Wade McRoberts - Dead Man Not Walking

July 18, 2022July 18, 2022

Psalm 34 II

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. (Psalm 34:7-10, NASB)

More from David’s Psalm 34:

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.” I heard at a Bible study once that Old Testament references to “THE angel of the Lord (as opposed to “AN angel of the Lord”)” mean Jesus Himself. So Jesus stays near to those who have called upon His name, and He rescues them. From what? From God’s wrath on the day of judgment! Actually, Jesus isn’t just near to His followers, He indwells them in the form of the Holy Spirit!

“O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” I’ve tried the Lord, and I can definitely say it’s better to be with Jesus than to be without Him! Happy are His followers! The Old Testament often uses images of people taking “refuge” under God’s “wings.”

Psalm 34:7 The Angel Of The Lord (black)

Psalm 34:7 image. Found at Knowing Jesus, https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Psalm/34/7

“O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.” “Fear” means a healthy respect for God such that we try to keep His commands. Those who do will have all of their needs met by the Lord. By the way, if you’re a follower of Jesus, you are a saint!

“The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.” The lion pretty much comes and goes where he pleases, and eats whatever he wants. But compared to a believer, the lion is needy. Again, those who trust in the Lord have no want for anything.

To summarize, those who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ have been rescued; are blessed (happy); and God will meet all of their needs. I praise the Lord that He rescued me. How about you?

Worship: “Psalm 34,” by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

July 15, 2022July 15, 2022

Psalm 34

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:1-4, NASB)

Psalm 34 was written by David before he became King of Israel. He had been anointed King by Samuel the judge, and was evading capture and execution at the hands of King Saul. David fled to Abimelech, king of an enemy of Israel, and feigned insanity to get away from him. The title of this psalm is “The LORD, a Provider and Deliverer.” I’ve highlighted several passages from this psalm, so I’ll cover it more than once.

What strikes me is David’s steadfastness: “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” This is what followers of Jesus are called to do, and with God’s help, we should strive to do. God inhabits the praises of His people, and we should praise Him as often as possible.

“Magnify the Lord.” Found at https://blog.josephprince.com/magnify-the-lord/

David continues: “My soul will make its boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it and rejoice.” The Apostle Paul writes often of boasting in Lord . Salvation cannot be earned. It’s a gift from God, and therefore no one can brag about it, except in the Lord! If one boasts in the Lord, the proud and haughty will ignore it, or deride. Only the humble will rejoice.

Further, “O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.” Praise God for Who He is, and praise His holy Name!

And finally, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.” David prayed, and God answered him. David feared for his life, for the King of Israel was seeking his head. But God answered his prayers, and by faith, his fears were relieved.

What a psalm! David, in the midst of pursuit by King Saul and thousands of soldiers, takes time to praise God! He praises God CONTINUOUSLY; he boasts ONLY in God, not in himself; he asks others to praise the Lord with him; and his steadfast faith eliminated all his fears. David is a model for Jesus followers to emulate. By being continually in an attitude of prayer and thanksgiving, may our fears be erased!

Worship: “O Magnify the Lord” by Sandi Patti

July 12, 2022July 12, 2022

Surrender

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2, NASB)

More from Paul from his letter to the Roman church. He urges the Romans (and us!) “to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Treating our bodies in a Godly manner is imperative. We are a Temple, a Tabernacle where the Holy Spirit lives. If you’ve called upon the name of the Lord, you’re a dwelling place of the Spirit of God, and we must not defile the Tabernacle of the living God! The Law of Moses prescribed rules against Tabernacle and Temple defilement, and God commands that we guard against the same with our bodies. By this we also worship God.

We need to take care of what goes into our bodies. Our eyes, ears, nose, and mouth are the doorways to our Temple. We must care that no immorality, or illicit drugs enter. We should be careful about what we watch and listen to. While there is no biblical prohibition against alcohol (this is controversial) the Bible tells us not to get drunk or high. We must not defile the dwelling place of the Spirit!

Romans 12:1 Present You Bodies As A Living Sacrifice (gray) — Romans 12:1 image. Found at Knowing Jesus, https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Romans/12/1

Further, Paul warns us to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Why? “So that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” When we ask Jesus to be the Lord of our life, we are changed. The world no longer has anything for us. We’re now citizens of heaven, and that requires a transformation, a renewing of the mind. We must put away the old, and “put on” the new. This means paying attention to the things of God, going to church, studying the Bible, and developing a prayer life. People are watching, and these things reflect new life, a transformation.

Paul says our lives must change when we follow Jesus. We have to change the way we live. Our bodies, where the Holy Spirit lives, become living sacrifices to God. Further, we have to give up worldly vices, while our minds are transformed. By doing these things, we show the unsaved world “what the will of God is.” Changing our lives means total surrender to God!

Worship: “I Surrender,” by Jesus Culture

July 9, 2022July 9, 2022

Forgive

When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. (Luke 23:33-34, NASB)

When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:58-60, NASB)

To forgive is difficult. It must be, because Jesus talked about it. But He also forgave the people who horribly tortured Him, then crucified Him. He set the example of ultimate forgiveness. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, followed Jesus’ example.

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him how they should pray, He answered with what we now know as “The Lord’s Prayer.” Immediately following, the one point He emphasized was forgiveness. He said that if we do not learn to forgive others for the wrongs they commit against us, then neither will God forgives. If you have prayed to ask Jesus Christ to be Lord of your life, then you have been forgiven beyond what you know. Because God the Father has forgiven us, then so should we forgive others.

Stephen was appointed one of seven men in the early Jerusalem church to serve meals to the widows of Hellenistic Jews, who were being overlooked. He is described as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 6:1-5) Stephen upset some men at a local synagogue, who were angry at what he was teaching. They brought false charges against him and dragged him off before the Temple Council. (Acts 6:6-15) Stephen’s defense before the Council was a sermon, which made them even angrier. (Acts 7:1-56) As mentioned in the second passage above, they dragged him out of the city to execute him.

(Saul, later known as Paul, is mentioned as taking part in the stoning.) But as the stones were raining down on Stephen, he followed the example of his Lord Jesus. His last act was to forgive: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

Jesus, then Stephen, forgave their tormentors as their final acts. What wonderful examples to follow! God has forgiven us; so should we forgive others. Jesus told us to love God, and love other people. Forgiveness seems to me to be a product of that love.

Father, just as you have forgiven me, please help me to forgive those who have wronged me. Please reveal those who I can’t think of. Please help me to remember the examples in your holy word of Jesus and Stephen, both of whom suffered far worse than I. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Worship: “Drops In the Ocean,” by Hawk Nelson

July 6, 2022July 6, 2022

No Excuse!

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. (Romans 1:18-23, NASB)

I love the book of Romans. The Apostle Paul lays out the human condition (we are all sinners, full stop), and the remedy (faith in Christ Jesus). A portion of the introductory chapter is above, in which Paul begins to make the case that we’re all naturally evil beings; that despite the evidence all around us, some ignore God Almighty; and we think we’re wise and thus rebel against the Creator of the universe.

Paul begins by saying that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” There are those people who refuse to recognize the truth about God and His creation, even though God has given us plenty of evidence. Those will suffer God’s wrath on the day of judgment, and will face eternal separation from God Almighty. Some argue that it’s negative to speak of the wrath of God, that it’s better to take a more positive approach. However, the Bible is full of talk of the consequences of unrighteousness. If a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ to avoid the wrath of God, then that’s OK!

Romans 1:20

Romans 1:20 image. Found at DailyVerses.net, https://dailyverses.net/romans/1/20

Paul continues, in that since the beginning of time, God has left a myriad of clues, so that we “are without excuse.” People ask, “What if someone has never heard of Jesus?” Paul is saying that there is enough evidence in the creation all around us that should lead one to faith in the Creator. “His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen . . . ” From the hymn “How Great Thou Art”: “I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.”

Even if people acknowledge God, there are those who don’t “honor Him as God or give thanks.” Their hearts are darkened, they think they know better than God, and they engage in the worship of worthless idols. In ancient times, the idols were images “in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.” Today our idols are anything that takes our attention away from God. They could be television or work. Not that there’s anything wrong with those, but if they draw us away from the time we should be spending with our Father, then we should reevaluate how we budget our day.

The bottom line is we all need Jesus. “Don’t leave earth without Him!” We’re all sinners, and God has made a way for us to be reconciled with Him, by sending His Son to earth, that if we believe in Him we’ll have everlasting life in heaven with the Father. Don’t “[profess] to be wise,” thinking that you know better than God. We’ve all been there. God wants to have an intimate relationship with us. There’s one way to do that.

Worship: “I Speak Jesus,” by Charity Gayle

Today is my 68th birthday. It’s been over four years since my diagnosis of ALS. My birthday three years ago was my first where I wondered if I would make it to my next. But God is in control. He has numbered my days, and apparently I’m not there yet. Sue has taken such good care of me. By God’s grace, I’ll be here tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year. “If God allows . . . “

July 3, 2022July 3, 2022

Liberty

. . . we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:12-18, NASB)

In the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth, he gets into a discussion on liberty with respect to salvation. On this Independence Day weekend, it’s appropriate to remember how our founding fathers approached our Nation’s independence.

Paul begins with a comparison to Moses, and the shackles of the Mosaic Law. When Moses met with God, afterwards he would veil his face. It seems his face would glow because of the glory of God. Over time the glory of God would fade from his face, and Moses didn’t want people to see that. Paul says the boldness of his speech is not at all like Moses’ veil. He will speak the Gospel unveiled!

Paul says the Israelites’ hearts remained veiled by the old covenant, “because it is removed in Christ.” In the Tabernacle and later in the Temple, a veil separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the place. Only the High Priest had access, once a year, to atone for the sins of himself and the rest of the people. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the Temple in Jerusalem was torn in two, from top to bottom, meaning the people now had direct access to God. Paul says that there is a veil over our hearts, “but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”

2 Corinthians 3:17 image. Found at https://church4u2.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/2-corinthians-3-17-now-the-lord-is-that-spirit-and-where-the-spirit-of-the-lord-is-there-is-liberty/

When a person prays to invite Jesus into their heart, they become free from the tyranny of sin and death, because Jesus defeated both of them on the cross. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” At the moment of salvation, our hearts are unveiled, the Holy Spirit enters the Tabernacle of our hearts, and because of God’s love for us, we have perfect liberty!

Is your heart veiled or has it been unveiled? Only by inviting Jesus to be the Lord of your life, will God have access to your heart, and He can shape you into the person you’re meant to be. You’ll never die, and you’ll have a home in heaven for eternity. Would you come to Jesus today?

Worship: “Free to Worship,” by Eddie James

May be an image of ‎1 person and ‎text that says '‎Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to to the government of any other BH οש John Adams www THEFEDERALISTPAPERS.ORG ORG‎'‎‎ — Found at https://www.facebook.com/USAaGodlySystem/photos/547429996954832

The founders of our Nation declared independence from Great Britain 246 years ago tomorrow. They were taking a huge risk separating from the British Empire, the most powerful nation on the face of the earth. They put their lives and fortunes at risk. They all had one thing in common, though, a faith in the God of Israel. They believed that the rights of man are given by God, not granted by some government. It’s providential that they all came together at the same time, in the same place. I give thanks to God that brave men and women risked the their lives to cross the ocean so they could freely worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and then launch this grand experiment, these United States of America!

June 30, 2022June 30, 2022

Glory

The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.” Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.” (Exodus 33:17-23, NASB)

The Bible passage above is Moses’ account of his encounter with the Glory of God in the wilderness by Mount Horeb (Sinai). The setting: Moses had been up on Mount Sinai for forty days and nights, neither eating nor drinking, meeting with God. Among their agenda was God writing the Ten Commandments with His finger on stone tablets. The Israelites wondered where Moses was, and if he was alive or dead, and rebelled by having Aaron fashion a golden calf for them to worship. God saw what was going on, got angry, and sent Moses down from the mountain to deal with the rebellious people. Moses became angry with the people, and smashed the stone tablets. (Exodus 32)

God then tells Moses to lead the people to the Promised Land, but He would not accompany them. Moses went to meet with God outside the Israelite camp at the tent of meeting. Moses interceded for the people, pleading with God to travel with His people. The text above picks up from there. (Exodus 33:1-16)

Moses wants to know God better, and to lead the people to their final destination. God tells Moses He will do so, as “you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.” Wow! Oh, to have the Creator of the Universe say that I have found favor in His sight, and He knows me by name. Actually, since Jesus is in me, it’s true!

Exodus 33:22 The Glory Of God (devotional)07:14 (brown) — Exodus 33:22 image. Found at Knowing Jesus, https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Exodus/33/22

Moses then asks his Friend, “Show me Your glory.” God tells Moses that He will do so, but He can’t show Moses His face, “for no man can see Me and live!” God tells Moses to stand “there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

We can find favor in God’s sight, and have Him know us by name. How? By believing in His Son, Jesus. Once we’ve come to faith in Him, He becomes our Advocate with the Father. Instead of our faces, God looks at us and sees Jesus. We can also see God’s glory. I see it whenever I look out my window at His glorious creation! Blue sky, trees, plants and flowers. I also see it whenever someone walks into my room. Each person is an image-bearer of God. Created in His image! God, please show me Your glory!

Worship: “Show Me Your Glory,” by Jesus Culture, ft. Kim Walker-Smith

June 27, 2022June 27, 2022

Blessing

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’ So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.” (Numbers 6:22-27, NASB)

The text above contains “The Aaronic Blessing,” or “Aaron’s Benediction.” Aaron, the brother of Moses, was chosen along with his sons by God to be high priests to Israel as they wandered through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. This portion is just one of many instructions (613 commandments) given by God to Moses, and recorded in the first five books of the Old Testament, the Book of Moses.

You’ve no doubt heard these words before. Many clergy use these verses as benedictions. The words contained herein are some of the nicest things one human being can say to a fellow image-bearer of God! “The Lord bless you, and keep you.” I don’t think there’s anything better than to wish God’s blessings on someone. If God makes one happy, that’s the ultimate, especially if it’s God that is the source of joy. If God is keeping you, that means He is Protector. There is no better source of joy and protection than my God!

The Lord Bless You and Keep You — Numbers 6:24 image. Found at Godtube, https://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/the-lord-bless-you-and-keep-you

“The Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you.” Wishing God to smile at you is a fine compliment. How is God gracious to us? He sent Jesus, His Son, so that if we believe in Him, we will have everlasting life in fellowship with Him! Jesus took the punishment we all deserve for our sins. That’s the ultimate in grace!

“The Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.” Wishing God’s good graces on you, and His Shalom! What could be better? God’s Shalom is perfect peace, not the “peace” we humans consider. It denotes a sense of well-being, of perfect calm. In a word, it’s “Indescribable!”

Last, there is God’s promise when Aaron and his sons deliver this blessing on the people of Israel: “So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.” Perhaps this was God’s way of making sure Israel remembered Him. He had been warning them of the consequences of forgetting Him, and following worthless idols. Invoking His name on the congregation by the priests would serve as a reminder that they were to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and might, and to love Him only. In turn, He would bless them!

The Aaronic Blessing might be the ultimate expression of God’s love for us. He said that when the priests of Israel delivered it, He would bless them. The Blessing translates to us today. It wishes God to bless us; to protect us; to give us grace; and finally, to give us peace! What more could we ask from the Creator of the universe, Who loves us so?

Worship: “The Blessing,” by Kari Jobe, ft. Cody Carnes

June 24, 2022June 24, 2022

Good

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?” But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” (Mark 10:17-18, NASB)

The text above from the book of Mark, is account of the Parable of the Rich Young Ruler (or the Rich Young Man). The main point of the story is the young man approaches Jesus and wants to know how to obtain eternal life. Jesus lists several of the Commandments to keep to which the young man says that he has always kept them. Then Jesus replies that there is one thing that the young man lacks: “‘Go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.” (Mark 10:21-22) Jesus then tells His disciples how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. They wonder, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus replies that it’s impossible with men, but “all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:23-27)

There’s another aspect to this story that interests me, and that’s Jesus telling the young man that “no one is good except God alone.” Every time I hear someone tell another person how good they are (I do the same thing) I think of the story. In today’s society we tend to exaggerate the goodness of people. No one is good except God alone. A word which is way overused is “awesome.” No one is awesome except God alone.

The young man starts by calling Jesus “Good Teacher.” Jesus replies, “Why do you call Me good?” Of course He’s good, He’s God! His point is that God is the only One good, and the young man doesn’t understand Jesus’ deity.

No one is good except God alone. Many people think they can get to heaven because they’re a good person. But the Bible says different: Our righteousness is like filthy rags. There is no one who does good. The good news is that Jesus, the Good Teacher, came to the earth to die on the cross, and take the punishment we deserve for our sins. Would you place your faith and trust in Him today? We can’t get to heaven by being good. No one is good except God alone.

Worship: “My God Is Awesome,” by Charles Jenkins

June 21, 2022June 21, 2022

Endurance

For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:10-13)

The Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy, like the first, was written give instructions so Timothy could provide corrections to the church at Ephesus. As his mentor, Paul recognized there were some things going on that were against what Jesus had taught. In the passage above, Paul encourages Timothy to stay the course, to endure all hardships he encounters so he will reign with the Lord one day!

Paul begins with a “for this reason.” He explains in the previous sentence that even though he’s in a Roman prison as a criminal, “the word of God is not imprisoned.” Since the word of God is free from chains, Paul says he will “endure all things” so that more people will hear the word, and be saved! He wants to selflessly do everything in his power to make certain that “they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.” Eternal glory is far better than the alternative!

2 Timothy 2:10 Salvation Is In Christ Jesus — 2 Timothy 2:10 image. Found at Knowing Jesus, https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/2-Timothy/2/10

Paul goes on to list the benefits of perseverance: “For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him.” We DO NOT want to die without Jesus. To do so would mean an eternity separated from God. If, on the other hand, we die believing in the Son of God, we’ll live forever with Him in heaven, the New Jerusalem.

Next: “If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” If we persevere through all hardships (Paul is the model), we will serve God in heaven, and be rewarded for our efforts, including “reign[ing] with Him.” However, if during our sojourn here on this earth, we deny knowing Jesus, He will deny knowing us.

Last: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” If, during moments of weakness, we have doubts (I think it happens to us all), God remains faithful to us. God keeps His promises, unlike us weak humans. And He knows we’re weak.

Paul is the example to follow of enduring through hardships and doing everything possible to see that as many people as possible heard the Gospel. His legacy continues today: Most of the New Testament is from his pen, despite all he suffered. Look at all he accomplished by the grace of God.

God, please give me the strength to endure and finish well. I want to live and die with You in my heart. Please help me to persevere no matter what, and to never deny You. Please help my faith. I praise You and thank You that no matter what, You are faithful. In Jesus’ precious name.

Worship: “I Will Follow,” by Chris Tomlin