Philippians 3:14
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Thoughts on today's verse

The way to walk a tightrope is to keep one's sight on the goal, not on the ground or what is behind. The way to walk with Jesus is to keep our eyes on the goal, his victory waiting for us when he returns, not on the ground (our failures) and not what is behind (our accomplishments). The goal of the Christian walk is to keep walking toward Jesus until we walk with him in heaven.

Prayer:

Lord, I look forward to the day when you call me by name and walk hand in hand with me. Until that day, help me fix my eyes on what you want me to be and not what I've done. By your grace I ask it. Amen.

The Eternal Sales Call
By Os Hillman

June 2

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved"(Rom 10:9).

I received the phone call from the technology CEO. It was our second conversation. He began receiving my TGIF devotional a few weeks earlier, compliments of his mother-in-law. Each day he read the daily message and found that it really helped him.

He felt his technology product might have some application to my ministry. I asked about how he had started getting the devotional. As he told me his story, I could tell he probably did not know the Lord personally. So, I inquired further with a few more leading questions.
Gradually he changed the subject to his product. We discussed the product for twenty minutes or so. He was about to conclude our conversation when I asked, "Could we go back to our original conversation? Tell me more about your spiritual journey and where you feel you are? He told me of his background in which he was raised in a particular Christian tradition. I shared how Christ came not to give us a religion but to have a personal relationship with us.

Eventually I asked my friend, "What do you think keeps you from making such a commitment?" "Well, quite frankly, I am a controller. I feel that I can't let go of control. I fear what might happen." I appreciated his honesty.

We discussed this at length and I helped him understand that every person has a control issue to overcome. However, Christ requires us to give up control in order to give us real life. It is the great paradox of faith in Christ.

I said, "So, now that we have dealt with that issue, is there any reason you would not be prepared to make that commitment to Christ?" "Well, now that you put it that way, no, I guess there isn't," he responded.

Bill prayed with me over the phone to invite Jesus to be Lord over his life, not just his Savior. What he intended to be a typical sales call became a call for eternity.

Perhaps there will be an opportunity today to see your work as an opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone who is waiting to receive salvation through you.

Friend to Friend

Diane was visiting in the home of some friends. Time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year. She ended up staying longer than she had planned and had to walk home alone. But she wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away. As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane whispered a prayer asking God to keep her safe from harm and danger.

When she reached the alley, which was a shortcut to her house, she decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley, she noticed a man standing at the end, as though he were waiting for her. She became uneasy and began to pray again, asking for God's protection. Instantly a comforting sense of quietness and security wrapped around her; she felt as though someone was walking with her. When Diane reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.

The following day, Diane read in the paper that a young girl had been raped in that same alley, just twenty minutes after she had been there. Overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep.

Thanking the Lord for her safety and wanting to help the young woman who had been attacked, she decided to go to the police station. She told them her story and offered to help identify the assailant. The police asked if she would be willing to view a lineup, she agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before.

When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed. The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if they could do anything for her. Diane was curious as to why the assailant had not attacked her. When the policeman asked him, his answer stunned them all, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her."

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