Imagine that. Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath and the religious leaders “tried all the harder to kill him” (that is, to kill Jesus)!

As we’ve noted before, tragically, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day loved their programs more than they loved people! They were expecting the promised Messiah but because he didn’t come the way they expected him to come, and didn’t do things the way they wanted them done, they wouldn’t believe in him and refused to change.

It goes without saying that we live in a world of rapid change. Yes, we need to hold fast to that which is permanent and eternal, but in other areas of life if we don’t change, we, too, may miss out and get left behind.

Here’s a classic example from the business world: “From 1900 to 1967, the Swiss were the leading watchmakers in the world. In 1967, when digital technology was patented, the Swiss rejected it in favor of the traditional ball bearings, gears, and mainsprings they had been using to make watches for decades. Unfortunately, however, the world was ready for this advance, and Seiko, a Japanese company, picked up the digital patent and became the leading watch manufacturer in the world almost overnight. Fifty thousand of the 67,000 Swiss watchmakers went out of business because they refused to embrace this new technology. It was not until years later that the Swiss caught up and regained their position in the marketplace with the creation of Swatch watches.”²

This principle also applies to each of us in today’s marketplace—if we don’t keep up our training with the needs of today’s changing marketplace, again, we may be left behind.

In serving God, while our message never changes, our methods of communicating it need to change with the changing times and the changing needs of people or, again, we may get left behind—as many a business, church, and organization has. By way of interest, as the Internet began to grow, our gospel literature sales began to plummet even though our literature had done extremely well for three decades. This is why here in our US office we changed from hard copy print to the electronic media. We never changed the message—only the way of communicating it. Had we not made this change, we never could have continued to successfully preach “the gospel to every creature”³ as Jesus commanded.

Suggested Prayer: “Dear God, help me to hold fast to that which is eternal, but be flexible and willing to change where change is needed. And above all help me to be willing to change where you see my need for change and growth. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. John 5:8-10 (TLB)(NLT).

2. Cited in Bits & Pieces.

3. Mark 16:15.

Note: If you have never received Jesus as your Savior or received God’s forgiveness, I encourage you to do that today. To do so see “God’s Invitation” at: www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or for further help read, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

About Thomas Edison’s many attempts in seeking to invent the electric light bulb Susan Hayward in Begin It Now wrote, “Two dejected assistants of Thomas Edison said, ‘We’ve just completed our 700th experiment and we still don’t have the answer. We have failed.’

“‘No, my friends, you haven’t failed,’ replied Mr. Edison, ‘it’s just that we know more about this subject than anyone else alive. And we’re closer to finding the answer because now we know 700 things not to do. Don’t call it a mistake. Call it an education.’”²

Persistence paid off very well for Edison … for us too because eventually he succeeded in perfecting the electric light bulb. Persistence in any worthwhile cause always pays rich dividends. And better still—persistence in God’s work pays eternal dividends.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be persistent in serving, obeying, trusting and loving you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Ecclesiastes 11:4, 6 (TLB)(NLT).

2. Cited in Bits & Pieces.

Note: If you have never received Jesus as your Savior or received God’s forgiveness, I encourage you to do that today. To do so see “God’s Invitation” at: www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or for further help read, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

Marshall Field, quoted in Predictions & Prescriptions newsletter, gives twelve points to remember for successful living:

1. The value of time

2. The success of perseverance

3. The pleasure of working

4. The dignity of simplicity

5. The worth of character

6. The power of kindness

7. The influence of example

8. The obligation of duty

9. The wisdom of economy

10. The virtue of patience

11. The improvement of talent

12. The joy of originating

All of the above are excellent, but the best advice for successful living is still to be kind, be diligent, do all the good you can, model Christian living, love one another, and above all, don’t forget God; and serve him enthusiastically.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to so live that my life will model what it means to be truly successful (in your view) so that people will see you in me and want the same for themselves. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Romans 12:8-11 (TLB)(NLT).

It is reported that former British Prime Minister David Lloyd George was once introduced by a chairman who jokingly said, “I had expected to find Mr. Lloyd George a big man in every sense, but you see for yourselves he is quite small in stature.”

Not amused Lloyd George rebutted, “In North Wales we measure a man from his chin up. You evidently measure him from his chin down.”

An even greater measure is the “size” of a man’s heart. As The Living Bible puts today’s text, God said, “Don’t judge by a man’s face or height … I don’t make decisions the way you do! Men judge by outward appearance, but I look at a man’s thoughts and intentions.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me a big heart to love people regardless of outward appearances, and seek to win those who are lost to you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV).

As it has been said, “If you want to hit home runs you’ve got to be willing to strike out.” Top batters in baseball have all struck out many times. And most people who have succeeded in life have also struck out many times.

For example, Walt Disney went broke seven times and had a nervous breakdown before he became successful. At age 40 Henry Ford was broke. Enrico Caruso, who became one of the world’s greatest tenors, was advised by his voice teacher to quit singing because he failed so many times to carry his high notes. Thomas Edison failed more than 6,000 times before he could get an electric light bulb to work, but when a child, one of his teachers once called him a dunce. Abraham Lincoln was well known for his many failures but became one of America’s most beloved presidents. And Albert Einstein and Werner von Braun both flunked courses in mathematics. History is filled with similar stories.

The reason these people all succeeded is because they didn’t quit. They believed they could succeed and they stuck with it until they did. As the old saying goes, “Quitters never win and winners never quit!” So, if you and I want to hit some home runs, we need to get out there, stand at the base and keep on swinging. Eventually we, too, will win if we “keep the faith” and never give up.

Furthermore, if you’re genuinely seeking to do what you know God wants you to do, there will always be a way to do it. Faith says, “With God’s help I’ll find the way and I’ll keep on trying!”

Remember, too, that the only real failure is not to get up one more time than we strike out or get knocked down. Remember, too, that in every failure God always has something valuable for us to learn. In fact, failure is often our greatest teacher, a blessing in disguise. The key issue is to follow your God-given dream and potential, and not allow failures to stop you!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to know for certain what my God-given life purpose and dream is, and with your help never give up no matter how great the challenges are. Help me also to realize that in every failure, you have a valuable lesson for me to learn. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Hebrews 11:1-2 (TLB)(NLT).

It has been said that you can tell a truly great person by the way he or she treats ordinary people.

Many years ago a rider on horseback came across a squad of soldiers who were trying to move a heavy log. A corporal stood by giving lordly orders to “heave.” But the log was too heavy for the squad to move.

“Why don’t you help them?” asked the man on the horse addressing the corporal.

“Me? Why I’m a corporal, sir!”

Dismounting, the stranger carefully took his place with the soldiers.

“Now, all together, boys—heave!” he said. And the heavy log slid right into place.

The horseman was George Washington.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please deliver me from the sin and vanity of ‘riding on a high horse,’ thinking that any job is below my (false) pride and dignity. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Luke 22:26 (NIV).

Henry Van Dyke wisely said, “Use what talents you possess: The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”

I grew up in Brisbane, Australia, and attended a primary school where there was a motto written over the door of every classroom. The only one I remember is today’s verse taken from the Bible: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might”—that is, whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability and do it with enthusiasm.

That’s one motto I have tried to live by and, with God’s help, plan to continue for the rest of my life.

Everyone has been given at least one gift/talent—most of us several. May we all use them to the best of our ability to serve God and our fellow man and thereby help make our homes and our world a better place in which to live.

God hasn’t called most of us to be experts but he has called all of us to be faithful in putting to good use the gifts he has given to us. So, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it to the best of your ability with enthusiasm.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to appreciate the gifts and talents you have given me and to use them to minister to others and therein be a part of what you are doing in the world today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

“British statesman and financier Cecil Rhodes, whose fortune was used to endow the world-famous Rhodes Scholarships, was a stickler for correct dress—but apparently not at the expense of someone else’s feelings. A young man invited to dine with Rhodes arrived by train and had to go directly to Rhodes’s home in his travel-stained clothes. Once there he was appalled to find the other guests already assembled, wearing full evening dress. After what seemed a long time Rhodes appeared, in a shabby old blue suit. Later the young man learned that his host had been dressed in evening clothes, but put on the old suit when he heard of his young guest’s dilemma.”²

In the words of Dale Carnegie, if we are going to “win friends and influence people,” it is important that we understand people and, as much as possible (within moral bounds of course), that we are sensitive to their situation and, as much as possible, identify with them. As the old saying goes, “to win some we need to be winsome.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me an understanding heart and help me always to be sensitive to the needs and situation of others so that my life will be a channel of your love to every life I touch. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Corinthians 9:22 (NIV).

2. Today in the Word, February, 1991, p. 10.

Failure is never final for the person who gets up one more time than s/he stumbles, falls, or gets knocked down. The crucial thing, whenever we fail or fall, is that, with God’s help and the support of loving friends, we get up, go on, and learn from the experience.

In younger days I recall how I made a big error on a construction site I was working on. Fortunately I had a very understanding boss. I felt really bad but have never forgotten his encouraging words. He said, “Dick, the person who never made a mistake never made anything!” Good advice for all of us who have failed and made mistakes.

I trust the following poem is as encouraging for you as it has been for me:

I would rather stumble a thousand times

Attempting to reach a goal,

Than to sit in a crowd

In my weather-proof shroud,

A shriveled and self-satisfied soul

I would rather be doing and daring

All of my error-filled days,

Than watching, and waiting, and dying,

Smug in my perfect ways.

I would rather wonder and blunder,

Stumbling blindly ahead,

Than for safety’s sake

Lest I make a mistake,

Be sure, be safe, be dead.²

— Author Unknown

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to always get up when I fail, fall, or get knocked down. Help me not to beat myself up or blame others for my failures, but accept your forgiveness, forgive myself, learn from my mistakes, and go on to bigger and better things. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name.”

1. Proverbs 24:16 (NIV).

2. See Words of Inspiration at: https://learning.actsweb.org/wordsofinspiration/attempt_goal.php.

Today’s society places tremendous emphasis on physical appearance not only for women, but also (even if to a lesser degree) for men. If, for example, two men of equal qualifications apply for the same job, the tallest man is most likely to be chosen for the position.

Because of his amazing courage in the Battle of Lodi in 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte became known as “the little corporal.” He was only five-feet-two-inches tall!

William Wilberforce was another small man who apparently never enjoyed good health. For twenty years he was under a doctor’s care. More than any other person he was responsible for stopping the British slave trade. He was known for his eloquence and in 1780 entered the British Parliament at age 21. Six years later he joined Thomas Clarkson, the anti-slave campaigner, and began his fight against slavery even though the bill to end the slave trade didn’t become law until 1807—twenty-one years later.

On one occasion James Boswell, the great Scottish author went to hear Wilberforce speak. Afterward he said, “I saw what seemed to be a mere shrimp … but as I listened, he grew and grew till the shrimp became a whale.”

Often in life, many of the greatest achievements have been accomplished by persons who have had a serious setback, a major limitation or handicap, or a significant failure of one kind or another, but have overcome their defect to rise above their circumstances.

If you feel you have a shortcoming, be encouraged, the people God uses are ordinary people who make themselves available.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you use ordinary people to accomplish your work on earth. I am available. Please make me usable, and use me to be a part of what you are doing in the world today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Samuel 16:6-7 (NIV).