As we have observed Christian people over a number of years we have come to the conclusion that the key to the victorious life lies in presenting our body a living sacrifice each day, patiently living for the Lord in the manner spoken of by the Apostles.

The common denominator of spiritual success is not intellectual brilliance, an outstanding education, extraordinary talents, remarkable ability to get along with people or to persuade people, unusual spiritual insight, excellence in public speaking, or any of the other attributes or stellar characteristics that we might assume would make for an outstanding performance in the Christian life.

Some people start off with a great show. They are fast but they don't last. They may exhibit remarkable zeal or ability for a period of time. But after some years have passed their interest wanes or they are sidetracked into the pursuit of money, material goods, an important job that requires too much of their time, or some other situation or endeavor.

It is the patient plodder who is found after decades have passed, still serving the Lord diligently even though few seem to notice or care, who gains the crown of righteousness and eternal life. To please the Lord we must pray and seek God as though we were the greatest apostle on the earth even though we are not being used by the Lord in any noticeable manner. This steady faithfulness is so utterly important to the Lord!

The winner in the Christian race is the believer who each day presents his body as a living sacrifice, seeking God's will in every decision great and small, reading his Bible, gathering together with fervent believers on a regular basis, giving, serving, pressing closer to Jesus at every opportunity.

The Golden Moment

Sometimes believers make a great mistake. They think at some point there will come a golden moment at which time they will "go forth and do great things for God." But for most of us the golden moment never comes. We graduate from high school, maybe from college. A few years pass and we get married. A few more years pass and we retire from our work. The next thing we know we are in a hospice in denial at the thought of dying. It happens to the best of us.

You have to make up your mind to serve God today in the midst of your "impossible" problems. Call on God with all your might. The golden moment is now!

We know we should get busy and serve the Lord. "Of course we cannot really mean business with God when we are young children." Oh no? In our assembly we expect children from the age of four to think of themselves as disciples of the Lord Jesus, as members of the Body of Christ.

We take the children and their worship seriously. As soon as they can waddle around in diapers they are waving the flags of worship. They are an extremely important part of our assembly. It is from such as these that God ordains strength. Their golden moment is now.

To be continued.