Perseverance

“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.” James 1:4

It is not our nature to enjoy pain. Both physical and emotional pain can be unbearable at times, so I have heard but thankfully never really experienced. Sometimes I try to put myself into the shoes of someone else, because there is no way to know what the next hour, day, or year has in store for us. I think about families in Haiti and what it must be like to lose parents, children and friends in the blink of an eye. The world we live in can change instantly. Some of you might be in the midst of trials right now. On the outside you may look fine, but deep down there is pain and suffering.

In Galatians, Paul says that someday we will “reap, if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).” It is encouraging to know that we will be rewarded for our genuine obedience. The trials that we face, both big and small, will only last a short time. In 1 Peter 1:6-7 it says, “for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith… may be found.” When we are faced with trials, our faith is what we fall back on. If anyone is going through a trial, I pray that joy in the Lord will carry them through. If now is not a time of trial, than let us search our hearts for what we have put our faith in. The question is not whether we will be tested, but rather is our faith rooted in a God strong enough to persevere and carry us when we are tested.

- Matt Simmonds

Strength

“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:7

This passage is taken just before Cain kills his brother Abel. God speaks to Cain and challenges him to do better. Cain is coldhearted and consumed with jealousy and anger. At some point and in some way, we can all relate.

Every day we are faced with the battle against sin. In the verse above it states that “sin is crouching at your door.” Identifying sin and temptation in our lives is imperative in order to master it. How can we battle sin in our own lives? What if we are not strong enough?

In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul talks about putting on the full armor of God in order to “stand against the schemes of the devil.” Each piece of armor that is mentioned cannot be attained on our own. Truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, and the spirit are all pieces of the armor that God supplies. Each of these gifts prepares us for day to day battle. Alone we are weak but with God we are strong.

In any competition or battle, we must be equipped in order to succeed. This week I encourage you to read Ephesians 6:10-20 and to begin preparing yourself each day for the battles ahead. Thanks for reading this week and have a great Thanksgiving with friends and family.

-Matt

Commitment

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” Titus 2:7,8

Baseball Hall of Fame Great, Willie Mays, once said, “It isn’t hard to be good from time to time in sports. What’s tough is being good every day.” This statement highlights how valuable a trustworthy, committed and skilled performer is. We can relate to this message in almost every area of our lives. For example, great parents are always looking out for the wellbeing of their children. Great employees are always prepared for the tasks of the day. Great performers are never out of shape. It is easy to set an example some of the time and much harder to continually be an example for others.

Being an example is a quality found in leader. In a book named “The Secret” by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller, an aspiring business leader named Debbie has a fascinating revelation. She says, “Not only do I win or lose credibility based on how well I embody the values, but I also set the tone and the example for my team. No one controls how well I do this except me. I guess it’s just part of being a leader.”

This week our challenge is be committed. The most influential leaders are continually setting the bar and the critics that oppose them are left speechless. We have much more control over our lives than we credit ourselves. “No one controls how well I do except me.”

Matt

Competition

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

Competition has been a part of our lives for years. Some of the fiercest competition might have even come from within the family we grew up in. Parents play a part in this and certainly sibling rivalry, but even if we are an only child, we grew up competing against classmates, neighborhood friends and teammates. These days competition seems to have negative connotations. Less emphasis is placed on winning and losing in children’s sports and more emphasis on the experience. None the less, competition will always be a part of our lives and it will continue to be for all time.

A good question to ask ourselves is what is the best way to compete? In competition there are rules and guidelines to follow and an end prize or goal that we aspire for. There is much to glean from the verse above, but one of those things is the way in which we should compete. In Mark 12:30 it says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” If God is truly our Lord and Savior, than we are told to love him with every part of ourselves. If we aspire to glorify God in competition than we must use every part of ourselves to do so.

As we focus on this verse let us reflect on the ways we are not bringing glory to God. Like a good runner runs with purpose and direction, we are told to live with purpose and direction. Thank God this week for his splendor and never lose sight of the direction and purpose he enriches the lives of believers with.

-Matt

Strength

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

What are the areas in your life that require the most strength? Maybe it has to do with relationships, sickness, job loss, debt, procrastination or insecurity. All of us must face times of adversity and often there is an element of fear involved. The verse above gives what John Piper calls, “The Five Pillars of Fearlessness.”Each pillar is found in Isaiah 41:10 and each are restated below.

1. God is with me

2. God is my God

3. God will strengthen me

4. God will help me

5. God will uphold me

Whether you are going through a tough time this week or not, let our challenge be to memorize Isaiah 41:10. When life throws us a curve ball it is important to have something solid, unchanging, reliable, and relevant to hold onto. The Bible, God’s word, stays the same. This verse reminds us that we are not alone. God promises to strengthen, help and uphold us. Let us never forget these promises and be encouraged this week by the strength we receive through Jesus.

Matt