Holy Ruthlessness
Theme of the Week: Life is Too Short
Thursday, July 3, 2008
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: "I must preach the Good News … in other places, too, because this is why I was sent" (Luke 4:43). Bonus Reading: Luke 4:42-44; 5:12-16
I hadn't studied very hard my junior year at college—and had the marks to prove it! Now it was summer. My senior year would determine if I could go on to grad school and an academic career. But I'd also committed to lead my university's Christian fellowship, gotten engaged, and was teaching the church high school Sunday school class. How to cope?
I learned of a theologian who graduated from a Canadian university while leading an InterVarsity chapter. So I wrote to him for guidance. I received a page-long reply he'd typed himself: "You should focus on that to which you believe God has called you, even though others might misunderstand, even resent, your priorities. Some might think you ruthless, but you must obey God, not other people's agendas."
That holy ruthlessness, I now realize, is key to the successful Christian life. Jesus modeled it. Regardless of what his disciples, family, or the crowds wanted him to do, he obeyed his Father—often in ways that astonished, even dismayed, his associates.
Taking this scholar's advice, allowing my own agendas to be overruled, helped me through that crucial year. I've tried to follow it ever since.
—John Stackhouse Jr. in FaithToday
My Response: My focus is ____, and I will avoid distractions by …
Thought to Apply: Don't take on things you don't believe in and that you yourself are not good at. Learn to say no. —Peter Drucker (business consultant & trainer)
Adapted from FaithToday (9-10/02) by permission.
Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
 share this page
I want to devote my life to Your purposes, Lord. Help me work that out in my responses to the situations I face every day.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
RSS Feed
