October 5, 2023
The Message paraphrase of the Bible has an interesting reading of Matthew 5:1-2; “When Jesus saw His ministry drawing huge crowds, He climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to Him, the committed, climbed with Him. Arriving at a quiet place, He sat down and taught His climbing champions.”
Are you a “climber?” God wants you to be. Not in the sense the world thinks of the word “climber” – someone who ruthlessly steps over others to gain a superior position. A “climber” in God’s sense of the word is someone who successfully applies the principles of the Word to make it to the top and fulfill their God-given dreams.
What do “CLIMBERS” look like?
- C – COMMITTED - They don’t give up, no matter what.
- L – LEARNERS - They stay teachable and willing to learn.
- I – INTEGRITY - They don’t deal in shortcuts and compromises.
- M – MISSION - They have a purpose, and they know where they are going.
- B – BOLDNESS - They’re not afraid to take a stand for what they believe.
- E – ENTHUSIASM - They give life everything they’ve got.
- R – RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD - They know that all they have and all they are comes from Him.
- S – SERVANTS - They know that the way up is the way down. They live to give.
Today, let’s look at being “committed.” One of my favorite phrases is a quote by the great Packers coach Vince Lombardi, “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” That doesn’t mean that winners don’t have the opportunities to quit. Every one of us is invited to quit by our circumstances on a daily basis. We all have multiple instances where we could throw in the towel and say, “Forget it! It’s just not worth it!”
"How long should you try? Until." — Jim Rohn
"You just can't beat the person who won't give up." — Babe Ruth
Jesus knew all about that. In fact, in John 16:33, Jesus said we could expect all kinds of challenges as part of just being in the world. But He didn’t stop there. He let us know that we could come out on top of whatever we are facing, as long as we face it with Him: “In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”
Don’t be distracted by your feelings, your mistakes, your failures, your disappointments, your frustrations, your bills, the opinions of other people, or anything else. Fix your eyes on Jesus and remain COMMITTED to the call He has given you. Trust Him and His love for you. Lean on Him. Rely on all the wisdom and ability that is available to you in Him. It’s always too soon to quit when God is your partner!
Book Recommendation: Don't Give Up, Don't Give In: Lessons from an Extraordinary Life by Louis Zamperini
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God is For You!
Pastor Blunt
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Are you ready to be inspired, motivated, and equipped with the tools to achieve greatness? You will be at our next Marketplace Ministry dinner on Saturday, October 14 at 5pm.
Our featured guest speaker is Brent Gleeson, a double bestselling author, combat veteran, and accomplished entrepreneur. This is a unique opportunity to hear from someone who has not only served our country with honor but has also achieved remarkable success in the world of business and leadership. Whether you're interested in personal growth, team dynamics, or organizational development, Brent's insights are sure to leave you inspired and motivated.
If you would like to showcase your business services or products, we have a unique opportunity to set up display tables at the event. For $60 you can reserve a table where you will be able to tell others about the services you provide and sell those services and/or products. We will open this 45 minutes before and 30 minutes after the Marketplace dinner to display your business.
Dinner and childcare are included in the price of your ticket. Purchase your tickets online for just $15 or $20 at the door.