Let us never doubt for a moment, that the preaching of Christ crucified – the old story of His blood, righteousness, and substitution – is enough for all the spiritual necessities of all mankind. It is not worn out. It is not obsolete. It has not lost its power. We need nothing new – nothing more broad and kind – nothing more intellectual – nothing more effectual.

We need nothing but the true bread of life, distributed faithfully among starving souls. Let men sneer or ridicule as they will. Nothing else can do good in this sinful world. No other teaching can fill hungry consciences, and give them peace. We are all in a wilderness. We must feed on Christ crucified, and the atonement made by His death, or we shall die in our sins.

To be “humble in heart,” as Christ stated He was, is to be submissive to the core. It involves being more interested in serving the needs of others than in having one’s own needs met.

Someone who is truly unselfish is generous with his or her time and possessions, energy and money. As that works its way out, it is demonstrated in various ways, such as thoughtfulness and gentleness, an unpretentious spirit, and servant-hearted leadership.

Ours is a day of self-promotion, defending our own rights, taking care of ourselves first, winning by intimidation, pushing for first place, and a dozen other self-serving agendas. That one attitude does more to squelch our joy than any other. So busy defending and protecting and manipulating, we set ourselves up for a grim, intense existence.

In our selfish, grab-all-you-can-get society, the concept of cultivating an unselfish, servant-hearted attitude is almost a joke to the majority. But, happily, there are a few who genuinely desire to develop such an attitude. I can assure you, if you carry out that desire, you will know the secret

We’re all pretty different. Different tastes in restaurants. Different sizes of televisions. Different favorite places to go on vacation. But one thing that’s common to every man on earth is this: we’re all on a collision course with death. Except for those living among the blessed generation who will still be filling out their dress shirts when Jesus comes back, no one’s getting out of here alive.

And some people have a hard time living with that.

Think of how this one particular slice of reality hangs over your head on any given day. Think of how hard you fight to keep yourself looking young and age-defiant. Think of the medical scenarios that run through your head when you feel a new twinge or body ache, when an unexpected pain catches in your chest or side. Think of what happens when you realize it could have just as easily been you killed in the bridge collapse or tornado damage reported on the news tonight.

The coach is right! The Bible says Jesus died in our place “—that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”(Hebrews 2:14-15). It is for that reason that Coach Gibbs could say:

Yes, death is a heavy subject to ponder. But it doesn’t have to hold us in slavery or overwhelm us in fear. Because of Jesus, we not only live forever. We can live free right now.

You must meditate and dwell upon what you read;
otherwise your pains and mine will be lost. The more any
man is in the contemplation of truth, the more deep and
firm impression is made upon his heart by truth. Heavenly
meditation brings out the sweetness that is in divine truths.
Not those who get most—but those who keep most, are
richest. So not those who hear most, or read most—but
those who meditate most, are most edified and enriched.

You must also practice and live out what you read. To
read much and practice nothing—is to hunt much and catch nothing.

You must also pray over what you read. Many read much,
and pray little, and therefore get little by all they read. Galen writes