Daily Stop & Thinks

Hard Work

Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can. (Lowell Thomas, columnist)

Have you ever become so weary in the middle of a project that you felt you just couldn’t go on for another minute? Near the end of a tiring workday we might just want to call it a day before we’ve finished. There might be times, though, when it would be better to take Thomas’ advice and give it one more push. The results may well be worth it.

Hard work brings rewards. . . those who work hard will prosper. (Proverbs 12:14; 13:4)

Affliction II

Affliction may be lasting, but it is not everlasting. Affliction was a sting, but withal a wing: sorrow shall soon fly away. (Thomas Watson)

We’ve all experienced times of great difficulty which seemed like they would never end. Watson’s poetic words encourage us to realize that in the long run those times were relatively short. But they might not have seemed so. In hard times, life seems to move very slowly. In light of eternity, of course, life is very short, so hang on and trust God for better times.

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Affliction I

Poverty and affliction take away the fuel that feeds pride. (Richard Sibbes, 17^th century Anglican theologian)

Sibbes was probably not promoting poverty and affliction as circumstances of life to be desired. Rather, he was emphasizing the danger of thinking that wealth and its benefits are the results of one’s personal achievements. That would certainly lead to pride, a trait that offends others and leaves great emptiness. It certainly displeases God, as well.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

Winds

When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure. (Peter Marshall, late US Senate chaplain)

Who doesn’t want a life of ease with a minimum of trials and difficulties? Yet, as Marshall points out, healthy growth always involves a certain amount of tension and pressure. Without it, we don’t learn how to stand up, much less move forward and make progress. While we don’t look for or create difficulties, we must respond to them with perseverance if we wish to grow.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. (Romans 5:3)

Religion II

Religion is not a thing which it is possible to put off and put on like a Sunday dress… If you think you are doing so, believe me that as yet it is not a religion, but a web of delusions. (Edward Reynolds, 17^th century English bishop)

In many churches today “Sunday dress” is nothing special. Most people just wear everyday clothes, realizing that it isn’t the way you dress that impresses God. But, unfortunately, for too many church attendees, religion is restricted to just that one day a week. And Reynolds warns us that true religion extends far beyond an hour once a week.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:27)

Religion I

Most men. . .  play at religion as they play at games, religion itself being of all games the one most universally played. (A. W. Tozer, author)

If religion (a system of beliefs) is only a game, then it probably doesn’t make much difference how we play it—seriously or just for fun. But if, as most people think, it has something to do with a person’s relationship with God, it is more than playing monopoly or baseball. If it’s not our attempt to reach God but his gracious effort to reach us, we’d better pay attention to it.

It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Truth

Correct practice flows from correct truth. (Christopher Yuan, author, seminary professor)

Yuan continues, “We’re often encouraged in our society to embrace relevance and pragmatism at the expense of truth . . . We must resist the natural impulse to disjoin (separate) practice from truth or truth from practice.” In a day when truth means different things to different people, we must stick doggedly to absolute truth as revealed in God’s creation and his Word.

Truthful words stand the test of time but lies are soon exposed. (Proverbs 12:19)

The church of the living God. . . is the pillar and foundation of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)

Do Your Best

The pursuit of perfection will ultimately limit you [and it] will cost too much. (Craig Groeschel, leadership speaker)

Excellence in your work is a worthy goal to pursue, But, as Groeschel suggests, pursuing perfection may be too costly. How? Because in trying to be perfect, we may discard anything that’s less than perfect even if it has great worth. Don’t throw away good work because it isn’t absolutely flawless. Use the results of your best efforts as you continue to pursue excellence.

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Heartily

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is “extra.” (Bear Grylls, TV personality)

That’s obvious, isn’t it? But Grylls is speaking about more than spelling or word choice. To achieve more than “the ordinary,” you have to really put in some “extras”—investments of time, energy, and resources. When those “extras” may cost us more than we’re willing to spend, we settle for something less than we could otherwise achieve. What a shame!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (Colossians 3:23)

Listen

Everyone has something to teach you if you are willing to listen and learn. (Chikamso Efobi, British nature writer)

Sometimes we give more credence to people who have letters after their names (Ph.D, M.D, etc.) or to those whose pictures and voices are seen and heard repeatedly in the media. The person who lacks such public recognition is often ignored. Yet, common sense and wisdom are not restricted to the intellectual elite. Try to learn from every possible source.

Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. (Mark 4:24).

Words

We often use the same vocabulary but not the same dictionary. (quoted by John Stonestreet, worldview author)

Stonestreet continues, “Ideas are smuggled into our use of language all the time.” That’s the way false “isms” creep into our society. False religions may use the same terms that Christians use—even biblical terms, but when they apply different meanings to them, only confusion can result. Words are important, so be sure you understand their meaning before you speak.

Jesus: “I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you! . . . Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. . . Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. (Luke 21:15, 23; John 8:47).

A Prayer Lesson

Lord, help me to not be a perfectionist…did I spell that correctly? 

This well-intentioned prayer is a contradiction in itself. How serious are we about our behavioral inconsistencies, whether they’re impatience, perfectionism, a short temper, or one of many others? Do we really want to change? Are we serious in asking for divine help? Successful prayer is accompanied by serious effort.

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. James 5:16b