TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Titus 3:3-11
. . .Those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. - Titus 3:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the great benefits of the information age is that we have access to vast quantities of data. You can download everything from travel guides to stock tips. You may even know some individuals who delight in sitting in front of their computers to find anything that is new and interesting. However, there is a downside to all of the data that we have at our fingertips, namely accessibility does not mean applicability.

We have a similar phenomenon when it comes to God’s Word. We have in the English-speaking world more modern translations and study aids of the Bible than at any other time in the history of the church. But God does not just want us to know facts about the Bible. He wants us to put those facts into practice. And this principle is especially true when it comes to developing the virtue of goodness.

Our text in Titus 3 gives us even more insight into how goodness can become an increasing part of who we are and how we live. Two important ingredients are to work hand in hand according to God’s Word. First, Paul provides his readers with an important piece of information. He reminds them that their salvation has not been accomplished by their righteous actions but by the gracious work of God through Jesus Christ

(v. 4). This was not the first time they had heard such things. He was reviewing basic Bible doctrine: God loved them; the Spirit had regenerated them; and now they were God’s heirs with the hope of eternal life (3:4-7).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We trust that God gave you a blessed time yesterday as you gathered together with other saints in worship and instruction. Now would be a good time to review the biblical passage that was the basis of yesterday’s sermon. You might even have some sermon notes in your Bible. Read the text once again and reflect on what God was telling you. Then consider some ways you can put your knowledge into practice. Acting in specific ways on the sermon will be another step in developing “goodness” as a virtue in your Christian walk.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:24-2:5
We proclaim him . . . so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. - Colossians 1:28
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you are close to a community college, there is a vast array of courses available to you. Some of those courses might help you to advance in your career or to learn a necessary skill that will supplement your income. Many colleges are also providing coursework in religious studies. People sometimes enroll in these courses because they assume that more information about angels, rituals, and thought processes will help them grow spiritually.

Down through the centuries the church has affirmed the importance of acquiring knowledge. The apostle Peter exhorted the early church to add knowledge to their faith (2 Peter 1:5). Our Scripture reading for today helps us to define the kind of knowledge Christians ought to pursue.

Even though the heresies facing the Colossian church are not clearly defined, many Bible scholars believe that Paul was arguing against some extreme form of Jewish mysticism and an early expression of Gnosticism. At the core of this heresy was the idea that salvation could somehow be attained through the acquisition of secret knowledge. False teachers had apparently entered the Colossian fellowship, teaching that they had the final word on how to attain this secret knowledge (v. 4).

So where does the kind of wisdom and knowledge that leads to salvation come from? Paul uses a word that was also employed by the false teachers of his day, the word mystery. The heretics of the first century used the word to refer to secret information available only to a limited group. But Paul changes the meaning of the term and couples it with God’s revelation to refer to information that had not been previously made known. And the true knowledge that the apostle referred to was that salvation for all people was through faith in Christ alone. God was revealing to Christians something He had not revealed before--Christ actually indwells both Jewish and Gentile believers (1:25-27; 2:2-3).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There’s a good possibility that your church offers a variety of classes that could greatly enrich your spiritual life. Maybe you haven’t been able to attend such classes because of other interests or activities. However, God’s Word tells us that we are to add knowledge to our faith. So take some time today to consider how you might get involved in a Bible study, a small group, or an accountability fellowship. Your participation could be the means to growing in a deeper relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 2:1-11
Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows. - 1 Samuel 2:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Human beings are frequently prone to make quick judgments about people and events, evaluations that we often have to change later on. Sometime later on we find ourselves rethinking our attitudes because of the new knowledge we acquire about those same people and experiences.

The same is true when it comes to the virtue of knowledge, a quality that the Bible tells us to add to our faith (2 Peter 1:5). As we learned from yesterday’s reading, “knowledge” is not simply the accumulation of information. It has more to do with a growing, personal understanding of the will and ways of God. In fact, the more we know about God, the more we can grow in this second virtue.

In today’s reading we reflect on the words of Hannah. In 1 Samuel 1 we read that she was barren and greatly distressed because she did not have a child of her own. The Scriptures say that “the Lord had closed her womb” (1 Sam. 1:5). Later on, after crying out to the Lord, God graciously answered Hannah’s prayer and gave her a son, one who would later become one of Israel’s great leaders.

But it is Hannah’s song of praise in 1 Samuel 2 that is very enlightening. After years of humiliation and frustration, she came to realize that the Lord knew her better than she knew herself. Our text does not give us all of the specifics that went into Hannah’s change of thinking, but she somehow discovered that God was working even when He seemed distant from her. She came to see Him as the God of reversals. He turns the helpless into victors, the hungry into those who are full, and the barren into joyful mothers (1 Sam. 2:4-5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It may be that you know a lot about the Bible. But how knowledgeable are you of the ways of God? One of the things you can do to answer this question is to keep a separate notebook next to your Bible and Today in the Word. After each of the daily readings, jot down anything you can find about how God deals with people and events. Then plan to review your list at the end of every week. An increasing knowledge of how God works can greatly strengthen your faith for years to come.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Kings 5:1-19
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. - Psalm 40:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Educators have come to the realization in recent years that students process and integrate information in a variety of ways. These ways of learning are referred to as learning styles. For instance, some learn primarily through listening. Others use their visual sense as a predominant means of learning. And many students learn best when they can touch, examine, and take apart an object.

Christians often learn in much the same way. They can learn from what they read in the Bible. Certainly they can benefit and increase in their knowledge through listening to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. But for many of us the development of the biblical virtue of knowledge comes from the actual experience of seeing God work in our lives.

Naaman was commander of an army that had been a ruthless enemy of Israel for years. The Lord had given him success in many of his military campaigns (v. 1), even though he was probably unaware of God’s sovereignty. In addition, Naaman had a problem. He was afflicted with leprosy. Yet it was through his affliction that he would come to know the greatness of God.

The primary principle in today’s text is that a person needs to come to God on His terms. And there is a secondary principle that gives us insight into the virtue of knowledge that we are studying this week. When Naaman was told by Elisha to go and wash seven times in the Jordan (v. 10), the Aramean army commander was infuriated (v. 11). But some of his servants persuaded him to go, which he ultimately agreed to do. His leprosy was miraculously cured. And as a result Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel” (v. 15).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the ways that you can begin to add knowledge to your faith is to reflect on the ways that God has made Himself known to you in the past. What prayers has He specifically answered in your life over the last week? What are some unexpected events that seem to reveal God’s consistent love for you? As thoughts come to mind take a few minutes to thank God for making Himself known. Then be alert today for other ways that He might show you He is real and active in your life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Be careful, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. - 1 Corinthians 8:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Many a parent has gone through the weekly ritual of checking a son or daughter’s height to see if growth has occurred from the previous week. In a similar way a farmer walks through a field of corn in the middle of summer to see if his crop is growing toward a bountiful harvest. And an investor will check the financial pages of the newspaper to see if her investment is increasing at an acceptable rate. No matter where we turn, growth is indicative of life and progress. And we can often evaluate growth by using a variety of measuring instruments available to us.

But how does one measure growth in character, especially when it comes to the biblical virtue of knowledge? You will recall that the term knowledgeas used by the apostle Peter in 2 Peter 1:5 refers to a growing intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is one thing to define the term, but it is altogether another matter to evaluate whether we are growing in the virtue of knowledge.

In our reading for today we see that God has established a means of measuring our growth in the virtue of knowledge. It has to do with the way we exercise our Christian liberty. A controversy arose in the Corinthian church in which some Christians struggled over whether they could eat meat sold in the marketplace that had previously been sacrificed to idols. Those believers who were growing in their knowledge of Christ and His grace believed that there were no restrictions on what they ate. But other believers with more sensitive consciences were repulsed at eating such food (v. 7). An apparent conflict was emerging between the two groups.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Growing in our knowledge of Christ is more than a matter of accumulating theological facts, even though such knowledge is important. Our growth in character is also reflected in the way we relate to people. So how are your relationships going? Have you been insisting on your way instead of relating to others the way Christ relates? If so, ask for the Holy Spirit’s help in exercising sacrificial love to others. It might be a gracious word or a kind deed. But those sacrificial acts will demonstrate that you are growing in character more and more.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. - 1 Corinthians 10:13b
TODAY IN THE WORD
It was a wonderful sight in the early 1990s when people in the former Soviet republics rallied in their various capitals to declare their freedom from totalitarian domination. Yet in many of those same republics, the pursuit of freedom turned into social and political anarchy. Some citizens used the opportunity for freedom to engage in looting and outright criminal activity. People in those new democracies soon learned that freedom can only be true freedom when citizens put restrictions around their emotions and self-centered pursuits.

In our study of the biblical virtues of 2 Peter 1 we have discovered that certain character traits are to be added to our saving faith. One of the qualities identified in Peter’s list is that of self-control. The word simply means to be controlled from within. In its New Testament context, self-control often refers to the restraint we are to apply to our most basic desires and passions. It is often used in passages that refer to the boundaries Christians are to place around their sexual desires, although it can refer to other activities as well.

The apostle Paul has a rather lengthy discussion of Christian freedom and self-control in 1 Corinthians 8-10. He also realized that Christian freedom, if left unchecked, may get out of control and turn into spiritual anarchy. That’s why he reminded his readers of Israel’s experiences. On several occasions God’s people participated in idolatrous worship, sexual immorality, and outright rebellion (10:6-10). Each time failure to harness their passions led to spiritual disaster.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Maybe you have learned of another Christian’s failure to maintain moral purity and said, “That won’t happen to me.” Don’t be too sure (v. 12). Instead take steps today to implement the virtue of self-control into your life. One of the places to start is in the area of television viewing. There is nothing wrong with watching TV, but it can become an area of freedom that might get out of control. So think about limiting your viewing time this week, and see what God may want to teach you about the virtue of self-control.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 4:1-13
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners. - Psalm 1:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
A famous comedian once portrayed a woman who was always being led astray by so-called fashion bargains. Whatever she saw, she bought. When her husband would get the credit card bills he would be furious with his wife’s lack of self-control. But every time he confronted her as to why she overspent, the answer was always the same: “The devil made me do it!” The crowds would always laugh, but giving in to one’s impulses is really no laughing matter.

Yet there are many people who use similar excuses for engaging in all kinds of sinful pleasures. We have become masters of the blame-game when it comes to escaping responsibility for our actions. One might think that resisting temptation is virtually impossible. But the Scriptures do not allow us the luxury of blaming others when it comes to our sin.

Some people may look at the account of the Savior’s temptation and simply say, “We can’t live the way Jesus lived. We are weak human beings.” It’s true, our experience is not the same as Jesus’. However, there are two things in our text that can be true of us as well. For instance, we are told that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” (v. 1). As He resisted Satan’s temptations and practiced self-control, He did it in the Spirit’s power. This was not something that was only possible for our Savior--all Christians are indwelt by the third person of the Trinity and exhorted to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18).

Notice also that when Jesus faced the three temptations cited in Luke’s account He responded with Scripture. He didn’t engage in a lengthy dialogue with Satan. Jesus knew that God’s Word was totally true and applicable to the temptation He was facing. He was focused on God’s will and purposes, not His immediate needs. It was God’s Word that sustained Him in the midst of those needs.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the ways you can learn to grow in self-control is to live life as Jesus did and start to memorize Scripture. Make it a goal to start memorizing at least one verse from the Bible per week. You might want to take the verses cited at the beginning of each of the devotionals or select your own verse from the reading portion. Whatever approach you take, hide God’s Word in your heart. God will bring it to mind in the midst of temptation so that you might grow in the virtue of

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 16:1-31
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. - Proverbs 16:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Some of the most respected people in America have recently fallen prey to moral failure. Individuals in government, the media, and the church have had to admit to moral lapses that have forced them from positions of influence. Those of us who watch from a distance might be inclined to ask, “Is it possible to resist temptation and practice self-control?” If we listen to social analysts, we will hear that tolerance, not condemnation, is what is needed. But the Bible teaches us that we can learn to grow in self-control by learning from the lives and events of those who have not always been the best moral examples (1 Cor. 10:6).

Samson is one such individual. He was one of Israel’s great heroes during the period of the judges. Samson was specifically raised up to deliver God’s people from their enemies. To facilitate this, he was endowed with tremendous physical strength. Even when he was outnumbered by enemy soldiers, Samson was able to defeat those who came against him by God’s Spirit (Judg. 15:14-15; 16:1-3).

However, Samson had several fatal flaws. As time passed, he came to assume that he was invincible. His dialogues with Delilah reveal the attitude of a man who assumed that his strength would always be there to empower him to do whatever he wanted to do. Although Samson had great physical strength, he also possessed moral weaknesses, especially the inability to practice self-control (cf. v.1).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Maybe you have assumed like Samson that the gifts and talents you possess will always be there. If so, take some time to list all of the ways God has blessed you to serve His church and the people around you. Then at the bottom of the list write a sentence such as the following: “Father, I thank you that you have given me (gift, skill, talent). I desire to use this (gift, skill, talent) to serve you.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. - 1 Thessalonians 4:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Reality TV has come of age. Because of the overwhelming success of the program Survivor,the networks have worked furiously to develop other programs that seem to push the limits of dignity and modesty. One such program, Temptation Island,has contestants who have been in serious dating relationships to spend time with other young men and women in some very compromising situations. The viewing public has been invited to watch to see how each person’s relationship can be compromised, especially sexually. Such tactics fly in the face of what the Bible teaches about self-control and sexual purity.

When the apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Christians, he was not writing to counter reality TV! But the temptations these believers faced were every bit as intense. The culture of the first century was often hostile to Christian values and virtues. That is why the apostle had to make a case for practicing sexual self-control.

Paul’s appeal to practice the virtue of self-control was based on four arguments. First, sexual purity is God’s will for each and every Christian (v. 3). Second, failure to maintain sexual purity can lead to judgment from God Himself (v. 6). Third, self-control in sexual matters is God’s calling for every Christian, especially when it came to living a holy life before a watching world (v. 7, 12). And finally, sexual self-control is important because anything less works against God’s Holy Spirit who indwells every believer (v. .
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Practicing consistent thinking is much easier said than done. That is why you might want to pray about finding someone of the same sex who could become your accountability partner. Ask that person if the two of you could help each other maintain a pure thought life. You might get together each week to encourage each other to pursue healthy TV-viewing habits, reading habits, and relationships with others. This cannot guarantee we will avoid sinful actions, but it will encourage us to grow in self-control.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 12:1-13
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. - Hebrews 12:1b
TODAY IN THE WORD
Anyone who has participated in competitive sports knows that days early in the season can be some of the most difficult. The coach pushes prospective team members to run faster and longer than they have ever run before. He may even have them perform the same drills over and over again. At the end of the first week there is a noticeable difference in the number of participants. Those who had thought they wanted to be part of the team now have second thoughts. In fact, some of those who thought about joining the team could summarize their feelings in two words, “I quit!”

Christians who have been living out the faith for awhile can understand why athletes sometimes feel like quitting. Being a Christian isn’t always easy. Facing hostility from family members and friends can be intimidating indeed. That’s why the writer to the Hebrews calls readers to one of the most significant virtues that any believer could pursue--the virtue of perseverance.

Perseverance is that attitude of mind and soul whereby we make a decision to be faithful to Jesus Christ and His Word no matter what obstacles we are facing. It doesn’t mean that we have to live out the faith in our own strength, because that would be virtually impossible. Instead, we are told to live in the power of the Holy Spirit in all that we say and do as Christians (Gal. 5:16).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the ways that you can grow in perseverance is to take a good look at the context that surrounds Hebrews 12. The writer refers to “a great cloud of witnesses.” These are individuals mentioned in the preceding chapter who persevered in their faith and service to God even when it was difficult. But there are probably people in your own life who have served as models of faith and perseverance. Take some time today to write a short note telling one such individual how much his or her example has meant to you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Nehemiah 9:1-38
In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we did wrong. - Nehemiah 9:33
TODAY IN THE WORD
Although we live in a free society, it is not easy being a Christian. There are those times when we would like to have someone join us for prayer, yet prayer-warriors seem to be in short supply. Or we might have an idea as to how we could evangelize a neighborhood, only to have people spurn our attempts at communicating the message of eternal life. It is in such circumstances that we are tempted to give up and pursue a life of comfort like everyone else.

So how can we grow in character, especially in the virtue of perseverance when being faithful has so many challenges to it? The book of Nehemiah records a time when God’s covenant people came to realize that they had woefully violated Mosaic Law. What is surprising is that God had maintained His covenant promises with them. He was true to His word in making a great nation out of the descendants of Abraham. He saw Israel’s suffering in Egypt and moved powerfully to deliver His people into the land He had promised years earlier. God had revealed Himself in powerful ways so that His people might know that He truly loved them (vv. 1-15).

Yet Israel wanted to live independently of God and act according to human desires and self-centered standards (vv. 16-18, 26). Even then God was faithful to His promises. He delivered His people into enemy hands as He had already warned (Deut. 31:17-18).

Those exiles who returned to the land realized that their enslavement was not just the result of various military victories by Israel’s enemies. The exiles were where they were because of their sin. Yet God continued to love them and care for them. That’s why they could say, “In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we did wrong” (v. 33).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The people of Nehemiah’s day put their intentions into writing, and you may want to do something similar. Take some time to write a letter to God. Identify all of the ways that He has persevered in loving and caring for you. You might want to cite those times when He has been faithful even though you have not been faithful to Him. Then write what you’re going to do in the next month to show Him your desire to do His will. As you review this letter throughout the month, you’ll have opportunity in the Spirit’s power to practice perseverance.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:7-11
We consider blessed those who have persevered. . . . The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. - James 5:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Some historians say that Theodore Roosevelt was one of our greatest presidents. What you may not know is that he didn’t become a leader overnight. In fact, TR (Roosevelt’s nickname) was rather sickly as a youth. His father reminded him that he had a good mind, but if he were to make something of himself, he would have to develop both his mind and his body. And that’s exactly what he did. For the rest of his life he spent every day reading on a wide range of topics and always working to keep his body in shape. Teddy Roosevelt knew the virtue of perseverance.

We, however, are often derailed in our own attempts to accomplish what we would like to do because we focus on the injustices that come our way. Someone else got the promotion that we wanted. Or we met with some unfortunate event and assumed that fate did not want us to succeed. But that was never Roosevelt’s attitude about life. And it’s not what the early church was taught either.

The Christians to whom James wrote faced increasing hostilities from the culture around them. Many believers faced injustices from those who were financially better off. But these early saints were told that focusing on their pain and problems would accomplish little or nothing. Instead they were to focus on the certainty of the Lord’s coming. James reminded them that Christ’s return was not something far off in the distant future; rather, it was closer than what they might think. These early saints were introduced to the New Testament concept of imminence, the idea that Christ could return at any time. As a result, they were not to grumble or complain against one another. The Lord’s coming was near (vv. 7-9).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Since we believe that the Bible is the Word of God, put the New Testament doctrine of imminence into practice and assume that Christ could return at the end of the day. What would you do differently today if the Lord were to return in the next twenty-four hours? Is there someone with whom you need to reconcile? Is there a letter you need to write sharing the gospel with a beloved friend or family member? Don’t delay! Persevere in what Christ wants you to do, because the Lord’s coming is near.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 5:1-5
The testing of your faith develops perseverance. - James 1:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Parents know how traumatic it can be when they announce to their children that they will soon be visiting the doctor for an annual check-up prior to a new school year. The children might make all sorts of excuses to try to get out of what seems to be a potentially painful experience. But is the child’s reaction different from most adults? Who really enjoys getting inoculations? Yet adults realize that these momentary experiences of discomfort are actually protection from even more severe illnesses in the future. So one of the marks that distinguishes a child from an adult is that the latter can put pain in perspective.

The same is true in the development of Christian character. None of us wants to sign up for persecution, rejection, or suffering. Yet the Bible teaches us that in God’s order of things suffering helps us mature. In fact, life’s challenges and setbacks help us develop perseverance.

In Romans 4 the apostle Paul presents a lengthy explanation of the doctrine of justification by faith. He then reminds his readers, in Romans 5, that being justified puts every believer into a position of peace with God (v. 1). And it’s this peace with God that enables us to put other issues into perspective, including suffering. Paul even says in verse 3 that we can rejoice in suffering.

How is it that we can rejoice? It’s very much like the adult who can accept the momentary pain of a doctor’s needle. That is, we understand what is really going on. Paul says, “We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (v. 2). He means that we have hope that the purpose for which God created us will actually be fulfilled. This is not wishful thinking--biblical hope is based on the love and character of God, who is always true to what He says.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As part of your preparation for worship tomorrow, spend some time in praise and prayer today. Praise God for those difficult times you have faced, the times that have produced within you the virtue of perseverance. (Notice that Romans 5:3 doesn’t say we have to be thankful because of the suffering but rather in the suffering.) Then take a few minutes to pray for people in your congregation who may be going through a very difficult time right now. Pray that they will be able to know what God is doing in spite of their pain.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 4:6-10
Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. - 1 Timothy 4:8b
TODAY IN THE WORD
Charles Colson tells the story of his days as Special Counsel to former President Richard Nixon. There were times when various labor leaders would request a meeting with the Chief Executive. Prior to the meeting, they would often state how they were going to tell the President exactly how they felt about some of his economic policies. But once inside the Oval Office those same leaders were so caught up with the elegance of the place that they said very little. It’s amazing what we do when we find ourselves in places of power and authority.

Every Christian should constantly live life with a sense of dignity and reverence because Christians always live in the presence of God. There’s no place to which we can travel or escape that takes us away from God’s presence (Ps. 139:7-12). When we embrace the reality of God’s total presence in our lives, we are well on our way to developing the fifth virtue of 2 Peter 1:5-7, the virtue of godliness.

Godliness can be translated as “devoutness” or “reverence.” This word was originally used by pagan worshipers and had the idea of standing outside of the perimeter of a temple. Awe and reverence were to characterize the worshiper who came to one of the pagan temples to sacrifice to the various gods.

The apostle Paul picks up on this imagery, especially in his exhortation to Timothy to train himself to be godly (v. 7). He uses the word godliness (or godly) eight different times in 1 Timothy alone. In the context of today’s reading Paul is not discrediting physical exercise. But in contrast to the false teachers, he wanted young Timothy to know that godliness had greater value than any physical or ascetic practice that one might undertake--contrary to the false teachers’ emphasis. And the text is very clear that godliness was something that Timothy and others could acquire. From Paul’s perspective, an attitude of awe and reverence holds promise for this life and for the life to come (v. . When we stop and think about it, the reality that we are in God’s presence should influence everything that we say
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Your day may be filled with many different activities, everything from doing laundry to meeting with a variety of people. To prepare for your day, determine ahead of time to set apart three areas as havens to practice godliness. It might be your car, the dining room, your office, or some other frequently visited place. On three-by-five cards write, “GOD IS PRESENT.” Then place one card in each of your chosen places. We trust that when you see the cards you will remember to practice godliness--the virtue of living in the presence of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 7:9-25
Go and make disciples of all nations. - Matthew 28:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the most powerful emotions we can experience is fear. Some people have a fear of heights, so they avoid climbing ladders or riding roller coasters. Others have a fear of being in tightly enclosed spaces, so they would rather climb several flights of stairs than step into an elevator. And when it comes to evangelism, many Christians avoid sharing their faith because the fear of rejection is just too powerful.

Today’s Scripture verse is a familiar one to most Christians. Yet taking the gospel across the street, let alone to other nations, is a frightening thought. So what can help us? The answer is found in the virtue we introduced in yesterday’s reading, the virtue of godliness. Jesus could give this command to His followers with confidence that it could be carried out because He promised to be with them--until the very end of human history. Imagine how the disciples must have felt, knowing that they would be ministering every day in the very presence of the living Christ. As the New Testament record demonstrates, they were growing in courage and godliness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There are people in your life who do not yet know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Here are some things you can do to carry out the Great Commission and grow in godliness. First, pray daily for an opportunity to share the gospel with these individuals. Second, ask the Lord to lead you to some act of kindness toward them. You will be surprised at how God will open doors of opportunity. When He does, be sure to thank Him. He is present and working. Knowing this can enable you to become the godly person He wants you to be.