Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed
on thee,
because he trusteth in thee."
Isaiah 26:3
Do not trouble your spirits by becoming embroiled in vain controversies. The only real issue of life is this: "Are you doing the will of God right now?" This whole world is geared toward distracting you from that one purpose, and to overcome that distraction is the warfare of this life. There really is nothing else to life on earth but this. We pray for the peace of this country, but we are not anxious about whether it will survive or not. To worry about that is a distraction from the real warfare of this life. We are thankful for the blessings with which God has blessed this great land, but we are not concerned about the disasters that may befall it, whether natural disasters or those that come from evil men. Those are just distractions from our purpose. Fretting about the economy or debating about the political policies of those who run this country are just more distractions offered by the world, and our challenge, our warfare, is to maintain our focus on the only worthwhile goal in life: to do the will of God.
Do not surrender your attention to the things that trouble people of the earth. God will take care of you. In the midst of the terrors that surround us, and in the face of the dreadful diseases that are confounding the world's scientists and frustrating the world's medical community, God will keep you in perfect peace if you keep your mind on Him.
Jesus told us to rejoice when the final, horrific troubles of earth began to appear (Lk. 21:28). Why? "Because your redemption draweth near." In other words, keep your minds on what God is doing, not on what is happening among men or in nature. The Lord was warning us not to be overcome by the fears that will plague the earth, but to overcome the world by continuing to trust in God. Jesus was saying, "When the world is fearful, then use your weapon of faith!"
The warfare is for your trust and your attention. That is what Satan desires from you, and the world covets the attention we give to Christ. Trust God; keep your mind on Him, and He will keep you in perfect peace. Then, you will be the light for others that you are intended to be.