Thought for the day
In a terrible accident at a railroad crossing, a train smashed into a car and pushed it nearly four hundred yards down the track. Though no one was killed, the driver took the train company to court.
At the trial, the engineer insisted that he had given the driver ample warning by waving his lantern back and forth for nearly a minute. He even stood and convincingly demonstrated how he'd done it. The court believed his story, and the suit was dismissed.
"Congratulations," the lawyer said to the engineer when it was over. "You did superbly under cross-examination.""Thanks," he said, "but he sure had me worried.""How's that?" the lawyer asked.
"I was afraid he was going to ask if the lantern was lit!"
In a similar way, we often go through our lives afraid that someone will ask us a particular question. "If someone asks me why I believe in God and not evolution, what will I say?" "What if someone asks me how I can possibly believe in the resurrection?" "What do I say if someone asks me why I believe the Bible truly is the Word of God, or why I believe that it teaches this or that?"
Instead of being detrimental as in the case of the engineer above, though, such questions provide us with an opportunity to share our faith."But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." (I Peter 3:15)Don't be afraid for anyone to ask!
Verses
Hebrews 10:35-36
Then don't lose your courage. There's a great reward for it.
You need endurance to do what God wants and so to get what He promised.
James 4:7
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Joshua 1:3
"Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Never stop praying.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each man should give as he has decided in his heart. He should not give, wishing he could keep it. Or he should not give if he feels he has to give. God loves a man who gives because he wants to give.
Prayer
Father, we recognize that our endurance and persistence are attitudes derived from a faith-filled life with You. Our endurance is realized by continuing this race though others may drop out making us feel like we run alone. Our persistence is marked by our determination to finish the race though struggles weigh us down and doubts cloud our vision of the finish line. Thank You for marking the race out for us by showing us the great examples of those who cheer us on as we participate in this Christian race. They finished their race on earth through their enduring faith, though they experienced opposition from sinful men. We endure hardships and struggles as discipline from You, our loving Father, that we may share in Your holiness. We look forward to the harvest of righteousness and peace that comes as a result of our persistence in this spiritual marathon. Strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees as we repent of the sin that entangles us. We lay aside everything that drags us down or tempts us to give up. We persist in the name of Jesus Christ for the heavenly finish line, amen.
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