Pathways Press.com

Written by Paul David Tripp, a contemporary pastor, author, and speaker. This is an excerpt from his book “New Morning Mercies.”

The words of Hezekiah, king of Judah, ring as true today as they did in the scary moment centuries and centuries ago when they were first spoken. Judah had been invaded by the powerful king of Assyria, Sennacherib. Hezekiah prepared and armed Judah for battle, but that is not all he did. He addressed the people with a more significant issue. He knew that in these moments, God’s people were often given to fear, and he knew where that fear came from. Often in these moments of challenge the people of God would panic because they were identity amnesiacs. They would forget who they were as the children of God and they would forget who God is in all his almighty power and glory. So at this moment, Hezekiah knew that he couldn’t just be a good king and a skilled general; he must also be a wise pastor to his people. As they were preparing for the Assyrian onslaught, Hezekiah didn’t want the people of Judah to think that they were left to their battle courage, their war experience, and their skill with weapons. He wanted them to know that they had been amazingly blessed with another ingredient, one that they could not, must not, forget. … There will be a moment when you will ask, “Where is courage to be found to face what I am facing?” Hezekiah gives you your answer: “Look up and remember your God.” As God’s child, you are never left to battle on your own.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him  With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. [2 Chronicles 32:7-8]

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Written by John Henry Jowett (1863-1923), a British preacher and author.

Evil never surrenders its hold without a sore fight. We never pass into any spiritual inheritance through the delightful exercises of a picnic, but always through the grim contentions of the battlefield. It is so in the secret realm of the soul. Every faculty which wins its spiritual freedom does so at the price of blood. Apollyon is not put to flight by a courteous request; he straddles across the full breadth of the way, and our progress has to be registered in blood and tears. This we must remember or we shall add to all the other burdens of life the gall of misinterpretation. We are not “born again” into soft and protected nurseries, but in the open country where we suck strength from the very terror of the tempest. “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” [Mark 9:26]

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Written by Max Lucado, a contemporary pastor, author, and speaker. This is an excerpt from his work “God’s Story, Your Story.”

Is there anything in your life that needs to be removed? Any impediment to the impression of God’s Spirit? We can grieve the Spirit with our angry words (Ephesians 4:29–30; Isaiah 63:10) and resist the Spirit in our disobedience (Acts 7:51). We can even quench the Spirit by having no regard for God’s teachings. Here is something that helps me stay in step with the Spirit. We know that the “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23 nasb). God’s Spirit creates and distributes these characteristics. They are indicators on my spiritual dashboard. So whenever I sense them, I know I am walking in the Spirit. Whenever I lack them, I know I am out of step with the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit, respond to the promptings God gives you. Don’t sense any nudging? Just be patient and wait. Abraham waited for the promised son. Moses waited forty years in the wilderness. Jesus waited thirty years before he began his ministry. God instills seasons of silence in his plan. Winter is needed for the soil to bear fruit. Time is needed for the development of a crop. And disciples wait for the move of God. Wait for him to move, nudge, and direct you.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. [Galatians 5:25]

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Written by the Lead Like Jesus team, an organization founded by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges that promotes a transformational leadership model based on following Jesus.

Psalm 1 extols the benefits of consistently meditating on God’s law, as does Psalm 119. Proverbs compares the wisdom God gives with silver, gold, and precious gems. As we meditate on God’s Word, His truth and wisdom begin to permeate our thoughts and shape our leadership perspective. Our minds are transformed with the same truth that shaped the character and ministry of Jesus. What kind of treasure do you store up in your mind? How much does God’s Word shape your perspective and influence your decision-making?

Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. [Romans 12:2]

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Written by Whitney Hopler, a contemporary writer and editor.

In our materialistic world, we are constantly bombarded with opportunities for consumption. It’s easy to spend our valuable time on activities that bring us temporary entertainment but little lasting value – from scrolling on social media and binge-watching TV shows to shopping or eating too much. While moments of rest and recreation are important, we must guard against allowing these activities to dominate our lives and distract us from our higher calling. Jesus’ words … remind us of the vast opportunities for meaningful work in God’s kingdom. The harvest is plentiful. There are countless ways we can make a positive difference in our communities, churches, and beyond. Yet, the laborers are few. Many people are caught up in consumption, missing the chance to contribute to God’s work. Just as farmers work diligently to gather their crops during harvest season before the cold sets in, we too must diligently make good use of the opportunities God places before us to reap a spiritual harvest. We have a limited window of time to plant seeds of faith, hope, and love that can help people grow spiritually. God calls us to be laborers in his harvest. This means prioritizing the work God has prepared for us over excessive consumption. When we focus on contributing rather than consuming, we fulfill God’s purposes for our lives. We become instruments of God’s love, shining God’s light into the darkness of a world in need. 

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  [Matthew 9:37-38]

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Written by Ray Stedman (1917-1992), an American pastor and author.

You may get the most eloquent book in the library and read to them all the philosophical elements for life, but it will not give them life. You may shake a stick over them and demand they obey the laws, but that won’t help. They need life. This is the reason only the great Life-giver can do the work of soul winning. You don’t have to beg Him to do it. He is far more willing to do it than you are, but He does it with the ones of His choice, not your choice.

They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. [Revelation17:14]

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Written by John Henry Jewett (1864-1923), a British preacher and author.

If we wish to retain “the word of the Lord” everything depends upon where we keep it. If we just keep it in the mind, a leaky memory may waste the treasure. A Chinese convert declared that he found the best way
to remember the word was to do it! The engraved word became character, written upon the fleshy tables of the heart. He incarnated the word, and it became a vital part of his own personality. He lived it and it lived in him. The word became flesh. This is the only really vital “way of remembrance,” to convert the word into the primary stuff of the life. There is a secondary way by which we may help our apprehension of God’s word. “Ye shall teach them.” Our hold upon a truth is increased while we impart it to others. The gospel becomes more vivid as we proclaim it to our fellow men. We see it while we explain it. It grips us more firmly as we use it to grip our children. This is a great law in life. In these matters, it is literally true that memory best retains what she gives away. A truth that is never shared is never really possessed. The word that we teach becomes rooted in our own mind.

You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you
shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. [Deuteronomy 11:18]

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Written by A.B. Simpson (1843-1919), a Canadian preacher, theologian, and author. This
is an excerpt from his  book “Days of Heaven Upon Earth.”

It is faith without sight. When we can see, it is not faith, but reasoning. In crossing the Atlantic we observed this very principle of faith. We saw no path upon the sea, nor sign of the shore. And yet day by day we were marking our path upon the chart as exactly as if there had followed us a great chalk line upon the sea. And when we came within twenty miles of land, we knew where we were as exactly as if we had seen it all three thousand miles ahead. How had we measured and marked our course? Day by day our captain had taken his instruments and, looking up to the sky, had fixed his course by the sun. He was sailing by the heavenly, not the earthly lights. So faith looks up and sails on, by God’s great Sun, not seeing one shoreline or earthly lighthouse or path upon the way. Often its steps seem to lead into utter uncertainty, and even darkness and disaster; but He opens the way, and often makes such midnight hours the very gates of day. Let us go forth this day, not knowing, but trusting.

He went out, not knowing whither he went [Hebrews 11:8]

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Written by Michelle Lazurek, a contemporary writer.

In this life, we will always encounter fear. Anxiety and fear are a natural part of life. But it’s our reaction to it is what God honors. Even when I feel anxious, I don’t have to give in to that fear. I can do what I can to face my fears and experience life despite my fears.  When I run to God rather than run to my fear, God is glorified…We must understand that we have freedom in this life…We don’t want anything to overtake us in life so much that we cannot worship God. Anything that takes over our thoughts, feelings, and actions more than it should become an idol in our lives…We don’t want to indulge in any sinful behavior that may overtake us in the end…It is easy to have idols creep into our lives. With God, we always hope to push those idols aside and allow ourselves not to be mastered by anything.

Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. [1 Corinthians 10:23]

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Written by Les Parrott, a contemporary professor and author.

I’m not a softhearted poet. I’m not a people-pleasing idealist. I live with full-throttle ambition and no shortage of self-interest. I’m impatient and sometimes insecure. I jockey for position, and I like exclusive privileges. I can be judgmental, insensitive, petty and resentful. Oh, and I can be cheap and stingy. But I want to love like Jesus. Why? Because I know it’s the best way to live. When we love like Jesus, we’re lifted outside ourselves. We shed self-interest — with our spouse, our kids, friends, everyone. His brand of love sees beyond the normal range of human vision — over walls of resentment and barriers of betrayal. When we love like Jesus, we rise above petty demands and snobbish entitlement. We loosen our tightfisted anxiety and relax in a surplus of benevolence.

Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. [Ephesians 5:2]

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