John 13:16–17

Once upon a time life was simpler. There were struggles and problems, but they weren’t all that complex. Right fought against wrong in the main event, and not too many folks remained neutral. There was a clear, unmistakable line between winning and losing.

Sometimes we expressed regret over mistakes and openly confessed our guilt. On other occasions, we tightened our belts, did the hard thing, and made things work. We felt proud of our determination and passed that pride on to our young. A marriage was for keeps. Hard work was a virtue. Irresponsibility was frowned on, a lie was wrong, a broken promise was inexcusable, adultery was a scandal.

Then, ever so slowly, those values began to erode.

All the evils of the world, once black as tar, turned shades of grey. Instead of our seeing them clearly as wrong and an offence to God, we viewed them with blurred vision and called such things “excusable.”

Let me level with you. If I had continued giving in to those lame excuses, my marriage would not have held together, my ministry would have become mediocre, I would never have finished one book I started to write, I would not have even one close friend, I would have jumped from job to job because of the pressure, and I would still be an unhealthy, self-centred person.

God specializes in providing us with opportunities that can become turning points. Those crossroad experiences that offer us a fresh beginning to start doing what we know we ought to do. Jesus said it best,

Slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them (John 13:16–17).

Are you at a crossroads in your life that could become a major turning point? Tired of feeling unhealthy, overweight, and stressed? Make a commitment to walk just 10 minutes a day. Worn out from struggling to shake the pain and misery of your past? Turn to the One who made you and loves you and is ready to heal and forgive you. Let Him have your whole life.

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Devotional content taken from Good Morning, Lord ... Can We Talk? by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright ©2018. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.