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Scripture for the day: Philippians 1:12 But I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.
Thought for the day: And what things happened to Paul? In his own words: “Five different times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced danger from flooded rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the stormy seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be Christians but are not. I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food. Often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.” Paul didn’t say all that to brag about what a good Christian he’d been; he said it to show that, in all that seemed to be against the will of God, the purpose of God for his life was being fulfilled. Did he know this as he languished in rat-infested dungeons bleeding and sore from the many beatings he’d received? I would guess he must have had many times when doubt attacked his fertile mind and he wondered how on earth, or in heaven for that matter, he had ever ended up in such dire straits. But as he reflected on all he’d faced for the sake of the gospel, the Lord showed him how it had all fit together. He’d had a purpose all along and as he lived his life to the glory of God, he fulfilled that purpose.
Paul spoke often of his primary goal of knowing Christ, of becoming more and more like the Master, of reaching his world with the Good News. When he approached the end of his life in a Roman prison, he could say without shame, “I have kept the faith.” And why did he keep the faith? Because he knew who he was, what he was about and where he was going. Can we say that in our lives today? A man (or woman) with a purpose can withstand almost any adversity, overcome almost any obstacle, and win at almost any contest. Let me give you an example I got from a little book entitled “God’s Little Devotional Book for Leaders.”
The story was told that in July of 1940, following the fall of France, Hitler and Mussolini invited Churchhill to Paris for a secret conference. They met at a tea table beside a famous carp pool. The Fuhrer opened the dialog: “England is finished, Churchill! Sign this document admitting defeat and all Europe will have peace tomorrow!” Churchill said quietly, “I don’t agree that we have lost the war.”
Hitler pounded the table and screamed, “Ridiculous!”
“Why not settle this with a wager?” Churchill asked.
Hitler responded, “What’s the bet?”
Churchill said, “See these big carp in the pool? Let’s wager that the first to catch one without using customary fishing equipment will be the winner.”
Hitler and Mussolini agreed and the Fuhrer quickly pulled out a revolver and emptied it at the nearest fish. The water deflected the bullets. Next, Mussolini jumped into the pool and tried to catch a carp with his bare hands. He failed.
“Your turn, Churchill,” said Hitler.
Churchill began to repeatedly dip his spoon into the pool and toss the water over his shoulder. “What are you doing?” cried Hitler.
Churchill replied, “It will take a long time, but we are going to win the war!”
The point is this: a person with a well-defined purpose for living is a majority, no matter how many are arrayed against him. We glorify God when we set our hearts and minds on fulfilling the purpose for which He’s placed us here.
The winner with God is prayerful, positive and purposeful. More on this tomorrow.
Now go take on your world (on purpose) - Bill