April 20

“No safe teacher of the life of faith ever says that it becomes impossible to sin; he only insists that sin ceases to be a necessity and, therefore, continual victory is available to us.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, God is Enough, 4/20

This is one of those truths I espoused for years yet have not lived.  What does this say about me?  Am I just all talk?  Am I of the “do as I say not as I do” generation?  This bears looking into, I’d say.  Do I merely take pride in what I know?  I can see why God would put me into the background these past few years--I was like a loose cannon with no plan for going into the bombed territory with help to rebuild.  How can I expect to help people rebuild their lives after I’ve “exposed” their weakness if I am not an example myself of the victorious life in Christ?  Thank you, Lord, for putting me here, despite my protests.  I shall learn not only how to be a good example of a person who no longer needs to sin, but I shall also learn contentment.

“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want.  I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:12, 13