[Blessed is the man who fears the Lord]…His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. Psalm 112:8

There is an entire multi-billion dollar industry built around Security. Whether it's security for your home, your car, finances, or even as simple as your computer, we all want to feel secure. But as we're beginning to see, the security we once knew in America is unraveling, especially in the financial markets. Everyone is looking for a secure place to park their hard earned dollars. Even the experts say there is no place to hide that’s full proof.

But when we trust in God, our security is different. It is safe and solid with nothing to fear. Well, in an ideal world, that is. We let fears and worries creep into our thinking, sometimes to the point that it immobilizes us. Deep inside, though, like a pilot light in a gas stove, we have God’s security to lean on during those insecure times. It's always there; it's always on; it's dependable. We need only to call out for that security.

He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7

You don't have to go very far these days to hear or read about the bad news. From the economy to increasing violence in the cities and schools to an overall moral decline in society, there's plenty of bad news to go around. And often, it's tough not to let it all get you down.

But the one who trusts in the Lord has something else going in his favor: a bedrock belief that come fire or flood, God is in command. Period. He doesn't deny that there are very bad things happening in the world around him, but he chooses to trust in God instead.

So, whenever you pick up the doom and gloom newspapers or turn on the nightly news, pray that God will give you clarity to see that ultimately the Lord is who we should be fearing and trusting.

Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. Psalm 112:6

O that there were an army of equipped and passionate Believers marching across the land in defense of Godly causes and the Gospel. How would our world be different if we had unshakable faith and an unquenchable thirst for righteousness? What would that look like in our day and age?

And yet, there are many, even those reading this, whose faith is solid and strong, who cares not what the world says or thinks, but does he or she knows to be right. You don't get a lot of credit or "glory" now, but you will. Later. I suspect that there are even those who have done a world of good and just want to give up or give in because you think your righteousness is in vain and no one is noticing. Corruption and envy and greed and selfishness and blatant Godless living abound around you and life just isn't fair. Even Believers around you are falling. You want to give up fighting and just "go along to get along."

Take heart, my friend, take heart! Your righteousness will be rewarded. Your labors and toils and sufferings are not in vain. You have been called to do what you're doing and you mustn't give up.

Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Psalm 112:5

How would our lives change if we sought to practice generosity and justice in everything we did? I believe the results would be astounding.

Being generous is fairly easy to accomplish, and it goes beyond “not being stingy.” Generosity is ungrudgingly giving something that you have to others so that they are more comfortable. It can be deal with money, food, service, time, and material goods. Of course you can even expand it to being generous with your knowledge and wisdom. As I said, generosity is easy.

Justice is a little trickier. It’s tricky because it’s not as obvious as generosity. The opposite of justice is injustice or unfairness, and we can usually spot that (people being abused, mistreated, or cheated come to mind). In today’s verse, conducting your affairs with justice seems straightforward. Honesty. Integrity. Doing what’s right.

Former Senator Alan Simpson from Illinois said this, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”

That’s a fair assessment of justice in business dealings, don’t you think?

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Psalm 112:4

When I was in high school I played the character of General Bullmoose in the play “Lil' Abner.” I told my secretary, “I'm not taking my Peale pills. They make me think…too positive.” The reference is to Norman Vincent Peale, the famed optimist. The optimist referred to in this verse is not merely optimistic for the sake of being up, but he's displaying the quality of his moral character.

I'll admit it, life can get you down, especially in the times we’re in now. But too much of the negative news will just wear you down completely. I think we need to guard against that. I don't say that we need to be a Pollyanna or swallow giant-sized Peale pills, but it's important to keep a healthy perspective.

Such as?

God is in control; we're not. God is not caught off guard by events. And God will give us the grace to handle anything life throws our way.

So, anyone for a bite-sized Peale pill?

Wealth and riches are in his house; and his righteousness endures forever. Psalm 112:3

This is a verse that refers back to the previous two verses. Because a man fears the Lord, he has great wealth and riches, and it may very well be that his children are the source of those “riches.” Let me put it another way. Have you ever known a person with many children to be unhappy about it? I’ve personally known two families with 10 and 12 children each, and the parents couldn’t be more pleased with their decision to have that many children. Sure, the kids run them ragged but they are having the time of their lives raising them. They truly are wealthy families, though, as I recall, they didn’t have a lot materially.

So legacies are lived out through the children, and through their children’s children, and so on. The children may not turn out exactly like the parent had wanted, and may very often disappoint, but the legacy will still live on.

On the other hand, many parents consider their kids to be a burden, sadly. They don’t view them as the “riches” that they are, only that they are a drain on time and finances. I don’t claim to be an expert on the matter, but it’s not hard to spot someone who is not enjoying life with his children. I’m afraid that twenty years from now those same people will regret that they didn’t appreciate their kids more.

So, are children burdensome or a blessing? It’s probably an important question to ask as the kids grow up.

His [man who fears the Lord] children will be mighty in the land; each generation of the upright will be blessed. Psalm 112:2

This is a continuation of the previous verse. Each verse following will note that when a man fears the Lord, this will happen.

Many years ago, there was a commercial on television that ended with a father walking through the forest with his young son. The two sit down and rest against a tree. The father takes out a cigarette, lights it, and puts the pack on the ground. The young boy picks up the cigarette pack and looks intently into the pack. “Like Father, Like son, Think about it” were the only words the announcer said. It is has been said that religion is caught not taught. I think it’s true. The kids see the parents as they truly are, and not as the public sees them.

Do your kids see and hear you being nice to your spouse? Do they hear you bad mouthing your spouse or the pastor or co-workers? What do they see when you’re angry at another driver? Do you find fault with everything the children do and very little praise, or worse, no praise at all?

To be sure, the little ears and eyes are watching. They have the potential to be “mighty in the land,” but they might also be bitter by what they’ve seen and heard in their homes. Many reading this are doing the right things and should be encouraged to keep doing those things. It’s tough raising children. Kids aren’t expecting their parents to be perfect by any means, but they do understand love and affection and godliness and respect. They’ll take those qualities sprinkled with a few faults any day of the week.

Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. Psalm 112:1

Have you ever been in the presence of someone truly great? The greatness I’m talking about is not someone who’s powerful or influential or famous or rich. I’m talking about someone who you admire so much that you hang on his/her every word. You write down what he/she says. Sometimes you understand everything she/he says and there are times what he/she says is a complete mystery to you. You inquire more about the person. You ask others what they know about this person. You have a reverent fear of that person. It’s not that he’ll strike you if you say something wrong, but that’s the point, you don’t want to say anything wrong. You want to impress and learn from that person. These type of people don’t want the glory or the fame for something she’s done.

That’s the kind of fear this verse is referring to. You hang on his every word (find great delight in his commands). You fear Him. You have a reverent spirit about you because you want to please Him; you want to learn from Him. And yet, you may not quite understand everything He does or says, but you want to try.

We have a golden opportunity to sit in the Presence of Greatness daily.

Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Psalm 113:4

I love putting things into perspective especially after I’ve had a frantic day at work. We all have those days; some obviously more often than others. Then I get home and read about the news in the world; it’s enough to make me want to close myself from the world and hope they cancel tomorrow (or next month) completely.

Perspective.

You see, God is in control. I say it often enough in this space, probably more to remind me than to remind you. When you get a chance, go outside on any cloudless night and look up. That’s when we begin to see the absurdity of someone saying that God really doesn’t exist or if he does, he’s not really in control. Galaxies upon galaxies, and they’re finding new universes daily. And there’s no God?

Right, absurd.

More to the point, God is in control of your world too, as ludicrous as it might sound at the moment when the kids are screaming like crazed lunatics and the dog decides to chase the mailman while you’re on a conference call with an important client.

This too will pass and God will still be in control.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Arthur Fonzarelli, affectionately known as The Fonz on the 70s TV show “Happy Days,” would never admit that he was wrong. According to The Fonz, he was never wrong. One episode shows him practicing in a mirror trying to say the word “Wrong” but he just can’t do it. To my knowledge he never did admit he was wrong.

We’re like that. Confession is good for the soul, but boy is it difficult to do when we’re embarrassed or ashamed about what we’ve done. We’ve been Christians for so long so we should’ve known better, right?

And yet, there’s forgiveness. There’s hope. There’s a clear conscience. There’s freedom when we confess. There’s even more freedom when He forgives.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

Very few people in life claim to be perfect. We may joke about it being “hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way,” but we know ourselves. We know our faults better than anybody. But often, we hide our sin. God sees it all but we tend to hide it from others. Nobody wants to air our own personal dirty laundry! We think that if others see what we’re really like, they won’t accept us. The truth is, though, that we’re all like that in that way…to varying degrees obviously.

But our main concern should be to reveal ourselves and our sins to God. It seems like overkill because, well, God already knows us and what we’ve done, so what’s the point? The point is that God wants us to admit it because deep down we think even He won’t accept us if He knew! We smile at that but we know it to be true even a little. Like Adam, we hide.

Are you in doubt about whether God will accept us if we pour out our heart to him?

But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

The blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin. That's essentially the Gospel message in a concise sentence. Men, women, and children all over the world have died horrible deaths because of that one sentence. They have risked everything to proclaim that simple message.

The upside to that is that many lives have been radically changed because of the words in that solitary sentence. Marriages have been rebuilt, addictions have been conquered, rivers full of tears have been shed, and thick chains have been loosened because of that sentence.

Without the reality of those words, all bets are off for mankind's continued existence.

But thankfully – thankfully – those words are real.

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7

Have you ever been in a room or area outside at night where it was pitch black with absolutely no light? Even after your eyes have “adjusted” to the darkness, you can’t see a thing. Nothing. You hope you don’t run into anything and your arms are searching for something-anything-familiar.

God has given us a way out of this spiritual darkness that we’ve been in, through his Son Jesus. Even as Christians there are times when we fumble through the darkness in rebellion or sheer pride, and yet we’re still going through the motions day after day, week after week. We’re living a lie and we know it. But we don’t have to live in the darkness. We can walk into God’s light and accept the forgiveness that God offers.

It’s never too late to repent; it’s never too late to turn back. The journey home is not as far as it seems. He’s waiting for you.

God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

God is light but He is much more than that. In fact if you were to combine all of the attributes that we equate God (love, omnipotent, omniscient, wise, etc), He would still be more than all of that. But light is one of those characteristics that helps to reveal who we are as his Creation.

When you shine pure light anywhere, there is no place to hide. The bigger and brighter the light source, the fewer places there are to shield ourselves. And yet, that’s the whole point. There are times, though, that even God was reluctant to reveal his light. When Moses asked to see the Glory of the Lord, God commanded Moses to hide so that he couldn’t see directly into His brilliance as He passed by (Exodus 33:12-23). It was a bold request but the Lord honored a portion of it.

We also have a reminder of this “light” in Hebrews 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor. Proverbs 17:18

I miss the day when I could shake somebody’s hand, and the handshake alone bound the person to whatever was agreed upon. Sadly, trusting your fellow man to do the right thing is a thing of the past. Now we must draw up 50 page contracts promising that we’ll have the garbage ready for the garbage man at precisely 8:00 a.m., or the trash won’t be picked up that week.

Samuel Goldwyn summarized our new attitude the best: A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.

“Let your yes be yes and let your no be no,” Matthew 5:37 advises us.

Unfortunately, in an era when lawsuits far outnumber honest men, it’s necessary to draw up contracts for large ticket items. Do that if you need to, but if you say you’re going to do something (in a contract or otherwise), do it. It applies to every walk of life. On the other hand, don’t be afraid to turn something down when you’re in the “decision” stage if you know you won’t have the time or priority to accomplish it.

Our word should be as good as a handshake.

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18

A woman called her husband and told him she was in an auto accident.

“What’s the damage to the car,” the husband asked.
”I don’t know. They towed it away.”
“So where are you calling from?” he asked.
“The hospital.”
Oops!

Have you ever wanted to take back something you said immediately after it came out of your mouth? We have all done it. Careless words. Unkind words. Thoughtless words. If we catch ourselves, we try to salvage the situation. Most of the time, though, like the wife in the story the damage is done. Her welfare should have been his first concern, and not a flimsy car. A scar remains.

But on the other hand, Scripture tells us often that wise and thoughtful words can heal and soothe. Knowing the right and wisest words to use in any situation takes a deliberate effort for many. It's something that we must all work on.

I find it also to be true with correspondence (email). Even though the recipient can’t physically see you, your personality comes out in an email. I have a tendency to be sarcastic in my emails, but I also strive for clarity. If there's a chance I'll be misunderstood, I'll erase the offensive parts of what I wrote and remove it completely from the email.

Encourage someone today. Send a card or a handwritten note. Be careful what you say and how you say it. Words mean things and sometimes they hurt.

Words also heal.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come. Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21

In 1983 Anne Murray’s song “Little Good News” was #1 on the country chart.

There's a local paper rolled up in a rubber band
One more sad story's one more than I can stand
Just once how I'd like to see the headline say
"Not much to print today, can't find nothin' bad to say", because

Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town
Nobody OD'ed, nobody burned a single buildin' down
Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain
We sure could use a little good news today.

Well, the last two verses of the Holy Bible give us that good news!

Jesus is coming soon.

Others more knowledgeable about the Bible will certainly set me straight about eschatology and End Times events and all that's to come. Will 'soon' be tomorrow? Next year? A thousand years from now? I don't know. Actually, no one knows, though we do know we're one day closer than we were yesterday. But I do know this, on that day “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

Jesus is coming soon!

That’s the kind of good news I like to hear.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Many who are old enough will remember the TV series Hill Street Blues. I didn't watch it much but I do remember one line that was repeated often (and probably I every episode). Immediately before sending the men into the streets, Sergeant Phil Esterhaus would say, “And hey! Hey, let's be careful out there, okay?” It was a daily reminder that even though the men and women carried badges and guns, there were dangerous people in the streets.

Peter tells us that our enemy the devil is on the prowl as well, waiting and encouraging us to slip up. A sharp tongue. A gossip tongue. The little white lie. The bold-faced lie. The dark humor. The anger within. The selfishness. The lust of the eyes. The greed. The list never ends.

Scripture also admonishes us to “resist him, standing firm in the faith.” I can draw comfort from that because we have a way out when we recognize that “sin is crouching at our door.”

“So, hey, hey! Let's be careful out there today.”

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

The potential for negative news during a day is astounding. Newscasts, project problems, family, friends, car problems, they all can weigh heavily on you. If this negativity weighs heavily on you, think about your co-worker or family member. Chances are good that they're experiencing similar problems. The day drags on and you need a little “pick me up.” You need, as Proverbs says, to be refreshed.

Everyone – everyone – needs encouragement. The general principle in this verse is this: refresh someone; be refreshed. The act of encouraging or recharging someone’s emotional batteries is enough to give yourself a boost. It doesn't have to be grandiose or the most eloquent words ever spoken. A simple, timely compliment could be the difference between a headache-filled day and one that turned out well despite all the obstacles.

Don't underestimate the power of a few timely words of encouragement.

Clap your hands, all you nations, shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth! Psalm 47:1

With so much negative talk about the economy and where we’re headed as a nation, it’s sometimes good just to slow down a bit and worship. It’s not enough to sit down once a year and think about heavenly things. Our tanks need filled regularly. I find that if I don’t do worship regularly, I get lost in the cares and worries of this world. I tend to get consumed by the world around me more often than not.

Stopping to worship doesn’t have to take hours and hours out of your day, though I’m sure our lives would be radically changed if we did. No, worship is about surrender. It’s when we realize 1) it’s not about us 24/7, 2) God is still on the throne no matter what is happening in the world, and 3) God is worthy of our worship.

It’s something we might consider “budgeting” into our daily routines.

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops, then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9

God doesn't need our money. There, I said it.

Yesterday I touched upon wealth from a different angle. Scripture tells us we should give the “first fruits” from all our crops. Since we're not on the bartering economic system (yet), it's easy to surmise that we are to give the “first fruits” of what we earn, often called the tithe (or 10%). Mine is not to argue gross or net, 10 or 12 or 18%, or where it should go.

I would merely like to suggest that God is far more concerned about who we are and what we become rather than how much we give. For some reading this, giving (and giving a lot) may not be a big issue at all. For others, though, giving is huge and a large stumbling block to deep rooted faith.

Does money have a grip on us? Many many years ago money had a terrible grip on me. Even putting $20 in the offering was a major challenge. As my grip loosened on the money, it became easier and easier to give. I'll admit, there are still times when I worry about not having enough money and feel stingy. Those are the times that this verse comes to the forefront of my mind.

Fortunately, God’s still working with me in this area. I need to give more than God needs my money.

The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. Proverbs 10:22

In the U.S. we live in an extremely wealthy land. No one denies that. Along with that wealth came a wisdom to form a government that had checks and balances in place to prevent one branch from becoming too greedy for more power. But what we've built here in the U.S. can be taken away quickly if we're not careful, and I believe we're rapidly approaching that point. Republics rise and republics fall. We may think we have control over our destiny, but we don't.

Wealth, then, is more than money and material goods. Having family safe by your side is being wealthy. Becoming wiser each day is a form of wealth that money could never buy. Having clean water and plenty of food (even if it's only rice or beans) is wealth. Sleeping peacefully at night on a bed without gunfire raging through your village is wealth. Wisdom, peace, and safety are all intangible, but think of what your life would be like without them.

As the economy worsens people will lose everything they own. Many will take drastic measures because they had put their trust and worth in their portfolio. So the question for us is, are we content right now with what we have even if we were to lose it all tomorrow? If we're not content, it’s probably a good time to examine what we value.

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13

Have you ever stopped to think about this verse?

Share with God's people who are in need. Romans 12:13

This is the second time this week that I've singled out this verse. I discovered something this week from looking at this passage: there's a reason God put this verse here and it's this, God will use us to help other Believers. It seems obvious, doesn't it. But quite frankly, Believers who are in need won't get help from the outside world.

25 years ago when I became a Christian I believed that people looked out for one another around the world. Was I ever wrong! Recently I figured out that mostly the media of the world ignores the plight of Christians. Sometimes they are downright hostile towards us. Rarely is the hostility or blindness deserved. As I've said before, there will be a day soon when the Christians will be overlooked for jobs, told what they should believe, and harassed for their moral stances. It hasn't hit the West fully yet but it will. Other nations are experiencing lesser freedoms and more antagonism.

Those are the people we need to be reaching out towards. Ask God to show you how to do that. Just one thing. Just one single, solitary, lone thing.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

Hospitality is not something that many in the West are proficient at. Sure, there’s the occasional holiday meal with family and friends, and family is welcome upon invitation but by and large, we don’t practice it. It’s not that we are inhospitable. It’s just that we like our privacy.

Ancient Israel and surrounding areas were famous for their hospitality. Today many developing nations practice wonderful hospitality. Muslim culture are very hospitable. You can point to Africa, South America, and the Far East, and all three regions with few exceptions are very inviting.

Ironically, Western nations, in general, are not known for welcoming neighbors into their homes. Of course there are exceptions. Oddly enough, Western nations tend to be very generous with aid, relief, and mission work. There is a disparity between the personal hospitality and the corporate “generosity.”

So, why is it so important to be hospitable? The answer probably is in the last paragraph. Inviting someone into your home is much more personable and more difficult than mailing a check. Your guests get a chance to see the real you, warts and all. Likewise, you get to see them as they are. It really is a win-win if we get over the fact that our place may not be perfect or “what will they think?” or any number of unspoken objections.

Those two words: practice hospitality appears at the end of this passage that started by saying, “love must be sincere.” They are related if we’re willing to see it. Where to begin? Small but intentional steps.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

This part of the passage is a direct and tangible evidence of “love must be sincere.” Again I am reminded of my brothers and sisters in foreign lands. War, poverty, disease, persecution, and lack of basic necessities have made life extremely trying and difficult for them.

And yet.

And yet they act under the principle of “when the only thing in this world you have is Jesus, you have more than enough.” I think we can all learn from that.

Edward Hale said, "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do and, with the help of God, I will do."

Focus. Single-mindedness. Someone in your “area of influence" is in need. You can't do everything but you can do something. Find out what that something is and do it. It could be a letter. It could be a meal. It could mean loaning or giving money. It could mean traveling overseas to do it. It may cost you. Pray that God will give you what it takes to accomplish it.

Share with God’s people who are in need.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

Joy. Patience. Faithfulness. Three very distinct marks of a Believer. They are also three very wonderful character traits to possess, they’re all related.

Think of it, you’re caring for your ailing but independent parents. Their health is deteriorating but they don’t want your help despite your numerous offers. You want to run (by not being available to help anymore) but you know you need to be patient. It causes you to be in constant prayer because, quite frankly, you don’t how you can help them any more than you already have. The joy comes when you realize that God is in control. Your hope in Him to see you through is greater than the situation. Period. Paragraph.

There are a million other situations that are similar to this: different players, different circumstances, same all-powerful God.

• The runaway daughter cannot be found.
• The alcoholic brother continues to destroy his life.
• The man who walks away from his wife and children after 15 years of marriage.
• The long time friend who wants nothing more to do with you.

Very real and very painful. All too common. Your instinct is to give up, but you know you need to persevere. And you will. You have the Holy Spirit inside helping you to make it through each. A year or two from now you’ll look back and wonder how you made it, but for now, you’re continuing to rest in God’s goodness. One little victory at a time.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

Anyone who has traveled on a missions trip knows that, odd as it seems, most of the time we don't go for the people we will eventually serve. Certainly many may benefit from the work we do or the sermons we preach or the encouragement we're able to give. And it's likely that our hosts will be extremely gracious and appreciative of us being there.

No, we go there to "change the world," and discover that actually we're changed inside and are more affected by what we see and hear and taste and smell than what we’re able to accomplish. Listen to people talk when they first return from a missions trip. Rarely will people talk about bad experiences. Sure they'll mention the flat tires and engine problems and construction gone wrong, but you’ll also hear a fire and a fervency in their voices, a renewed zeal that they would never get by sitting in a pew or attending a Youth Group meeting.

There are thousands of ways of serving the Lord, but if you've never ever been on an overseas missions trip, I'd encourage you to make the decision to go one one. I've seen 6-year-olds and I've seen 80-year-olds, so age should never be an excuse. You'll re-ignite your passion for Christ and His kingdom by serving Him this way. Plus you'll inspire others to follow in those steps.