I read about a tour group traveling in the Middle East where the tour guide was telling the tourists to keep a look out for flocks of sheep. He explained how the sheep-herders never drive their sheep. They lead them.

The first flock of sheep they saw were not being drawn or led, but driven relentlessly. They were being coerced with sticks and shouting. What made the difference? This herd of sheep was being driven by the butcher!

God never drives us—his “sheep”—to do anything. As with the ancient Israelites, God draws or leads us “with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.”² And we can choose either to follow his leading/ directions as found in his Word, the Bible, or to go our own way.

But for all who follow him, the reward is the gift of eternal life. As Jesus also said about his “sheep” who follow him: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”³ In the end if we fail to follow Jesus/God, we will be “driven” by the evil one, the consequences of which are unthinkable.

For help in receiving God’s gift of eternal life (and becoming one of his “sheep”), click on: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be sure that I am one of Your ‘sheep’ and always hear and recognize Your ‘voice’—and give me the wisdom always to choose to follow Your leading. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. John 10:27.
2. Hosea 11:4 (NIV).
3. John 10:28 (NIV).

Whenever we want to make progress or grow in our personal and spiritual life, or seek to serve God more enthusiastically, chances are we will face opposition and some flack.

On one occasion, I was facing an uncomfortable amount of flack because of a major change of direction I had made in my life, which I believed was right for me to do. But the flack I received came not from “the enemy without” but from opposition within. As the saying goes, “Christians are the only army that shoots its wounded.”

When I was feeling the strain, I was also feeling afraid. Then I pictured in my mind’s eye that I was a pilot flying through enemy territory with a lot of flack coming at me; but sitting beside me was my co-pilot, Jesus Christ! Immediately, I knew I would be safe and that he would guide me safely through the “storm”. And he did.

It helps to remember that no matter what we are going through, Christ’s presence and his Spirit are always with us. A part of the work of the Holy Spirit is that he is not only our Comforter but, as it says in the original language, he is one who is called alongside to help us in every situation in which we find ourselves.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, when I need to make choices, help me to know what the right choices are, and give me the courage to make them regardless of the flack/opposition I might receive … and help me always to ‘see’ Your being with me. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. John 14:15-17 (TLB).

From the back porch of her home a friend noticed a beautiful butterfly with its fragile legs caught in a spider’s web. It was flapping its wings wildly trying desperately to escape. Feeling sorry for the butterfly, my friend came closer to see if she could help free it. What she saw, though, was that the harder the butterfly tried to escape, the more it got enmeshed in the spider’s web. As gently as possible she helped free it and was delighted when it was able to break free and fly away.

It reminded her of how we can so easily get entrapped by sin. A little dabbling here and a little dabbling there. We put our toe in sin’s waters as it were and before we know it we are entrapped in the web of our own actions and emotions. And then, the harder we try to escape and free ourselves, the more enmeshed we become.

The fact is we cannot save ourselves from sin’s entrapment and its eternal consequences. Only God can do that. He has provided the only way of escape and that is through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave his life to pay sin’s penalty. As God’s Word says, “By grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”²

If you haven’t accepted God’s salvation from sin’s entrapment and consequences, for help click on: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me always to seek to follow Your ways and not dabble with sin’s temptations. Where I have sinned, please forgive me and free me from the entrapments I have got myself into. Above all, thank You for saving me from sin’s eternal consequences and giving to me the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ my Lord. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV).
2. Ephesians 2:8.

A NASA official involved in space exploration was talking to a reporter about humans landing on Mars. The reporter was concerned about how they would be able to return to earth.

“That involves a highly complex plan,” the space official said. “It begins with the words, ‘Our Father who art in Heaven.’”

Jokes aside, the reality is that most people do pray at some time or another. Even those who rarely pray often do when they are in trouble. How much better to daily commit and trust our life to God and seek his guidance in all that we do at all times—regardless of our circumstances.

Sometimes it’s difficult to see how God is directing us or making our path straight—especially when we’ve been going through a series of rough times. In time, however, if we have daily trusted our life to God and look back, we will see how God has led us all the way. It is true, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him”²—even if it is eventually!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to remember to daily commit and trust my life and way to You for every decision I will be called on to make and for everything I need to do each day. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. King Solomon, in Proverbs 3:6.

2. Romans 8:28 (NIV).

What I am about to say may seem extremely simplistic but it was a vivid reminder to me of the incredible privileges and blessings I/we experience every day here in the Western world.

When I was brushing my teeth last night, I thought to myself how blessed I am to have a toothbrush and toothpaste so I can clean my teeth every morning and night. I was thinking how awful it would be to live where such simple amenities were not available. However, before writing me off as some kind of pedantic fanatic please consider a recent experience that Joy (my wife) had.

Not so long ago she was on a mission team from our church that went to a poverty stricken area in the Philippines. She shared how incredibly excited and thankful the children were when the team gave each one of them a toothbrush and toothpaste—something they had never had in their life before.

And then this morning I was so thankful to God that we had indoor plumbing, hot and cold running water, all the food we need, modern medical help, a roof over our head, a cozy bed to sleep in, a loving partner, the wonderful privilege of writing to you, incredible means of communication and travel, fabulous highways—and a thousand other conveniences, privileges, and endless benefits that we have that all too often are taken for granted—not to mention the unspeakable privilege of having heard and received God’s great gift of salvation—and because somebody cared enough to introduce me to Jesus.

I hope that when you brush your teeth today that you, too, will see and remember the incredible blessings that you have and that, together, we will work to help those less fortunate than ourselves. As another has said, “Would I sell my hands or my eyes for a million dollars?” No way.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please open my eyes so that I will continually see the endless blessings You have so freely given to me and, above all else, please give me a thankful heart. And may praise and thanksgiving to You always be in my heart and never far from my lips. And please help me to remember the poor and needy where I live and those in other parts of the world, and do what I can to help those who are not in a position to be able to help themselves—and in so doing exhibit your love for them. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Ephesians 5:20 (NIV).

In God’s order there is work for everyone to do. He doesn’t call many to be a “Billy Graham or a Mother Teresa,” but he does call all of us to be faithful in using the gifts and abilities he has given to us. In case we don’t feel worthy to be of much use to God, it can help to look at the frailties of many of God’s servants in the Bible.

Somebody has pointed out that: “Moses stuttered. David’s armor didn’t fit. John Mark was rejected by Paul. Hosea’s wife was a prostitute. Amos’s only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning. Jacob was a liar. David had an affair. Solomon was too rich. Abraham was too old. David was too young. Timothy had ulcers. Peter was afraid of death.

“Lazarus was dead. John was self-righteous. Jesus was too poor. Naomi was a widow. Paul was a murderer. So was Moses. Jonah ran from God. Miriam was a gossip. Gideon and Thomas both doubted. Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal. Elijah was burned out. John the Baptist was a loudmouth. Martha was a worry-wart. Samson had long hair. Noah got drunk. Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse? So did Peter as did Paul.”

True, we all have areas of weakness and have experienced failure at some level, but God will still use every one who makes him or herself available to God. So let’s be sure we are serving God by faithfully using the gifts and talents he has given to each of us. It’s a great privilege and a great opportunity—plus it has eternal rewards.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me the want-to-be what You want me to be and the want-to-do what You want me to do using the gifts and abilities You have given to me—and help me to love and serve You faithfully all the days of my life. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV)

Corrie Ten Boom said, “If a bird is flying for pleasure, it flies with the wind, but if it meets danger it turns and faces the wind, in order that it may rise higher.”

Bernard Brunstang believes that “people who have setbacks and trouble often emerge with values and priorities that are higher and nobler, more sensitivity and understanding of the difficulties of others, and a new appreciation of how much people mean to them.”

“Life is like a grindstone. Whether it grinds you down or polishes you up depends upon what you are made of.”

Stan Buck tells the story about a little girl who, on their way home from church, turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the preacher’s sermon this morning confused me.”

The mother said, “Oh! Why is that?

The girl replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?”

“Yes, that’s true,” the mother replied.

“He also said that God lives within us. Is that true too?”

Again the mother replied, “Yes.”

“Well,” said the girl. “if God is bigger than we are and he lives in us, wouldn’t he show through?”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be as Jesus today to whomever You bring into my life and grant that my life will mirror Your beauty and Your love to them. And grant that they, seeing Jesus in me, will want him for themselves. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (TLB).

The story is told about an old fashioned preacher who was preaching up a storm as he proclaimed with great enthusiasm, “Let the church walk!”

An old-timer sitting on the front pew was equally enthusiastic. He blurted out for all to hear, “Amen! Preacher. Let the church walk!”

With even greater enthusiasm the preacher responded, “Let the church run!”

“Amen!” responded the brother on the front pew, “Let the church run!”

Being greatly encouraged, the preacher cried out even more enthusiastically, “Let the church fly!”

“Amen,” hollered back the man on the front pew, “Let the church fly!”

“But,” said the preacher, “It takes money to make the church fly!”

“AMEN,” shouted the old timer again, “Let the church walk!”

People all around us are lost. Vast numbers are headed for a lost eternity, without Jesus and without hope, to the place the Bible calls: “hell.” Whatever and wherever hell is, of one thing we can be sure and that is that hell is forever!

The reality is that it takes money to do God’s work on earth—to rescue people from hell. So many of us, at least in the West, have unbelievable resources compared to so much of the rest of the world and it has been said that less than 5% of us tithe of our income!

God has given us so much. He gave his Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us to give us the gift of eternal life. And in the West, at least, he has given us incredible resources. And why has God given us these resources? For selfish ends? No. So we would be equipped to do God’s work around the world.

It has been said that God’s work done in God’s way will not lack God’s provision. However, God’s way is to fund his work through the tithes and offerings of his people. But if the givers don’t give, the doers can’t do, and the laborers in the field can’t sow or reap!

If every Christian tithed there would be sufficient funds to do all of God’s work around the world.

Our check (cheque) book stubs are a pretty good indication of how grateful we are to God for all that he has done for us and an accurate indication of where our hearts are.

God is calling every one of us to give and to give wisely to what God is doing in the world today! “For,” as Jesus said, “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you,” and “the Lord loves a cheerful giver!”

Suggested prayer. “Dear God please give me a thankful heart for all that You have done for me. Help me to be a generous giver and not just a taker. Forgive me if in any way I have robbed You of your tithes and offerings that You have entrusted to me. I choose today to put You first in my giving. Help me always to remember that ‘the tithe’ (10% at least) is Yours. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Luke 6:38 (NIV).

Someone has wisely said, “The great thing in life is not so much what we are doing at the moment, but the direction in which we are headed.”

This was certainly true for a couple in Germany that I read about who, many years ago, were preparing their evening meal when they heard a knock at their door. When they opened the door, standing there in the deep winter cold, was an ill-clad youth asking for food. The couple took him in to give him food and shelter for the night.

Being Christians, they prayed for this rather destitute young man. Somehow they both felt that they should take him into their home and, in time, adopt him as their own son. Little did they know who this stranger was and what he would accomplish with his life. His name? Martin Luther.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I’m available again today. Please make me usable and use me to be as Jesus to whomever You bring into my life today. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Hebrews 13:1-2 (TLB) (NLT).

In much younger days I used to play a guitar (long before they became as popular as they are today) and sing. One of my favorite songs was the “Hornet Song” that went something like the following:

When the Canaanites hardened their hearts against God,

And grieved Him because of their sin,

God sent along hornets to bring them to terms,

And to help His own people to win.

Now the hornets persuaded them that it was best

To go quickly and not to go slow,

They didn’t compel them to go ‘gainst their will.

But they just made them willing to go.

If a nest of live hornets were brought to this room,

And the creatures allowed to go free,

You would not need urging to make yourself scarce,

When Jonah was sent to the work of the Lord,

The outlook was not very bright,

Why he never had done such a hard thing before,

So he backed out and ran off from the fight.

Now, the Lord sent a big fish to swallow him up,

The story I am sure you all know,

But He just made him willing to go.

Chorus:

God doesn’t compel us to go, oh, no!

He never compels us to go,

God does not compel us to go ‘gainst our will,

But He just makes us willing to go.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank You that your call to each one of us is persistent, so please give me hearing ears and a listening heart to hear you call that I will know without a doubt that I am fulfilling my God-given life purpose to the very best of my ability. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Exodus 23: 28 (NIV).