KEEP GOING

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:9 NKJV).

Compassionate ministry can make one weary, and even Christians can become discouraged in doing good deeds. Our verse gives some helpful instructions which are universal in its application. They are the problem of weariness, the prescription for weariness, and the peril of weariness.

Problem of weariness – “Let us not grow weary.” We often get tired of doing right. There are at least two main reasons for this problem. First, we get tired of doing right because of lack of fame. This might cause us to want to quit because we are unnoticed, unappreciated, unrecognized. If we are noticed it is only to be criticized and not to be complimented. It is hard to keep going when our work is not recognized or complimented. Second, we get tired of doing right because of lack of fruit. We work hard but the fruit seems never to come. We become discouraged and think that our work is in vain. We wonder if it really pays to do right because we seem to see so little fruit.

Prescription for weariness – “In due season we shall reap.” Here we have the answer for the problem of weariness: the promise of wages and the patience for wages. First, the promise. “We shall reap.” This is a Divine promise. It does pay to do right. God says so! And no one pays better than God; He is the most reliable source of all. So, keep going. Second, the patience. “Due season.” Wages for doing good seldom come quickly. Experience will tell us that the better something is the longer it generally takes for the reward. Cheap things come in a hurry. Sin says why wait, do it now and enjoy it now. But the rewards that come quickly are not lasting nor satisfactory rewards. We do well to remember the “due season” part about wages.

Peril of weariness – “If we do not lose heart.” Losing heart or weariness will keep us from our wages. This is the great peril of weariness. Quitters do not receive the Divine reward. Let’s renew our dedication and stick to our task, or we will miss the great blessing God has in store for us.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Those times when you feel like quitting can be times of great opportunity, for God uses your troubles to help you grow!”

Warren Wiersbe (1929 - 2019)

American Pastor, Bible Teacher and Author 

Word Study

Firm / certain

In 2 Peter 1:10 we read, “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble” (NASB).

“Firm / certain” is the Greek word bébaios (βέβαιος = beb'-ah-yos). It means sure, stable, secure, reliable, steadfast, constant. It is something which is unwavering and persistent and thus can be relied on or depended on. Bébaios also has a legal sense, signifying a legal guarantee. Figuratively bebaios refers to that upon which one may build, rely or trust. In classical Greek bebaios also describes something as steady, reliable, or dependable. There are no references to bébaios in the Septuagint. In the New Testament, bébaios carries the idea of sure or certain. So, Peter is not saying that the eyewitness account of the Lord Jesus’ majesty at the transfiguration confirmed the Scriptures, but that the prophetic word is a more reliable proof of the ministry and reconciling work of the Lord Jesus than even the genuine firsthand experiences of the apostles themselves. So, a Christian by growing in grace becomes assured of having been called and elected by God.

Did You Know…

According to Acts 1:3, the Lord Jesus presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by the apostles during the forty days after His resurrection. Further, He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once (1 Cor. 15:6).

Bible Quiz

How did the Lord Jesus prove His identity to His disciples after resurrection?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

When some of the guards came and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened, what did the chief priests do? They bribed the guards to say that the disciples stole the body while they were asleep (Matt. 28:11-15).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

Stripped before the stares of men (Psalm 22:17; cf. Luke 23:35)

"I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me!” (Psalm 22:17 NJKV).

In his crisis, David was the focus of unwanted attention. His enemies did not allow him the dignity of private suffering but exposed all things to their stare. David’s Great Son, the Lord Jesus Christ also found no place to hide from the unwanted stares, and mockings of cruel men. Roman crucifixions were a lot more than pain and punishment; the goal was absolute humiliation. In the cultural and historical context of ancient Israel, public humiliation was a severe form of social disgrace. Here we have the shame and indignity that the Lord Jesus Christ felt because of His nakedness before the crowd, His mother, and the other women. On the cross the Lord Jesus was the focus not only of mocking and humiliation (cf. Matt. 27:39-44, Mark 15:29-32), but also of astonishment, as when the centurion said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matt. 27:54). Luke also noted, that “the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned” (Luke 23:48). The contempt, the cruelty, and the callousness of men were all foretold in this Psalm. The Lord Jesus was not only abandoned by God and He was also abhorred by men. Yet, He still say, “look to Me and be saved” (Isa. 45:22), because “the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).

Did You Know – Christian History

Henry Alline was born June 14, 1748, in Newport, Rhode Island. He was a minister, evangelist, and writer who became known as “the Apostle of Nova Scotia.”

Alline lived and attended school in Rhode Island until the age of twelve. His religious education began by receiving instruction at school, in the church, and at home. At about the age of eight, Alline appeared to have had his first religious experience but was not fully aware of its nature. The event placed him in a state of terror and drove him to seek out a fuller understanding of Christian theology. After years of desperate search, in 1775, Alline discovered the love of Christ. He described the transformation as instantaneous. Immediately, he began telling others about Christ. He felt a call to preach, but hesitated to do so, because he had little education.

In 1776 he began preaching at Newport, and his reputation as a gifted spiritual speaker spread, and soon, crowds were flocking to hear him. The same year, both Falmouth and Newport formed churches with his assistance. By 1777, Alline finally broke from his parents to pursue his evangelical ministry on a full-time basis. His ministry now took him across Nova Scotia and back into New England. Everywhere he went, he spoke of each person’s need for a heart relationship with the resurrected Christ. The impact of his words and life were so great that he became known as “the Whitefield of Nova Scotia.” (George Whitefield was a preacher who led revival in England and the American colonies.)

In addition to his preaching, Alline wrote pamphlets, and more than 500 hymns, some of which expressed his new-found joy. He also kept a journal which reported his intense religious experiences. The frantic pace that Alline imposed upon himself weakened his health and allowed the rapid advance of tuberculosis. On February 2, 1784, while at the home of the Reverend David McClure in North Hampton, New Hampshire, Alline died. He was not quite thirty-six years old and had preached for just eight years. Despite struggling with illness and personal doubts, Alline dedicated his short life to spreading the Gospel, leaving behind a legacy of community revival and spiritual awakening.

A Little Humor

A kid asked, “If Jesus defeated death, does that mean He won forever?” His dad smiled. “Yes.” The kid grinned. “Best victory ever. No overtime needed.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Jesus took my place on the cross to give me a place in heaven!”