The Cooling Stream

Different soil produces different results.

Good soil yields good crop; some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matt. 13:8).

How receptive we are to the Word of God determines the condition of our hearts, our spiritual growth and progress.

Some Christians grow fast and are fruitful; some very slow with no visible growth.

But the truth is Christians always grow, either visibly or invisibly.

The apostle James challenged us to prove the genuineness of our faith by what we do. (James 2: 18)

So “What kind of soil are you?”

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)

"To whom be glory forever. Amen." This should be the single desire of all Christians.

We are not acting as we ought to do if we are moved by any other motive.

We may desire to attain more gifts and more graces, but it must only be for the glory of God.

As Christians, we are of God and through God and live to God.

Let us make God our only object.

And let our desire for God's glory be a growing desire. Let us give him more as He has given us more.

Let us praise him by stronger faith.

Let us sing more sweetly.

Let us give Him more  honor.

Let us serve Him more and increase in holiness...

As Christians, we need to give accurate direction as to how a person can get to heaven by having a relationship with Christ (John 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-5).

We need to help people see that following their own religious systems, such as good works or hoping to be good enough, won’t get them to heaven.

And as we share the true gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, we must be sensitive to people’s beliefs.

Jesus is the way of salvation.

Let us share the gospel with love and truth.

Christians should have a combination of a quest for excellence mixed with an enjoyable personality.

They should learn to work hard and love life.

They should strive to teach God’s Word with integrity while living their lives with joy.

People around are watching.

They can tell if Christians are serving “the Lord with gladness” (Ps. 100:2), and if their love for Jesus is coming through in their good works (Eph. 2:10).

Let us serve well, and serve with joy.