The 18th century preacher Jonathan Edwards wrote 70 resolutions before the age of 20. He knew obstacles were inevitable, so many of his resolutions were written to address this challenge. No matter the difficulties that came before him, he resolved to continue upon the path laid out for him by God. That’s responsibility, which is our topic for this message.
Resolutions are what we determine will happen, based on convictions, personal disciplines, strong purpose, clear vision, or a sense of mission. Predictions are things we anticipate might happen. These are based on assumptions, opinions, trends, or feelings. When you think about it, predictions and worry have a lot in common...they both forecast the future based on assumptions or feelings. They waste your energy and rob you of the joy of living today.
Learning is lifelong, and ignorance is not bliss. Just because you don’t have formal education doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Education comes from all sorts of places. Seek it out, don’t settle for anything less.
When we face “impossible tasks” we can choose to give up or become inspired by the challenge.
A tour of the Holy Land is not just about what you see, it’s also about experiencing God and His Word in a whole new way. As I reflect on my own experience in Israel I note three things that occurred for me.
Life is full of overwhelming impossibilities. So how do you stand toe-to-toe with your opponent and do battle? You do it with the only weapon available to us: faith.
Two things make Achan’s story especially sad. First, it occurred so suddenly on the heels of an incredible victory—the miraculous invasion of Jericho. And second, it resulted in a devastating toll on so many others. One man—a single, isolated individual—deliberately chose to disobey, yet numerous innocent victims fell in the wake of his sin, bringing calamity to a nation.
In God’s family, whenever there is a breakdown in the fellowship, regardless of the reason, it impacts others. We see this vividly portrayed in Joshua 7, one of the least victorious chapters in the book. Even though these times were painful for the Hebrews, they are useful to Christians today. They teach us that we must not be idealistic in the matter of growing closer together.
Not only does God know all that is done, He ultimately exposes the truth so that all will know…and the consequences are often tragic.
Some people are much older at 40 than others are at 70. Why? Attitude! To build up attitude muscles, forget your age, focus on your goals, and remember to follow your God.
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Insight for Living is committed to excellence in communicating the truths of Scripture and the Person of Jesus Christ in an accurate, clear, and practical manner so that people will come to an understanding of God’s plan for their lives, as well as their significant role as authentic Christians in a needy, hostile, and desperate world.
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