“ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”–Phil. 3:8

Professional golfer Tommy Bolt was playing in Los Angeles and had a caddy with a reputation of constant chatter. Before they teed off, Bolt told him, “Don’t say a word to me. And if I ask you something, just answer yes or no.”

During the round, Bolt found the ball next to a tree, where he had to hit under a branch, over a lake and onto the green. He got down on his knees and looked through the trees and sized up the shot. “What do you think?” he asked the caddy. “Five iron?” “No,” the caddy said.

“What do you mean, not a five iron?” Bolt snorted. “Watch this shot.”

The caddy rolled his eyes. “Nooo, Mr. Bolt.”

But Bolt hit it and the ball stopped about two feet from the hole. He turned to his caddy, handed him the five-iron and said, “Now what do you think about that? You can talk now.”

“Mr. Bolt,” the caddy said, “that wasn’t your ball.”

Quite often in life, it’s easy to expend time and energy on things that are ultimately meaningless. Just like Tommy Bolt hit the wrong ball, many people also put an enormous amount of effort into shots that don’t count for anything when life is over.

When it comes to how you spend your time, do things that count. Spend your energy on things that bring glory to God—growing in His Word, fellowshipping with other believers, and loving those that don’t know Him.

Pray and ask God to show you when you are putting too much time and energy into things that have no eternal significance.(Copied)

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away“– Matthew 24:35

“Nothing lasts forever.” We have become used to the reality of this cliché that we have many times, even as Christians, unconsciously applied this earthly maxim to eternal things.

But Jesus would have us remember that, yes, heaven and earth shall pass away; nothing in this world lasts forever. Cars and carpet, bodies and bank accounts, hobbies and holidays — all eventually break up or break down.

Even nations and world powers rise and fall over time. Did you there is not a single world government still in power today that existed when the United States was formed? As young as this country is, it is already the oldest living government on the planet!

Heaven and earth shall pass away, Jesus says, but my words shall not pass away. God’s words and God’s works will still stand when the earth is on fire.

Now, you may give theological assent to the point Jesus is making, but does the reality Jesus is highlighting infuse your decision-making with an eternal perspective and priority? In other words, do you live as if everything in this world is momentary and God’s promises are everlasting?

If your joy, fulfillment, or comfort is found in your youth…what about when you get old? If it comes from your wealth…what happens when you become poor or too sick to enjoy it? If your happiness is derived from the affection or embrace of others…what happens when they leave or pass away?

Nothing lasts forever, except everything that I do and say, Jesus reminds us. May this reality be reflected this day in everything we do and say.–Baptist Bible Hour

“Search the Scriptures.” – John 5:39
As a pastor I’m often asked to give counsel, or to recommend a program or a book etc. The best advice I, or anyone else, could give you is found here in the words of our dear Savior—“Search the Scriptures”. Mark it down, if you neglect this nothing else will help. James Smith (1840) wrote the following:

“The Bible is God’s Book, a favour bestowed on man; intended to lead him to a knowledge of the nature, perfections, purposes, will, providence, and salvation of God. It contains all that is really necessary to be known.

It should be read carefully, prayerfully, frequently, and in course: every part of the Bible should be read, meditated upon, and prayed over. It makes us wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. We cannot understand the Scriptures, or gather spiritual profit therefrom, but by the Holy Ghost; nor should we expect to be taught the mind of God but by the Scriptures.

Praying, reading, and thinking, should go together; and no one, but he who has proved it, can possibly tell the profit which may be thus gained. Let the Bible be the every-day-book. In it God speaks to your soul, by it He will sanctify your nature, direct your steps, and give you joy and peace. Let not the works of man occupy the place of the Book of God; but search the Scriptures daily, and exercise faith therein.

“Open Thou mine eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of Thy law.” Unfold to me the riches of Thy grace, revealed in Thy word.”

O may Thy counsels, mighty God,
My roving feet command!
Nor I forsake the happy road
That leads to Thy right hand.

“But so shall it not be among you….” Mark 10:43
Whether viewed as instruction, a command, or a warning from the Lord, it was in reality a sad indictment against His disgruntled disciples–in more ways than one. As Jesus faces the cross, the disciples are focused on a throne. Rather than thinking of Him they were thinking about who was the greatest. It started with James and John (vs. 35-40) but it spread to the other ten (vs. 41-42). How sad. At a time when they should have been thinking of Christ they made it all about themselves. And now the ten are angry with James and John, so now we see a disgrace, a distraction, and a division in the church.

Their bickering had to do with who will be the greatest in the kingdom, as if that mattered. By way of rebuke, the Lord draws a contrast between the way it should be with them and the way it was with the gentiles. And, He declares in no uncertain terms that the greatest is he who is willing to serve rather than rule. It might be the opposite with the gentiles, but He says,”..so shall it not be among you”.

Looking beyond the strict context of this we see here a principle that is to be applied to our lives in general. We are to be different! Just because something is lawful, popular, and pleasurable it doesn’t mean we should do it. We are obligated to be unlike the sinful world. This gets to the very root of a very serious problem today. Christians have lost their distinction. While we profess Christ as our Lord and Savior and proclaim that we are new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17) the world sees no difference between us and them– and that makes a huge difference in our ability to reach them for Christ. Considering the average Christian’s conduct, is it any wonder that we have such a hard time in getting them to listen to our message?

Although we are in the world, we are not of it (John 17:14-16). The world should see a marked difference between us and them. If we lose our distinction we destroy our effectiveness. I’m not talking about being different just for the sake of being different, I’m talking about being different because we walk in obedience to God’s Word and they don’t. And, considering the ways of the world, the difference should be drastic! We must never forget that although we are not of the world we are in it and sent to it with the glorious gospel of Christ. Before we can convince the world to listen to our message they must see the difference that Christ makes in a person’s life. God forbid that we fail!

“…Why are ye so fearful?…” – Mark 4:40
Many weary souls went to bed last night deeply troubled by their trials. Having finally fallen to sleep they did so with the hope that the new day would bring sweet relief, but they awoke with bitter disappointment. Before their feet hit the floor, fear flooded their heart–the same fear they had fought the night before. It is a new day, but the same old problems stare them in the face. The pain is still present, or the bills are still unpaid, or the car is still in the shop, or the job is still in question, or the marriage is still on the rocks, etc. So, they feel destined to spend another day in misery.

If that describes you, I want to suggest that you get alone with God, open His Word, and let God speak to your heart. I’m not saying this will change your circumstances, but it will change you– and that just might change the other things. Fear is dispelled by faith and faith comes by the hearing of God’s Word (Rom. 10:17). Spend some time thinking about the situation the disciples found themselves in, and this question by the Savior– Why are ye so fearful?. You just might be surprised at the difference it makes. Of this verse, James Smith wrote:

“The disciples appeared to be in danger, and fear filled their hearts. They did not realize that they were the care and charge of Jesus, or else, knowing Him, their fears could have had no place.

Beloved, you are in the hands of your loving Saviour. He has charge of you and all your concerns. He has numbered the very hairs of your head, and watches over you every moment, by night, as well as by day. He is ever present, His eye cannot be diverted from you, His omnipotence is engaged to defend you, His fulness to supply you, His wisdom to guide you, and all His perfections will be glorified in your everlasting holiness and happiness. He says, “I am glorified in them.”

Why are you so fearful? Jesus is a very present help, He is a Friend that loveth at all times, He is your shield, and will be your exceeding great reward. But perhaps you have wandered from Him; your conscience accuses you, and Satan tempts you to despond; go, go, and return unto Him, delay not a moment, cast yourself, guilty as you are, at His feet, confess all, and give yourself to Him afresh. He will receive you graciously, love you freely, and restore to you the joys of His salvation.”

The saints should never be dismay’d,
Nor sink in hopeless fear;
For when they least expect His aid,
The Saviour will appear.