In following through on our story of yesterday about Tommy, the child who felt unloved and abandoned, we are graphically reminded of what God did for us at Christmas 2000 years ago.

While not abandoned by God, our sinfulness cut us off from him and we were left lost in a world of sin and darkness, doomed for an eternal hell—whatever and wherever that may be—to be forever separated, not only from God, but also from all that is good and all that is loving.

However, in his loving mercy, Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God, laid aside his external robes of deity and, clothing himself in a garment of human flesh, stepped out of the Ivory Palaces of Heaven, and came to earth so he could identify with mankind and save us from our despair and eternal lost-ness.

Unfortunately so many don’t realize the terrible plight we are in without God. Many reason that if God is a God of love, how could he ever send anyone to hell? It’s imperative for us to understand that because God is a God of absolute holiness no sin or sinner can ever exist in his presence. It’s also important to remember that it isn’t God who sends us to hell. If we reject his mercy and his pardon, we send ourselves there.

Furthermore, because God is absolutely just, all sin must be judged—and that judgment is eternal death, which is eternal separation from a holy and just God. Fortunately, however, God is also a God of absolute love and because he loved us, he sent his Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sin, the penalty that God’s own justice demanded.

You may not be aware of it but Jesus is calling you to respond to his love and mercy. He has the gift of forgiveness for all your wrongdoing and sinful acts and, with his forgiveness, the gift of eternal life. And like the boy in Part I, God has been hiding in the shadows with you, patiently waiting for you to reach out and put your hand in his so he can lead you out of your lost-ness into his eternal life.

Why not answer God’s call today? You can do so by praying a simple prayer such as the following:

“Dear God, how can I ever thank you enough for loving me so much that you sent your Son, Jesus, to come to earth on that first Christmas. I admit and confess that I am a sinner and am sorry for all the wrongs that I have done. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me. And I invite you, Jesus, to come into my heart and life as Lord and Savior. I commit and trust my life to you. Please give me the desire to be what you want me to be and to do what you want me to do. Thank you for dying for my sins, for your free pardon, for your gift of eternal life, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer, please click on (or copy and paste into your browser): www.actsweb.org/decision.php, and fill in the response form and we will send you a free copy of the e-Brochure, “How to Grow” to help you in your new Christian life. We will also send you the web address for the free “Ten Steps to Christian Growth.”

In the words of the songwriter, William E. Booth-Clibborn:

Down from His glory, ever living story,

My God and Savior came, and Jesus was His name;

Born in a manger to His own a stranger,

A man of sorrows, tears and agony!

Oh how I love Him! How I adore Him!

My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!

The great Creator became my Savior,

And all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him!

1. Isaiah 7:14 ( NKJV).

Today I want to talk about having a healthy (not conceited) belief in yourself and in God’s purpose for you.

Dr. Joyce Brothers, well-known author and psychologist says, “An individual’s self-concept [what he believes about himself] is the core of his personality. It affects every aspect of human behavior: the ability to learn, the capacity to grow and change, the choice of friends, mates and careers. It’s no exaggeration to say that a strong positive self-image [self-belief] is the best possible preparation for success in life.”

A healthy self-belief is not an egotistic “I’m the greatest” attitude. Such an attitude is self-deception and a cover for deep insecurity and self-unbelief. Believing in yourself includes knowing and accepting your weaknesses as well as your strengths and believing with God’s help that you can overcome your weaknesses and develop and use your strengths.

One very successful woman, a well-known entertainer, didn’t have much going for her. She would never have won a beauty contest and at age 38 was living on welfare. After reading Claude Briston’s, The Magic of Believing, and beginning to believe in herself, Phyllis Diller’s life took a dramatic turn. One gift she had was the ability to make people laugh. Once she believed this, she didn’t allow what she didn’t have to stop her using what she did have.

Jimmie Durante was another entertainer who wouldn’t have made a fortune with his looks. But he capitalized on his weakness and turned it into one of his greatest strengths. He didn’t focus on his physical attributes—what he didn’t have—but on his strengths—what he did have—and put these to good use because he believed he could.

You and I can do the same.

For an even stronger and healthier sense of self-belief know that no matter what you have ever done or have failed to do, God loves you totally and unconditionally, wants to forgive your every sin and wrongdoing, and has a God-given purpose for your life that he wants you to fulfill! All I ask is that you believe in yourself exactly the same as God believes in you.²

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you have a wonderful purpose for my life. Thank you, too, that you believe in me in that you never expect me to do more or less than what you have planned for me to do. Like the father in today’s Scripture text, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.’ Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Mark 9:23-24 (NIV).

2. Adapted from “The Power of Belief” by Dick Innes at

www.actsweb.org/articles

In the book The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis, a devil briefs his demon nephew, Wormwood, in the subtleties and techniques of tempting people. Through the letters the devil says that the objective is not to make people wicked but to make them indifferent. Satan cautions Wormwood that he must keep the patient comfortable at all costs. If he should start thinking about anything of importance, encourage him to think about his luncheon plans and not to worry so much because it could cause indigestion.

And then the devil gives this instruction to his nephew: “I, the devil, will always see to it that there are bad people. Your job, my dear Wormwood, is to provide me with people who do not care.”²

And perhaps, just perhaps, Wormwood is having profound success among far too many Christians in the West today, for only a small percentage give of their time, their talents, and their tithe to God for his work on earth—and even fewer give or do anything for world missions and for reaching the lost around the world with the saving gospel message of Jesus Christ.

And so the devil is still delighted with the work of Wormwood.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please forgive me for and deliver me from the sin of indifference and that of not caring for the needs of the destitute and the homeless, the persecuted church in other lands, and my lost neighbors across the street and around the world. Please help me to love you and to love others as you loved and gave yourself for me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV).

2. From Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com.

Dale Carnegie writes, “If only the people who worry about their liabilities would think about the riches they possess, they would stop worrying. Would you sell both your eyes for a million dollars … or your two legs … or your hands … or your hearing? Add up what you do have, and you’ll find that you won’t sell them for all the gold in the world. The best things in life are yours if you can appreciate yourself.”

Years ago when I was a student in Chicago and driving a CTA passenger bus in the summer, I was greeted by a very refined elderly woman passenger who tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Young man, you’re a millionaire!” That was news to me because I was working three jobs at once to put myself through college. However, after a pause, the lady continued, “You have your health!”

She had a good point. Counting our blessings, as Carnegie suggests, is not going to take away our problems but it certainly can help us handle them much better—especially if we daily give God thanks in (not for) every circumstance—good or bad.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to daily count my blessings and give me a thankful heart for all of these—especially when, instead of keeping my eyes on you, I look at my problems and start worrying about what I am going to do. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

According to Old Testament Bible commentators, Manasseh’s reign as King of Judah over 2,600 years ago was one of the darkest periods in Judah’s history. His was a reign of evil and his nation paid the terrible price because they allowed and followed his leadership.

Are things much different in present times? According to Ravi Zacharias, “German theologian Emil Brunner made the curious suggestion that Adolf Hitler should be posthumously given an honorary doctor of theology degree. Why? Because he awakened Europe to her Christian heritage by showing her what the world would be like without Christianity.” At least it should have awakened Europe.

How true it is that history repeats itself. Look again at the reign of Hitler and of Stalin—godless leaders who slaughtered millions. And look at countries and nations today where God is forgotten, where Christianity is despised, and where Christians and others are being slaughtered if they refuse to denounce their faith and join a different religion, and where religious zealots are committing heinous acts of mass murder in the name of a god who is not the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ and to whom Jesus Christ is not the Son of God nor Savior of the world—and to whom followers of Jesus are the infidels who need to be destroyed.

And let those of us in the West who, in our complacency, think we are safe and secure look at how we too, as nations, are drifting farther and farther away from our Judeo/ Christian roots and heritage, and rapidly forgetting God and all that he has done for us. Do we think we will be protected from evil when we turn from God?

No we won’t. In time we, too, unless we turn back to God, will go the way of all nations who forget God and thereby allowed a reign of evil to rule the land. When we reject God, we automatically divorce ourselves from his protection.

People opposed to the Bible, the Ten Commandments, and anything to do with God and the Christian faith; leaders without morals; and business leaders without character and ethics have already done great harm to U.S. society and its economy. I first wrote this message about five or six years ago and look at the mess we are in today as we have drifted farther and farther away from God and continued our moral decline. Surely Satan has blinded the mind of the Godless.

What we desperately need today is a revival of the Spirit; not the revival of a costless, saccharine spiritualism that is gaining popularity today, but a revival of God’s Spirit, where we turn from our sins and come back to God through the Lord Jesus Christ—and be committed to truth, justice, integrity and the Jesus way!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, how desperately today’s world needs you and how desperately my country needs you. I beg of you to send a great Spiritual awakening to our land and a great revival of the Spirit—and let your work begin in me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Kings 21:10-12 (NIV).

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God, or so the story goes. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with cupcakes, several cans of root beer and started on his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he saw an elderly woman. She was sitting on a park bench watching the pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed the lady looked hungry so he offered her a cupcake. She gratefully accepted and smiled at him.

Her smile was so wonderful that he wanted to see it again, so he offered a root beer as well. Once again she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling without saying a word.

As it began to grow dark, the boy realized how tired he was and wanted to go home. He got up to leave but before he had gone no more than a few steps, he turned around and ran back to the old woman, giving her a big hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy arrived home his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked, “What has made you so happy today?” He replied, “I had lunch with God.” Before his mother could respond he added, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile in the whole world!”

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face. He asked, “Mother, what has made you so happy today?” She replied, “I ate cupcakes in the park with God.” And before her son could reply, she added, “You know, he is much younger than I expected.”

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring; all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Take no one for granted and embrace all equally with joy.²

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to so live that people will see Jesus in me and, seeing him, will want Jesus in their heart and life too. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Hebrews 13:2 (NKJV).

2. I believe this story to be written by Leo Buscaglia, author of Living, Loving and Learning. If anyone knows for sure, please let us know.

Late one evening a professor sat at his desk working on the next day’s lectures. He shuffled through the papers and mail placed there by his housekeeper. He began to throw them in the wastebasket when one magazine—not even addressed to him but delivered to his office by mistake—fell open to an article titled, “The Needs of the Congo Mission.”

The professor began reading it idly, but then was consumed by these words: “The need is great here. We have no one to work the northern province of Gabon in the central Congo. And it is my prayer as I write this article that God will lay His hand on one—one on whom, already, the Master’s eyes have been cast—that he or she shall be called to this place to help us.” The professor closed the magazine and wrote in his diary: “My search is over.”²

He gave himself to the Congo. His name? Albert Schweitzer!

If you know about the marvelous missionary service done by Albert Schweitzer, you will realize that it was no accident that this magazine was delivered to Schweitzer’s mailbox “by mistake” and then fell open at the article, “The Needs of the Congo Mission,” as he was about to throw it in the trash.

Over and over again each of us who are committed to following Christ in our daily life can also testify to God’s appointments in our life. And as we look back over the past, we can trace the footprints of God leading and guiding every step of the way. And they will keep doing so until the end of life’s journey and we meet Jesus face to face and hear his, “Welcome home, good and faithful servant.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that my life is in your hands. Thank you, too, that you lead and guide me every step of the way when I daily commit and trust my life and way to you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 37:5 (NKJV).

2. Leadership, Vol. 12 No. 3.

Anyone whose aim and efforts are invested in achieving noble and worthy goals for God will, without doubt, at some point face opposition and criticism—and the greater the hostility of those opposed to God’s Word, God’s ways and Christianity, the greater will be the opposition and even danger. The fact is you cannot please everyone and those who try to do so end up pleasing no one!

C. T. Studd, (1860-1931) the famed English missionary who served God in China, India, and Africa, once remarked: “Remember the miller’s donkey. The miller, son and donkey went to the market. The miller rode the donkey all the way and people exclaimed, ‘Cruel man, riding himself and making his son walk.’ So he got down and his son rode; then people slanged, ‘What a lazy son for riding while poor old father walks.’ Then both father and son rode, and people then said, ‘Cruelty to animals, poor donkey.’ So they got down and carried the donkey on a pole, but folks said, ‘Here are two asses carrying another ass.’ Then all three walked and people said, ‘What fools to have a donkey and not ride it.’ So let’s go ahead with our work for God and not care what folks say.”

Studd also said, “Had I cared for the comments of people, I should never have been a Missionary.”

With a sense of God’s call in your heart there may be times when you need to do what you need to do even if the whole world votes against you. And that can be really hard to do, so be sure it’s God’s call and not that of your mother, father, friend, or anyone else—or from your own mixed motives—otherwise when the pressures of opposition hammer home, you’ll crumble beneath the load.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to know without a shadow of a doubt what your plan and purpose for my life is—and give me the faith, courage, and determination to pursue and achieve that goal no matter what—knowing that you are always with me and will never forsake me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 11:24-26 (NIV).

One of my favorite quotes is from Theodore Roosevelt who said, “In the battle of life it is not the critic who counts. Not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause. Who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

And as another has said: “It is better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all.”

However, when we seek and discover God’s plan and purpose for our life and give our all to that noble and worthy cause, we may never get our name emblazoned on the billboards with the rich and famous, and though we fumble and fall a thousand times, as long as we keep getting up and going on, we cannot fail and the results will last for all eternity.

As martyred missionary, Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to see your plan and purpose for my life, give me the courage to pursue it with all my heart, and never to give up knowing that you will be with me to the end. And then, at the end of life’s journey, may I hear your welcome words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.’ Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV).