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Command 22 : Be Wise as Serpents | Day 153 Never Doubt in Darkness!I have asked hundreds of young people a very important question. Amazingly, every one has given me the same answer! My question is, "Do you have a deep desire to do something great?" Their unanimous response of "Yes!" should not be surprising, because God is a great God, and He has made us in His image. As believers, God has created each of us to accomplish specific good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). As we carry out these deeds, we accomplish the purposes for which we were designed. Thus, when God sends us out among the wolves, it is part of His plan. There is no greater vision than bringing glory to God by the things we do to advance His kingdom. As we envision the achievement of the great things God wants to accomplish through us and as we remember His promise never to leave us or forsake us, we will develop a sense of excitement as we anticipate God's display of power. Scripture contains many examples of this, which should encourage us when we are tempted to doubt and lose heart concerning the vision God has given us to accomplish. Nehemiah had a vision for turning the deplorable state of Jerusalem into something great for God's people. Armed with the King's official support, he still had to face the "wolves" that were plundering God's people at will. Their attacks on him and his co-laborers were unrelenting. Their goal was to distract and discourage the workers. Yet, Nehemiah did not allow the threats of the wolves to distract or deter him from his vision of rebuilding the wall. Never doubt in darkness the vision that God has given you in the light. It is important to remember that our achievements should not serve our selfish purposes, but rather should promote the kingdom of God. I still remember the impact Jeremiah 45:5 had on me the first time I heard it: “Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not.” When I was a teenager, I yearned to do great things for God. I began to read the biographies of men who had accomplished great things for Him, because I wanted to find out what they had done that had honored God. I saw that they all had a passion for reaching a particular group of people. David Brainerd gave his life to reach the American Indians, George Whitefield and Charles Finney ministered to the colonists of North America, Hudson Taylor had a vision to reach the people of China, and John Wesley declared, "Indeed, I look on the whole world as my parish!" Without a vision for great achievement, life can lose its meaning and purpose. (See Proverbs 29:18.) Do you have such a vision? Have you experienced a deep desire to do something great in your life? Let's ask God to show us the great works He wants us to accomplish and then press on through whatever challenges arise, enabled by his grace and strength to succeed! |
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