by Richard Mansel

Food is the fuel that keeps our bodies running. Without it we become sluggish and weak. Spiritually, we must also feed or grow too weak to go through life.

Peter wrote, "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:22-23, NKJV).

As Peter teaches, when we "obey" our souls are "purified" through the process of being born again (John 3:1-5). We stay purified through loving and fellowshiping our brethren and staying connected to God. Since we are born "through the word of God," we endure in it forever. Cultivation of this word in our heart is the most important way to prevent the withering of faithlessness.

In Ephesians 1:15-23 we read Paul encouraging the Ephesian brethren because of their strong faith. He instructs them in how they can increase their faith and how they are blessed because of their faith.

First, the power is given only to the faithful. Paul writes, "and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power" (Ephesians 1:19).

Rechargeable batteries are a marvelous invention that illustrate the power of God. Batteries are worthless on their own. They provide power and then when the power has dissipated, they are discarded. With rechargeable batteries they are plugged into the power source and become renewed. When the power is gone, the batteries are worthless again until they are returned to the power source. The power is not in the battery but in the charger. To have the power God wishes for us to have, we must be in Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27).

When we become a child of God we gain access to this renewable power source, by the grace of God. We are simply tools, not the source of the power. Without God's power we begin to fade until we are lifeless.

Second, the power results from the Word. David Dewitt writes, "Many years ago a woman in a remote area went to great expense to have electricity installed in her home. She was the first one in her area to do so. A few months after the wiring the electric company prepared her bill and noticed that she had hardly used any electricity. They sent out a repairman thinking something was wrong. He noticed that the meter was running and asked her if she used her electricity. She said, ‘Of course we do. We turn on the lights every night so we can see to light our lamps and then we turn the lights off.' Doesn't that sound ridiculous? Having all of the power that you need and the ability to tap it all of the time but only using it enough to get by."

We have an even greater power through the Word of God and we neglect it and futilely try to make our own light. This "power" of God is in the "glory" which is through the "knowledge of Him" which was "worked in Christ" (Ephesians 1:18-20). This power comes from Christ and it is renewed in Scripture. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12).

Lord and Savior, I remember the day I was baptized, how I felt totally clean, completely forgiven. The joy of the moment nearly burst my heart, so glad did I feel. How long I had waited, a timid, fearful adolescent; how long I had prayed for you to put off Jesus' return, for I knew I was not ready.

Let me carry that day with me today. Let that same feeling of forgiveness and purity cover me, that same gratitude swell within the breast, that same peace surround me. For that day was the most important day of all, when I met you.

Through Christ who presented me. Amen.

by Don Ruhl

Read Matthew 8:1-17

Matthew says of Jesus,

1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him (Mat. 8:1).

During His ministry, Jesus is often in a mountain, in a garden, or out in the wilderness. Do you know why He does this? Find out for yourself. Be in creation (it might even be in your backyard or a park), and think about God and other spiritual things. You will discover why Jesus made a habit of this and you will probably want to do it more often yourself.

by Don Ruhl

Read Genesis 25 and 26

Rebekah marries into the family of God. Her father-in-law is the great Abraham through whom the God of heaven wishes to bless the entire world. Her husband is Isaac through whom this promise of blessing shall continue. This means that Rebekah shall have a son who will carry the promise, delivering it to his descendants and so on until one special person fulfills it.

Therefore, when Rebekah becomes pregnant, things are not going well inside of her. She does not know that twins are within and that they represent future warring nations. Genesis 25:22 says,

22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, If all is well, why am I this way? So she went to inquire of the LORD (Gen. 25:22).

Her question is one that most followers of Jesus Christ have had. If I am a Christian, why am I struggling? Why are things not prospering for me? Have you had those questions or at least similar ones? Rebekah had not done anything wrong, but she was a player in a greater struggle and the LORD reveals that to her (See v. 23).

Who knows why you are struggling. Perhaps you need to learn something. On the other hand, Jesus might be training you for some future mission. Then again, you may be between two warring factions in the spirit. Whatever it is, seek God, continue to follow Jesus Christ, and God shall carry you through your struggle.