April 2
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:6-7)
Sometimes we get in a funk. We don’t think straight. We aren’t concerned about eternal things. Sin entices us and sounds appealing to us. The Lord seems very far off and unconcerned about us, and our faith becomes dim. We get discouraged because of our failures and think, “Why keep trying to do the right thing? Nobody cares about me, and it doesn’t matter what I do.” Satan can easily make us stumble in sin once we get in that state of mind.
My first recommendation in that situation is pray urgently for the Lord to send you some sign that He sees and He will help you our of your difficulties, whatever they may be, and ask Him to help you remain faithful to Him in the meantime. Second, when this kind of thinking comes upon me it is usually late in the day or evening when I am very tired. The best thing to do is to read some scripture and just go to bed. Just get good rest; it can make a big difference in my outlook.
But my third recommendation, and this gets to the point of today’s thought, is to think of someone else. Think of a child or a spouse or a friend or another Christian that you know of that is in need. Or think of your unsaved family and friends that desperately need to know about the Lord. Or think of ISIS or some other modern day evil that you abhor. What would you do or give for those individuals to come to know Jesus as their Savior, or for that evil you are concerned about to get fixed? I am sure that many would say that they would go to great extents, perhaps even give their own lives, if they could be certain that they would accomplish that good goal. I know I would.
But isn’t that what we are doing when we simply deny ourselves the pleasure of self-pity and self-indulgence? We might give our very lives for them and the cause but would we simply stop sinning for their sakes? Think of them when you are tempted to sin. Think of them burning in hell or suffering great consequences because you are not praying and interceding for them. Think of not sinning as a sacrifice of yourself, a pouring out of yourself on their behalf. Think of self-control as fighting the fight, finishing the course, and keeping the faith. This is exactly what is at stake, is it not?
I can’t find the quote or who said it exactly, but it goes something like this: Becoming a Christian costs nothing; living as a Christian costs everything. How are you doing as a living sacrifice? What is it costing you? What are you holding back from Christ? Is He pleased with your sacrifice? Is it worthy of His sacrifice for you?