October 6 - Never Give In!
October 6
Never Give In!
Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:1-3
1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
WINSTON CHURCHILL WAS the prime minister of England during World War II. He led the British people through very dark days. When France surrendered to Germany in June 1940, England was left alone to fight the Germans. The air force was badly outnumbered, and the nation was under almost constant attack. But even when defeat seemed certain, Churchill never gave up. Within five years Germany had been defeated, and Europe was once again at peace.
On October 29, 1941, Churchill stood before a gathering of students at Harrow School in England. Every voice in the room was hushed. Every face was turned toward the great leader. Every ear strained to hear every word from the great man's lips.
Churchill banged the podium with his fist. "Never give in!" he said. "Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." And with that, he sat down. His speech was over. It was probably the shortest speech that group had ever heard--and one they would remember most.
That short, simple speech expressed the spirit of Winston Churchill. It also expresses God's will for the Christian.
You see, Churchill gave wonderful advice to the students of Harrow School when he said, "Never give in." But God doesn't advise us never to give in; He commands it! God's Word says that we are to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1, NIV). He commands us to "never get tired of doing good" (2 ThessaloÂnians 3:13). He says, "Don't get discouraged and give up" (Galatians 6:9).
Are you getting tired of always being the "good" kid? God says, "Never give in!" Do you feel like you've been tempted so much lately that you're too weak to resist anymore? God says, "Never give in!" Do you feel like giving up trying to make right choices all the time? God says, "Never, never, never, never, never! Never! Never give in."
God commands us to persevere. He wants us to learn how to stick to a job. He wants us to keep trying even when we're tired or discouraged. He wants us to never give up in our efforts to make right choices. "Never give in!" he says. "Never, never, never, never, never! Never! Never give in."
REFLECT: What do you think might have happened if Sir Winston Churchill (and Great Britain) had given in to the Nazis early in World War II? What do you think might happen if you get into the habit of giving up when you're tired or when a job gets hard? What do you think might happen if you give up trying to make right choices?
PRAY: "God, I know your Word says I should persevere. I know you want me to learn to stick to a job. I know You want me to know how to keep trying even when I get tired or discouraged. And I know You don't want me to give up trying to make right choices. So please help me to 'never, never, never, never, never give in!'"