I fight so often against the urges of the flesh. When I know that some particular temptation will be strong, or that it will be a difficult week filled with potential pitfalls, I try to ‘steel up my strength’ and get ready to ward off any intrusion to my devotion to Christ. Such was my thinking this morning when I read, “Only by a stronger passion can evil passions be expelled, and…a soul unoccupied by a positive devotion is sure to be occupied by spiritual demons…When Ulysses passed the isle of Sirens, he has himself tied to the mast and had his ears stopped with wax, that he might no t hear the sirens singing – a picture of many a man’s pitiful attempts after negative goodness. But when Orpheus passed the Isle of Sirens, he sat on the deck, indifferent, for he too was a musician and could make melody so much more beautiful than the sirens, that their alluring songs were to him discords.”

Once again my Lord has brought me to attention. I had not been faithful recently with spending daily time in His presence; if I had been, I would have been much more relaxed to begin this day, and probably have slept better in recent nights as well. Paul had it right, “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”The Holy Spirit is waiting to fill my mind, but I must give Him the opportunity to do so. Much like putting gas in my car, the gas is ready to flow into the tank, but I must connect the hose and my tank. So it is up to me to connect with the Spirit. Lord, make me diligent in doing so.

Jesus (Jn 15) said that whatever I ask in His name would be given to me. Really? Has that been my experience? I’ve never been quite sure what that phrase really means. In diagnosing and dissecting it I may have talked myself into disbelieving it. However I notice it’s connected to bearing fruit – “I chose you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last – so that whatever you ask in my name…” Maybe I’m not experiencing the promise because I’m not living the premise – maybe I’m not bearing fruit and obeying as Jesus commands. So today I make a new commitment: to boldly pray and believe that what I ask for has been given, to act as if it has been given – and to keep praying until it is a visible, verifiable reality. And in that process God can confirm my asking, chastise me for it, or correct it until I am in agreement with his will. “Nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done.” Meanwhile I’ll try to be more concerned with bearing fruit than with how to get what I ask.

Lord, keep me alert to the opportunities you put before me this day. Amen.

In the Prayer Guide a while ago – which I had sinfully been neglecting – I read that thought that God most often appears in weakness – even Jesus resisted the temptation to come with more power. Why is this an important insight? “This is why, if we keep clamouring for things we want from God, we may find ourselves disappointed, because we have forgotten the weakness of God …We had thought of God as the dispenser of all the good things we would possibly desire; but in a very real sense, God has nothing to offer except himself.”

I’d been praying for so long that God would send someone with a major gift to help the General Fund and the Building Fund – to do the miracle; even promising that He would certainly receive the glory. But maybe God wants to work another way. Just maybe He doesn’t want to do the big public miracle but, rather, wants to move behind the scenes in the hearts of people. Maybe my prayer from here on needs to be for people to open their hearts to God’s Spirit and for the Spirit to transform hearts; would that not lead to great – even miraculous – things?

There’s an old saying in sports that you’re only as good as your last game. As unfair as it seems it is quite true. Oh, past performances might lead to a better paycheck but they do not help today’s performance be good. Last year’s game or performance, last week’s, or even yesterday’s does not help today one iota. I think Paul had the same idea in mind. He wrote his second letter to the Corinthian Church to defend his credentials against those who sought to discredit him. He then states that he could go on trumpeting his goodness and quality but “I refrain,so that no one will think more highly of me than is warranted by what I do or say.”

Paul understood that no matter what his past credentials or reputation, what was important was how he behaved in the present. He wanted to be judged by his current ‘performance’, not his past. “Think only as highly of me as my speech and action warrant.” I find this to be a great daily reminder for myself – today is what counts. What I say and do today will be tomorrow’s ‘last game.’ Live every moment for the Lord. I’m only as good as what I do in this moment.

PRINCIPLE: “It is more important to leave a legacy than to be a legend.”

Babe Ruth. Dean Martin. Milton Berle. Samson. Judas.

All legends – remembered for what they did, recognized for their unique deeds and contributions. But remembrance implies the past, not the present. Legends leave a mark on their time but not a legacy for future generations. The goal of the Christian life is to build legacies, not legends. It is our task to invest ourselves in others so Christianity carries on from generation to generation. Be sure to model for and train others.

To put it another way, plant yourself in the garden of others. Psalm 1 talks about digging our roots deeply into the soil of God so we can grow strong. While it’s primary reference is to our own spiritual growth, the image applies to this legacy principle as well. But we cannot invest ourselves into everyone – in fact we can invest ourselves in only a few. Howard Hendricks has aptly written, “Beautiful blooms always grow out of fertile soil.” Be sensitive to your co-workers, family, and leaders; look for gifts, potential, and willingness to learn; be discerning of fertile soil. Then plant yourself in that soil. Call it mentoring, teaching, investing, modeling, or equipping – the term doesn’t matter; but the results do. Planting produces blooms and blooms live on. Don’t worry about being a legend – let your Christianity live through the legacy you leave.

I promised more on President Harry S. Truman. While he may not have the greatest reputation as far as character goes, it seems as though his heart was right. The following prayer was said by Truman from his high school days through his presidency. “O, almighty and everlasting God, creator of heaven and earth and inverse: Help me to be, to think, to act what is right, because it is right. Make me truthful, honest, and honorable in all things. Make me intellectually honest for the sake of right and honor, and without thought of reward to me. Give me the ability to be charitable, forgiving, and patient with my fellow men. Help me to understand their motives and their shortcomings – even as Thou understandest mine. Amen.” He also said that “The Sermon on the Mount is the greatest of all things in the Bible, a way of life, and maybe someday men will get to understand it as the real way of life.” Great prayer and insight for us all.