Get the appWiser and Happier: Special Military Edition from Time of GraceSample
Personal Integrity
Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. They were born loving and wanting the right things, hating and rejecting what was wrong. Their reckless experiment in disobedience destroyed that image in themselves and their descendants. Bottom line--you and I were born in Satan’s image. And thus what comes easy to us are characteristics from Satan’s mind-set: selfishness, disrespect, pride, revenge, cruelty, lies, lust.
Through the splendid intervention of Jesus Christ, the poisonous deeds of our past, present, and future were forgiven by God. Through the planting of faith in our hearts by the Spirit, we tap into that forgiveness and receive it. Through the prompting of our Spirit-Counselor, we develop an interest in living our new identity and becoming more Christ-like.
Semper Fidelis--“Always faithful.” You recognize that as the motto of the United States Marine Corps. Semper Paratus--“Always prepared.” You probably know that’s the motto of the United States Coast Guard. But is every marine always faithful? Is every coastie always prepared? These mottos are ideals, not facts--except when it comes to our gracious God. For our sake he is always faithful to his promises and always ready to dole out his generous blessings, including the blessing to live as God would have us live, like Christ lived for us.
But that still involves work on our part. Every feature of Christ-behavior is learned behavior. We need God’s Word and God’s power to make those changes. “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD” (Proverbs 16:20). Do you want to prosper? Do you want blessings in your life? Go ahead--call God’s bluff.
Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. They were born loving and wanting the right things, hating and rejecting what was wrong. Their reckless experiment in disobedience destroyed that image in themselves and their descendants. Bottom line--you and I were born in Satan’s image. And thus what comes easy to us are characteristics from Satan’s mind-set: selfishness, disrespect, pride, revenge, cruelty, lies, lust.
Through the splendid intervention of Jesus Christ, the poisonous deeds of our past, present, and future were forgiven by God. Through the planting of faith in our hearts by the Spirit, we tap into that forgiveness and receive it. Through the prompting of our Spirit-Counselor, we develop an interest in living our new identity and becoming more Christ-like.
Semper Fidelis--“Always faithful.” You recognize that as the motto of the United States Marine Corps. Semper Paratus--“Always prepared.” You probably know that’s the motto of the United States Coast Guard. But is every marine always faithful? Is every coastie always prepared? These mottos are ideals, not facts--except when it comes to our gracious God. For our sake he is always faithful to his promises and always ready to dole out his generous blessings, including the blessing to live as God would have us live, like Christ lived for us.
But that still involves work on our part. Every feature of Christ-behavior is learned behavior. We need God’s Word and God’s power to make those changes. “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD” (Proverbs 16:20). Do you want to prosper? Do you want blessings in your life? Go ahead--call God’s bluff.
Scripture
About this Plan
The experience of serving your country overseas--and sometimes seeing firsthand man’s inhumanity to man--may teach you important lessons about life while turning your stomach at the same time. But recognize that God has an even better way for us to learn life wisdom, a way that continually draws us closer to him no matter how far from family or church we might be. Because of his great love for us, he would much rather make us wiser through words. In this way we wouldn’t be sadder but wiser; we would be wiser and happier. The Bible’s book of Proverbs is an absolute gold mine of wisdom for the daily decisions you must make. It will help you develop your personal values and tune your life’s agenda more closely to resemble God’s.
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We would like to thank Time of Grace Ministry for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.timeofgrace.org
