SEPTEMBER 1
REASON #1 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT THE LORD’S CONSTRAINING LOVE Bible Reading: II Corinthians 5:1-14 Key Verse: II Corinthians 5:14- “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”
Key Words: for the love of Christ constraineth us
Constraining love is not restrictive. The word doesn’t mean to restrain but to force out. The word is a birthing word. It means to force out that which is within. When I think of Christ’s love for me, I come face to face with the realization that I can’t quit, I must press on. After all He’s done for me, how can I do less than give Him my best? The following was written by Margaret Rose Powers for the 1992 edition of Guidepost Magazine. It illustrates so well why we can’t quit. “One night I had a dream. I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the skies flashed scenes from my life. In each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One was mine, and one was the Lord’s. When the last scene of my life appeared before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand, and to my surprise, I noticed that many times along the path of my life there was only one set of footprints. And I noticed that it was at the lowest and saddest times in my life. I asked the Lord about it, ‘Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You, You would walk with me all the way. But I notice that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I do not understand why You left my side when I needed You the most.’ The Lord said, ‘My precious child, I never left you during your time of trial. Where you see only one set of footprints, I was carrying you.’” I can’t quit; I won’t quit because of Christ’s constraining love.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 2
REASON #2 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT I’M SOMEONE’S EXAMPLE Bible Reading: I Timothy 4 Key Verse: I Timothy 4:12- “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
Key Words: be thou an example of the believer
More than fifty years ago at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, a young sociology professor assigned his class to a city slum to interview two hundred boys. “On the basis of your findings, predict their future,” he said. Shocked at what they found in the slums, the students estimated that ninety percent of the boys interviewed would someday serve time in prison. Twenty-five years passed. The same professor asked another class to try to locate the survivors of the two hundred boys and compare what had happened. Of one hundred eighty of the original boys located, only four had ever been to jail. Why had the predictions not turned out? A common denominator was sought in their lives, some value or influence that may have marked the difference. Through more interviews, it was found that over one hundred of the men remembered having the same high school teacher, a Miss O’Rourke, who had been a tremendous influence on them at the time. After a long search, Sheila O’Rourke was found in a nursing home in Memphis, now seventy years old. When asked for her explanation, she was puzzled. “All I can say,” she concluded, “is that I loved every one of them.” I can’t quit because someone is watching and they will pattern their life after me. What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful.
SEPTEMBER 3
REASON #3 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT I’M HERE FOR A REASON Bible Reading: Esther 4:1-14 Key Verse: Esther 4:14- “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Key Words: And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
No doubt God had Esther where He wanted her. She was at the right time
and in the right place to fulfill God’s purpose. The other day, July 4th, to be exact, I was not feeling well; but one of my grandchildren was celebrating their birthday, so I had to go and join in the celebration. The needle on the gas gauge also told me I must get gas soon. I pulled in and had no more than gotten out of my car when a lady approached me and sheepishly told me her story about her loved one being rushed to a nearby hospital. So, she and her son had rushed here from Gadsden, and, in their haste, they had brought no money and needed gas to get back home. With His still, small voice, God spoke to my heart and said, “Michael, I know you’re sick and I wouldn’t have brought you out today if it were not important. My child, I have her here because I need you now to witness to and help this lady.” So I did. You see, I thought I was going to get gas for me, but I was really going for God. I realize God had me where He wanted me to take care of His business, not mine. We do serve a wonderful God; and for that reason, you see, I can’t quit...because I am here on this earth to fulfill God’s purposes, not my own.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful.
SEPTEMBER 4
REASON #4 WHY WE SHOULDN’T QUIT BECAUSE WINNERS NEVER QUIT Bible Reading: Joshua 14 Key Verse: Joshua 14:8- “Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.”
Key Words: but I wholly followed the Lord my God
I often preach a message about Caleb and his winning spirit in that we saw that Caleb was a winner because he was... • • •
Firmly committed (verse 8), Faithfully consistent (verses 9-12a), and Fervently courageous (verse 12b).
While I was a youth pastor (that was years ago), I used to tell the youth that a winner never quits and a quitter never wins. Let me be candid: quitting is not an option. Today, more than ever, people are quitting. They are quitting in their marriages, in their dedication to God, in their morals, in their prayer life and Bible study, in their church attendance. Some are even quitting, giving up on life, but need I remind you that “a winner never quits and a quitter never wins.” On February 4, 1993, Larry Bird said good-bye to his fans at the Boston Garden. A special 2-1/2 hour affair marked the retiring of Bird’s jersey and the ceremonial placing of number 33 in the Garden’s famed Rafter Heaven. His words were chosen with the class he typically displayed on the court. Maybe the most significant words he said were, “I never put on a uniform to play a game. I put on a uniform to win.” The former Hoosier, who worked on a garbage truck before finding his niche in basketball, is right. God hasn’t called Christians to simply play in his Kingdom. He’s called us to triumph. He’s called us to be winners, not quitters.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 5
REASON #5 WHY WE SHOULDN’T QUIT LIFE IS SHORT Bible Reading: James 4 Key Verse: James 4:14- “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Key Words: that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away
Three things are for sure: life is short, death is sure, and eternity is forever. Surely, only what’s done for Christ will last. “When I was a boy, we hung a four-cornered card in the window each morning
during the summer. The numbers 25, 50, 75, and 100 were printed in the corners. It was our way of telling the iceman how many pounds to bring. If mother had waxed the kitchen floor, she spread newspapers to catch the dripping water, for ice melts in transit. You never have as much when you get there as when you start. Time, too, melts in transit. It gets away from us. You never have as much when you get where you are going as when you left. Some people boast about ‘saving’ time. Hogwash! Ask anyone to show you the time he ‘saved.’ You can save money, but you can’t save time. It slips away. Oh, you can find quicker ways of doing things. You can cut corners, timewise. But you can’t hold time back. You can’t put it on deepfreeze, or lock it in a vault, or reverse the pages of the calendar. James 4:14 reminds us that our life is ‘even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.’ And Psalm 90:6 compares man to the grass which in the morning flourishes, but in the evening is cut down and withered. And then the insights of Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, ‘To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.’ Yes, time, like ice, melts in transit. It’s your life! Use it or misuse it, but you can’t hold on to it; which is what some mean when they say it is better to wear out than to rust out!”
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 6
REASON #6 WHY WE SHOULDN’T QUIT IT DOESN’T GLORIFY GOD Bible Reading: I Corinthians 10:23-33 Key Verse: I Corinthians 10:31- “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Key Words: do all to the glory of God
The word glory means “brightness.” It carries the idea of seeing God; therefore, in all we do, others should see God through our lives. Now, for the life of me, I can’t figure out how others can see Christ through us if we are “quitters” in our service for God. Our lives should reveal Christ. We, in the 60 plus generation, have witnessed a lot of changes. We were born before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees, and the Pill. We were born before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams, and ball-point pens, pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip-dry clothes – and before man walked on the moon. We got married first – and then lived together. How quaint can you be? In our time, closets were for clothes, not for “coming out of.” Bunnies were small rabbits and rabbits were not Volkswagens. Designer jeans were scheming girls named Jean or Jeanne; and having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with our cousins. We thought fast food was what you ate during Lent; and outer space was the back of the Riviera Theatre. We were before house-husbands, gay rights, computer dating, dual careers, and computer marriages. We were before day-care centers, group therapy and nursing homes. We never heard of FM radio, tape decks, electric typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors, yogurt, and guys wearing earrings. For us, time-sharing meant togetherness, not computers or condominiums; a “chip” meant a piece of wood; hardware meant hardware, and software wasn’t even a word! In 1940, “Made in Japan” meant JUNK and the term “making out” referred to how you did on your exam. Pizzas, “MacDonald’s” and instant coffee were unheard of. We hit the scene when there were 5-cent and 10-cent stores where you bought things for 5 and 10 cents. You could buy ice cream cones for a nickel or a dime. For one nickel you could ride a street car, make a phone call, buy a Pepsi or enough stamps to mail one letter and two postcards. You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600...but who could afford one? A pity, too, because gas was 11 cents a gallon. In our day, cigarette smoking was fashionable. GRASS was mowed. COKE was a cold drink. POT was something you cooked in. ROCK MUSIC was a
grandmother’s lullaby and AIDS were helpers in the Principal’s office. We were certainly not before the difference between the sexes was discovered, but we were surely before the sex change; we made do with what we had. And we were the last generation that was so dumb as to think you needed a husband to have a baby. To God be the glory!
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 7
REASON #7 WHY WE SHOULDN’T QUIT GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU Bible Reading: Ruth 1:1-18 Key Verse: Ruth 1:16- “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:”
Key Words: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God
If anyone ever faced the challenge of adversity, it was Ruth. • • •
She lived during a famine. Her husband died. She left her homeland.
But all of that was because God had a plan for her life. She was to marry Boaz
and from them would come the lineage of Christ. Do you know that God has a plan for your life? The late Peter Marshall, an eloquent speaker and, for several years, the chaplain of the United States Senate, used to love to tell the story of “the Keeper of the Spring,” a quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slopes of the Alps. The old gentleman had been hired by a young town council to clear away the debris from the pools of water up in the mountain crevices that fed the lovely spring flowing through their town. With faithful, silent regularity,
he patrolled the hills, removing the leaves and branches, and wiped away the silt that would otherwise choke and contaminate the fresh flow of water. By and by, the village became a popular attraction for vacationers. Graceful swans floated along the crystal clear spring, the millwheels of various businesses located near the water turned day and night, farmlands were naturally irrigated, and the view from restaurants was picturesque beyond description. Years passed. One evening the town council met for its semi-annual meeting. As they reviewed the budget, one man’s eye caught the salary figure being paid the obscure keeper of the spring. Said the keeper of the purse, “Who is the old man? Why do we keep him year after year? No one ever sees him. For all we know the strange ranger of the hills is doing us no good. He isn’t necessary any longer!” By a unanimous vote, they dispensed with the old man’s services. For several weeks nothing changed. By early autumn the trees began to shed their leaves. Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, hindering the rushing flow of sparkling water. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowishbrown tint in the spring. A couple days later the water was much darker. Within another week, a slimy film covered sections of the water along the banks and a foul odor was soon detected. The millwheels moved slower, some finally ground to a halt. Swans left as did the tourists. Clammy fingers of disease and sickness reached deeply into the village. Quickly, the embarrassed council called a special meeting. Realizing their gross error in judgment, they hired back the old keeper of the spring...and within a few weeks the veritable river of life began to clear up. The wheels started to turn, and new life returned to the hamlet in the Alps once again. God has a plan for your life and when you fail to carry out the plan...when we fail to carry out His plan for our lives...then the debris and slime of this world takes over. Let me challenge you to keep your spring flowing by carrying out God’s plan for your life.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 8
REASON #8 WHY WE SHOULDN’T QUIT QUITTERS NEVER SOAR Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:18-31 Key Verse: Isaiah 40:31- “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Key Words: They shall mount up with wings as eagles
The Scottish preacher, John McNeill, likes to tell about an eagle that had been
captured when it was quite young. The farmer who snared the bird put a restraint on it so it couldn’t fly, and then he turned it loose to roam in the barnyard. It wasn’t long till the eagle began to act like the chickens, scratching and pecking at the ground. This bird that once soared high in the heavens seemed satisfied to live the barnyard life of the lowly hen. One day the farmer was visited by a shepherd who came down from the mountains where the eagles lived. Seeing the eagle, the shepherd said to the farmer, “What a shame to keep that bird hobbled here in your barnyard! Why don’t you let it go?” The farmer agreed, so they cut off the restraint. The eagle continued to wander around, scratching and pecking as before. The shepherd picked it up and set it on a high stone wall. For the first time in months, the eagle saw the grand expanse of blue sky and the glowing sun. Then it spread its wings and with a leap soared off into a tremendous spiral flight, up and up and up. At last it was acting like an eagle again. It’s difficult to soar with the eagles when you are constantly running around with the chickens. Don’t quit. Spread your spiritual wings and soar to new heights for God’s glory.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 9
REASON #9 WHY WE SHOULDN’T QUIT LIFE IS NOT ABOUT ME Bible Reading: II Corinthians 10:7-13 Key Verse: II Corinthians 10:12- “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”
Key Words: comparing themselves among themselves are not wise
Some time back a young pastor asked me how to go about evaluating the church, its ministry, and even how to go about evaluating himself. The following is a portion of the letter I sent to him. Have definite goals for your church. The achieving of these goals will be an indication that you are making progress. The pastor who simply lives from week to week will always stay discouraged because he doesn’t know where he is going. II Corinthians 10:7-13 is a clear warning against the wrong kind of selfevaluation. It is easy for a church to become a mutual admiration society. The true measure of a church’s success is not what it is doing compared to other churches, but is it fulfilling its own potential? Don’t forget that churches go through stages of growth, not unlike the human body. The babyhood stage of the church is new and exciting, much like having a newborn baby in the house. But then things settle down and you reach the childhood stage. This is the stage when people seem to manufacture problems. Next is the spiritual maturity stage. This is when the church as a whole sees the importance of soul-winning, faithfulness to God’s house, and they come for God’s glory. One word of encouragement: the Lord rarely lets a pastor see how much good he is doing. When you feel the most discouraged, God is probably using you in the greatest way. Be faithful!! God will take care of the rest (I Corinthians 4:2). Always remember, it’s not a popularity contest. • • • • •
Preach the Word., Be instant in season and out of season, Reprove, Rebuke, and Exhort...with all longsuffering.
May God bless you as you labor for His glory. This young pastor now pastors a growing church and God, indeed, has been good to him. Praise be to the Lord! I occasionally pull this letter out and read it, just as a reminder that I am here for God’s glory, and that it is all about Jesus, not about me.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 10
REASON #10 WHY WE SHOULDN’T QUIT FAITHFULNESS IS A REQUIREMENT Bible Reading: I Corinthians 4:1-14 Key Verse: I Corinthians 4:2- “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
Key Words: It is required
The word faithful in the Greek means “trustworthy, dependable.” So a faithful Christian is one who is trustworthy and dependable–a person you can count on to be where they are supposed to be and do what they are supposed to do. We are told in I Corinthians 4:2 that faithfulness is a requirement, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” We are encouraged in III John, verse 5, to be faithful, “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers.” We are told in Revelation 2:10 that God rewards faithfulness, “Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Now, it is true that a person doesn’t have to be faithful to be a “Christian,” but in all candor, not being a faithful Christian in attendance and service would be like having... • a car without gas, • a church without members, • a lawn mower without a blade,
• • • • • • •
a teacher without students, a house without a roof, a letter without postage, a bell without an anvil, a ballgame without a ball, a light bulb without electricity, or a husband without a wife.
In other words, useless! So can you be a “Christian” without being faithful? Yes, you would just be a useless one. Now, I know you would never desire to be useless to God; so why not begin today being faithful so you can turn your uselessness into faithfulness, trustworthiness, and dependability.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 11
REASON #11 WHY WE SHOULDN’T QUIT THE PEACE OF GOD Bible Reading: John 14:15-27 Key Verse: John 14:27- “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Key Words: my peace I give unto you
The word peace in the scripture means “a solace, a calm spirit, tranquil.” My personal definition of peace is “an inner calmness that says all is in God’s control.” If we are to be in perfect peace, three things must be in place in our life. First of all, we must be at peace with God. This peace only comes through salvation. We are told in Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Secondly, there is the peace of God. This peace only comes through having a right relationship with God, and through a proper thought life. We read in Philippians 4:6-8, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Then lastly, but by no means least, there is the peace from God. This comes as a result of our relationship with others. In I Corinthians 1:3-4 we read, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;... .” God’s peace allows us to have an inner calmness even though the storms of life are raging all around us. Sailors and sea merchants will tell you if you are ever caught in a hurricane, find the eye of the storm for it is there you will find a calmness that allows you to ride out the storm. Jesus is our eye of calmness, He is our peace and tranquility in this old world of conflict and strife. Today, if you long for perfect peace you must first be at peace with God by being born again. You must have the peace of God that comes through a right relationship with God. Then you must be at peace with others, this is peace from God. I trust today you are in a place of perfect peace even though the storms of life are raging all around you.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 12
REASON #12 WHY WE SHOULDN’T QUIT IT PAYS TO SERVE THE LORD Bible Reading: Mark 5:1-20 Key Verse: Mark 5:15- “And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.”
Key Words: And they come to Jesus
In Mark 5: 15 we read, “And they come to Jesus, and see him that was
possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.”
On a wall in D. L. Moody’s home were two pictures that said, “Yes, it pays to
serve the Lord!” The first portrait showed him with fourteen boys he had diligently gathered from the poor section of the city, and it portrayed the class on the first day they came to Sunday School. Their faces were joyless, and their appearance was unkempt. The second picture featured twelve of these boys a few months later. What a contrast! Their faces were joyful, and they were neat and clean. Obviously something wonderful had happened to them; they had been saved. Moody’s task had met with resistance, and it had been difficult, but oh, how worthwhile! Jesus’ ministry on earth also shows us that it pays to serve God – even when opposed. Often when He did good things, He was misunderstood, wronged, and hated. When He healed a demon-possessed man in Gadara, for instance, the people were so frightened that they ordered Him to leave. Even Jesus’ disciples may have wondered if He should have healed the demoniac, but their attitude likely changed when they saw the man “sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind.” In serving the Lord, we may encounter misunderstanding. Yet we must not despair. If we follow Jesus’ example, we will reap a harvest of joy. When we reach heaven, we will see the people we helped, and we will hear the words “well done” from our Savior – and that will make it all worthwhile. Yes, it pays to serve the Lord!
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 13
REASON #13 WHY WE SHOULDN’T QUIT QUITTERS CAN’T MAKE A DIFFERENCE Bible Reading: James 1:13-27 Key Verse: James 1:22- “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Key Words: But be ye doers of the word
When you study the lives of those from God’s Word who made a difference in the lives of others you find one trait that stands out above all others. They made a difference because they determined to be different.
Abraham was different in that he didn’t begin his journey of faith until he was
one hundred years old. Now that’s different. Abraham made a difference in the lives of others. Abraham, rather than using his age for an excuse, determined to make a difference for God in spite of his age, proving that usefulness in God’s service has nothing to do with age, but everything to do with availability. Abraham made a difference by being different. David was but a runt of a lad when he defeated Goliath. When no one else would stand up to the Philistine giant, David determined to be different and as a result, he made a difference in the lives of others. Again proving that age has nothing to do with being used by God, but availability has everything to do with being useful in God’s service. David made a difference by being different. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were different. When everyone else bowed to the image of the world, these three young men decided to be different, and as a result of being different, they made a difference. (See Daniel 3:28-30.) Daniel was different. When all others refused to pray because of the fear of being cast in the lion’s den, Daniel was never deterred. He made a difference by being different. (See Daniel 6:26-28.) Joseph made a difference. He refused to compromise in his moral standards, and as a result, he eventually became the governor of Egypt. He made a difference by being different. Deborah made a difference. You can read about this woman of God in Judges, chapters 4 and 5. She was a judge in Israel (because no man was willing to lead). Sisera, captain of the army of Canaan, declared war on Israel. Deborah sends word to Barak, the captain of the army of Israel, giving him his marching instructions for the upcoming war with Canaan. Barak’s response was, “I’ll only go to war, Deborah, if you go with me.” So here is a woman leading Israel to victory. Deborah made a difference because she was different. If you are to make a difference, you must determine to be different from the world in your walk, talk, demeanor, standards, spirit, and in your faithfulness to God. You must be different. You can’t quit.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 14
REASON #14 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT PERSISTENCE PAYS Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:13-23 Key Verse: Ephesians 6:14- “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”
Key Words: stand therefore
Persistence pays! Now, it’s a costly investment, no question about it. But the rewards are so much greater than the cost. A primary reason we are tempted to throw in the towel and give up is other people; you know, 20% to 25% who believe it’s their call in life to discourage those who are attempting to accomplish something, those white-flag specialists who never run out of excuses as to why you and I should quit, and why all the hours, sweat, and tears are not worth it. I am sure Anne Mansfield Sullivan had a host of folks telling her that the blind seven-year-old brat wasn’t worth it, but Anne persisted in spite of the temper tantrums, abuse, mealtime madness, and thankless parents. Anne kept after it and within two years the blind girl was able to read and write in Braille. She graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College (where Anne had “spelled” each lecture into her hand). Helen Keller, the once bratty, blind seven-year-old, devoted the rest of her life to aiding the deaf and the blind – all because of the persistence of Anne Sullivan, who would not listen to critics but persistently kept after it. I recently read about a couple of men who were working alongside inventor, Thomas Edison. Weary to the point of exasperation, one man sighed, “What a waste. We have tried over seven hundred experiments and none of them worked. We are not a bit better off than when we started.” With an optimistic twinkle in his eye, Edison quipped, “Oh, yes, we are! We know seven hundred things that won’t work.” If necessity is the mother of invention, then persistence has to be the father. Ephesians 6:13-14, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore....” Be persistent! What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 15
REASON #15 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH DEMANDS WE STAY WITH IT Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:1-16 Key Verse: Ephesians 4:15- “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
Key Words: grow up in him
When a person becomes a Christian, he usually undergoes some radical life changes, especially if he has had an immoral background. Through the first steps of spiritual growth and self-denial, he gets rid of the large, obvious sins. But sad to say, many believers stop there. They don’t go on to eliminate the little sins that clutter the landscape of their lives. Gordon MacDonald, in his book Ordering Your Private World, told of an experience in his own life that illustrates this truth. “Some years ago, when Gail and I bought the old abandoned New Hampshire farm we now call Peace Ledge, we found the site where we wished to build our country home strewn with rocks and boulders. It was going to take a lot of hard work to clear it all out.... The first phase of the clearing process was easy. The big boulders went fast. And when they were gone, we began to see that there were a lot of smaller rocks that had to go too. But when we had cleared the site of the boulders and the rocks, we noticed all of the stones and pebbles we had not seen before. This was much harder, more tedious work. But we stuck to it, and there came the day when the soil was ready for planting grass.” The more you grow, the more you notice the small things in life that you need to change. Now, I ask you, “If you quit, will you ever notice the small things you need to get rid of in your life?” What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 16
REASON #16 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT A BROKEN SPIRIT Bible Reading: Psalm 51 Key Verse: Psalm 51:17- “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
Key Words: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit...
In all of my years in the ministry I have never known anyone with a broken spirit to quit on God. Now, I readily admit there have been times people have appeared to be broken; but in reality they were simply puffed up with pride. I repeat: I’ve never known of anyone with a broken spirit to quit on God. Will Rogers was known for his laughter, but he also knew how to weep. One day he was entertaining at the Milton H. Berry Institute in Los Angeles, a hospital that specialized in rehabilitating polio victims and people with broken backs and other extreme physical handicaps. Of course, Rogers had everybody laughing, even patients in very bad condition, but then he suddenly left the platform and went to the rest room. Milton Berry followed him to give him a towel, and when he opened the door, he saw Will Rogers leaning against the wall sobbing like a child. He closed the door, and in a few minutes, Rogers appeared back on the platform, as jovial as before. If you want to learn what a person is really like, ask three questions. What makes him laugh? What makes him angry? What makes him weep? These are fairly good tests of character that are especially appropriate for Christian leaders. I hear people saying, “We need angry leaders today!” or “The time has come to practice militant Christianity!” Perhaps, but “...the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). What we need today is not anger but anguish, the kind of anguish that Moses displayed when he broke the two tablets of the law and then climbed the mountain to intercede for his people, or that Jesus displayed when He cleansed the temple and then wept over the city. The difference between anger and anguish is a broken heart. It’s easy to get angry, especially at somebody else’s sins, but it’s not easy to look at sin, our own included, and weep over it. What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 17
REASON #17 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT A SELFLESS LIFE WON’T ALLOW IT Bible Reading: Philippians 3:1-14 Key Verse: Philippians 3:14- “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Key Words: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Think about those who quit on God: Demas, King Saul, Uzziah, Jonah, and others. They all quit because of a selfish life. But when I live for God, not self, this life will not allow me to quit. I spent much of my ninth summer on a bicycle. About a mile from our house the road went down a steep hill and turned sharply at the bottom. Coasting down the hill one morning, I felt my gathering speed to be ecstatic. To give up this ecstasy by applying my brakes seemed an absurd self-punishment. So I resolved to simultaneously retain my speed and negotiate the corner. My ecstasy ended seconds later when I was propelled a dozen feet off the road into the woods. I was badly scratched and bleeding, and the front wheel of my new bike was twisted beyond use from its impact against a tree. I had been unwilling to suffer the pain of giving up my ecstatic speed in the interest of maintaining my balance around the corner. I learned, however, that the loss of balance is ultimately more painful than the giving up required to maintain balance. It is a lesson I have continually had to relearn, as must everyone, for as we negotiate the curves and corners of our lives, we must continually give up parts of ourselves.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 18
REASON #18 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT THE CALLING OF GOD Bible Reading: Proverbs 22:1-13 Key Verse: Proverbs 22:13- “The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.”
Key Words: The slothful man saith
In Proverbs 22:13 we find a description of a man who gets up in the morning and doesn’t want to go to work. The man sees a lion in the street. Now, his wife looks out the window and sees no lion. The children look as well and see no lion, but to this man the lion is real. At least it is real in his imagination, for he wants to stay home that day. It is certainly normal for us, on occasion, to reluctantly go to work. However, when a person sees a lion outside, it is more than bad eyesight! The real problem is that this man has a job, not a calling. Max Lerner said, “A mere job has three characteristics. We want to get it over with the least effort possible. We want to finish it as quickly as possible; and we want to get as much money as we can out of it. On the other hand, a calling is like breathing, something you do, enjoy, and never think twice about having to do it.” Robert Louis Stevenson stated, “If a man loves the labor of his trade and seeks no attention, fame or personal success; then God has indeed called him to this trade.” Winston Churchill remarked, “There are two kinds of people, those whose work is work and pleasure is pleasure; and those whose work and pleasure are one.” For the latter he said, “Their working hours are never long enough.” You know, I find the same is true with our spiritual calling as well, whether we... • Teach a Sunday School class, • Sing in the choir, • Play an instrument, • Work in the nursery, • Work in Children’s Church, or • Go soul-winning... We thoroughly enjoy what we do. So let me ask you: “Do you have a job or a calling?” You know by the amount
of pleasure you have in it. You can quit a job...but not a calling.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 19
REASON #19 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT Bible Reading: Romans 5:1-10 Key Verse: Romans 5:3- “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”
Key Words: We glory in tribulations also
It takes faith to be able to say “we glory in tribulation.” One must be able to look ahead and visualize the end result of the trials and tribulations, and rest in the promises of God’s Word. Every one of our tribulations are known to God and, yes, even permitted by Him; but the purpose of those tribulations is often to develop our spiritual character. I admit I know little about cameras, but they are made today so picture-taking can be a breeze. Just taking a picture, though, is not enough (that part is easy); but to develop the film takes knowledge of photography. I am told that film is a piece of material covered with chemicals which are extremely sensitive to light. The moment you take the picture, a light falls across the film. There is no visible change, but there is a picture there. It simply needs to be developed. The film is taken to a dark room, immersed in a liquid containing certain chemicals which dissolve parts of the coating of the film which was exposed to the light. The negative is placed in a solution and the dish is tilted from side to side, working and reworking the face of the film plate until gradually the image is revealed. This is called “developing the plate.” The picture was there all the time, it simply needed developing. That is what trials and tribulations are; they are God’s developer of spiritual character. We must understand that we have many graces and gifts which must be developed in God’s dark room through the trials and tribulations which come into our
lives. Today if you are in God’s dark room of development, understand that the purpose is to take a normal person and make a beautiful Godly person out of you. You see, it’s for that reason you can’t quit!
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 20
REASON #20 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT MY THIRST FOR WISDOM Bible Reading: James 1:5 & 3:1-5 Key Verse: James 1:5- “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Key Words: If any of you lack wisdom
There are three types of wisdom. First, there is devilish wisdom. Next, there is
sensual wisdom. Lastly, there is Godly wisdom. If I am ever to have Godly wisdom, I can’t quit on God. You may come up with all kinds of excuses why you should quit, but none of them comes from God. We must desire to have a wisdom that comes from above. There’s a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, “O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge.” Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into the water. Then he asked, “What do you want?” “Knowledge, O wise Socrates,” said the young man with a smile.
Socrates put his strong hands on the man’s shoulders and pushed him under. Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. “What do you want?” he asked again. “Wisdom,” the man sputtered, “O great and wise Socrates.”
Socrates crunched him under again.
Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five, forty...Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. “What do you want, young man?” Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, “Wisdom, O wise and wonderful.” Socrates jammed him under again. Forty seconds passed...fifty...”What do you want?” “Air!” the young man screeched. “I need air!” “When you want wisdom as you have just wanted air, then you will have it.”
How bad do you want God’s wisdom? Let me assure you, it doesn’t come from quitting. What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 21
REASON #21 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT TO SHOW MY THANKS TO GOD Bible Reading: Psalm 92 Key Verse: Psalm 92:1- “<<A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day.>> It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:”
Key Words: It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with golden hair. I envied her, she seemed so gay, and how, I wished I were so fair, When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle, She had one foot and wore a crutch, but as she passed, a smile. Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two feet – the world is mine. And when I stopped to buy some sweets, the lad who served me had such charm, He seemed to radiate good cheer, his manner was so kind and warm; I said, “It’s nice to deal with you, such courtesy I seldom find;” He turned and said, “Oh, thank you sir.” And then I saw that he was blind. Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two eyes – the world is mine.
Then, when walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue; He stood and watched the others play; it seemed he knew not what to do. I stopped a moment, then I said, “Why don’t you join the others, dear?” He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear. Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two ears – the world is mine. With feet to take me where I’d go; With eyes to watch the sunset glow; With ears to hear what I would know; I am blessed, indeed. God, forgive me when I whine.
quit!
An attitude of gratitude demands that you not only shouldn’t quit, you can’t
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 22
REASON #22 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT A THIRST FOR GOD Bible Reading: John 7:37-44 Key Verse: John 7:37- “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
Key Words: If any man thirst
Quitters quit on God because they no longer thirst for Him. Their thirst has been quenched by money, possessions, and power. As vain and empty as they are, they deceive themselves into a false satisfaction. Driving up from Beersheba, a combined force of British, Australians and New Zealanders were pressing on the rear of the Turkish retreat over arid desert. The attack out-distanced its water-carrying camel train. Water bottles were empty. The sun blazed pitilessly out of a sky where the vultures wheeled expectantly. “Our
heads ached,” writes Gilbert, “and our eyes became bloodshot and dim in the blinding glare...Our tongues began to swell...Our lips turned a purplish black and burst.” Those who dropped out of the column were never seen again, but the desperate force battled on to Sheria. There were wells at Sheria, and had they been unable to take the place by nightfall, thousands were doomed to die of thirst. “We fought that day,” writes Gilbert, “as men fight for their lives...We entered Sheria station on the heels of the retreating Turks. The first objects which met our view were the great stone cisterns full of cold, clear, drinking water. In the still night air the sound of water running into the tanks could be distinctly heard, maddening in its nearness, yet not a man murmured when orders were given for the battalions to fall in, two deep, facing the cisterns.” He then describes the stern priorities: the wounded, those on guard duty, then company by company. It took four hours before the last man had his drink of water, and in all that time they had been standing twenty feet from a low stone wall on the other side of which were thousands of gallons of water. They endured because they longed for the water. So must we...we can’t quit and we won’t quit if we long for Jesus.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 23
REASON #23 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT I DON’T WANT TO WASTE MY LIFE Bible Reading: Psalm 39 Key Verse: Psalm 39:5- “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and
mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.”
Key Words: Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth We’ve all heard the saying, “Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
I often say that life isn’t about you, nor is it about me...life is about Jesus Christ.
If I, like so many others, quit, I’ve wasted a life that could have been used for
God’s glory. How would you like to spend two years making phone calls to people who aren’t home? Sound absurd? According to one time management study, that’s how much time the average person spends trying to return calls to people who never seem to be in. Not only that, we spend six months waiting for the traffic light to turn green, and another eight months reading junk mail. These unusual statistics should cause us to do time-use evaluation. Once we recognize that simple “life maintenance” can chip away at our time in such huge blocks, we will see how vital it is that we don’t busy ourselves “in vain” (Psalm 39:6). Psalm 39 gives us some perspective. In David’s complaint to God, he said, “You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You” (verse 5). He meant that to an eternal God our time on earth is brief; and He doesn’t want us to waste it. When we do, we throw away one of the most precious commodities He gives us. Each minute is an irretrievable gift – and an unredeemable slice of eternity. Sure, we have to make the phone calls, and we must wait at the light; but what about the rest of our time? Are we using it to advance the cause of Christ and to enhance our relationship with Him? Is our time well spent?
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 24
REASON #24 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT I MUST DO MY BEST Bible Reading: Matthew 25:14-30 Key Verse: Matthew 25:23- “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Key Words: Well done, good and faithful servant
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 For the apostle Paul, each day was the continuation of an exciting and challenging race. He wasn’t striving to gain entrance into heaven; he was confident of being welcomed there through his faith in Christ’s atoning work on the cross. The apostle’s concern was to be at his best for the Savior to grow in His likeness and to realize in daily experience the power of his resurrection (Phil 3:10). This meant forgetting what was behind, letting neither success nor failure hinder his growth. It meant pressing on till the day he would hear his Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23. John Baker, a high school junior, surprised everyone by winning his first crosscountry race. He outran the state champion and set a new record. Later he said that as he was running he asked himself, Am I doing my best? This question motivated him to try just a little harder. Rather than being discouraged by the runner in front of him, he would determine to pass him somehow! When he did, he set another goal of passing the next runner, and the next. By giving his all and letting nothing distract him, he found an unexpected reserve of power that ultimately brought him to victory. Something of that determination must keep us moving forward as believers. Victory does not come to those who are easily turned aside, or who are less than wholehearted in their commitment and service. Let’s ask ourselves, Am I doing my best for Christ? This will help us “press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining everyday Still praying as I’m onward bound, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 25
REASON #25 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT MY CRITICS Bible Reading: I Corinthians 4:1-8 Key Verse: I Corinthians 4:3- “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.”
Key Words: But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you
Always evaluate what your critics say. If they are right, change; if they are wrong, ignore them...but always listen. Now, with that being said, I must hasten to add another reason we can’t quit – our critics. Most critics rejoice in seeing those they criticize fail. I simply refuse to let them rejoice. One of Aesop’s fables tells of an old man and his son bringing a donkey to market. Passing some people on the way, they hear one remark, “Look at that silly pair – walking when they could be riding comfortably.” The idea seemed sensible to the old man, so he and the boy mounted the donkey and continued on their way. Soon they passed another group. “Look at that lazy pair,” said a voice, “breaking the back of that poor donkey, tiring him so that no one will buy him.” The old man slid off, but soon they heard another criticism from a passerby: “What a terrible thing, this old man walking while the boy gets to ride.” They changed places, but soon heard people whispering, “What a terrible thing, the big strong man riding and making the little boy walk.” The old man and boy pondered the situation and finally continued their journey in yet another manner, carrying the donkey on a pole between them. As they crossed the bridge, the donkey broke loose, fell into the river, and drowned. Moral: you can’t please everyone. What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 26
REASON #26 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT HAPPINESS DEMANDS IT Bible Reading: Acts 26:1-23 Key Verse: Acts 26:2- “I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:”
Key Words: I think myself happy
Some of the gloomiest people are those who quit on God: Elijah (I Kings 19), Jonah (Jonah 4), and Uzziah (II Chronicles 26). “It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. “I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. “While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for awhile and that she was a victim of Alzheimer’s Disease. “As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, ‘And you still go every morning, even though she does not know who you are?’ He smiled as he patted my hand and said, ‘She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is.’ “I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, ‘That is the kind of love I want in my life.’” What a picture of love!! The happiest people are not those who have the best of everything; the happiest people are those who make the best of everything they have.
Someone once said, “Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the storm.”
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 27
REASON #27 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST Bible Reading: Romans 14:1-10 Key Verse: Romans 14:10- “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
Key Words: for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
We are told in II Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” I think you would agree with me that quitting on God can never be that which is good so it must be that which is bad. The judgment seat of Christ demands that we be faithful. Walter B. Knight tells about two soldiers traveling by train at the end of World War II. One had spent more than three years in the South Pacific, and now was returning to his father, mother, friends, and sweetheart. All were waiting for him at the station in Chicago, and his eagerness could hardly be contained. “How fast are we traveling?” he asked the porter. “How far are we from Chicago? We can’t get there too quickly for me.” On the same train another serviceman sat in the same coach. His face looked like a blown-out lamp, a picture of gloom and dejection. He was in handcuffs and in the charge of military police. He was not eager to reach his destination, for nothing awaited him but judgment and punishment.
Two men on the same train bound for the same destination – one eager for reunion, the other dreading judgment. Which are you?
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 28
REASON #28 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT BEING HONORABLE DEMANDS IT Bible Reading: Romans 13:1-7 Key Verse: Romans 13:7- “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
Key Words: honor to whom honor
After David Livingston had been in Africa about 12 years, he had a desire to travel from where he was, on the east coast of the continent, over to the west coast through a part of that continent that no other European had ever been before. He didn’t have any possibility of doing it on his own, so he went to a local chief and asked for 27 men of the local tribe to go with him. The chief was more than a little bit suspicious. The trip was dangerous and he’d learned about white men that they were not entirely trustworthy. Livingston, sensing some of that feeling about him, made him a promise. “If you give me your sons, I promise to return with them, and to deliver them to their homes and families. My life will be a pledge.” Well, the chief agreed on that basis, and Livingston set out.
The journey was every bit as dangerous as it was thought to be. There was
incredibly difficult terrain, there were hostile tribes, there were all kinds of predatory and dangerous animals, there was sickness and illness. But finally, they made it to the west coast, and they stumbled into the port of Luanda, which had been their target, only to be amazed by finding a British warship there. And that warship had been sent from England for the specific purpose of finding Livingston and bringing him back, on the orders of Queen Victoria.
The captain came to him and said, “Sir, Queen Victoria has sent me to urge
you to return. All England is waiting to honor you.” Very tempting. The request, even the order of the Queen, because when the Queen invites, that is a command in most cases. And the thought of going home, and the thought of being honored, was tempting, but Livingston had a problem. He had made a promise. “Well,” they assured him, “the promise of a white man to an African doesn’t matter. And the Queen is more important than a chief.” Livingston had made a commitment, and despite all the urgings of the naval officers who were there, he turned his back and headed back into the jungle. The round trip ended 2 ½ years after he started, with him delivering those people back – to honor a promise. That was probably why, when Livingston died, the Africans were very committed to bury his heart in Africa. They were more than willing to listen to a man whose word was something they could trust. How can you trust someone who quits on God?
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 29
REASON #29 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT JESUS TOOK MY HEAD OUT Bible Reading: Romans 3:21-31 Key Verse: Romans 3:24- “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”
Key Words: through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
After all He’s done for me how can I do less than give my best? When the slave trade was thriving in West Africa, mercenaries would
penetrate the interior to capture hundreds of natives. They would then clamp iron collars around their necks to keep them in check until they arrived back at the coast for shipment.
As the captives passed through other African villages on their way to the sea,
a local chief or king would sometimes recognize a friend or relative. If he were financially able, and of a mind to, he could redeem his friend through payment of gold, silver, brass, or ivory. Out of this practice grew a slang word among the Bambara tribe of French West Africa which meant “take his head out of the iron collar.” According to Eugene Nida in his book, God’s Word in Man’s Language, when the Bible was translated in the dialect of the Bambaras, a common word was sought for the abstract idea of redemption. The translator seized on the well-known phrase, “God took our heads out” to substitute for the word “redeem.” So when the Bambara tribesmen read of God’s redemption, they get the image of God sending his Son as payment to “take our heads out of the collar” of sin and death. You see, our redemption cries out, “You can’t quit!”
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
SEPTEMBER 30
REASON #30 WHY I SHOULDN’T QUIT SUCCESS DEMANDS IT Bible Reading: Joshua 1:1-8 Key Verse: Joshua 1:8- “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Key Words: good success
Someone has said, “If at first you don’t succeed, you’d better not be skydiving.” It is obvious from reading Joshua 1:8 that success comes from having God’s Word in you and working through you.
I’ve never heard anyone say that success comes easy. A. W. Tozer said, “It is doubtful that God can use any man greatly until he has been greatly wounded.” By his mid-thirties, Winston Churchill was by far the most successful politician of his age in Britain. His career had been like a brilliant meteor blazing across the sky. The son of a notorious politician, he had achieved fame as a reporter and author whose chief subject matter was his own military adventures. Elected to Parliament at the tender age of twenty-five, he entered the Cabinet at thirty-one, and at the outbreak of World War I, was Lord of the Admiralty and part of the War Cabinet. Intelligent, hard-working, eloquent, single-minded, ambitious – the world lay at his feet. But Churchill’s world revolved around him as the sun. He was more interested in himself and his own ideas than in anything else, and his peers were reluctant to trust him. Then in 1915, his world collapsed. A military expedition at Gallipoli for which he was held responsible (critics still debate the validity of the charge) turned into a bloody debacle. He was forced to resign from the Cabinet, and his long years in the political wilderness, with intermittent respites, began. One biography gives this period of his life a fascinating title, “The Rise to Failure.” In the crucible of failure, Churchill forged some new qualities which became instrumental in his success as the great Allied leader during World War II. But until he refocused his life, he was a brilliant failure. Achievement in itself can never be the mark of excellence or greatness. Success can only be achieved as we live our lives in submission to God’s will and God’s Word. Quitting is admission of failure so, you see, you can’t quit.
What to do: ✞ Don’t quit – be faithful!
I deeply appreciate the help of Laurie Blankenship Trisha Bookout Kathy Endicott Cathy Fortenberry Sandy Lancaster Cathy Lang Pam Lee Marie Moore Mary Parsons John and Tascha Piatt Reba Pontbriand And my lovely wife, Linda
Without God using these people to help this devotional would not have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse
Daily Thoughts From Pastor Ezekiel 3:3 “The Bible should be bread for daily use, not a cake for special occasions.” Matthew 5:43-45 “Love is like a smile, neither has any value until you give them away.” Acts 26:1-2 “Happiness is like a perfume, you can’t put it on someone else without getting a few drops on yourself.” II Chronicles 26:17-19 “If you wish to make a man your enemy, simply tell him the truth about himself.” Philippians 3:20 “The more of heaven that is in you, the less of earth you covet.” Proverbs 21:24-28 “We’re all molded by God – some are just more ‘moldy’ than others.” I Corinthians 5:1-2 “Tolerance is the inaction of people who don’t believe anything anymore.” I Corinthians 9:27 “Whatever you put straight in others, make sure is not crooked in you. Or...You cannot put straight in others what is crooked in yourself.” I Timothy 6:5 “The problem with most people is they’re trying to make something for themselves and not something of themselves.”