Focus
on America
Big
dreams
Most great
success stories have very small beginnings. Moses stopped to watch
a bush burn and went from a lowly shepherd to a five-star general.
Joseph said no to sexual temptation and became vice president
of Egypt. Daniel prayed three times daily and had supernatural
protection from lions. David Wilkerson showed up in a New York
City courtroom with a Bible and a concern for drug addicts and
out of that has come the worldwide ministry of Teen Challenge.
Much is
being said today about big dreams, big plans and going for the
gold. This has its place, but often failure can be traced to a
lack of diligence in the everyday routine responsibilities that
God has committed to us. We often fail because we are waiting
for the “big one,” or the equivalent of winning the
spiritual lottery. I firmly believe that most great accomplishments
for God have a very lowly beginning that is marked by faithfulness.
There is no shortcut or quick fix in building a successful and
productive life in Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Luke 16:10, “He
who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much”
(NKJV). Great spiritual success has its roots in small beginnings.
Four basic
foundational blocks are essential to spiritual success. 1. Talk
to Jesus every day in prayer. 2. Let Him speak to you. He primarily
does that through His Word. I need to hear from Him daily. 3.
Be a part of a spiritual fellowship. Church attendance is necessary
for a healthy, balanced life. 4. Be involved in ministry. God
has no benchwarmers or substitutes. Everyone is a first-round
draft pick and serving is not an option. Idle Christians become
critical and impossible to please. Doing the basics is possible
for every Christian no matter what state of life we are in.
When Columbus
explored the New World in 1492, who could have envisioned that
the United States would become the world’s most powerful
nation? When Henry Ford built his first auto, no one could have
imagined the revolution this would bring. My friend, your obedience
to God will produce a great harvest, even if no one notices but
Jesus.
—
Charles Hackett
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