DEAD IN HIS TRACKS!

I heard on the news just this last Thursday morning that President Vladimar Putin of Russia said, The best time to intercept a missile is before it is launched. Of course we are talking about nuclear warheads and all that stuff again. That’s a little like the Karate Kid III statement (supposed) we used last week, The best way to keep from being hit is to not be there.

President Putin is talking about nuclear warheads and Russia is claiming to have warheads like no country has ever seen before. But, we can go you one better than all that. As fearful as the global arms race might appear to sound, there is nothing that can quite compare to the flaming arrows of the evil one which is really serious stuff (Eph. 6:16). We used this verse last week as well, I believe.

How do you keep from being hit by those flaming arrows? Remember the first thing is, Don’t be there. But, I actually happen to believe Satan uses every opportunity to his use wherever we are. The armor of God explained for us in Ephesians 6:10-18 is both offensive as well as defensive.

At our disposal, and in our spiritual arsenal we not only have the shield of faith that can extinguish those flaming arrows, we have the sword of the Spirit, which is the world of God. We also have prayers (vv. 17-18). When our Lord did Battle with Satan in the wilderness the only thing he needed to stop Satan dead in his tracks was Scripture (Matt. 4:4, 7, & 10). If that’s good enough for Jesus and worked for him, what will it do for us?

Listen: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edge sword, it pentetrates. . .(Heb. 4:12). It penetrates! That’s enough, isn’t it? The jest of Hebrews 4:12 is probably aimed more at us personally but it penetrated Satan in an entirely different way. I believe it penetrates us to convict us of our sins and spiritual needs, but it can also penetrate Satan dead in his tracts. Don’t forget that as you live life one-day-at-a-time.

Use God’s Word as your offensive weapon against Satan. Hit those flaming arrows before he can launch them. Leave him dead in his tracts. Have a victorious week in Jesus! Remember, He! loves you and I do too! h

DON'T GIVE UP

Sometimes we just give up too quickly. If we would just keep on truckin’ we would probably succeed at whatever the task. What makes us tend to give up so easily and so quickly. Well there are

• SELF-ESTEEM PROBLEMS. We just don’t believe we are capable of completing the task.
• FAITH PROBLEMS. We tend to think we are all by ourselves. Where is God when I really need Him?
• PERSERVENCE PROBLEMS: We have always been this way. We have difficulty sticking with a task until its completion.
• LOVE PROBLEMS: Perhaps what we are trying to accomplish involves another/others. We have difficulty loving the person/persons enough to complete the task.

Someone said it this way, If at first you don’t succeed, you are running about average. There’s a tremendous amount of truth embedded in that statement. My front drive was my garage. I put the motor and transmission in the car in someone’s shop. When I got ready to give her the old trial run, I had the shimmies deluxe. I changed transmissions and flywheels two or three times before I got it to run without a shimmy. You can imagine how many hours I devoted to that—and right there in the drive!

Shouldn’t we stay with people with the same tenacity? A person is of much more value that dozens of automobiles. I believe there is something about that in the Bible—from the lips of the Master, no less (Matt. 16:26). I must never quit too quickly when dealing with people and their needs.

Whether the situation with another is physical, spiritual, or emotional—don’t quit. But I can’t do it! Self esteem problems? Get help. Faith problems? Trust the Lord for help. Perseverance problems? Make this the first job you have ever completed if you have never completed one! Love problems? Remember the value of other people is infinitely great and I am to love all people (Gal. 5:14).

What good does all this do? For the person you are trying to help, the value of your friendship, love and concern can never be measured. For yourself—just think what this could do for your personal encouragement and faith—and, He gets the glory (I Cor. 10:31). You know HE! loves you and I do too. h

THE HIGHEST PRIORITY

I believe the essence of human life lies somewhere in the choices we make. On one side of town a little baby boy is born. He chooses to be a bum and that’s what he becomes and what he is. On the other side of town another little baby boy is born. He chooses to become a teacher and that’s what he becomes and what he is.

Yes, I know all the arguments. There are two sides of town. There are better chances on one side of town because of wealth, where poverty prevails on the other. Where I work (sometimes), I have talked to literally 100’s who I actually believe had very little opportunity while growing up to manhood. But, I also believe there are many factors that lead to the choices we make, and to be successful and of service to others we must make the right ones. Some of those guys could have made better choices.

Prioritize! What’s really important in life and what is not? I grew up in what became a wealthy community—at least for a few. My cousin informed me the other day there are now 5 billionaires living there and one who still has ties. Pretty good for 2000 people, wouldn’t you think?

Not us! We had three squares every day. Mom’s hot rolls were the most famous in town. My Dad had an Associates Degree and worked hard in the oil patch to make us a living. We weren’t poor—but we were a long way from wealthy.

Instilled in us somewhere was that prioritization. What comes first? We were four children, each ending up with multiple college degrees. Choices! Those degrees are not the important issues. Mine are still in their sacks in the bottom of my underwear drawer. I love it so much I am working on another advanced right now. I've been over the hill for some time--so the say.

Choices got first place in our lives. They claimed our time, our energy, and all our resources. But, trust me—I think it had nothing to do with college degrees. It had to do with purpose, direction, and meaning in our lives. I had parents that instilled that in me.

You see, the side of town you live on is not the real issue. Being wealthy must have its advantages. I will never know. One thing I will always know: you need purpose, meaning and direction in your life? Make the right choices! You can’t do better than that. And, if you have children, help them along the same paths.

There are spiritual choices as well. We are becoming a people without emphasis in the proper places. When one speaks of priorities one must include spiritual, moral, and lifestyle issues. We follow One who offered us a better way (John 10:10). Let’s get together and talk about Him today. Write me

You know HE! loves you and I do too! h