Rejoicing need not be confused with perpetual happiness. If happiness is the measure, then most of us are often sadly lacking, even as the apostle Paul was. He dared state that he had moments when he despaired even of life (2 Corinthians 1:8).

Someone dying of cancer commented that they thought they still had more to accomplish in life, but limited time prohibited those ambitions. Perhaps one of the devil’s great tricks is to lull us into lethargy as time swiftly passes, regardless of whether our years be few or many. We cannot reclaim time and opportunities past.

There is increased pain in the world these days. Tensions are rising between nations, and there are areas of significant conflict, war, suffering, and death. These may portend earth’s final conflict, prior to the return of Jesus. But, beyond the world scene, there is private pain. Death’s tentacle reach brings profound grief to friends and families. Fractured relationships result in painful, agonizing isolation. The death of hopes and dreams leave deep emotional scars.

Individuals walking almost unaware in public while focused on their smartphones serve as illustrations as to how we may be walking by the Spirit. We may have a desire to walk by the Spirit, but worldly cares and attractions easily draw us similarly to focusing on a smartphone. As such, we may wander from the way of the Spirit and not even be aware of the danger.

We need to be enlightened as to the greatness of God’s power. The prime exhibit of this power is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. If God’s power working in us is the same power that brought the helplessly dead Jesus back from the grave to immortality, imagine what that power within can do! Not only did the power of God raise Jesus from the dead, it has exalted Him to the right hand in the heavenlies, and has elevated Him far beyond all other powers and authority.

We can scarcely imagine a President, prime minister, or king calling a major press conference to declare the sovereignty of Almighty God, but a Mede ruler named Darius did exactly that. He declared that “he is the living God, enduring forever.” When confronted with the miraculous deliverance of Daniel from the lion’s den, it was abundantly clear to Darius that the true God is living and active in human events. He wisely and humbly acknowledged that the living God’s kingdom and dominion vastly superseded his - an amazing acknowledgment in itself for a governmental ruler to admit.

The evidence of spiritual warfare is readily observable daily. We are constantly being bombarded with the philosophical messages prevalent in today’s culture. Gender identity and abortion are just a couple of the specific issues ever in the forefront today. The most effective way to combat these and other issues is to be as close and clear concerning God’s truth as possible. A pro-active gospel approach (Acts 8:12) is the only real weapon capable of demolishing the philosophical fortresses built against us. This spiritual “nuclear” weapon alone is able to utterly destroy all satanic strongholds.

Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 3 are a challenge and encouragement to us. These are not times to compromise, retreat, and even quit. We have been entrusted with service and ministry, not of our own choosing, but the Lord’s. If it is His work, then it has His supply and progress as He sees fit. For that reason, we do not lose heart.

The older I get the more keenly aware I am of just how little any of us can do concerning our spiritual condition. Our best efforts to “improve” result in failure. Good intentions rarely translate into effective action. If all our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), then our best course of action is to follow the prompting of inner Holy Spirit. The way of true righteousness is submission and obedience. In essence, don’t try harder; yield more.

The life of a follower of Christ is often filled with challenges and difficulties. It is easy to assume that God’s favor will cut us some slack from the problems that others face, but reality is that we likely have a more difficult time than those who don’t take up their cross.

vents in this country and the world seem to be unfolding at a rapid rate. Wisdom and discernment are especially high priorities as we seek insight into the significance of current events (“you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand” Romans 13:11-12).

There is never a time so dark that our Father’s lovingkindness, compassion, and faithfulness does not prevail. This was the prophet Jeremiah’s confidence amidst a time of national crisis and defeat.

The Jewish exiles, consigned to seventy years of captivity in a foreign land, might not know the way home when the time came. A highway familiar to their parents and ancestors would be unknown to some who would be born in the land of captivity. Markers placed by those going in to captivity would be invaluable to those returning seventy years later.

e reside in a foreign land as we await the land of promise, the kingdom of God. We do well to go about similar routines, and to actively seek the welfare of this land for our own benefit and protection.

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Wise people who value relationships plan and schedule time and activities to enhance their relationships. Husbands and wives schedule date nights, and special vacations. Plans are made to devote time for conversation and connection with friends and family members we cherish. The same applies to our relationship with our Father: deliberate effort is essential for an enriching relationship.

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There is a general assumption that most people have had opportunity to hear the gospel. Perhaps so, but my experience is that most people have heard a deficient gospel; devoid of the actual message of Jesus.

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God’s authoritative word caused all that is to come into existence (Genesis 1). The details are not given as to how, but we can speculate that the power of His spoken word moved atoms and molecules to form the material substance that is our natural world.

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A state of war naturally exists between the holy God and sinful and unholy people. True peace, however, is declared for those who belong to God’s favored Son, Jesus the Christ. Simple faith in His work and sacrifice introduce us to the realm of grace.  

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He who is a light to the nations is brightly shining so that salvation will reach to the end of the earth. He is shining through His own people who also are light (Matthew 5:14-16) so that this salvation goes out to all.

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This is where we enter the story. The book of Acts is the unfinished story of the further declaration of the true gospel. It falls to each generation of gospel-proclaimers to further propagate this great life-saving message.

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