To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
— 2 Timothy 1:2

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by what you were facing in life? I’m sure the answer to that question is yes. And certainly you know that you are not the only person who has faced what felt like insurmountable odds. There have been millions before you who felt the same, but with God’s help, they survived, tackled the odds, and even came out on top.

Tough times come to everyone at some point, but the storm eventually passes for those who are determined to navigate it God’s way. And to help His people “get to the other side” safely, God provides special mercy for the overwhelmed. That’s what I want to show you in Scripture today.

The apostle Paul wrote the epistle we call Second Timothy at a time when his young son in the faith was facing insurmountable odds. Nero was ruling as emperor; believers were being persecuted for their faith; many people were deserting the Lord; and others were defecting from the Church. At the moment that Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, Timothy was serving as pastor in Ephesus — a major city in Asia where persecution was raging. Surviving every day was a challenge for believers in that region, and Christian leaders, of course, especially felt the brunt of it. By reading the words of Second Timothy, it is clear that Paul was trying to comfort the overwhelmed heart of this young Christian leader and provide him with some spiritual help and strength.

In the opening lines of that letter, Paul wrote, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (2 Timothy 1:1,2).

When Paul wrote a letter, he normally used a greeting that included the words grace and peace. Paul deviated from that greeting only three times out of all his 13 New Testament letters. The first instance was in First Timothy; the second was in his epistle to Titus; and the third was here in Second Timothy 1:2. In all three of these instances, Paul was writing to someone who felt overwhelmed by their situation. In each of those instances, Paul added the word mercy to his greetings. He told them, “Grace and mercy and peace be unto you.”

When Paul penned his first epistle to Timothy, the younger minister had just assumed the leading role in the rapidly growing church of Ephesus, and he felt overwhelmed by his new responsibilities. Because of the awesome task at hand, Timothy needed to be reminded that God’s mercy was available to help him in his situation. So when Paul wrote to Timothy the first time, he added the word “mercy” to his salutation.

When Paul wrote to Titus, he had just left Titus on the island of Crete to establish a church among the island’s unruly inhabitants. The people of Crete had such bad reputations that Paul even quoted one of their prophets as saying, “The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.” Amazingly, Paul agreed with this assessment, asserting, “This witness is true…” (Titus 1:12,13). It would have been very difficult for Titus to lead a congregation among people like that! Titus surely felt overwhelmed by his assignment. He needed to know that a special measure of mercy was available to him for his difficult task. So when Paul wrote to him, he added the word “mercy” to his salutation.

When Paul wrote Second Timothy, Timothy was once again feeling overwhelmed — not because of a large, growing church, as had been in the case in Paul’s first letter to him, but because his congregation was in decline, people were suffering persecution, and a spirit of fear was trying to attach itself to him (see 2 Timothy 1:7). So when Paul wrote to him, he again altered his salutation to include the word mercy. Right from the start of his letter, he wanted to remind Timothy that God’s mercy was available to the overwhelmed, so Paul wrote, “Grace, mercy, and peace.”

Isn’t it good to know that when God calls you to do something difficult — something that threatens to overwhelm you or make you feel inadequate — He inserts extra mercy between the grace and the peace? There is a special measure of mercy to those who feel overwhelmed by their trials in life. This was especially good news for young Timothy, and it’s good news for you too!

When God’s mercy works in your life, it may manifest as a renewed sense of courage and inner toughness to make it to the next day. That may not seem very spectacular — but think how much more difficult it would be if you didn’t have that special touch of mercy!

It would be good for you to reflect on the ways you’ve already experienced God’s special mercy during difficult times in your life or in the lives of others. When you bring to your remembrance those times His mercy was demonstrated in your life right at the moment it was needed, it fortifies your expectation to receive a manifestation of God’s mercy in the midst of your present challenge as well.

If you feel overwhelmed by what you are facing in life, I want to assure you that God is well aware of it and He has not abandoned you. Whether the issue is financial, relational, work-related, health-related — whatever may be the root cause of what you are facing, you can be assured of this: God has special mercy that He is ready to make available to help you through this difficult time. Thank God for His grace and peace — but if you are feeling overwhelmed, receive by faith His special mercy to help you make it through victoriously to the other side!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I am so grateful that when You call me to do something difficult and it tempts me to feel inadequate, You insert extra mercy between the grace and the peace in my life. Holy Spirit, I receive a special measure of mercy to undergird me in the times when I feel overwhelmed by the trials of life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that when my heart is overwhelmed, I go to the Rock of my salvation to partake of His mercies that are new for me every morning. I confess that His mercy is at work in my life right now. Today I walk with a renewed sense of courage, persistence, and inner toughness because God’s all-sufficient grace, mercy, and peace are being multiplied to me.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you recall a time when you were especially overwhelmed by events in life and you experienced God’s mercy in a special way that helped you make it through that difficult season? How did God demonstrate His goodness to you in that time?
  2. Have you ever observed someone who received a special touch of God’s mercy? What was the manifestation of that mercy? What was its effect on that person’s life?
  3. What are you facing right now that makes you a candidate for another dose of God’s special mercy? Since God is always willing to give you a special touch of His mercy, why don’t you open your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to minister that to your heart and soul today?

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
— 1 Corinthians 3:7

What has God called you to do that you never dreamed you would be doing? I’ve learned that as we walk with God as our most important Partner in life, we often find ourselves doing what we would have never thought possible.

In 1992 — just after relocating my family to live and minister in the former USSR in the fall of 1991 — God miraculously opened a door for Denise and me to begin a television broadcast that would transcend the 11 times zones of the former USSR. (This was launched with the signing of a supernatural contract, as I related in in the July 5 Gem.) We didn’t realize at the time that our step of faith to start that one program was actually the inception of what would become the first Christian TV network in the territory of the former USSR.

Decades later, we are still broadcasting our own TV programs in addition to other programs that we broadcast for other ministries. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, we broadcast to a viewing audience of millions of people! Over all these years, we have literally broadcasted hundreds of thousands of hours of Bible-teaching TV programs all across this vast land. By the grace of God, I am thoroughly convinced that it has made a permanent impact on the spiritual environment of the former USSR. So much teaching of the Bible has gone into homes that the Church in this part of the world will never be the same.

Since we started broadcasting in 1992, we have received millions of letters and correspondence from people whose lives have been changed by the powerful teaching of God’s Word via the airwaves. It is no exaggeration to state that several million people have come to Christ as a result of our television network. Books have been distributed free of charge by the millions. We give all the glory to God for what has happened and for what will ensue, and we are thankful for the gifts of our partners who have worked hand in hand with us so we could establish and continue to fulfill this mighty work.

To do all of this has taken faith, courage, finances, equipment, a skilled technical team, and a group of giving partners who have stood by us through the years so we could consistently and professionally reach the multitudes who live in spiritual darkness. In addition to the technical expertise needed, this assignment has also required a large team of dedicated employees who read and answer every single letter that is received from those who correspond in response to the programs.

This is no small undertaking and requires a “1,000-percent” commitment from everyone involved, despite the obstacles and setbacks that invariably occur with such a monumental task. Hell does not sit silent as you take the life-saving message to those in darkness, so you must also stand ready to combat spiritual enemies that come to oppose you. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that God’s mercy and grace remain the most important factor in this mix!

We can buy the finest equipment, produce the highest quality programs, and purchase the best time slots available on television — but if God doesn’t supply His part, it will all be to no avail. I am reminded of Psalm 127:1, which states: “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”

In First Corinthians 3:7, Paul also stated this truth: “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” As we saw in the July 5 Sparkling Gem, the word “increase” is from the Greek word auxano, which simply means to increase or grow — and in this context indicates the continual blessing of God.

But let me go into greater detail today concerning this word “increase.” The form of the Greek word auxano that Paul used to write this passage denotes something that is amplified, augmented, enlarged, or enhanced. It carries the idea of something that escalates and multiplies. It clearly means that even though one plants and another waters, it is God who causes the vision to blossom, to become larger, and to grow strong and healthy.

Another way to say it is that we can nurture the soil, plant the seeds, and water what has been planted, but only God can produce the sunshine and weather conditions to cause growth. Therefore, even with all the faithful people who do their essential parts, God is still the most important Partner in whatever it is we are called to do!

So whatever God has called you to do, give it your very best, but never forget the crucial role of prayer and the reality of your utter dependence on God as your number-one Partner in life. Just like a farmer, you can prepare the ground and plant the seed of God’s Word; then you can water and nurture the seed that was sown. But only God can produce the sunshine and weather conditions necessary to bring the growth that is needed. Therefore, in the end, He gets the glory for all increase!

Today I urge you to make sure you have these two essential ingredients — prayer and complete trust in God — thoroughly integrated into the mix of what you are doing. Remember that you have no Partner comparable to the One who called you, for He is the ultimate Source of all true increase!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Dear Father, I thank You for reminding me again today that even as I do my part, I have to always remember that I must trust You to do Your part or no increase will come to what You have called me to do. I promise to nurture the soil, plant the seed, pull the weeds, and water what is planted — but I look to You to provide the sunshine and proper weather conditions to produce the increase I need. I understand that one plants, another waters — but only You give the increase. Thank You for bringing this back to the forefront of my mind today and for encouraging me to remember that You are the crucial ingredient in all that I do! In the end, we can do all our parts, but the increase is totally dependent on You!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I boldly confess that I will do what God has asked me to do. I will nurture the soil, plant the seeds, pull the weeds, and water what has been planted — and I will do it faithfully with others who work alongside with me. But no results will be gained if God does not join Himself to what we are doing. So today I look to God as the great Provider of increase. He will provide the sunshine and weather necessary to make these seeds and acts of faith grow. Without Him, I can do nothing, but with God as my primary Partner, it is guaranteed that I will see and experience increase!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever attempted something without God’s involvement and experienced poor results? Perhaps you put time, energy, and attention into the project but forgot to bring God into the planning? What did you learn from that experience? What will you do to prevent that from happening again?
  2. On the other hand, can you name a time when you remembered that God is your primary Partner? As you did your part while leaning upon God as your Partner, how did you experience supernatural increase?
  3. From what you have read today, what changes are you going to make in the tasks and projects that are in front of you? What difference will this Sparkling Gem make in the way you do things?

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
— Ephesians 5:16

It’s interesting to me that the most successful of wealthy investors and a homeless, penniless man on the street have one thing in common: Each has only 24 hours in a day.

In this natural world, time is the very essence of our lives. To a large degree, the way we use time defines who we are. Because that is true, the issue of how we utilize our time becomes supremely important.

It’s true that the way we utilize our money is a measuring rod of what we value most in life. But although financial stewardship is important, the way we spend our time is even more important. For example, many wealthy moguls will ignore their families for weeks, months, and even years, and then try to “buy” the affections of their loved ones with money and material wealth. This is rarely, if ever, a successful undertaking. It seems that no amount of money they spend can compete with spending their most precious commodity — time — on the ones they love.

Time is one of our most valuable resources. Money can be replaced. Financial shortfalls can be made up in the following quarter or fiscal year. But nothing can replace time. Once it is gone, it is gone forever.

The good news is that the apostle Paul said we can “redeem the time” (see Ephesians 5:16). The word “redeem” is the Greek word exagoridzo, which in this context means to buy back time. You may have lost time by merely wasting it or by using it on things that weren’t important. But the great story of redemption is that your story isn’t over. With God’s help, time can be redeemed — that is, bought back by personal carefulness and by stewarding what time remains.

Today we live in age of distractions. It’s not that we’re necessarily idle or lazy. But so many things vie for our time and attention that we can become distracted from important and essential things. For example, nonstop media entertainment and electronic gadgets fill our modern lives, constantly luring us away from the truly important things of life. Part of the act of prioritizing is identifying these types of time-wasters and eliminating them from our routines — or at least reducing the amount of time we spend focusing on those activities.

Media and gadgets are not bad or wrong in themselves, but often they take far too much of our time from matters that should be our real priorities, such as time with the Lord, family, work, and friends. The key is balancing all our priorities, and that means knowing what needs to be done at what time and being able to put other things on hold that are nonessential or less important at the moment.

The ability to properly manage your time and to establish sound, balanced priorities is one of the most critical keys to experiencing a stable, fruitful life as a believer and a leader. So I encourage you today to prioritize your time by carefully identifying the things that are most essential to your life. Once you’ve determined your top priorities, focus on those areas and let other, less important pursuits fall into place beneath what you truly value most. As you learn to use your time wisely, not squandering it but making the most of the life God has given you, you will surely find the fulfillment He desires you to experience in every area of your life.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I ask You to help me understand what my top priorities should be and then give me the discipline to live according to those guidelines. Help me discern when something is actually a distraction that will pull me off task so I don’t become entangled in activities that are either unnecessary or possibly even a hindrance to the main thing You want me to accomplish. I repent for the times I have allowed procrastination and laziness to waste valuable time. Those are not habits that I want to continue in my life. Teach me to focus and prioritize as You help me cultivate new habits and patterns that produce Your desired results in my life. Today I make a fresh commitment to steward my time with diligence and to trust You to guide my choices so I can make the most of every moment.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I am diligent, productive, and undistracted as I give my time and attention to the most important priorities in my life. I maintain keen focus on the assignment before me. I keep my ears open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance to follow His wisdom in all I set out to do. Therefore, I am productive and organized. I believe that I receive lasting fruitfulness as the reward of how I invest my time.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you think of time-wasters in your life? Is it too much time on the Internet, texting people, or watching television? What is there in your life that is taking too much of your precious time and thereby robbing you of the ability to be more productive in the areas that matter most?
  2. Have you ever asked the Lord to help you form a set of priorities for your life? If yes, do you live by that list of priorities? If not, why not?
  3. How many hours a day do you spend on less important pursuits that should be used more productively?

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands…
— 1 Timothy 2:8

I can remember as a young boy when I would sit next to my Grandmother Bagley in church. I would take her hands in mine, and I’d run the tip of my index finger along the bulging blood vessels in her elderly hands. I was amazed at how I could push the vessels one way or the other, and how easily her wrinkly skin moved when I pressed against it. I was particularly fascinated by the liver spots that covered ever-increasing sections of the skin on her upper hand. As I looked at her hands, they told me that her life had not been an easy one.

I’ve always enjoyed looking at hands because the condition of people’s hands tells so many stories about their lives. If people have worked hard, manual-labor jobs over the course of their lives, it can be seen in their hands. If people have served in a top-level professional job, it can usually be detected in the softness they have been able to retain in their hands. Hands tell stories. They are indicative of one’s life.

Think of it! With our hands, we embrace loved ones; we work in our employment; we handle property; we make money; and we touch every sphere of our lives. There is nothing pertaining to our daily lives that we don’t put our hands to in some way.

With people’s hands, both good and evil is done. With hands, others are helped, sin is committed, and communication is carried out. Hands are required in every area of our lives, and they represent us in every way. Thus, our hands become symbolic of our lives.

The apostle Paul stated, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands…” (1 Timothy 2:8). When we lift our hands to Heaven, we therefore present everything we are, everything we have done, and everything we have to God. When you or I lift our hands in worship, we are lifting up our families, our loved ones, our relationships, our work, our money, and everything else to God.

But Paul specifically said that he wished all men everywhere would lift up “holy” hands. The word “holy” is the Greek word hosios, which describes something that is consecrated or dedicated to God. Thus, when Paul wrote of lifting up “holy” hands, he was expressing his deeply felt longing that men everywhere would present themselves as dedicated and consecrated to God.

When you lift your hands to Heaven, what does God see?

Paul’s prayer was that men everywhere would do whatever is necessary to present dedicated, consecrated, holy hands to the Lord — which means to present their dedicated, consecrated, holy lives to Him.

So pause for a moment today and look at your hands. What do you see when you look at them? An even bigger question is this: What does God see when He looks at your hands? One thing is for sure: Your hands are not just skin and bones — they are symbols of your life. So each day make sure that you lift up holy hands and give glory to your faithful God. Then offer your hands as holy instruments unto Him, to do His will and to reach out to others with His unconditional, unchanging love!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, You are stirring my heart today to offer myself to You as a holy instrument to do Your will. I realize now that the lifting of my hands to You represents bringing my life to You in yielded surrender. You are calling me to a higher level of dedication, and when I lift my hands to You, that action represents a life lifted in consecration to Your glory. When I look at my hands, help me think seriously about the adjustments I may need to make so I can lift up my life to You in worship with confidence and without compromise.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I proclaim that every day I dedicate myself more and more to Jesus. Today I make a fresh decision to live a life that is consecrated to the purposes of God. Every day I choose to set my attention and affection on Jesus and to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to me areas of my life that Jesus longs for me to surrender. I release those areas to His control and submit them to the Lordship of Christ. When I raise my hands in worship, I raise hands that represent purity, dedication, consecration, and total surrender to the will of God!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. The apostle Paul prayed for men to present themselves as living sacrifices, consecrated to God. Can you confidently say that your life is a consecrated life?
  2. What do you need to do differently and specifically to live a life of consecration? Take a moment to examine your heart and to determine those areas where you know that your ways do not line up with God’s ways. First John 1:9 tells you how to experience a deep cleansing by the blood of Jesus so you can dedicate your life to the Lord in a fuller way.
  3. What specifically did the Holy Spirit speak to you about today as you read this Sparkling Gem? What action is He leading you to take as a result?

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints…
— Romans 1:7

Growing up in our church, it was our custom after the sermon concluded to give a public invitation for people who felt some kind of “call” from God. As the piano played and an atmosphere was created for people to respond to the dealings of the Holy Spirit, the pastor often asked, “Is God calling you today?” People would come to the front of the sanctuary, meet the pastor, kneel at the altar, and receive prayer for the various invitations that were made. Whether it was a call to salvation, a call to rededication, a call to join the church, or a call to the ministry — people sensed the Holy Spirit drawing them to respond to Him in those services.

If we know Jesus Christ, God has called each of us — and that call is very special. But what does it actually mean to be called? This is what I want to talk to you about today. I want us to begin by looking at an example of the word “called” in Romans 1:7, where Paul wrote, “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints…”

The word “called” is the Greek word kaleo, which means to beckon, to call, to invite, or to summon. Although the word kaleo can simply mean to call, it is often used to convey the idea of an invitation. Those who are called or invited should view the invitation as a privilege and a prestigious honor to be treasured, prized, and revered.

The New Testament abounds with 148 examples of this word kaleo. Two notable examples are found in Matthew 22:2-10 and Luke 14:7-24. In Matthew 22, the word kaleo is used in Jesus’ parable to describe a special invitation extended by a king who was asking people to attend a great marriage feast. Such royal events were closed to the public; a person couldn’t attend without being invited. Receiving an invitation to attend this type of special occasion was therefore considered an honor.

In Luke 14:7-24, Jesus taught two parables in which various forms of the word kaleo are used 12 times to denote invitations given to people to attend a wedding and a great feast. Both parables in this passage of Scripture emphatically convey the idea of the great honor and privilege bestowed on a person who was called or invited to such an event.

The apostle Paul used the Greek word kaleo and its various forms 49 times in his epistles. For instance, he used this word kaleo to describe God’s call to repent — to be set free from spiritual darkness and the world of sin and to become a part of His family. This divine call comes to each person when God opens his or her spiritual ears to hear the Gospel’s invitation to salvation. When the Holy Spirit opens a person’s spiritual ears to truly hear the Gospel message, that is precisely when God’s invitation is extended to him or her.

As believers, we must never forget that we couldn’t have come to the Lord if He hadn’t opened our spiritual ears and invited us to become a part of His family. Yes, Jesus died for all, but only the Holy Spirit opens spiritual ears to hear the invitation to become a part of God’s family. Our being called into the family of God was at His initiative. Our part was simply to respond to the invitation He was offering us.

As a mature believer, I now understand what was happening at the altar of our church when I was a young man. God’s Spirit was touching hearts, calling and inviting them to make various changes or commitments. Then people, by His grace, were responding to the invitation that the Holy Spirit was extending to them.

So why don’t you take the time to ask yourself, What is it God is calling me to do for Him? Whatever invitation you have received from Heaven — whether it is the call to salvation, to the ministry, or to any other assignment for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom — it is your responsibility to recognize the honor of the invitation and to answer His call with a willing and obedient heart. Whatever the Holy Spirit is saying to you, you can know this for sure: It’s a good day to say YES to the Lord!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You for opening my spiritual ears to hear the call You first issued to me when You called me to repentance and salvation. I understand that I “heard” that call only because You opened my spiritual ears to hear. How I thank You for that divine act of grace in my life! And now, Father, I ask that my spiritual ears remain open so that I can continue to hear the invitations You extend to me when You call upon me to do new tasks and assignments. Help me not to be so busy that I don’t hear You. It is my sincere prayer that my spiritual ears remain open to hear You, and that when You speak, I am quick to obey what You have called and invited me to do!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I joyfully confess that God speaks to me and that I hear Him when He speaks. He has opened my spiritual ears, and I have the ability to hear when He calls and invites me to do something new and special. When God asks me to do something or beckons me to a new task, I do not argue. I choose to quickly agree with God so that I can walk continually with Him. I consider it an honor and a privilege whenever God allows me the opportunity to do something in His service.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you remember the first time God opened your spiritual ears, and you heard Him call you to repentance and salvation? When was that time? Do you remember the specific place and date?
  2. Are your spiritual ears open? Are you are cultivating a sensitive, listening heart that stays tuned in to the Holy Spirit’s leadings in your spirit? You may be sensing a new calling that He is extending to you in this season of your life? Is there a new invitation to take on a new task or assignment?
  3. To be honest — and we must be honest if we’re going to grow in the Lord — is there any call that He has extended to you that you have not obeyed? It’s never too late to repent for that, and to immediately begin to follow the instructions that the Holy Spirit has extended to you. What is that call that you are supposed to be fulfilling?

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren….
— 2 Corinthians 11:26

The difficulty of travel when we first moved to the Soviet Union cannot be exaggerated. For example, because the whole USSR was gripped with deficits multiple decades ago, people never knew if they’d be able to find gasoline for their car. In the town where Denise and I lived, there was rarely gasoline at the gas station. The only reason we could drive our car was that we found a man who filled the Russian Army tanks with fuel. He siphoned gas on the side and sold it to drivers for $20 for five gallons.

But starting out with a tank of gas was no guarantee that you’d make it to your destination. You could be en route to some destination with a full tank of gas at the onset. But along the way when you needed to refill, you would drive into gas station after gas station that had big signs on the pumps that read, “CLOSED: NO FUEL!” It was a definite challenge to travel by car!

Then there were the trains! Russian trains today are beautiful and a delightful experience, but back in those early days after the fall of the Soviet Union, passenger trains were filthy. A person nearly needed waders to go into the restroom because the urine was so deep on the floor of the toilet stalls. Drunks drank vodka like water; drunken people physically fought each other; gypsies roamed the train cars and robbed travelers; and cockroaches scrambled across the floors.

In addition, the trains rarely ran on schedule, which meant there was a strong chance you would show up late for whatever kind of meeting you were trying to get to. It only cost about 25 cents to take a train back in those early days, but you more than paid for the inexpensive ride by having to put up with the inconveniences — the filth, the thieves, and the drunken fights. Add to that the frequent delays, and it took hours upon hours in the most unpleasant conditions to reach your destination by this mode of travel.

Finally, there was traveling by airplane. Today Russia has some fine, world-class airlines, but in the early ’90s, getting on a Russian airplane was a real adventure! I actually experienced times when I was seated next to someone who had a dog or goat on the plane with him! And the food — if you could call it food — was nearly thrown at you by flight attendants, who didn’t know anything about serving customers. I was once on a plane when the engines caught on fire. And on another flight, the flight attendants actually warned us that there would likely be a drop in cabin pressure because one of the doors had a broken seal!

Furthermore, ticket agents took bribes in those days and oversold seats on planes. One time I was on a plane that was so overloaded, a nursing mother was seated in the cockpit and the kitchens had people seated on the cabinet countertops and on the kitchen floors! My seat — which had been reserved and purchased in advance — was occupied by someone else when I arrived on board. So the flight attendant seated me in the coat closet on top of a crate of Pepsi bottles, which was crammed next to a rose bush that someone was taking to his home in the next city. And try to imagine it — before the flight took off, the flight attendant shut the curtain to the coat closet, so I sat in darkness the whole flight! By the end of that flight, my bottom felt sore from being poked by pop bottles, and my arms were scratched all over by the thorns on that rose bush.

As I remember those experiences that happened so many years ago, they remind me of what the apostle Paul wrote of his own travels in Second Corinthians 11:26, where he stated that he had been “…in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren….”

In this verse, Paul repeats the word “perils” seven times as he tells about what he faced as he traveled in his apostolic ministry. The word “perils” is from the Greek word kindunos, which simply means danger — telling us that traveling to preach the Gospel in the First Century AD was often a dangerous affair.

First, Paul says that he faced “perils of waters.” The word “waters is potamos, which is the Greek word for rivers. Hence, we know that there were moments in his travels when Paul and his team had to cross dangerous rivers that could have jeopardized their lives. Dry riverbeds in that region of the world quickly swell to overflowing during flash floods — a constant danger to those who were traveling by foot.

Second, Paul says that he faced “perils of robbers.” The word for “robbers” is listes, and it depicted bandits that lay alongside the roads and robbed those who were traveling alone or in small groups. According to Paul’s testimony in this verse, he faced bandits at some point during his apostolic journeys.

Third, Paul says that he faced “perils of my own countrymen.” The word “countrymen” is the Greek word genos, which is where we get the word genes. Paul was saying that he had been in danger at the hands of people who were from his own ancestry. We know by reading the book of Acts that the Jewish community continually assaulted Paul and his team and put them in great danger.

Fourth, Paul says that he faced “perils by the heathen.” The word “heathen” is ethnos, and it referred to pagans. The pagan world was fiercely opposed to the message Paul and his companions preached, and as we read in the book of Acts, they were often confronted with dangerous situa- tions at the hands of pagans.

Fifth, he says “perils in the wilderness.” The word “wilderness” in Greek is heremia, and it denotes an isolated, desert place. Such places were often confronted when one traveled by foot, and they could often prove to be dangerous because there was little water and no sustenance.

Sixth, Paul says that he faced “perils in the sea.” Acts 27 records one concrete dangerous event that Paul faced while he was at sea. However, Second Corinthians 11:25 says that he suffered shipwreck three times. That means there are two shipwreck events that are not even recorded in the Book of Acts!

Seventh, Paul says that he faced “perils among false brethren.” The key to this phrase is the word “false” — the word pseudos, which implies the idea of pretend brothers. They feigned to be in Christ, but in fact they were not. Perhaps they were spies or other enemies sent into the Church to try to obtain information about Paul and his team. The text does not make it clear who these particular false brothers were, but it makes it clear that they were a “peril” to Paul’s ministry.

In all seven instances we’ve seen, the word “peril” is the word kindunos, the Greek word for danger. This tells us that traveling as a Gospel preacher in Paul’s time was not always grand and glorious. There were constant threats, which had to be held off with faith and a determination to proceed regardless of the risks involved. Much of what Paul faced in his travels is not even recorded in the Book of Acts!

As I faced my own struggles in the earlier years of ministering in the former USSR, I took courage from Paul’s testimony in Second Corinthians 11:25. I am certain that ministers of the Gospel over the past 2,000 years have read these words and have similarly taken heart that their own particular struggles were not unique — and that if Paul could face such threats and go on to minister in God’s power and anointing, they could do it too.

Today I want to assure you — you can do whatever God has told you to do. The devil may try to thwart God’s plan for your life or hinder you along the way, but if you’ll stay in faith and keep pressing forward, these obstacles will move aside, and you will do exactly what God has told you to do!

I would encourage you to read the rest of Second Corinthians 11 to see what else the apostle Paul encountered as he traveled to do the work of apostolic ministry. The devil tried to oppose him, hinder him, and thwart him from making progress in every way possible. But Paul pushed through each attack and every moment of opposition, and he did precisely what God called him to do. Let that be your testimony too!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You for the power of God that sustains me when I am in rough places. The devil has tried to hinder me, oppose me, and thwart Your plan for my life. But I’ve kept my eyes focused on the goal that You have given me — and as a result, You have empowered me to keep going forward regardless of the opposition that I have encountered. Today I ask You to empower me by the Holy Spirit to tackle and overcome every hindrance that I am facing. I thank you for this divine power that always helps to make a way!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world! The devil and the world itself may try to limit and hinder me from fulfilling God’s plan for my life, but I declare that I will not be defeated, nor will I allow the devil to have delight in mastering my life. With the name of Jesus, the power of God, and the endurance of the Holy Spirit, I will press forward by faith until I have gone where I am supposed to go and have done what I am supposed to do!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. What have you faced as you stepped forward to follow Jesus Christ and accomplish what He has called you to do? If Paul faced dangers, it shouldn’t surprise us if we face them too!
  2. How have you experienced the delivering and saving power of God as you’ve stepped out to obey God with your life? Can you think of times when you shouldn’t have made it, but His quickening power reached out and rescued you, empowering you to keep forging ahead?
  3. Have you read the rest of Second Corinthians, in which Paul relates the whole account of what he endured as he traveled in his apostolic journeys? As you do, realize that if Paul could overcome these things, you can overcome what you are facing too!

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
— 2 Corinthians 9:6

In recent years, many people have been forced into positions of financial hardship as they struggle to keep up with an unpredictable, ever-changing global economy. People from almost every walk of life have been affected by the rising cost of living. Families scramble to keep up with house payments, car payments, insurance costs, school costs for the kids, credit-card payments, and a myriad of other monthly expenses.

This economic instability has also adversely affected churches, ministries, and mission organizations. When things get tough in the economy, many believers simply cut back on their giving to God, choosing not to set aside their tithes or give special offerings to ministries or charitable organizations. This decline in giving has had catastrophic consequences in the Kingdom of God because preaching the Gospel and establishing churches require money. Regardless of what is happening in the economy, there is a lost world that desperately needs to hear the message of Jesus Christ — and when people cease to give to the work of God, it hinders the outreach to lost souls.

The Bible makes it clear that tithes and offerings are not optional for us as believers. In fact, we have an even greater responsibility to be consistent and faithful in difficult times. God is watching — and His law of giving and receiving always works!

Right now believers all over the world are faced with these questions:

Allow me to share an example from my own life. My parents’ response to these challenging economic times stands out to me as a wonderful example of being consistent regardless of what is happening in the economy. Perhaps no one understands the challenge of making ends meet on a limited budget more than retirees. My father is now in Heaven, so today I will give you the vibrant example of my mother. Although she lives on a fixed income and makes many difficult financial decisions, she has never stopped giving to the work of the Lord.

My mother has always been careful with money, but now that she lives on a fixed retiree’s income, she thinks twice before she gets in the car to drive to the grocery store or pharmacy. Instead of casually driving down the street to run a single errand, she combines errands to avoid driving when it isn’t absolutely necessary in order to save on gasoline expenses. She is extremely careful with her expenditures.

Nevertheless, she has always resolved that regardless of what happens in the economy, she will not cut back in her giving to the ministry. She knows that if she and others don’t stay on track with their giving, it ultimately affects souls that need to hear the Gospel and be saved. My mother has never considered her giving into the work of the ministry as something that could be “opted out of ” in order to cut expenses.

I want to encourage you to take the same stance of faith as my mother. Be unmoved in your commitment to support the work of God, regardless of what is happening in the economy. Every time you write a check for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom, He is watching. He sees each time you cut back on something else but refuse to skimp on your tithes and offerings. God sees it all, and He takes note of your love, devotion, and unwavering commitment to support His work. As a result, God will provide for you in ways that your natural resources could never provide. God will multiply your seed back to you in ways you could never expect or anticipate.

In Second Corinthians 9:6, the Holy Spirit said through Paul, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” Paul wrote in terms of seed when he spoke about giving to the work of God. Since this is the metaphor the Holy Spirit gives us, we need to consider what it means. What does a farmer — a sower of seed — do to guarantee that he will have a harvest in the fall of the year?

If a farmer puts seed into the ground, he is guaranteed to have a harvest. But what if he says, “It’s too hard to plant right now, so I’m going to hold on to my seed and not plant it this year”? Or what if he decides, “I’m going to eat my seed because I have so little of it”? These faulty decisions will guarantee that the farmer is going to experience a crisis at harvest time — because if no seed is planted in the ground, there simply will be no harvest.

The future of a farmer is completely dependent on getting his seed into the ground, and any farmer who fails to do this is guaranteeing his own crop failure. Therefore, regardless of how hot the weather or how difficult the task, a farmer must plant seed if he wants to reap a harvest. This is God’s law of sowing and reaping.

The law of sowing and reaping applies to every sphere of life, including finances. It supersedes natural laws and natural economic crises. Even if the world around you suffers financially, sowing seed into the Kingdom of God will bring you protection and blessing. This is God’s promise to you.

One of the best examples of God’s people being blessed in times of crisis is the account of the children of Israel when God delivered them out of Egypt. God’s people were blessed and protected while the world around them suffered. Although plagues ravaged the Egyptians, those plagues never touched the children of Israel because they hearkened to the voice of the Lord and did exactly what He instructed them to do.

The world around the Israelites was falling apart, but their obedience to God’s Word created an invisible wall that protected them from the destruction that crippled and laid waste to Egypt. If Israel had not obeyed God’s commands, that invisible wall would never have been erected and they would have experienced the same plagues the people of Egypt did. It was their obedience that set them apart and saved them while the godless world around them suffered terribly.

If you and I stay on track financially and give to God’s work, regardless of how difficult it seems to be to do so, we will be divinely protected, supernaturally provided for, and guaranteed a blessing multiplied back to us. Like natural seed, it may take awhile for the crop to grow, but God promises in Second Corinthians 9:6 that if we put seed into the ground, we will reap. If we sow sparingly, that is how we will reap. But if we sow bountifully, God promises that we will reap bountifully. The level we reap will be completely determined by the level we sow.

If you and I are sure of where God wants us to sow and how much we’re supposed to sow, we must stay steadfast in our obedience to give! We must first make sure we’re putting our seed in ground that will produce good fruit. Then we are to determine not to refrain from giving, regardless of the current economic climate or forecast.

Just keep your eyes faithfully fixed on Jesus in this matter of giving. Carefully obey His command to tithe, to give offerings, and to sow seed. As you do, He will cause harvests of blessing to come to you, despite anything that is happening in the world around you. This is God’s promise to you!

I’m very aware that many are worrying about the economy and wondering what’s going to happen in the future. But don’t let that happen to you! A spirit of fear will cause you to back off and retreat from doing what God commands — and that will put you in a negative cycle that brings a curse instead of a blessing. If you want to stay in a cycle of blessing, you must take authority over fear in the name of Jesus and then trust God as you obey His command to give, for that is His method of bringing you a harvest. Don’t shrink back; keep pressing forward; keep your eyes on Jesus; and believe for a good harvest to come from the seed you have sown into good soil.

If you do what is right and obey God’s command to give, you needn’t worry about the future because the law of sowing and reaping works. This universal law assures a harvest of provision for you, for your family, and for your business, regardless of what happens in the world around you. And that, my friend, is good news!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Heavenly Father, I thank You that the law of sowing and reaping works regardless of what is happening in the current world economy. Your Word commands me to give tithes and offerings, and I obey what Your Word tells me to do. You said that if I love You, I will keep Your commands. By giving, I am demonstrating my love to You. It is a part of my worship. I thank You for keeping Your promise that if I give, it will be given to me again. It is part of Your personal promise to me, and I thank You for being faithful to perform Your promise in my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I am consistent and faithful when it comes to giving tithes and offerings to the work of the ministry. People need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ — and I commit to using my money to preach the Gospel and to mature new believers in their faith. When it comes to my contributions, I declare that God can count on me. If there is any area that needs to be cut back in my expenses, it will not be in the area of my tithes and offerings. I will be faithful, and God will multiply my seed back to me. My time of harvest will come, and it will never be late. God is well aware of my situation, and He will keep His promise of sowing and reaping to me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. During times when the world economic situation is challenging to you, do you remain faithful to give your tithes and offerings, or do you see this as an optional choice to stop or to reduce your giving? Do you see yourself giving to God for His purposes or merely to men?
  2. Have you considered what happens to churches and ministries — the work of the Kingdom — when people stop giving? The needs of the ministry continue regardless of what is happening in the economy. So if everyone cut back, how would it affect the ability of the ministry to carry out the work of Jesus in these times?
  3. Can you think of a time when you were tempted to cut back on your giving, but you decided to remain steadfast, and in the end, you saw God multiply your seed back to you in some way that you could have never anticipated?

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea.
— Acts 11:29

I have no doubt in my mind that we are facing the most serious time in the history of mankind. Jesus warned of impending floods, earthquakes, and wars as we approach the end of the age. These calamities will become more and more frequent in the days ahead — but how we deal with them is up to us. We can respond in fear, or we can be prepared and rise up in faith to seize the hour for the spreading of the eternal Gospel.

There are numerous instances in Scripture where believers prepared themselves for difficult times after being forewarned. In Matthew 24:1-8, Jesus Himself warned the Early Church that trying circumstances lay ahead in their future, and instead of succumbing to worry and panic, these believers continued to believe and work and prosper. Another example is found in Acts 11:27-30, which tells of believers in Antioch who were warned by the Spirit of an impending famine and then began to set aside food and prepare for the coming crisis.

Notice that when these believers heard this warning from the Spirit, they were “determined” to take action. The Greek word for “determined” is horidzo, which means to be bound or to be obligated. In other words, these believers didn’t hoard their prosperity in times of need. Bound by a sense of covenant obligation as fellow believers, they determined to act. Working together in unity, the believers in Antioch prepared a relief offering to send to the church in Jerusalem so the money could be distributed to believers in need. The action of the Antioch congregation before a time of crisis made them God’s agents of provision and deliverance for others when the crisis actually occurred.

Today the Church’s response to crises is often fractured, disorganized, and negatively influenced by poor doctrine. In the face of an impending catastrophe, one camp’s strategy is to run and hide, whereas another will deny that the crisis even exists at all. Both of these strategies ultimately produce the same result: They prevent the Church from demonstrating God’s manifold wisdom to the world.

There’s no way to avoid the end-time prophecies outlined in the Bible — troubles will increase on the earth in the days ahead. However, these troubles are prime opportunities for those of us who know God and are called according to His purposes. By God’s power, we can walk in faith through every fiery trial and become sources of supernatural provision to meet the needs of those who are suffering, demonstrating His love, grace, and wisdom to those who don’t yet know His saving power in their lives.

Even if days of darkness lie in the future, these are not days to fear. Rather, they are opportunities for you to rise up as a man or woman of faith and do great things for the Kingdom of God. These are days for you to demonstrate that you are a member of the Church of Almighty God and that you will meet the needs of the lost and hurting. Just as God used the church of Antioch to meet the severe needs of believers in Jerusalem — this is your moment to shine! But in order to be God’s hand of deliverance and provision, you must plan and prepare. Are you praying about how to prepare so God can use you mightily in these last times?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, there is no doubt in my mind that we are living in the last of the last days. The challenges in our future are unlike any faced by the previous generations. Jesus warned of impending calamities as we approach the end of the age. He did not warn us of these difficulties to scare us but to prepare us. Holy Spirit, I trust You for the wisdom I need in order to plan and be prepared in every area of my life for what lies ahead. I ask You to make me Your hand of deliverance and provision for others as You equip and enable me to meet the severe needs of those who are suffering in these difficult times.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Therefore, I am well organized and prepared for any dark days that lie ahead. I rise up in faith and boldly seize the hour for the spreading of the eternal Gospel. I remain sensitive to and in touch with the Spirit of God, and He teaches me how to prepare as He leads me according to truth and shows me things to come. God has blessed me so I can be a blessing to others. I have resolved to be an expression of God’s hope and blessing; therefore, He will bless me with resources and provisions that I can share with those who are in need.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever considered how God wants to use you to help people in times of distress? In what ways are you prepared to help people in times of distress? What steps could you take to get better prepared?
  2. Think of how God used the church at Antioch to help suffering believers in Jerusalem. Because God spoke to them — and they listened — they were prepared to help those who were in need. Are you listening to what the Holy Spirit is telling you about the days to come?
  3. Joseph is a great example of a believer who prepared for difficult times. Because He listened to God’s voice and prepared, Joseph was a blessing in hard times. In fact, God used him to provide for an entire nation! Can you think of ways to emulate Joseph and prepare to help the people God has placed in your life?

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him…
— Luke 14:28,29

I have it on my heart today to share a vital principle from the Word of God that will help ensure your next endeavor in God has a successful outcome. Over the years, I’ve seen how so many believers like to blame the devil for just about everything that goes wrong in their lives. But although the devil certainly does try to wreak his share of havoc and destruction in Christians’ lives, everything bad that happens cannot be blamed on demonic attacks. I have discovered that a believer’s defeat can often be attributed to a lack of planning and preparation.

Jesus spoke of this crucial principle in Luke 14:28,29, saying, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him.”

Jesus began this verse by underscoring the importance of sitting down and counting the cost before beginning a project. The phrase “sitteth down” comes from the Greek word kathidzo, which depicts someone who sits down and takes a long time to seriously contemplate the project he is about to initiate. Part of that contemplation process is counting the cost of the endeavor. The phrase “counteth the cost” is the Greek word psiphidzo, which means to count or to calculate the real cost of the project before it is commenced. This process includes the careful consideration of not only the monetary cost involved in fully accomplishing the assigned task, but also of all that will be necessary in order to complete the task — time spent, physical effort expended, relationships impacted, etc.

Furthermore, the word “finish” is apartismos, which means to bring a project to completion. According to Jesus, it is very important to have the foresight before you get started on a project to ensure that you have the wherewithal to finish it. Getting started on a task is easy, but if you don’t have a solid financial and logistical plan in place, you will see very little progress.

Jesus continued in Luke 14:29 by saying, “Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him.” This word “mock” is the Greek word empaidzo, which means to ridicule, to mock, or to taunt someone. According to Jesus, if you give up on your project before it is complete, bystanders will ridicule and taunt you. And even if bystanders don’t mock you, the devil will most certainly accuse you of being a stupid failure who can’t finish what you start. Therefore, the wise course of action is to avoid this cast of accusing voices altogether by developing a meticulous plan well in advance. By sitting down and seriously contemplating the logistics of your project — what it will cost, where the money will come from, how much help you’ll need, and so on — you will know exactly what you need to see your endeavor through to completion.

Allow me to share an example from my own life. My wife Denise and I have lived in the former Soviet Union since the early 1990s. During this time abroad on the mission field, we’ve seen many missionary families come and go. In fact, of all the families who moved to the former USSR in the early 1990s to share the Gospel, we are the only family that remains as far as we can tell.

Certainly it’s true that some missionaries left because God called them to take the next step in their ministries and move to a new location. However, time and time again, Denise and I watched people leave prematurely because of unresolved personal issues that they didn’t take care of before they moved their families across the world. They would quit their jobs and move their entire families to Russia without counting the cost. And as a result, they would become so distracted by unresolved problems back home that they couldn’t focus on their work on the mission field. There is no doubt that these people were called to the mission field. But because they didn’t take care of their personal responsibilities, they couldn’t complete what God had called them to do.

There are a multitude of reasons why these well-meaning people were forced to leave the mission field early. Each reason is an example of failure to count the cost and to do things right from the start. The following list represents a few of the issues we’ve seen derail the ministries of missionaries overseas:

For those who did things wrong and failed to count the cost before leaving on their faith journey, these people lost a lot of time and money and suffered a great deal of unnecessary emotional wear and tear. Only a few times have we seen any of these missionary families return. Most became so sidetracked that they never made it back to the mission field where God called them.

Through observation and personal experience, Denise and I have learned that it may take a little longer to do things right the first time around, but nothing is as difficult as abandoning your divine call because you didn’t count the cost and do what you should have done in the beginning. Doing things right the first time is the smartest, cheapest, and best way to live!

I am so thankful that we have been able to continue our ministry in the former Soviet Union because we took the time to sit down and count the cost. We know that if we do things wrong, we’ll only have to backtrack and fix the problem, so we do our best to get it right from the very start of every assignment. We haven’t been successful 100 percent of the time, but with the help of God’s Spirit and sound counsel, we’ve been successful most of the time. For this, we give glory to God! We have peace in our hearts that our family members are secure, and we strive to keep our relationships with our partners alive so they feel connected to our ministry.

As a result, Denise and I have been free to focus on the task before us without unnecessary distractions that might pull us away from the call God has placed on our lives. Remaining in this place of freedom requires a great deal of effort. Often it has meant spending less money or moving slower than planned with certain projects. But in the long term, our efforts have empowered us to keep pressing forward into new and uncharted territory.

So today I strongly encourage you to do what Jesus said: Sit down and contemplate the total cost of the task or assignment that lies ahead of you before you begin. Count the cost from every angle to make sure you will truly be able to finish with excellence what you started out of obedience. You can do whatever God has called you to do — as long as you take heed to His words and do it His way!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You for the common-sense approach that I’ve read today. I know that You have called me to do significant things with my life, so I accept the challenge to sit down and calculate the costs before I get started. The last thing I want is to start something I can’t finish and give others a reason to mock me or to deride Your holy assignment. I do not want to create an opportunity to hear the accusing voice of the devil or the mocking voices of doubters or non-believers. So help me use my mind, seek wise counsel, and take each step of faith carefully and methodically. I receive Your supernatural assistance to do every natural thing You’ve called me to do.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare that I start every project by first sitting down to seriously contemplate the cost and the effort it will take to complete it. I ask You to help me think through every step that is required to finish this project. I will start this assignment with the full assurance that this is correct. I am confident and persuaded that I will finish what I have started because I fasten my attention and take my direction from Jesus, who is both the Author and the Finisher of my faith!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you personally know anyone who started a project that he was unable to complete? How did people respond to that event? When that person announced his next project, did people believe or doubt him?
  2. When you hear the phrase “count the cost,” what does that mean to you personally for the future plans you are currently praying about? It would be good for you to count the total cost — financial, physical, emotional — needed to complete the project you are planning to start.
  3. It is the strong spirit of a man that sustains him and enables him to endure. What steps have you taken to build new habits into your walk with God that will increase your spiritual stamina and consistency and ensure that you will be able to finish with even greater strength than when you began your assignment?

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
— 2 Timothy 4:8

At the time that the apostle Paul wrote Second Timothy, he was imprisoned in Rome, awaiting the moment of his own execution, which would be death by decapitation. However, when we read his final words in Second Timothy 4:8, we discover that Paul wasn’t focused on his own death, which would indeed be gruesome. He looked beyond that event to that glorious moment when Jesus would personally step forward to give him a “crown of righteousness” as a reward for his faithful service.

Today I want us to look at this word “crown.” The New Testament mentions five different types of crowns that will be given to Christians as rewards for the various ways they ran their race of faith. But before we look at all five different types of crowns, first let’s look at the word “crown” to see exactly what kind of crown the New Testament is talking about. In each instance where it is mentioned, it is the same Greek word. The Greek word for a “crown” in these verses is not the word for a royal diadem, as a king would wear. Rather, it is the Greek word stephanos, which describes the crown given to athletes — most notably, runners — after they had run their race or finished their contest victoriously. It was generally referred to as a victor’s crown.

 

At the conclusion of a contest or race, a winner was declared, and a “crown” was placed on the champion’s brow that was made of pine or olive branches and leaves. Although the crown wasn’t made of expensive material, it was highly valued as a public recognition of the skill, commitment, discipline, endurance, self-control, self-mastery, and training that had enabled the athlete to win the competition. Being awarded the victor’s crown brought a person great acclaim, honor, and respect in the eyes of an adoring public. Therefore, it was every athlete’s chief aim to obtain this crown.

For Christians who ran their race of faith, wholly giving themselves to pursuing God’s plan for their lives, there could be no greater reward than Jesus Christ Himself personally placing this victor’s crown on their brow. This is in fact the promise that Christ makes to Christians who have endured to the end and victoriously finished their race of faith. A day is coming when Jesus will step forward, dressed in the regal splendor of the exalted King of kings, and He will place a victor’s crown upon the heads of those who had steadfastly run their race to the very end. The Savior Himself will personally place this priceless reward upon the brows of the faithful.

As noted previously, there are five different types of crowns mentioned in the New Testament. Each of these crowns is a specific and distinct reward for Christians who have faithfully fulfilled God’s call on their lives.

  1. First Corinthians 9:25 refers to a crown of incorruption. Paul described this as a special crown given to believers who practiced physical self-governance and therefore ran a successful race in Those who practiced self-discipline and refused to let the flesh hinder their race of faith can look forward to receiving this precious reward.
  2. First Thessalonians 2:19 refers to the crown of rejoicing. Theologians often refer to this as the soul-winner’s crown, as it is a crown given to those who brought others to Jesus. Oh, think of the joy those who have brought others to Christ will experience when they receive a crown of rejoicing or a soul-winner’s crown.
  3. Second Timothy 4:8 refers to the crown of  righteousness. This crown is specially designated for those who longed for Jesus’ appearing and lived holy lives in anticipation of His return. This is the crown that Paul referred to when he wrote about his own death and the crown that Jesus would give to him.
  4. First Peter 5:4 refers to the crown of glory. This is often called the pastor’s crown because it is a special reward that will be given to shepherds who faithfully pastored and taught God’s people. You would do well to read First Peter 5:4 and to personally see this special crown that will be given to faithful pastors.
  5. James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10 refer to the crown of life. This crown is often referred to as the martyr’s crown because it is given to those who suffered for their faith, those who died for Christ, or those who were committed to finishing their race of faith regardless of the difficulties they encountered in this life.

Athletes who prepared, trained, and won their competitions were highly regarded. Likewise, Christ will give special honor to those who victoriously ran their race of faith to its conclusion. On that day in our future, Jesus Christ will stand, step forward to us as we bow before Him, and place one of these respective crowns on our brows if He has found us faithful to the task that was assigned to us.

There are believers who are still in that fight right now, and their struggle has been great. Paul was still in his race when he wrote Second Timothy 4:8. But rather than focus on his imminent execution by decapitation, Paul chose instead to focus on the crown of righteousness that the Lord would soon be placing upon his brow.

Similarly, if you are running in a fierce race of faith that is requiring every ounce of your spiritual, mental, and physical strength, I encourage you to lift your eyes to Heaven and see Jesus with your crown in His hands. One day your race will be finished, and if you made it all the way to the end, He’ll place that crown on your head — a victor’s crown for one who finished his race of faith!

To be honest, sometimes I am tempted to yield to weariness or to wonder if the fight has been worth it. Other times I know I’m looking at difficult times on the road directly before me. In these vulnerable moments, I often lift the eyes of my faith and focus on the moment when the King of kings will place a victor’s crown on my own head because He found me faithful. Thinking of that makes me want to stay in the race and finish it all the way to the end! How about you?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, Your Word clearly teaches that when we see Jesus in Heaven, He will have a special “reward” in His hand — a victor’s crown — to place upon our heads. But more important to me than receiving a crown is that I please You. To receive a crown from You will be a blessing, as it is Your recognition of what I have done, and it will be a treasure that I can lay at Jesus’ feet on that day. But the greatest reward for me will be knowing I have run a race that brought You pleasure!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare that I will run my race of faith all the way to its final conclusion. There will be no dropping out of the race halfway along the God-ordained course of my life. I’m in this to finish it and to bring glory to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am thankful that because I will be faithful to the end, on the day I see Jesus, He will give me a victor’s crown. But most of all, I want to see the satisfaction in His eyes that I’ve run a race of faith that has brought glory to His name. His glory is my highest goal and the reason I am running in this race of faith!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you envision running your race of faith in a way that will take you all the way to the finish line? Are you giving it all the spiritual, physical, and mental strength you can muster to run that race like a champion?
  2. By looking at the five different types of crowns that Christ will give to faithful champions, which crown do you think you will receive when you see Jesus face to face? Which crown would you like to receive? What decisions are you making to ensure that you do receive it?
  3. When you think of seeing Jesus face to face, what thoughts immediately come to your mind? Is this an event that brings joy to your heart and mind, or does it cause you to be fearful? What reasons are behind your reaction to this very important question?