When TV cameras are rolling and critical judges are at the sidelines, the pressure is high and it’s easy to fall. Steve Kafka, gymnastics coach for Glenbard East High School, saw far too many of his gymnasts fall in competition, costing the team critical points. He came up with a solution which would help them deal with the pressure: he turned up the heat in practice.

At the end of practice each day, the coach began conducting a practice meet. If anyone missed a routine, everyone had to do push-ups. Then he told the team to try and rattle each performer. While one gymnast performed, his teammates would yell, threaten bodily harm, tell jokes, and even throw rolled up socks at him.

Kafka’s idea worked, and even the state championship meet was easy for his gymnasts. The hall of fame coach said, “My gymnasts started to feel that competing in real meets was a breeze compared to practice.” Fighting through daily opposition in practice taught them focus and determination in competition. This is what made them champions.

Like the gymnasts in competition, we will face intense pressure if we are going to follow Christ. Expect it. Get used to it, because it’s a regular part of the Christian life. Whether the pressure comes from people in the world or from carnal Christians, the end result is a closer walk with God and stronger faith.

You might have a strained relationship with a relative on account of your relationship with Christ. There may be people who are doing everything in their power to tarnish your good testimony for Christ. You will be hurt and pushed to the breaking point. Don’t let the pressure cook you. If you let it, it will develop you into a champion.

Devotional by Pastor Jim Scudder, Jr.

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned in life is to never sell my struggles short. They may be uncomfortable. They may cause great pain. But they always do me more good than harm.

The emperor moth is a living example of this fact. Before the beautiful moth can come out of its cocoon, it has to squeeze through the cocoon’s narrow neck. As it struggles to break free, it comes to a point where it gets stuck — it looks like it can’t go any farther.

It may look like the moth needs help, but it soon breaks through and is ready to fly in freedom.

Let’s suppose you decided to help the moth through its hardship. With a pair of scissors, you cut off the narrow part of the cocoon so it won’t have any trouble. But as the moth comes out of the cocoon, you notice its body is swollen and its wings are all shriveled up. Even worse, the moth can’t fly. In a few days, it dies.

What went wrong? The struggle the moth went through to escape its cocoon was necessary to force blood into its wings so it could fly. Without it, the moth couldn’t survive.

This is God’s purpose behind the struggles we face in life. Without them, we couldn’t survive. I will even go a step further and say that without them, we can’t thrive in the Christian life. We must learn to patiently endure them instead of looking for an easy way out. That is the way to fly.

Maybe your children are going through a hard time right now. I know from raising my own kids that it’s tempting to try and fix their problems. We can’t interfere with God’s training process. The best thing we can do for them is pray for them in their difficulties. God will use their hardships to develop their character just as He did for you. Trust Him, and He’ll work it out for their good.

Taking us through suffering, not out of it, is one of the primary means that the Spirit uses today in bringing us to God. — Dr. Daniel B. Wallace

Devotional by Dr. James A. Scudder

You don’t have to have a doctorate degree to major in soul-winning. Don and Ralph were two great men who demonstrated this countless times. Don was an elderly man who was hard of hearing. He could be identified by his high-pitched voice. But Don was a diehard soul-winner. He loved to tell people how to go to Heaven. For several years, Don served as a phone operator for our church during our television broadcasts. At the time of his death a few months ago, Don had led over 600 people to Christ.

Ralph was the first member of our church. Like Don, he loved sharing his faith with others. He had a physical handicap, which caused him to sometimes spit uncontrollably, but he didn’t let it stop him from spreading the gospel. Sometimes he would ask my father to close the deal with a person who was ready to trust in Christ. God used Ralph to win many people during his lifetime.

These men had true wisdom and an understanding of the essence of life, as stated in Proverbs 11:30, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Nothing else mattered to them. Their lives were consumed by a strong passion to see others join them in Heaven. This is true wisdom, because it puts a premium on eternity. I can assure you that they have found the treasures of Heaven well worth the labors they invested here below.

What are you doing to populate Heaven? The fruit of an apple tree is apples; the fruit of a Christian is another Christian. I challenge you to make a difference for eternity by telling someone about Jesus Christ today. That is true wisdom — you won’t find it in a textbook.

You don’t have to have a doctorate degree to major in soul-winning. — Unknown Author

Devotional by Pastor Jim Scudder, Jr.

Do you have any idea what it feels like to get “fired” like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? After these men refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image, the Babylonian emperor ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter. Then he summoned his finest soldiers to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them inside. To get an idea how hot the furnace was, consider that the heat killed the men who threw the Jewish captives inside.

But it wasn’t over for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They had no sooner fallen headlong into the furnace than they got up and started walking around. The flames had no power over them. And they had company. Onlookers noticed a fourth Man walking in the furnace. It was none other than the Son of God. It was He Who gave deliverance and victory to His servants that day.

From the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we can learn these important lessons:

1. These men were persuaded that God was able to deliver them. For them, He was the Ultimate Authority on the outcome of their lives. His will would be done, and they needed only to obey Him.
2. God’s action did not alter their stand. Even if He chose not to deliver them, they would obey Him and bow before none other.
3. The Lord was with them in the fiery furnace. In their greatest trial, they experienced the greatest time of fellowship with God.

You might be wondering why you have to go through the trial you are facing today. I’m not about to tell you it’s an easy thing to do. But I want to encourage you that had these men never gone through the fiery furnace, they would never have witnessed God’s deliverance and experienced His presence as they had. So it is with you. Keep on trusting and obeying God, and He will see you through your trial. That, my friend, is better than life.

The Lord’s appointments, to those who fear Him, are not only sovereign, but wise and gracious. He has connected their good with His own glory, and is engaged by promise, to make all things work together for their advantage. He chooses for His people better than they could choose for themselves. — John Newton

Devotional by Pastor Jim Scudder, Jr.

When you were younger, didn’t it help to know there was a reward for your work? Maybe your mom and dad promised you a treat if you got your homework done on time, or you received a reward in school for high scores. Whatever the case, we as human beings are motivated by rewards.

We are blessed to have the world’s largest Christian preschool. All the classrooms look very nice and well-kept. But I know that the teachers get especially creative when the director, Molly Julian, organizes a decorating contest. The rooms look really great afterwards and the teachers not only have fun doing it, but they are excited about the reward at the end.

One day we will be in Jesus’ presence. We know that when we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, there will be rewards for our service.  We will dwell with our Lord forever in Heaven.

There will be no more cancer, no more dying, no more crying, and no more separation. We won’t ever have to say goodbye because we will never be separated again. We will never be tempted and we will never sin again. We will enjoy Jesus’ presence for all eternity.

Most of all, we will be rewarded by Jesus for our patience. Heaven is not a reward, but a gift, yet on top of that will be blessings given to those who most cultivated patience in their lives.

Think about the rewards in Heaven for a few moments today. These thoughts will help you be more patient in your present difficulties.

The faith of Christ offers no buttons to push for quick service. – A.W. Tozer

Devotional by Dr. James A. Scudder