If we stand firm and resist temptation instead, it is only a matter of time before we experience the relief of not having yielded to what we know is so harmful (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:9). We should never compromise our standing with God for the sake of a few minutes of perceived pleasure in any sin. When we avoid sin, we can rest assured that we are abiding in God and relying on Him for the strength to persevere over our iniquity (John 15:1-8). Unfortunately, you and I have a limited amount of willpower. There is only so much self-control we can exert by ourselves. We compromise once it runs out, especially when our weaknesses trigger us. Some potential stumbling blocks include hunger, tiredness, frustration, loneliness, sadness, or other negative states of mind and emotions that could suddenly cause us to give way to our sinful nature (Galatians 5:17). 

However, when we rely on God, He provides us with all the tools we need to crucify our flesh and abstain from sin (Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:13). While this sacrifice may seem extremely hard to make at times, it will be an incalculable upgrade compared to the pit of despair and regret that a lost battle brings with it (Romans 6:23). Therefore, we must thank God because even when we fail, His grace and mercy meet us at our lowest points to gently restore us and help us get back on the road to repentance as soon as possible (Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 1:9, 2 Chronicles 30:9).

The fruit of sacrifice is more of a blessing than any of us can quantify when it comes to avoiding sin. Obeying God’s Word will always be superior to giving in to the fool’s gold the devil uses to attempt to allure us. With all that said, there are many other areas where sacrifice can offer eternal rewards in Heaven and temporal ones on earth too. It’s not always easy to commit to serving God with your gifts, talents, time, and resources. But if we believe God at His Word, we know that the eternal impact of honoring Him with these things will always outweigh the measure of sacrifice related to doing so. In other words, our eternal return on investment will be greater than any of us can imagine (Matthew 19:29). We need to take steps towards God’s will in complete faith and surrender to make this a reality. We cannot please God without faith, and often that will be the exact fuel needed to initiate action for the sake of God’s glory (Hebrews 11:6).

Instead of serving ourselves and making choices based on personal advantage, it is critical to live for God and help others in the process (Philippians 2:3). If we truly love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, wouldn’t it also make sense for us to love the people He created (Matthew 22:36-40)? How can we claim to love God if we hate the people who He made in His image (Genesis 1:27)? I recognize that there are times in this world when we need to love ourselves and pursue things like rest, self-care, and leisure activities. However, such actions are not mutually exclusive with loving God and people. The Bible instructs us to love people as we would love ourselves.

At least one plausible reason exists to explain why God’s Word doesn’t ask us to love others more than ourselves. What good will you or I do if we neglect self-care to the point where we burn out? We need to familiarize ourselves with our limitations regarding stress tolerance and ability. It is also helpful to draw clear boundaries with family, friends, and even strangers that we should ensure are respected. If you over-exert and sideline yourself, you won’t be able to optimize serving God and maintaining your wellness physically, mentally, and spiritually. Typically we don’t drive our cars without following the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance. Why would it be any different with serving God? According to His example in Genesis, he wants us to rest at least one day per week, as He chose to do after creation (Genesis 2:2-3). It follows that He also wants us to pray. Otherwise, why would Jesus Christ have prayed to the Father (John 17:1-26)?

Ultimately, it is vital to make sacrifices within the scope of your capacity for God’s glory. Under these circumstances, it can be an opportunity for us to do our part as believers. There is no replacement for answering God’s call to walk in your purpose and abide in Him. In walking the path God has laid before each of us, we will experience difficulty, trouble, and sometimes even severe trials (John 16:33). However, He will always be with us when we need Him most. God will help us to navigate through the times when we have nothing left but to put our trust in Him. Furthermore, there is an indescribable sense of peace, joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction only God can provide His children (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 94:19). When you and I step out in faith and make sacrifices for Him, God allows us to experience all of these blessings throughout our lives.

May we bring God glory by fully committing our works to Him. After all, our ultimate purpose is to bring God glory (1 Peter 4:7-11). You and I can do this by fearing Him and obeying His commands (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). When we position ourselves to make this our daily practice, we will find true satisfaction, and rest assured we delight Him in the process (Psalm 112:1).

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” – John Piper.

Repentance, in consideration of sinful behavior, signifies a turning away from such endeavors. It involves eliminating the evil in our lives and pursuing righteousness and holiness in God’s sight instead. We must consider this remains a moving target for us as Christians throughout our lives. It is not a destination that is arrived on this side of eternity. There is always room for us to improve. No matter what you and I may have already brought to fruition through Jesus Christ, we should recognize this continuous pursuit of holiness.

Outside of Jesus Christ, we could do nothing of eternal significance. Therefore, it helps us to remain as humble as possible. Otherwise, it could lead us to self-righteousness, pride, or complacency when we fail to remember the Source of our achievements. Keeping these realities aligned in our understanding helps us to stay on track. Instead of relying too much on our strength and human knowledge to navigate life, we surrender more and more of our lives willingly to God. It is safe to trust that the more we acknowledge His sovereignty over each area, the better off we will position ourselves in His eternal will for us (Romans 8:28).

It is crucial for us never to forget how important the role of repentance is in the life of all Christians. How can we expect God’s blessings, including His presence in our lives, if we do not focus intently on what His Word shares about repentance? 

“12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NKJV)

If we want to enjoy God’s promises, we must also do our part to fulfill their conditions. How can we expect God to heal our land altogether, and for that matter, all the nations impacted by the pandemic if we do not repent? With a warning as straightforward as this found in God’s Word, like a blueprint for us to borrow for modern-day application, it should provoke a desire in us to obey the Bible’s instructions. Of course, we cannot expect non-believers to abide by these principles, but the Church should take heed. It brings me comfort that God did not destroy Soddom and Gomorrah immediately in their depravity because of a few righteous people. It was not until after extensive warnings, mercy, and grace that this ultimately came to happen. God even provided a way of escape for Lot and others before He destroyed the city along with everyone else. I can only imagine a similar situation today is keeping us alive here in the United States (Genesis 18:16-33).

Thus, if we want to see healing across our lands, we must follow these instructions in 2 Chronicles with a great deal of care. I believe God would potentially delight in ordaining another “Great Awakening”. Although individually, it may appear as though our prayers or influence may be small, we cannot afford to underestimate their power in the times we live. We cannot account for everyone’s lives, but we should take our stand as the Church. Therefore, let us come together in prayer, pursue holiness, and fight to repent of all our sins as the Holy Spirit leads us to. Let’s make our mark in this fleeting world by counting it all as loss and making our lives count for God’s glory by seeking Jesus Christ above all else (Philippians 3:8).

Thankfully, whether it is in God’s providence to lead us to a renaissance of repentance or things keep getting progressively worse from here, we do not need to fear. Either way, since we fear God and rest in His sovereignty, it is without question that despite facing an uncertain future in the near term, we await a sure reward in our Lord’s presence for eternity. Therefore, it follows for us to pursue everything that has eternal value rather than merely temporal value here on earth.

Often it may seem as though the allure of the world’s amenities are more meaningful than they are. Yet, the truth is that the appetites of the flesh are insatiable, and the world will never satisfy that missing puzzle piece in our hearts that only Jesus Christ can fill. Without Him, we are left to our own devices, pursuing fleeting idols and living purposeless lives. Yet, with Jesus Christ, we are more than conquerors, and we are building towards a future in Heaven that none of us can fully fathom. Therefore, let us repent and seek forgiveness from God. We need to ask Him to reveal our shortcomings to repeat this process daily. We may be in the process of sanctification, but we will remain imperfect during our time here on earth.

Suffice it to say you and I still have a mission left to do here. If you are reading this sentence, God still has a purpose for you here on earth. While that purpose for all of us is to bring Him glory, He wants you to grab hold of the calling that He sets before you. You may or may not have figured that out by now, but it is not too late if you are not sure or if you have delayed answering His call. Consider this your call to action. I encourage you to seek God in prayer, read His Word and do some introspection to determine what He would have you do. The most unexpected avenues can become favorable opportunities for planting seeds that will one day provide plentiful harvests for you.

If you still remain uncertain, consider what some people have recognized as a potential area of strength in your life. For example, it could be a gift, talent, resource, opportunity, or a career that opens the door for you to honor, glorify, and acknowledge God. Often it comes more naturally to you than to the average person, and you find a great deal of fulfillment in it. You may have to look beyond your day job to see it, but God will help you find it if you look diligently. It may even be something you already do that can be slightly modified to be effective for God’s Kingdom.

I recommend finding ways to win souls for Jesus Christ (Proverbs 11:30) and helping those who cannot help themselves (Matthew 25:30-40). Look to love God and love your neighbor. If we fight for these two things, everything meaningful in this life stems from them. That is why they are the two greatest commandments.

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him,” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV)

Store up for yourself Heavenly treasures where they last forever, rather than the allure of worldly pleasures and desires. All those will quickly fade while accomplishing the former will never cease to bless countless people forever (1 John 2:17). Every encounter to evangelize could be the difference in someone’s eternal destination. Keep your eyes on God and abide in Him as you answer the call He puts in your heart. You will not go wrong eternally when you genuinely take this approach.

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)

12 “Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.”

Proverbs 18:12 (NKJV)

Interestingly enough, continuous success with limited exposure to failure can often cultivate a haughty temperament. Meanwhile, this verse emphasizes, “before honor is humility.” We garner humility through failing, which opens the door for us to learn valuable insight. Those of us who think we have everything figured out in some avenue of life tend to become careless and, as a result, could dramatically impede our improvement. However, if we take the path of humility, whether, in victory or loss, we recognize that there is a lot we don’t know. Albert Einstein seems to have agreed with this mindset as he said, 

“The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.”

Failures seldom feel satisfying or welcome at the moment. But they can offer us nuggets of wisdom that are often only derived from experience. We can save ourselves a great deal of pain and inconvenience by learning from others. However, our shortcomings are simply a part of life we must cope with and hopefully maximize. In other words, it’s not realistic or practical to assume every lesson is available before we must learn it the hard way. Fearlessness of failure may be difficult to obtain at first, but we can learn to welcome it in many cases. In doing so, we facilitate creativity, entrepreneurship, and ambition to blossom in our lives. It’s up to us to make sure that we recognize God’s will in all of it and align our priorities accordingly. Our gifts, talents, resources, and time all can glorify God when we steward them properly.

When King David was a young man, he demonstrated great faith and courage in battling Goliath. His actions that day saved the lives of countless men who would have otherwise needed to engage in combat. Goliath underestimated David, as he couldn’t imagine how his opponent could pose a threat. Ultimately, of course, we know David won the battle decisively with his sling and stone. God’s grace empowered him to take a massive step of faith outside of his comfort zone and overpower what appeared to be an insurmountable obstacle. We can see Proverbs 18:12 in action in this story. Goliath was operating from an arrogant disposition and faced destruction perhaps very few imagined possible. On the flip side, we saw David, a humble and faithful servant of God, persevere and was immediately honored. Later in life, that honor even extended to becoming the King of Israel. He derived fearlessness from faith in God, and he demonstrated that confidence through his boldness.

There’s a lot to learn from this instance, but the primary lesson is to retain unwavering confidence that God is in absolute control. I am not implying we must fight every battle, but we can find strength, provision, and refuge in God when facing a threat of any kind. Isn’t it comforting to know that God is with us at all times? (Joshua 1:9) Without Jesus Christ, we are nothing. But with Him, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). If we rely on our strength and discipline to engage in spiritual warfare, it’s only a matter of time before we fail. It’s when we come to God in humility and trust Him that we obtain true victory. We cannot afford to make the mistake of Goliath and underestimate our adversary (1 Peter 5:8). The stakes are too high, and our weaknesses are numerous. Thankfully, our God is greater than any obstacle we will ever encounter.

It’s worth noting that even when we are on God’s side, we may still lose battles occasionally. The reality is that sin still lives in us on this side of eternity. Take a look at what 1 John has to say: 

“8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

1 John 1:8-10 (NKJV)

Thankfully, God often utilizes the lost battles for His eternal purposes when we do fail. Therefore, we must continually face this reality and ask God to help us repent, forgive us, and cleanse us of all unrighteousness accordingly (1 John 1:9). Beyond that, past sins can serve as part of our testimony to God’s mercy and grace. For example, He may lead us to share the Gospel and warn people about the struggles we faced in the hopes that they might not fall into those same snares. In this way, we might empower our brothers and sisters in Christ to resist the temptation to compromise the way we did. Additionally, those who already stumbled in similar ways we did may be encouraged by the fact that they can also be set free from slavery to sin through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. However, we must note that none of this should become the catalyst for opening the door to sin in our lives (Romans 6:1-14).

Take comfort that God has already won the war for us through Jesus Christ dying on the cross (John 3:16). We were bought at a price, and it was the greatest one ever paid. God made it possible for you and me to be redeemed from our sins and opened the door for us to spend eternity in Heaven with Him. No matter how many times any of us has failed here on earth, we can rest assured that God will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). When we fear God, there’s nothing else we ought to be afraid of, not even death (Matthew 10:28). After all, nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38).