Endure

Bible Reading:  Matthew 24:12-13

Key Verse: Verse 13 - “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Key Words: endure unto the end

We’ve all felt like quitting at one point or another.  The desire to quit is as much a part of growth as success. For those of us who do not quit, a reward awaits.  Nothing worth having is so easy to obtain.  Everything that has value also has a cost.  That is why so very few reach their God-given goals. Most acknowledge the hard work that is needed but fail to realize just how hard that work will be.  We all know good things take years, even decades, to achieve, but as the years pass by many become discouraged.

We can see the vision.  We can hold onto the dream, but God will give no weighty thing to one who cannot stand under its pressure.  It is the process that makes you who God wants you to become.  There are no shortcuts. But in our weak and frail moments we must find the strength to continue.

Here are ten more reasons you shouldn’t quit:

• What you are doing now may be positively affecting a life that you may not be aware of
• You may be just days away from a tremendous breakthrough
• Everything you do in love will count for eternity
• Faithfulness pleases God
• Quitting will undo everything you have worked for up to this point
• The world is still in need of the gospel 
• Future generations of your family will reap from your obedience
• Truth is worth the fight
• Life is too short to re-take divine tests
• You are a vital part of the church

Hold this thought captive in your mind: “I will not quit because God has never quit on me!”

 

                                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

Success Demands It

Bible Reading:  Joshua 1:1-8

Key Verse: Verse 8 - “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Key Words: good success

 

Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou shouldest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Someone has said, “If at first you don’t succeed, you’d better not be skydiving.”

It is obvious from reading Joshua 1:8 that success comes from having God’s Word in you and working through you.

I’ve never heard anyone say that success comes easy.  A. W. Tozer said, “It is doubtful that God can use any man greatly until he has been greatly wounded.”

By his mid-thirties, Winston Churchill was by far the most successful politician of his age in Britain.  His career had been like a brilliant meteor blazing across the sky.  The son of a notorious politician, he had achieved fame as a reporter and author whose chief subject matter was his own military adventures.  Elected to Parliament at the tender age of twenty-five, he entered the Cabinet at thirty-one, and at the outbreak of World War I, was Lord of the Admiralty and part of the War Cabinet.  Intelligent, hard-working, eloquent, single-minded, ambitious – the world lay at his feet.  But Churchill’s world revolved around him as the sun.  He was more interested in himself and his own ideas than in anything else, and his peers were reluctant to trust him.

Then in 1915, his world collapsed.  A military expedition at Gallipoli for which he was held responsible (critics still debate the validity of the charge) turned into a bloody debacle.  He was forced to resign from the Cabinet, and his long years in the political wilderness, with intermittent respites, began.  One biography gives this period of his life a fascinating title, “The Rise to Failure.”

In the crucible of failure, Churchill forged some new qualities which became instrumental in his success as the great Allied leader during World War II.  But until he refocused his life, he was a brilliant failure.  Achievement in itself can never be the mark of excellence or greatness.  Success can only be achieved as we live our lives in submission to God’s will and God’s Word.

Quitting is admission of failure so, you see, you can’t quit.

                                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse 

What to do:

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

Jesus Took My Head Out

Bible Reading:  Romans 3:21-31

Key Verse: Verse 24 - “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

Key Words: through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

After all He’s done for me how can I do less than give my best?

When the slave trade was thriving in West Africa, mercenaries would penetrate the interior to capture hundreds of natives.  They would then clamp iron collars around their necks to keep them in check until they arrived back at the coast for shipment.

As the captives passed through other African villages on their way to the sea, a local chief or king would sometimes recognize a friend or relative.  If he were financially able, and of a mind to, he could redeem his friend through payment of gold, silver, brass, or ivory.  Out of this practice grew a slang word among the Bambara tribe of French West Africa which meant “take his head out of the iron collar.”

According to Eugene Nida in his book, God’s Word in Man’s Language, when the Bible was translated in the dialect of the Bambaras, a common word was sought for the abstract idea of redemption.  The translator seized on the well-known phrase, “God took our heads out” to substitute for the word “redeem.”  So when the Bambara tribesmen read of God’s redemption, they get the image of God sending his Son as payment to “take our heads out of the collar” of sin and death.

You see, our redemption cries out, “You can’t quit!”

 

                                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

Being Honorable Demands It

Bible Reading: Romans 13:1-7

Key Verse: Verse 7 - “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

Key Words: honour to whom honour

After David Livingston had been in Africa about 12 years, he had a desire to travel from where he was, on the east coast of the continent, over to the west coast through a part of that continent that no other European had ever been before.  He didn’t have any possibility of doing it on his own, so he went to a local chief and asked for 27 men of the local tribe to go with him.  The chief was more than a little bit suspicious.  The trip was dangerous, and he’d learned that white men were not entirely trustworthy.  Livingston, sensing that feeling about him, made him a promise.

“If you give me your sons, I promise to return with them, and to deliver them to their homes and families.  My life will be a pledge.”

The chief agreed on that basis and Livingston set out.

The journey was every bit as dangerous as it was thought to be.  There was incredibly difficult terrain, there were hostile tribes, there were all kinds of predatory and dangerous animals, there was sickness and illness.  But finally, they made it to the west coast, and they stumbled into the port of Luanda, which had been their target, only to be amazed by finding a British warship there.  That warship had been sent from England for the specific purpose of finding Livingston and bringing him back, on the orders of Queen Victoria.

The captain came to him and said, “Sir, Queen Victoria has sent me to urge you to return.  All England is waiting to honor you.”  (A request by the Queen is in most cases a command.)  The thought of going home, and the thought of being honored, was tempting, but Livingston had a problem.  He had made a promise to the chief.  “Well,” they assured him, “the promise of a white man to an African doesn’t matter.  And the Queen is more important than a chief.”

Livingston had made a commitment, and despite all the urgings of the naval officers who were there, he turned his back and headed back into the jungle.  The round trip ended 2 ½ years after he started, with him delivering those people back – to honor a promise.

That was probably why, when Livingston died, the Africans were very committed to bury his heart in Africa.  They were more than willing to listen to a man whose word was something they could trust.  How can you trust someone who quits on God?

                                                                                    Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

The Judgment Seat Of Christ

Bible Reading: Romans 14:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 10 - “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

Key Words: for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ

We are told in II Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

I think you would agree with me that quitting on God can never be that which is good so it must be that which is bad.  The judgment seat of Christ demands that we be faithful.

Walter B. Knight tells about two soldiers traveling by train at the end of World War II.  One had spent more than three years in the South Pacific, and now was returning to his father, mother, friends, and sweetheart.  All were waiting for him at the station in Chicago, and his eagerness could hardly be contained.  “How fast are we traveling?” he asked the porter.  “How far are we from Chicago?  We can’t get there too quickly for me.”

On the same train another serviceman sat in the same coach.  His face looked like a blown-out lamp, a picture of gloom and dejection.  He was in handcuffs and in the charge of military police.  He was not eager to reach his destination, for nothing awaited him but judgment and punishment.

Two men on the same train bound for the same destination – one eager for reunion, the other dreading judgment.

Which are you?

                                                                                                Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

Happiness Demands It

Bible Reading:  Acts 26:1-23

Key Verse: Verse 2 - I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

Key Words: I think myself happy

Some of the gloomiest people are those who quit on God: Elijah (I Kings 19), Jonah (Jonah 4), and Uzziah (II Chronicles 26).

I once read the following story.

“It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb.  He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00.  I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him.

“I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.  On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

“While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.  The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.  I inquired as to her health.  He told me that she had been there for awhile and that she was a victim of Alzheimer’s Disease.

“As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.  He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.  I was surprised, and asked him, ‘And you still go every morning, even though she does not know who you are?’  He smiled as he patted my hand and said, ‘She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is.’

“I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, ‘That is the kind of love I want in my life.’”

What a picture of love!!  The happiest people are not those who have the best of everything; the happiest people are those who make the best of everything they have.

Someone once said, “Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the storm.”

                                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse 

What to do:  

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

Your Critics

Bible Reading:  I Corinthians 4:1-8

Key Verse: Verse 3 - “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.”

Key Words: But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you

Always evaluate what your critics say.  If they are right, change; if they are wrong, ignore them...but always listen.

Now, with that being said, I must hasten to add another reason we can’t quit – our critics.  Most critics rejoice in seeing those they criticize fail.  I simply refuse to let them rejoice.

One of Aesop’s fables tells of an old man and his son bringing a donkey to market.  Passing some people on the way, they hear one remark, “Look at that silly pair – walking when they could be riding comfortably.”

The idea seemed sensible to the old man, so he and the boy mounted the donkey and continued on their way.  Soon they passed another group.  “Look at that lazy pair,” said a voice, “breaking the back of that poor donkey, tiring him so that no one will buy him.”

The old man slid off, but soon they heard another criticism from a passerby:  “What a terrible thing, this old man walking while the boy gets to ride.”

They changed places, but soon heard people whispering, “What a terrible thing, the big strong man riding and making the little boy walk.”

The old man and boy pondered the situation and finally continued their journey in yet another matter, carrying the donkey on a pole between them.

As they crossed the bridge, the donkey broke loose, fell into the river, and drowned.

 Moral: you can’t please everyone.

                                                                                  Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

You Must Do Your Best

Bible Reading:  Matthew 25:14-30

Key Verse: Verse 23 - “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Key Words: Well done, good and faithful servant

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  - Philippians 3:14

For the apostle Paul, each day was the continuation of an exciting and challenging race.  He wasn’t striving to gain entrance into heaven; he was confident of being welcomed there through his faith in Christ’s atoning work on the cross.  The apostle’s concern was to be at his best for the Savior to grow in His likeness and to realize in daily experience “the power of his resurrection” (Phil 3:10).  This meant forgetting what was behind, letting neither success nor failure hinder his growth.  It meant pressing on till the day he would hear his Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  Matthew 25:23.

John Baker, a high school junior, surprised everyone by winning his first cross-country race.  He outran the state champion and set a new record.  Later he said that as he was running he asked himself, “Am I doing my best?”  This question motivated him to try just a little harder.  Rather than being discouraged by the runner in front of him, he would determine to pass him somehow!  When he did, he set another goal of passing the next runner, and the next.  By giving his all and letting nothing distract him, he found an unexpected reserve of power that ultimately brought him to victory.

Something of that determination must keep us moving forward as believers.  Victory does not come to those who are easily turned aside, or who are less than wholehearted in their commitment and service.  Let’s ask ourselves, “Am I doing by best for Christ?”  This will help us “press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

I’m pressing on the upward way,

New heights I’m gaining everyday,

Still praying as I’m onward bound,

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

 

                                                                                                Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:  

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

You Don't Want To Waste Your Life

Bible Reading:  Psalm 39

Key Verse: Verse 5 - “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.”

Key Words: Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth

We’ve all heard the saying, “Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

I often say that life isn’t about you, nor is it about me...life is about Jesus Christ.

If I, like so many others, quit, I’ve wasted a life that could have been used for God’s glory.

How would you like to spend two years making phone calls to people who aren’t home?  Sound absurd?  According to one time management study, that’s how much time the average person spends trying to return calls to people who never seem to answer.  Not only that, we spend six months waiting for the traffic light to turn green, and another eight months reading junk mail.  These unusual statistics should cause us to do time-use evaluation.  Once we recognize that simple “life maintenance” can chip away at our time in such huge blocks, we will see how vital it is that we don’t busy ourselves “in vain” (Psalm 39:6).

Psalm 39 gives us some perspective.  In David’s complaint to God, he said, “You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You” (verse 5).  He meant that to an eternal God our time on earth is brief; and He doesn’t want us to waste it.  When we do, we throw away one of the most precious commodities He gives us.  Each minute is an irretrievable gift – and an unredeemable slice of eternity.

Sure, we have to make the phone calls, and we must wait at the light; but what about the rest of our time?  Are we using it to advance the cause of Christ and to enhance our relationship with Him?  Is our time well spent?

                                                                                 Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

A Thirst For God

Bible Reading:  John 7:37-44

Key Verse: Verse 37 - “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”

Key Words: If any man thirst

Quitters quit on God because they no longer thirst for Him.  Their thirst has been quenched by money, possessions, and power.  As vain and empty as they are, they deceive themselves into a false satisfaction.

From an account of the British liberation of Palestine by Major V. Gilbert in the book “The Last Crusade”: 

 “Driving up from Beersheba, a combined force of British, Australians and New Zealanders were pressing on the rear of the Turkish retreat over arid desert.  The attack out-distanced its water-carrying camel train.  Water bottles were empty.  The sun blazed pitilessly out of a sky where the vultures wheeled expectantly.  ‘Our heads ached,’ writes Gilbert, ‘and our eyes became bloodshot and dim in the blinding glare...Our tongues began to swell...Our lips turned a purplish black and burst.’  Those who dropped out of the column were never seen again, but the desperate force battled on to Sheria.  There were wells at Sheria, and had they been unable to take the place by nightfall, thousands were doomed to die of thirst.

“‘We fought that day,’ writes Gilbert, ‘as men fight for their lives...We entered Sheria station on the heels of the retreating Turks.  The first objects which met our view were the great stone cisterns full of cold, clear, drinking water.  In the still night air, the sound of water running into the tanks could be distinctly heard, maddening in its nearness, yet not a man murmured when orders were given for the battalions to fall in, two deep, facing the cisterns.’  He then describes the stern priorities: the wounded, those on guard duty, then company by company.  It took four hours before the last man had his drink of water, and in all that time they had been standing twenty feet from a low stone wall on the other side of which were thousands of gallons of water.

They endured because they longed for the water.  So must we...we can’t quit, and we won’t quit if we long for Jesus.

                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse                                                                

What to do: 

✞   Don’t quit – be faithful.

To Show Our Thanks To God

Bible Reading: Psalm 92

Key Verse: Verse 1 – It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:”

Key Words: It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD

Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with golden hair.

I envied her, she seemed so gay, and how, 

I wished I were so fair,

When suddenly she rose to leave,

 I saw her hobble down the aisle,

She had one foot and wore a crutch, 

But as she passed, a smile.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine,

I have two feet – the world is mine.

And when I stopped to buy some sweets, 

The lad who served me had such charm,

He seemed to radiate good cheer,

 His manner was so kind and warm;

I said, “It’s nice to deal with you, 

Such courtesy I seldom find;”

 He turned and said, “Oh, thank you sir.”  

And then I saw that he was blind.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine, 

I have two eyes – the world is mine.

Then, when walking down the street, 

I saw a child with eyes of blue;

He stood and watched the others play;

It seemed he knew not what to do.

I stopped a moment, then I said,

 “Why don’t you join the others, dear?”

He looked ahead without a word, 

And then I knew he could not hear.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine, 

I have two ears – the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I’d go;

With eyes to watch the sunset glow;

With ears to hear what I would know;

I am blessed, indeed.

God, forgive me when I whine.

-Author Unknown

An attitude of gratitude demands that you not only shouldn’t quit, you can’t quit!

                                                                                         Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

Our Thirst For Wisdom

Bible Reading: James 1:5 & 3:1-5

Key Verse: Verse James 1:5 - “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Key Words: If any of you lack wisdom

There are three types of wisdom.  First, there is devilish wisdom.  Next, there is sensual wisdom.  Lastly, there is Godly wisdom.  If I am ever to have Godly wisdom, I can’t quit on God.  You may come up with all kinds of excuses why you should quit, but none of them comes from God.  We must desire to have a wisdom that comes from above.

There’s a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge.  He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, “O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge.”

Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one.  He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into the water.  Then he asked, “What do you want?”

“Knowledge, O wise Socrates,” said the young man with a smile.

Socrates put his strong hands on the man’s shoulders and pushed him under.  Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up.  “What do you want?” he asked again.

“Wisdom,” the man sputtered, “O great and wise Socrates.”

Socrates crunched him under again.  Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five, forty...Socrates let him up.  The man was gasping.  “What do you want, young man?” 

Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, “Wisdom, O wise and wonderful.”

Socrates jammed him under again.  Forty seconds passed...fifty...”What do you want?”

“Air!” the young man screeched.  “I need air!”

“When you want wisdom as you have just wanted air, then you will have it.”

How bad do you want God’s wisdom?  Let me assure you, it doesn’t come from quitting.

 

                                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:  

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

Spiritual Development

Bible Reading: Romans 5:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 3 - “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”

Key Words: we glory in tribulations also

It takes faith to be able to say “we glory in tribulation.”  One must be able to look ahead and visualize the end result of the trials and tribulations, and rest in the promises of God’s Word.  Every one of our tribulations are known to God and, yes, even permitted by Him; but the purpose of those tribulations is often to develop our spiritual character.

I admit I know little about cameras, but they are made today so picture-taking can be a breeze.  In the past, even for those who still love to do it, developing film takes knowledge.  I am told that film is a piece of material covered with chemicals which are extremely sensitive to light.  The moment you take the picture; a light falls across the film.  There is no visible change, but there is a picture there.  It simply needs to be developed.  The film is taken to a dark room, immersed in a liquid containing certain chemicals which dissolve parts of the coating of the film which was exposed to the light.  The negative is placed in a solution and the dish is tilted from side to side, working and reworking the face of the film plate until gradually the image is revealed.  This is called “developing the plate.”  The picture was there all the time, it simply needed developing.

That is what trials and tribulations are; they are God’s developer of spiritual character.  We must understand that we have many graces and gifts which must be developed in God’s dark room through the trials and tribulations which come into our lives.  Today if you are in God’s dark room of development, understand that the purpose is to take a normal person and make a beautiful Godly person out of you.  

You see, it’s for that reason you can’t quit!

                                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:  

✞ Don’t quit – be faithful.

The Calling Of God

Bible Reading: Proverbs 22:1-13

Key Verse: Verse 13 - “The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.”

Key Words:  The slothful man saith

In Proverbs 22:13 we find a description of a man who gets up in the morning and doesn’t want to go to work.  The man sees a lion in the street.  Now, his wife looks out the window and sees no lion.  The children look as well and see no lion, but to this man the lion is real.  At least it is real in his imagination, for he wants to stay home that day.  It is certainly normal for us, on occasion, to reluctantly go to work.  However, when a person sees a lion outside, it is more than bad eyesight!

The real problem is that this man has a job, not a calling.  Max Lerner said, “A mere job has three characteristics.  We want to get it over with the least effort possible.  We want to finish it as quickly as possible; and we want to get as much money as we can out of it.  On the other hand, a calling is like breathing, something you do, enjoy, and never think twice about having to do it.”

Robert Louis Stevenson stated, “If a man loves the labor of his trade and seeks no attention, fame or personal success; then God has indeed called him to this trade.”

Winston Churchill remarked, “There are two kinds of people, those whose work is work and pleasure is pleasure; and those whose work and pleasure are one.”  For the latter he said, “Their working hours are never long enough.”

You know, I find the same is true with our spiritual calling as well, whether we...

• Teach a Sunday School class,
• Sing in the choir,
• Play an instrument,
• Work in the nursery,
• Work in Children’s Church, or
• Go soul-winning...

We thoroughly enjoy what we do.

So let me ask you: “Do you have a job or a calling?”  You know by the amount of pleasure you have in it.  You can quit a job...but not a calling.

                                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse                                    

What to do: 

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

A Selfless Life Won't Allow It

Bible Reading:  Philippians 3:1-14

Key Verse: Verse 14 - “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Key Words: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus

Think about those who quit on God: Demas, King Saul, Uzziah, Jonah, and others.  They all quit because of a selfish life.  But when you live for God, not self, this life will not allow you to quit.

I spent much of my ninth summer on a bicycle.  About a mile from our house the road went down a steep hill and turned sharply at the bottom.  Coasting down the hill one morning, I felt my gathering speed to be ecstatic.  To give up this ecstasy by applying my brakes seemed an absurd self-punishment.  So I resolved to simultaneously retain my speed and negotiate the corner.  My ecstasy ended seconds later when I was propelled a dozen feet off the road into the woods.  I was badly scratched and bleeding, and the front wheel of my new bike was twisted beyond use from its impact against a tree.  I had been unwilling to suffer the pain of giving up my ecstatic speed in the interest of maintaining my balance around the corner.  I learned, however, that the loss of balance is ultimately more painful than the giving up required to maintain balance.  It is a lesson I have continually had to relearn, as must everyone, for as we negotiate the curves and corners of our lives, we must continually give up parts of ourselves.

 

                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.

A Broken Spirit

Bible Reading:  Psalm 51

Key Verse: Verse 17 - “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Key Words: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit

In all of my years in the ministry I have never known anyone with a broken spirit to quit on God.  Now, I readily admit there have been times people have appeared to be broken; but in reality they were simply puffed up with pride.  I repeat: I’ve never known of anyone with a broken spirit to quit on God.

Will Rogers was known for his laughter, but he also knew how to weep.  One day he was entertaining at the Milton H. Berry Institute in Los Angeles, a hospital that specialized in rehabilitating polio victims and people with broken backs and other extreme physical handicaps.  Of course, Rogers had everybody laughing, even patients in very bad condition, but then he suddenly left the platform and went to the rest room.  Milton Berry followed him to give him a towel, and when he opened the door, he saw Will Rogers leaning against the wall sobbing like a child.  He closed the door, and in a few minutes, Rogers appeared back on the platform, as jovial as before.

If you want to learn what a person is really like, ask three questions.  What makes him laugh?  What makes him angry?  What makes him weep?  These are fairly good tests of character that are especially appropriate for Christian leaders.  I hear people saying, “We need angry leaders today!” or “The time has come to practice militant Christianity!”  Perhaps, but “...the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:20).

What we need today is not anger but anguish, the kind of anguish that Moses displayed when he broke the two tablets of the law and then climbed the mountain to intercede for his people, or that Jesus displayed when He cleansed the temple and then wept over the city.  The difference between anger and anguish is a broken heart.  It’s easy to get angry, especially at somebody else’s sins, but it’s not easy to look at sin, our own included, and weep over it.

           

                                                                                Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞Don’t quit – be faithful.