......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.
You may be one who lives your life pursuing fame and
fortune, depending on the applause of others. Bad plan. To begin with, fortune
has shallow roots. The winds of adversity can quickly blow it all away. And
fame is as fickle as the last response from the crowd. When you're praised and
applauded, don't pay any attention. And when you're rejected and abused, don't
quit. It wasn't human opinion that called you into the work you're doing. So
don't let human responses or criticisms get you sidetracked. Keep going. Don't
get tangled in the tangibles!
by
Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Insight
for Today
Scriptures: Acts 13:45–48
As my good friend
and wise mentor, Howie Hendricks, often says, "Where there's light, there are bugs!"
The brighter Paul's light, the more the
bugs. And in that situation, those bugs had stingers filled with poison.
What grit!
Paul didn't back down an inch in his
response to open rejection.
The result? Not surprisingly, the Gentiles
in the crowd rejoiced in the good news he had for them. How exciting! What
started as a smoldering ember of religious curiosity burst into flames of
faith.
Why were Paul and Barnabas able to
persevere?
Neither man set his affections on temporal
things. What discipline.
If you want to get caught in the net of
disillusionment, allow yourself to get tangled in the tangibles.
You'll not only run shy of courage, you'll
sink like a rock in a country pond.
Why? Because others' opinions will start to
mean everything.
When you allow their responses to be the
ballast, then their applause becomes essential to keep you afloat, and their
assaults drag you straight to the bottom.
That formula for failure can be found in
all people-pleasing ministries. You're doomed to disillusionment if you don't
focus on the eternal.
Lee lacocca, not
long after leaving the automobile business, said, "Here I am in the twilight years of my life still wondering what
it's all about. I can tell you this: fame and fortune is for the birds."
Bad plan. To begin with, fortune has
shallow roots. The winds of adversity can quickly blow it all away.
"Riches certainly make themselves wings," writes Solomon, "they fly away as an eagle toward
heaven" (Proverbs
23:5 KJV).
And fame is as fickle as the last response
from the crowd.
Learn a dual lesson from this fine man who
had wisdom far beyond most of us.
When you're praised and applauded, don't
pay any attention.
And when you're rejected and abused, don't
quit.
It wasn't human opinion that called you
into the work you're doing.
So don't let human responses or criticisms
get you sidetracked.
Keep going.
Don't get tangled in the tangibles!
Charles R. Swindoll is the founder and
senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. But
Chuck's listening audience extends far beyond a local church body, as Insight
for Living airs on major Christian radio markets around the world. Chuck's
extensive writing ministry has also served the body of Christ worldwide, and
his leadership as president and now chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary
has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry.
Chuck and his wife, Cynthia, his partner in life and ministry, have four grown
children, ten grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
https://insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/tangled-in-the-tangibles1
You might also like:
Renew My Life, Lord Jesus
From the album : FIRST LOVE
CLICK HERE to view complete playlist . . .
https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2018/08/renew-my-life-lord-jesus-in-my-life-and.html
..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Seek The Lord
CLICK HERE . . . to view . . .
https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2020/04/seeking-lord-lord-sees-our-heart-and.html
.............................................................................................................................................................
Fully Surrendering to
God
CLICK HERE . . . to view . . .
https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2020/11/fully-surrendering-to-god-to-believe.html
.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Gain by Losing
CLICK HERE . . . to view . .
.
https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2020/08/gain-by-losing-to-follow-jesus-means-to.html
..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
You Can’t Change
by Accident
CLICK HERE . . . to view . . .
https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2020/05/you-cant-change-by-accident-we-have-to.html
..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Hearts That Turn Cold
and the God Who Revives
CLICK HERE . . . to view . . .
https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2018/01/cold-hearts-if-you-feel-no-love-for-god.html 
Acts 13:45-48 English Standard Version
45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled
with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by
Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was
necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you
thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold,
we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you
may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+13%3A45%E2%80%9348&version=ESV
No comments:
Post a Comment