Biblical Success - Finishing Well Part 3 - Running In The LightSample

#5 - Start Right, Stay Right

Ephesians 5:11 - “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”  

Psalm 119:9-11 - “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments. Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”

Have you ever noticed that evil spreads on its own without effort, but to spread or to do good always takes effort? All darkness is not obviously damaging at first but it is darkness and a “little leaven leavens a whole loaf.” That is to say, it spreads without conscious effort. If we don’t take responsibility for resisting darkness it will inexorably extend its influence, and one of the most difficult and devastating aspects of this discussion is that, if we have received darkness but believe that it is light, we will fight to hold it. We will argue for it, debate over it and resist letting it go or admitting that we were wrong. For instance here is another example of a concept that has gained a foothold in our current evangelical culture - “The Bible contains God’s truth but it is not literally true.” What do you think about that? Darkness? Light? If we can’t trust all of the Scriptures, which parts can we trust? Why is this an important question? 

Our greatest asset as Christian “runners” and leaders as Ambassadors for Christ is spiritual authority. That is authority that doesn’t come just from position or power but is the power that Jesus modeled. When He spoke, people listened. People were drawn to Him and followed Him willingly. Spiritual authority is derived from intimacy with Jesus and walking in obedience in His Spirit, knowing Him and His Word through daily and focused exposure. The greatest Christian leaders of all time credit spending their first hour of each day with the Lord in prayer, study of scripture and quiet thought. The greatest defense against darkness is light as in the Light of Truth. 

The discipline of spending the first hour of each day with God and His Spirit in His Word has been the single most important and meaningful practice of my life. It has been what I believe has allowed God to use me, an ordinary man, a simple sinner saved by Grace, to start The C12 Group and watch God grow it to become the international leader in providing Christian CEO peer support group services across the US, and in four other nations on three continents. The process that the Father taught me to have, a successful and consistent daily time with Him, is described at www.themostimportanthour.com and in my book “The Most Important Hour” available at amazon.com. If you are not currently experiencing the blessing of “quiet time with God” there is nothing that I can more highly recommend. And that is light. Run in it!