DAILY DEVOTIONAL    WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29, 2003
(I Corinthians 15:58, Galatians 6:9, 2 Timothy 4:7)

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up.

I have fought long and hard for my Lord, and through it all I have kept true to him. And now the time has come for me to stop fighting and rest.

SOURCE #1: (I Corinthians 15:58) The New Student Bible, ©1992 Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids Michigan 49530
SOURCE #2: (Galatians 6:9, 2 Timothy 4:7) The Children's Living Bible, ©1970 Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton Illinois 60187

Do you work for the things of God as hard as you work for the things of this world? Jon Gruden became the youngest coach in history to win the Super Bowl this past Sunday, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory over the Oakland Raiders. Living in the Tampa area, I have had the opportunity to follow Coach Gruden since he became the coach of the Buccaneers this time last year. One of the trademarks of Coach Gruden is his incredible work ethic. He is famous for getting up at 3:17am each morning, and working until 10 or 11pm each night. His entire life is focused on, and dedicated to winning football games. Sunday, he received the ultimate payoff for all of his hard work and determination as the Bucs won Super Bowl XXXVII.

I have had the pleasure throughout my life of personally knowing many people that are extremely successful by the world's standards. The one common bond that they all share is an incredible work ethic. They are driven to do whatever it takes to succeed in their given profession. They will routinely put in 100 hour plus work weeks, they will make whatever sacrifices they have to, in order to be successful. There is literally no price that they are not willing to pay to achieve their goals.

My question to you this morning is this. If people are willing to literally give their very lives for the temporary success that this world can offer, how much more should the men and women of God be willing to work for the eternal success the Creator of this world can offer?

Let me ask this question again, and I pray that right now you will stop whatever you are doing, and ponder it. IF PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO LITERALLY GIVE THEIR VERY LIVES FOR THE TEMPORARY SUCCESS THAT THIS WORLD CAN OFFER, HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD THE MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD BE WILLING TO WORK FOR THE ETERNAL SUCCESS THAT THE CREATOR OF THIS WORLD CAN OFFER? If Jon Gruden is willing to get up at 3:17am and put in 20 hour days to win a football game, that in the light of eternity is absolutely meaningless, how much more willing should the men and women that God has called to His service, be willing to do to win souls for eternity?

My sole motivation for this word to you today is this. We can ALL do more. EVERY man, woman, and young adult that has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, is called by God to His service. Sharing the hope and love of Christ is not just the job of your pastor, or an evangelist, but is the job of EVERY person that has accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts and lives. THIS IS NOT AN OPTION.

It has only been because of the tireless work and efforts of those saints who have gone on before us that we share in this great faith today. It is OUR JOB AND RESPONSIBILITY to insure, should Jesus tarry, that the next generation of saints who are still not even born, have a rich and solid Christian heritage and family throughout this world.

That will not happen by accident, but through the hard work and efforts of men and women of God all over the planet. There is a very real enemy that would love to destroy the people of God. We live in a world today that will not let the message of hope and love through Jesus Christ be heard without a fight. We have to fight, we have to work hard to make sure that the TRUTH of the Bible is boldly proclaimed.

The enemy has no shame or fear in telling people the lie that there is no God, that there is no truth, that you can live any way you want. We have to be equally as bold and fearless to tell people worldwide that there IS a God that loves them very much, that there is TRUTH found in the Bible, and that the only real peace, joy, and abundance that this life can offer comes from living for Christ 24/7/365.

I love you and care about you so much. I pray that you will be encouraged and motivated to take some time and ask God what more you can do to serve Him. There is nothing wrong with working hard to be successful in whatever your earthly profession may be. However, should we not be equally as passionate and diligent in our work for God?

I think back on what a handful of mostly uneducated men totally sold our for Jesus did right after his death. These men that had no great position in life, they did not have great financial resources, traveling was very difficult, and there were no form of modern communication. Yet they literally turned the world upside down as they helped lay the foundation of Christianity. With our incredible education opportunities, people in the Kingdom that have vast resources, being able to fly around the world as easy as it is to drive down the street, and all of the amazing communication devices we enjoy.... HOW MUCH MORE CAN THOSE MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD WHO ARE SOLD OUT... MAKE AN IMPACT FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST???

IF PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO LITERALLY GIVE THEIR VERY LIVES FOR THE TEMPORARY SUCCESS THAT THIS WORLD CAN OFFER, HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD THE MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD BE WILLING TO WORK FOR THE ETERNAL SUCCESS THAT THE CREATOR OF THIS WORLD CAN OFFER? God is speaking to YOU today!!!

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com.

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