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Keep it Up

Do you remember the last time you were completely exhausted? Maybe you spent tons of time and energy working on a difficult project. Maybe you felt depleted after helping everyone else around you—physically or emotionally. Maybe hard situations and complex circumstances made you feel like giving up.

All of us grow tired at some point.

Paul, the writer of Galatians, knew that the people he was writing to would also become tired of the work they were doing. During Paul’s time, there was a lot of persecution and hurting people, and Paul was writing to encourage them in the work they were doing.

Inside Paul’s encouragement to the Galatians is this truth:

Even godly people will tire of doing good things.

That’s why Paul encourages everyone to continue to push forward in doing good. We should continue to help people. We should continue to share the hope of Jesus with others. We should continue to live as God would want us to—especially when things get hard.

God knows that we’ll eventually grow weary. And when we grow tired and frustrated, we’ll probably begin to question why we’re doing any of this to begin with. (Maybe you’ve already asked yourself this.)

But Galatians 6:9 encourages us to persevere in doing good things. Similar to how a farmer must work diligently to plant his crops and wait months before the actual harvest, Paul says there will be a harvest for those who do not give up. 

Just like the Christians in Galatia, we also need to persevere in living godly lives and helping those around us. If we do not give up, Scripture says there will be a reward for us. We may receive that reward during our time on earth, or in heaven—but regardless of when we receive it, we should persevere in doing good.

That means that your work matters! There is value to how you live and love others. So, keep it up. Keep doing good.

Spend some time today considering the good that you have done and can continue to do for others. Who can you help? Who can you share the hope of Jesus with? How can you continue to persevere in living a godly life?

If you’ve grown weary or defeated, make a commitment today to never give up. Choose to persevere through whatever season of life you’re in, knowing that there will be a harvest for those who finish well.

Fight Back with Truth

At the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, a strange thing happened: He was led into the wilderness, by the Spirit, where He encountered the devil.

After fasting for forty days and forty nights, Jesus was hungry—taunted by the enemy to satisfy His craving for food. Essentially, Satan provoked Jesus to prove that He was God’s Son by turning rocks into bread.

Can you sense the manipulation?

If you’re really the Son of God, do something. Take matters into your own hands. Give in to your desire. Provide for yourself. Is God even good if He holds out on you?

But Jesus refused to be bullied.

“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This pattern continued throughout two more temptations—where the devil temped Jesus with protection and power, but Jesus rebuked him with Scripture. 

So what are some things we can learn from Jesus’ encounter with the enemy?

• Jesus knew that life is more than having a full stomach. Though He surely longed to satisfy his physical craving, He knew that true sustenance comes from God.
• Jesus knew that engaging in debate with the enemy isn’t wise. Instead, He relied on the power of Scripture, quoting from Deuteronomy as His weapon of defense.
• Jesus knew He had nothing to prove. Unlike Adam and Eve in Genesis, who doubted God’s goodness and gave into temptation, Jesus was able to resist the enemy.
• Jesus knew He was being tempted by the devil and acted in accordance. We must learn to recognize when we’re under attack, and remember to fight back with God’s Word.

So, how is the enemy tempting you this week? How is he enticing you to doubt God’s trustworthiness? Remember, God has enabled you to fight back with truth by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Holding the Door Open

In 2 Peter 3:9, Peter writes to encourage his friends…

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

Peter is reminding them that the world in its present state won’t last forever. We look forward to the day when the new heavens and new earth will arrive and all evil, suffering, and death will pass away.

But our time holds a special characteristic: it’s a chance for people to repent and find salvation.

Jesus, in His kindness, is holding the door open—giving time for more people to turn away from destructive living and come to Him.

This is our golden opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus. Through His followers, He is actively extending His offer of new, eternal life to the world.

And those who respond to that invitation will find the peace of God’s presence. They’ll have access to joy that can’t be taken away by circumstances. They can develop a relationship with the living God, who loves them without reservation.

He wants EVERYONE—all of humanity—invited to the party. Invited to turn away from their old life of destruction. To come to Him and know Him, experiencing His life-changing love. To be with Him, and follow Him today and into eternal life.

What an amazing chance we have been given! And you get to participate! You can help spread the word, making God’s offer of life known:

Jesus came to offer redemption to all who would come. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News for ALL PEOPLE, and the time to share it is now. Will you do it?

Timeless Wisdom

After being rescued from Egyptian slavery and wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years, the Hebrew people finally stood at the edge of the land God had promised. 

Though their long-time leader, Moses, had just died, God appointed Joshua to take his place. During this transition of authority, God gave Joshua some wise advice:

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The “Book of the Law” refers to the first five books of the Bible—also known as the Torah (in Hebrew) or the Pentateuch (in Greek). Today, we have that and more—66 books of the Bible, including the Old and New Testaments.

God gave the Law to Israel through Moses. These instructions reveal God’s intentions, character, and heart.

And even though God was speaking directly to Joshua at that time, His advice holds timeless wisdom for us still today…

Reading, listening to, and thinking deeply about God’s story informs and shapes us. 

God’s instructions are good, and His commandments are wise. They tell us who God is and who He’s created us to be. They show us where His people have been and where they are going.

When we meditate on His Word, study its contents, and understand its core message—everything changes.

We don’t have to live meaningless lives; we can step into the world with purpose. And even when we face battles like Joshua did, we’ll always be better off with the timeless wisdom of God.

The Way of Life

The letter from James, found in the New Testament, is overflowing with practical wisdom for our daily lives. James was the brother of Jesus, and his writings are full of teachings similar to how Jesus taught in the Gospels.

James 4:17 provides us with a very simple definition of sin. James says that sin is when we know what we ought to do and we do not do it. It’s when we have knowledge of what’s right, but we deliberately choose not to do it.

There are many ways that we learn what the right thing to do is. When we read Scripture, we are constantly learning how God wants us to live, and what He wants us to do with our lives. We also have the Holy Spirit within us who guides and teaches us.

We have no excuse for not knowing the right thing to do in almost every situation—because God has told us how He’s designed things to work and how we should act. So when we decide not to live according to God’s ways, we are sinning.

But the beauty of the gospel is that when we sin against God, we can still come to Him and confess our sins. God’s Word says that when we confess our sins to God, He is faithful to forgive us—and He doesn’t count our sins against us.

Take some time to think about an area where you know you’re not following God’s best for your life. Confess your sin to God and ask Him for forgiveness. Then, walk in the assurance that God loves you, has forgiven you, and provided a way for you to walk in the newness of life. Thank Him for His faithfulness today!

A Bright Light

Think back to Genesis 1—when God created the world. One of the first things He said was “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). Just like God created light to shine upon the earth, Jesus came as a light to all mankind.

Jesus says that He is the light of the world. He also points out that light is necessary for finding our way in this world. Jesus is the light that guides men and women into true life.

Jesus is not only the light that illuminates our path in life, but He is also the one who illuminates everything we see. It is by Jesus’ light that we can look at the rest of the world and make judgments on what is right and good.

Light in the Old Testament is often a symbol of judgment, because it is light that exposes the darkness and evil in the hearts of people. Jesus is the true Judge who comes with the authority of God the Father to judge the hearts of men and women (John 8:13-17).

While Jesus is the true Judge of all humanity, those who follow Him and believe in His resurrection have nothing to fear concerning judgment. We are no longer condemned by our past, but through Jesus we are given access to new life in Him (Romans 8:1).

Take a moment to thank God for shining His light in your life. Because of Jesus, you can experience the grace and peace of God!

Cast it Off

Are you overwhelmed by the weight of a burden you were never meant to carry?

Let the timeless words of King David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, sink deep into your soul…

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭55‬:‭22‬ ‭ESV

The word cast in Hebrew means to throw, hurl, shed, or fling. To propel something as far as possible. To sling something out of your sight.

We know that the author, King David, had plenty of burdens to cast off. Not only did he carry the weight and responsibility of being King of Israel, but he also had an explicitly muddy record.

And yet, even with David’s downfalls and heartaches, he knew where to cast his burdens. He knew who to turn to for help. He knew how to humble himself, repent of his sins, and cling to God’s mercy and grace.

So, what about you? What burdens are you carrying? The big ones, the little ones, and everything in between. The everyday worries, the soul-crushing fears, the agonizing shame.

Did you know that you can surrender all of them to the Lord—rather than crumbling under their pressure?

God wants to carry your burdens, but you have to cast them off.

So don’t just half-heartedly set down your burdens or passively give them to God; cast them at His feet. You can trust that He will sustain you and give you the strength to stand.