Morning Devotional

March 8, 2004

"Inspired to Continue" 

by Don Emmitte

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Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. (2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT).

 

There are many stories that inspire me to continue. It is as if each one recharges my battery. Tenacity is one of the most important character traits for any of us to develop. Without it we may never know real victory. Here are some of my favorites:

Ø      "Johnny Fulton was run over by a car at the age of three. He suffered crushed hips, broken ribs, a fractured skull, and compound fractures in his legs. It did not look as if he would live. But he would not give up. In fact, he later ran the half-mile in less than two minutes.
 

Ø      "Walt Davis was totally paralyzed by polio when he was nine years old, but he did not give up. He became the Olympic high jump champion in 1952.
 

Ø      "Shelly Mann was paralyzed by polio when she was five years old, but she would not give up. She eventually claimed eight different swimming records for the U.S. and won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.
 

Ø      "Lou Gehrig was such a clumsy ball player that the boys in his neighborhood would not let him play on their team. But he was committed. He did not give up. Eventually, his name was entered into baseball's Hall of Fame.
 

Ø      "Woodrow Wilson could not read until he was ten years old. But he was a committed person. He became the twenty-eighth President of the United States."

There are many, many more that inspire us. Each of these stories has one common theme running through them. In each case, the people with handicaps were so determined to keep going in the face of their adverse situation that ultimately they were victorious. No matter what handicaps you and I may have, God has a place for us within his body, the Church, and a work for us to do. Nobody ever said it would be easy. What Jesus did for us wasn't easy either. So whatever it is that God has for you to do, never give up for God never calls any of us to do anything that, with his help, cannot be done.

Our reading this morning comes from the hand of the Apostle Paul. He was a man who knew a great deal about adversity. The litany of his persecutions was lengthy, beatings, stonings, shipwrecked, and more. Yet, when it was all done, he was confident that he had won the victory. History has proven him correct. His influence is still felt all over the world! Don’t quit!