbs 2:2) “Make your ear attentive to wisdom… incline your heart to understanding”.
If we read this verse correctly, then we must lend an attentive ear to God’s reproof … and cultivate an open heart before Him.
Let not this verse just be a should… but make it a do… a priority in each of our lives.
The Bible repeatedly warns that we are naturally inclined to laziness, selfishness, shortsightedness, and shallow thinking.
The English term “fool” appears no less than 62 times in the book of Proverbs alone.
In no uncertain terms… God urges us to remain “closely connected” to Him
(Proverbs 9:10) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you”.
Do you want to live a purpose filled life of fulfillment… with a satisfaction that your life has made a difference?
Then you need to take Solomon’s instruction and apply it to your life today…
Dig a little deeper and you will find the gold and silver that will give true value to your existence in this life.
(Jeremiah 29:11) God says “for I know the plans I have for you says the Lord… plans to proper you and give you a future… not plans for evil!”
But you will never experience, know or understand, what those plans are… until you go beyond the shallow thinking of this world and dig into the deeper resources of Gods word.
(Hebrews 4:12) tells us “for the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than any two-edged sword cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow exposing our innermost thoughts and desires”.
As Paul told Timothy in (2nd Timothy 3:16)… “all scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and for training in righteousness”.
You’ll never find the “great unfathomable riches of Heaven” until you start mining for the gold and silver of His Word.
If you genuinely desire God’s wisdom, rest assured He has promised not to withhold it.
He declares, “I love those who love me... and those who diligently seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17).
Good Day!
(James 1:12) “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation… for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him”.
It’s a costly investment, no question about it.
Enduring, standing, believing, patiently giving of our selves for the benefit of others… and doggedly holding on to faith in God
However… the dividends are so much greater than the original outlay that you’ll almost forget the initial price or cost when you do!
And if the final benefits are really significant… you’ll wonder why you ever hesitated to begin with.
A primary reason we are tempted to give up… is because of other people.
You know… the less than 20 percent whose major role it is in life to encourage others to toss in the towel.
For whatever reason… those white-flag specialists never run out of opinionated excuses why you and I should quit.
The world’s full of “why-sweat-it” experts.
I’m sure Anne Mansfield Sullivan had a host of folks telling her that the blind, seven year-old brat that was consuming so much of her time wasn’t worth it.
But Anne persisted… in spite of temper tantrums, physical abuse, mealtime madness, and even thankless parents.
In her heart of hearts she knew it was worth all the pain… and was it ever!
After two years her pupil… (some of you might remember the name “Helen Keller”)… was able to read and write in Braille.
She ultimately graduated “cum laude” from college (after Miss Sullivan had “spelled” each lecture into her hand)… and Helen Keller devoted the rest of her life… to aiding the deaf and the blind.
Want another for instance?
How about the author whom was told that if he hadn’t written a book by age 35… chances were good he never would.
I should add that He was almost 40 when he was told these discouraging words.
There were others who reminded him that for every book published… ninety five percent of them become dust-collecting manuscripts.
But the acclaimed author hung tough and persisted writing stories about the South Pacific during the 2nd World War.
Author “James Michener” refused to wash the desire and passion out of his hair as he persisted in his writings… despite all the “nay sayers” of his era.
He finally presented to the public, “Tales of the South Pacific”… which was honoured by the literary field with a Pulitzer prize, and then honoured by Broadway in 1949 as a highly successful musical play, and then Hollywood stepped up and made “Tales of the South Pacific into a feature film in 1958… and then in 1959 it was made into a weekly “Anthology Series for television… with a made for television feature movie in 2001.
“Tales of the South Pacific” was a literary masterpiece that we would’nt have had… if persistence had not won over.
How many military battles would never have been won without persistence?
How many men and women would never have graduated from school… or changed careers in midstream… or stayed together in marriage… or reared a mentally disabled child with out persistence?
Think of the criminal cases that would never have been solved without the relentless persistence of detectives.
How about the great music that would never have been finished, the grand pieces of art that would never have graced museums, cathedrals and monuments the world over, without persistence.
Backed behind the impeccable beauty of each work… is a dream that wouldn’t die… mixed with the dogged determination of a genius… of whom this indifferent world is not worthy.
Think also of the speeches, the sermons, the books that have shaped visionary thinking, infused new hope, prompted fresh faith, and aroused the will to win…
Our by hour, day by day, week by week, month by month, year after year… until those verbal missiles of insight, wisdom and thought have exploded on our culture… inspiring new thought, new direction,
influencing others to press on to make a difference with no promise of reward or recognition… other than the quite self satisfaction brought about by persistence.
The same could be said of those who labour to find a cure for disease… and how about those who experiment with inventions?
I once heard about a couple of men who were working alongside the inventor Thomas Edison.
Weary to the point of exasperation, one man sighed… “What a waste!
We have tried at least 700 experiments and nothing has worked!
We are no closer than when we started!”
To which… Edison with an optimistic twinkle in his eye quipped, “Oh yes we are!
We now know 700 things that won’t work… and we’re closer than we’ve ever been before.”
With that, he rolled up his sleeves and plunged back in.
If necessity is the mother of invention… persistence is certainly the father.
God honours persistence…
Maybe because He Himself models it so well.
His love for the Jewish Nation of Israel persists to this very day… even though they have disobeyed Him more often than they have loved Him in return.
And just think of His patient persistence… in continually reaching out to the lost as revealed in (2nd Peter 3:9)… “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance”
And how about His persistence with us… you and I?
You and I can recall time after time… when He could have (and should have!) wiped us out of the human race… but He didn’t.
Why? The answer is found in in (Philippians 1:6) “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion… until the day of Christ Jesus”.
The One who began… will continue right up to the end.
Being the original finisher… He will persist.
I’m comforted to know He won’t be talked out of a plan that has to do with developing me.
As He is persistent… so should we be…
God is Good… His mercy is everlasting… His compassions are new every morning… His persistence makes me… “more than a conqueror in Christ”.
Good day
(John !2:24) “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”.
Miracles come from Seeds Planted
A man was walking calmly down a street one day, lost in his thoughts about life… when he saw a sign that read, “God's Store”.
A little surprised, He stopped… curiosity beckoning to him louder than fear… so He decided to go in and see what such an unusual place could be.
As he stepped inside, he was amazed.
The atmosphere was serene, bright, almost heavenly.
Behind the counter stood an angel, beautiful, a gentle glow on his face, and a smile that radiated peace.
The man whispered in awe, this can't be real!
This is truly God's Store!
Approaching the counter, he asked, … “tell me holy angel… do you really sell all of God's things here?
The angel replied softly, “No, my brother… We do not sell anything here… everything is given freely”.
The man's eyes widened as he looked around.
He was left speechless and breathless.
There were jars filled with faith, packets of hope, boxes of salvation, bottles of patience, baskets full of love, rolls of perseverance, books of wisdom, all perfectly arranged with divine care.
And the most surprising and unbelievable part… was that everything was free.
Moved, he approached the counter again.
Please Angel… I’d like to have some more of God's love for me and my family.
I also need some forgiveness… and also a jar of faith for me and my wife… and could you add in a dose of happiness and a good portion of eternal salvation for my children.
Oh, and yes I’ll take some wisdom for the hard days please.
The angel smiled without saying a word.
He took a small package and placed it in the man's hand.
It was tiny, much smaller than the man expected.
He frowned and said to the Angel… are you sure everything I asked for is in here?
The package is far too small.
The angel, still serene, answered… “Dear brother, in God's Store we do not give out fruits we give out seeds.
Now it is up to you to plant them with faith, patience, and obedience.
The fruits will come in their own time”.
Now the moral of this story, is that many people want ready-made miracles, instant answers, and complete blessings… but they don't want to plant.
They don't pray… they don't seek the Word... they don't cultivate faith... and they don't practice obedience.
Yet they still expect a great harvest.
The Bible reminds us in (Romans 14:12)… “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God”.
In other words… each person reaps what they sow.
If we sow seeds of kindness, faith, and love… we will reap the blessing of those sown seeds.
But if we sow negligence, pride, or indifference, we will reap a harvest of consequences as well.
God always gives seeds, not fruits.
Take care of the soil of your soul.
Water it with prayer.
Plant with love… and trust God's timing… and fruit will grow.
He never makes mistakes.
Good day!