In football, progress is measured in yards with the goalpost always in view. It takes planning, knowledge of rules, practice, injuries, memorization of plays, force, equipment and perseverance to reach the goal post and win.

Such is Christianity.

2 Timothy 2:5 

An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

2 Timothy 4:7 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

1 Timothy 4:8 

For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Pray to win. Give it some thought.

Gary

My friend Al sent me this from his memory bank and I thought it would make a good devotional.

Me boy, you are on point and 100% accurate !

I shared this before without this reference…  I got into a “Graveyard Spiral” in a Cessna 185, while flying in an extreme condition.   These are non-recoverable and almost certain death.  While in the clutches of this death spiral, from somewhere in the recesses of my mind, the Spirit of God had me recall a statement in the 185’s ” PILOT HANDBOOK” which says, “The Cessna 185 is inherently stable” Believing that guidebook, I released FULL control of the aircraft!   This happened just before the wings came off or the nose of the aircraft hit the earth/water!  We are talking SECONDS here! The Pilot Handbook for any aircraft is the “Bible” for every pilot.  The Word of God is the ONLY “Handbook” a believer needs!

You want to be “inherently stable” in ALL of life’s venues?  Here it is!  

Give it some thought.

Daniel 4:35

All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
No one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him, “What have You done?”

Gary

“If You Don’t Know Me by Now“ is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and recorded by the Philadelphia soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.  It’s about a man trying to convince his wife that minor conflicts shouldn’t keep them at a distance. That is so true in the human experience even with those we love.

Now let’s consider our relationship with God. How would you describe it on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the best?  Is there some room for improvement and who needs to make that step?

Would God say to you, “If you don’t know Me by now?” Give it some thought.

John 17:3 

And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Philippians 3:10 

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death,

Matthew 7:23

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Give it some thought.

Gary

It was just a comment on a news story about the rise in immoral activity affecting Christian colleges in America at graduation time. The person wrote, “I’m sorry, I was at work and paying taxes. What happened?”

It reflects the fact that the ones keeping our American way of life afloat are too busy to get involved in this radical transformation of culture. Does the Bible address this phenomenon? Glad you asked.

Isaiah 5:20

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Will we return to decency? I don’t think that will happen until the Lord returns. In the meantime, be a light and don’t add to the darkness. Give it some thought.

Gary

Most people don’t have one best friend through life. I did. He was always faithful to me, but I wasn’t to him. Haunts me even after half a century that he was hurt by me, yet he chose to remain best friends. I’ve done that terrible sin to more than one individual for which I am truly sorry.

While I’m in the confessional, let me tell you of another Friend that I’ve developed a relationship with. I’ve hurt Him many times also, but He has remained faithful.

2 Timothy 2:13 

If we are faithless, He remains faithful— for He cannot deny Himself.

Proverbs 18:24 

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 17:17 

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Give it some thought and bask in His faithfulness.

Gary

I’m walking down the hall in a nursing facility when I hear this stanza of a French song. For some reason a memory from the past comes alive in my mind, and I know the English words.

When the sun says goodbye to the mountain
And the night says hello to the dawn
I’m alone with my dreams on the hilltop
I can still hear your voice, though you’re gone

How many of these residents are sitting on their mountain of remembrance, shedding a tear. I could join in, but I must control my emotions. After all, I’m there to teach a Bible study.

Jacob explained it best to Pharoah. My interpretation of what he said follows: This has been some trip. Sadly, I can’t go back and the memories are killing me.

Genesis 47:10

And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, the days of the years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

I don’t like that mountain, but we must all spend some time there occasionally.

Give it some consideration.

Gary

So, you have it all together. You can take the best of what this world has to offer and fly high all the way to boot hill in Tombstone. You have no cares about others or what you might leave behind. Does the Bible address this misplaced thinking? Glad you asked.

Jeremiah 17:5

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord.

If you don’t put God into the equation, you will inevitably be embarrassed when your answer is corrected by the Teacher. Give it some thought.

Gary