Energies for the Moment

Scripture References: Psalm 61:8; Matthew 6:34

May 26, 1805. Captain William Clark gazed westward from a summit to see the Rocky Mountains blanketed in snow, shining brilliantly in the sun. To have them so near brought a sense of accomplishment. To know they remained so distant brought a sense of dread. He momentarily reflected on the difficulty they posed. “But,” he wrote in his journal, “as I have always held it little short of criminality to anticipate evils, I will allow it to be a good, comfortable road until I am compelled to believe otherwise.”

Isn’t that the essence of Christ’s teaching on living today and not worrying about tomorrow? Habitual practice offers the key to triumphant discipleship: serving Christ one day at a time. The life we surrendered to Jesus yesterday will be in rebellion against him tomorrow unless it is surrendered today. That is the nature of our stubborn will, thinking to retain our self-respect by asserting self-will. But while God doesn’t obliterate our self-awareness, he simply demands the consecration of that awareness to him.

Courtesy of Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley © 1995 by Word, Incorporated.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.