“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:17

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Whatever is done, even in the commonest matters of life, the food we eat, our conduct at the breakfast table or the dinner table–is to be done for the glory of the Father and the Son.

These precepts take in the whole field of a Christian’s life and duty.
They cover every inch of ground.
They distinctly bear on every act and word and thought, and on every moment of our time.
They permit no exceptions.
From our first waking thought in the morning–to the last breath we draw before we sleep at night; from the first day of January–to the last day of December, and that of every year of our lives, until our course is run–all is to be yielded, gladly and willingly, to the service of our Redeemer-King!

No aim can be too exalted for one who has been purchased by the blood of Christ, and who has yielded himself as a living sacrifice to the Father in Heaven.

We dare not to please man, or lower the standard, or lessen the responsibility which is laid upon us. We dare not, and we must not, narrow the limit of our service, or the extent of our obedience.

The standard which the Apostle gives, reaches to every sphere and concerns every part of life. It touches the hidden world of the heart, and claims a control over every thought and motive and purpose. It comes to the little world of the family circle, and is our guide as to all we should speak and do amidst children or others about us. It follows us into the social world of friends and acquaintances, and is to control . . .
our pleasures and recreations,
the amusements we frequent,
the books we read, and
the company we choose.
All of this is taken into account by Him who searches the heart and knows all our ways.

“All for Christ!” is our motto! In fact, there is no part of our life which can be exempted from this Christian principle–business and recreation, social fellowship, the use of our money and our time–all we are, all we have, all we do or say must be for Christ, if we would be true to Him. We must never mark out one acre, or one square yard, or one inch of our life, and say in our heart, “Christ has nothing to do with this!” If we willfully take one single moment of our lives, or one single act, or word, or thought out of the direct control of the fear and love of God–that moment, or act, or word, or thought is one of sin.

We can only enjoy the comfort and peace which Christ gives, in proportion as we walk as He directs. If we desire to spend a happy, useful life, if we desire to meet the trials and the cares it may bring in quiet confidence and hope–we must not only rely upon the Savior’s all-sufficient grace, but carefully obey the precepts which He has given us.

Doing this, we need never be afraid. Dark clouds may overshadow our path, disease and death may visit our homes, losses and bad debts and hard times and multiplied troubles may come upon us–but doing God’s will, trusting in His never-failing Providence, relying upon His free grace and mercy in Christ, we are assured that He is with us, and will never fail us.– (George Everard, “All for Christ!” 1882)

I’ve often said a porch swing and rocking chair are two of the best health aids known to man. Now I’m not a doctor, nor an expert at anything, but I do know that God didn’t design us to go non-stop, nor will He enable us to do so. A porch swing just might keep you out of the sick bed. We all need times of refreshment–physically and spiritually.

“It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.”(Lamentations 3:27)

This is as good as a promise. It has been good, it is good, and it will be good for me to bear the yoke.

Early in life I had to feel the weight of conviction, and ever since it has proved a soul-enriching burden. Should I have loved the gospel so well had I not learned by deep experience the need of salvation by grace? Jabez was more honorable than his brethren because his mother bare him with sorrow, and those who suffer much in being born unto God make strong believers in sovereign grace.

The yoke of censure is an irksome one, but it prepares a man for future honor. He is not fit to be a leader who has not run the gauntlet of contempt. Praise intoxicates if it be not preceded by abuse. Men who rise to eminence without struggle usually fall into dishonor.

The yoke of affliction, disappointment, and excessive labor is by no means to be sought for; but when the Lord lays it on us in our youth, it frequently develops a character which glorifies God and blesses the church.

Come, my soul, bow thy neck; take up they cross. It was good for thee when young; it will not harm thee now. For Jesus’ sake, shoulder it carefully.– Charles Spurgeon

“And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.”–Luke 20:3–7

In 1982 a war broke out between England and Argentina over control of the Falkland Islands. During the fighting, the British destroyer HMS Sheffield was struck by an Exocet missile fired by an Argentine warplane. Six days later, despite the best efforts of the crew to patch the hole in the hull, heavy seas flooded and sank the ship. An investigation revealed that though radar had detected the incoming missile, because a plane had not been spotted, the warning was not immediately sounded, and no evasive action was taken.

The great danger facing our society today is not primarily an absence of warning and truth, but rather the refusal to heed the warnings being received. This is true of the lost, who hear the message of salvation and reject it. And it is true of the saved, who read or hear the commands of God but refuse to obey them. The Bible is not filled with suggestions. It is not advice from God, but commandments given for our benefit.

The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by questioning His authority to speak commands from God, but He undid their trap by pointing out that they had refused to believe the message of John the Baptist before Him. Rejecting the truth was nothing new for them—simply a dangerous and destructive pattern of behavior. It will always prove to be the same for us.(Daily in the Word)

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”– Matthew 4:4

We have to eat to live. Yet, Jesus reminds us (and Satan), food is not all that is needed. You could have all the food in the world and yet remain empty and lifeless.

The one thing that truly energizes and fills and sustains is the Word of God. With God’s Word as your constant companion and sustenance, you can be content even when other food is withheld, just like Jesus was after fasting for 40 days.

But notice that we are to live by every word that proceeds from God’s mouth, not just our pet passages or favorite verses. There is not a word in God’s Word that we do not need, that we cannot profit from. God’s Word is a well-rounded meal and we are not meant to leave any part of it out.

Do you agree with Jesus? Do you see that consuming everything this world has to offer would still leave you empty, and yet each word of God is able to build you up and strengthen you for life’s journey?

If you agree with Jesus, do you live like Jesus? Do you forgo Satan’s temptation to find fulfillment in earth-bound pleasures, in order to enjoy the far greater pleasure of communion with God?

Are you living on bread alone, or by every word of God’s Word?—Baptist Bible Hour