Junior Tate

Scripture (KJV) – Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Reflection There are times in the Christian life when doing the right thing becomes tiring. You can pray for someone for years and see very little change. You can faithfully serve and wonder whether anybody notices. You can try to help people who never seem thankful. You can keep doing what God has called you to do while watching others walk away. Eventually, you may begin asking yourself, “Does any of this really matter?” God’s answer is yes. Paul tells us, “let us not be weary in well doing.” He knew there would be times when believers became tired, discouraged, and tempted to quit. The Christian life is not always filled with immediate results. Sometimes we plant seeds today that we may not see produce fruit for years. Notice the promise: “for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” The harvest comes in God’s season, not necessarily ours. A parent may faithfully teach a child about Christ and wonder whether those words are making any difference. A Sunday School teacher may prepare week after week without realizing how deeply one lesson has affected someone. A Christian may share the Gospel repeatedly and never personally see someone come to Christ. But God sees every seed that is planted. Sometimes we become discouraged because we measure faithfulness by visible results. God has called us first to be faithful. The results belong to Him. There may even be someone reading this today who has been praying for a lost loved one for many years. You have asked God again and again to save them, and you are beginning to wonder whether you should keep praying. Keep praying. As long as that person has breath, keep bringing their name before God. Keep loving them. Keep living Christ before them. Keep looking for opportunities to share the Gospel. You do not know what God may be doing where you cannot see. And this applies to every area of Christian service. Keep teaching. Keep giving. Keep encouraging. Keep forgiving. Keep witnessing. Keep serving. There will be days when you are tired. Rest when you need to rest, but do not abandon what God has called you to do simply because the harvest has not appeared yet. You may not see the harvest today, but that does not mean God is not working beneath the soil. Keep planting. Keep praying. Keep serving. Do not give up. Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that faithfulness is never wasted. There are times when I become tired and discouraged because I cannot see the results I hoped to see. Give me strength to continue doing what is right even when the harvest seems far away. Help me keep praying for those who are lost, keep sharing the Gospel, keep encouraging those who are hurting, and keep serving wherever You have placed me. When I become weary, remind me that You see every act of faithfulness that others may never notice. Help me trust Your timing and never give up on the work You have called me to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen. juniortateministries.com greatcommissiontoday.com amazon.com/author/juniortateministries

Scripture (KJV) – Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Reflection There is a difference between telling people we are Christians and living in such a way that they can see Christ in us. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men.” He did not tell us to hide our faith or reserve Christianity for Sunday morning. Our relationship with Christ should affect the way we live everywhere we go. People are watching more than we sometimes realize. Our family sees how we behave at home. Our coworkers see how we respond when things go wrong. The cashier at the store notices whether we are patient or rude. Our neighbors see how we treat people. Even those who may never enter a church can encounter something of Christ through the life of a believer. But notice what Jesus said should happen when our light shines: “they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The purpose is not to draw attention to ourselves. We are not supposed to say, “Look how good I am.” Our lives should cause people to say, “There is something different about that person.” That difference should point them toward Jesus Christ. Sometimes witnessing begins before we ever quote a verse. It begins when someone sees patience where they expected anger, forgiveness where they expected revenge, generosity where they expected selfishness, and hope where they expected despair. Then, when the opportunity comes to tell them why we are different, we can point them to Christ. This world desperately needs the Gospel. There are people all around us who are lost and headed into eternity without Jesus Christ. Some of them may never walk into our church, but they may cross our path tomorrow. What will they see? We cannot save anyone. Only Jesus Christ can save. But we can live in such a way that our lives point people toward the Savior. A light does not have to make noise to be noticed. It simply has to shine. Wherever God places you today, let somebody see Jesus through the way you live. Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for saving me through Jesus Christ and allowing me to represent Him in this world. Help my life shine in a way that brings glory to You. Let people see Christ in my words, my attitude, my kindness, my patience, and the way I treat others. Forgive me for the times my actions have not matched the faith I profess. Give me opportunities to share the Gospel with those who are lost, and give me courage when those opportunities come. May my life never draw attention to myself, but always point others toward Jesus Christ and the salvation found in Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen. juniortateministries.com greatcommissiontoday.com amazon.com/author/juniortateministries

Scripture (KJV) – Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Reflection Waiting is something most of us do not enjoy. We pray for an answer and want it today. We ask God to open a door and wonder why it remains closed. We pray for a family member, a financial need, a difficult situation, or direction about an important decision, and sometimes it seems as though nothing is happening. But waiting on God does not mean God is doing nothing. Isaiah tells us, “they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.” Notice that the promise is not that God will immediately change every circumstance. Sometimes He changes the circumstance. Other times, He strengthens us while we are still walking through it. There have been times in my own life when I could not understand why God was making me wait. Looking back, I can see that He was working on things I could not see at the time. That is where faith comes in. Anybody can trust God when everything is happening according to our timetable. Faith is tested when we have prayed and still do not have an answer. Maybe you are waiting right now. You may be waiting for a loved one to come to Christ. Keep praying. You may be waiting for God to give direction. Keep trusting. You may be going through a season where you feel tired and wonder how much longer you can continue. Keep walking. God has not forgotten where you are. I love the progression in this verse. Sometimes God allows us to “mount up with wings as eagles.” Those are the wonderful moments when He lifts us above the circumstances. Sometimes He gives us strength to “run, and not be weary.” But there are also seasons when all we can do is walk. And God promises strength for that too. Not every day of the Christian life will feel like soaring. Some days we simply put one foot in front of the other and trust God for enough strength to make it through another day. That is still faith. If God has not answered your prayer yet, do not assume He has forgotten you. His timing is not always our timing, but His timing is never late. When you cannot see what God is doing, keep trusting who God is. Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You that I can trust You even when I do not understand Your timing. There are things I have prayed about and answers I am still waiting to see. Help me not become discouraged or give up. Renew my strength when I am tired and give me patience when I want to move ahead of You. Teach me to trust that You are working even when I cannot see what You are doing. Help me soar when You lift me, run when You strengthen me, and simply keep walking when the road becomes difficult. Keep my eyes upon Jesus Christ and help me faithfully trust You one day at a time. In Jesus’ name, Amen. juniortateministries.com greatcommissiontoday.com amazon.com/author/juniortateministries Top of Form Bottom of Form

Scripture (KJV) – Proverbs 14:30 “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” Reflection Envy is one of those sins that can quietly enter the heart without anyone else knowing it is there. We see someone else’s success, possessions, family, ministry, home, job, or opportunities, and instead of being thankful for what God has given them, we begin wondering, “Why don’t I have that?” Comparison can quickly steal our contentment. Solomon tells us, “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” That is strong language because envy does something destructive inside us. The person we envy may not even know how we feel, yet we are the ones carrying the bitterness. Envy can eventually make another person’s blessing feel like our loss. That should never characterize the heart of a Christian. God has not given every person the same life, abilities, possessions, opportunities, or calling. He knows exactly what He is doing with each one of us. Instead of constantly looking at what someone else has, we should learn to recognize what God has already placed in our own hands. Social media can make this struggle even harder. We see people’s vacations, accomplishments, homes, families, and celebrations, but we rarely see their struggles, disappointments, fears, or tears. We can end up comparing the difficult reality of our own life with the carefully selected moments of someone else’s. That is not a fair comparison. There is another danger with envy. If we allow it to remain long enough, it can become resentment. Instead of rejoicing when God blesses someone, we secretly become disappointed. We may even begin looking for faults in that person simply to make ourselves feel better. When that happens, we need to stop examining them and start examining ourselves. Can you genuinely rejoice when someone else receives something you wanted? Can you thank God for another person’s blessing without asking why He did not give the same thing to you? Those questions can reveal what is happening within our hearts. The cure for envy is gratitude. Begin thanking God for what He has already given you. Thank Him for salvation through Jesus Christ. Thank Him for another day of life. Thank Him for the people who love you. Thank Him for every opportunity He has placed before you. You may discover that while you were looking at someone else’s blessings, you had overlooked many of your own. Do not allow comparison to steal the joy of what God has already placed in your life. Prayer Heavenly Father, search my heart and reveal any envy, jealousy, or resentment that I have allowed to grow within me. Forgive me for the times I have compared my life with others instead of being thankful for Your blessings. Help me genuinely rejoice when You bless someone else. Give me a grateful and contented heart, and remind me that You know what is best for my life. Keep my eyes upon Jesus Christ instead of constantly looking at what others have. Thank You for Your mercy, Your provision, Your love, and especially for the salvation You have given me through Your Son. Help me live each day thankful for what You have placed in my hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen. juniortateministries.com greatcommissiontoday.com amazon.com/author/juniortateministries Top of Form Bottom of Form

Scripture (KJV) – Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” Reflection Most people do not wake up one morning and suddenly decide they are going to walk away from God. Usually, it happens little by little. A prayer gets skipped. The Bible stays closed another day. Church becomes less important. Something we once knew was wrong does not bother us quite as much anymore. The voice of conviction becomes easier to ignore. Before long, we can find ourselves farther from God than we ever intended to go. That is why Hebrews warns us to “give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard.” We need to pay attention to the truth God has already given us. One of the dangers of being around Scripture for many years is becoming so familiar with it that we stop allowing it to examine us. We can know the verses, understand the doctrines, and recognize the Bible stories while our hearts slowly drift. Knowing God’s Word is not the same as obeying God’s Word. The phrase “lest at any time we should let them slip” gives us a picture of something drifting away. Spiritual drifting can be so gradual that we hardly recognize it while it is happening. That makes this a good verse for personal examination. Is your prayer life stronger today than it was a year ago? Do you still hunger for God’s Word? Does sin still trouble your conscience? Are you as concerned about lost souls as you once were? Is Jesus Christ still at the center of your life, or have other things slowly taken His place? Those are questions every Christian should occasionally ask. And if you recognize that you have drifted, do not convince yourself that you have gone too far to return. Come back. Open God’s Word again. Get alone with Him in prayer. Confess whatever needs to be confessed. Remove whatever has been pulling your heart away. Begin walking closely with Christ again. God may be using this very moment to get your attention. Spiritual drifting happens one small step at a time. So does coming back. Take that first step toward God today. Prayer Heavenly Father, examine my heart and show me if I have begun drifting away from You. Forgive me for the times I have neglected prayer, ignored Your Word, excused sin, or allowed the things of this world to become more important than my relationship with You. Give me a renewed hunger for Scripture and a tender heart toward the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Help me pay careful attention to the truth You have already shown me and give me the strength to obey it. Keep my heart close to Jesus Christ and help me faithfully follow Him every day of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. juniortateministries.com greatcommissiontoday.com amazon.com/author/juniortateministries

Scripture (KJV) – Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Reflection There is something deeply personal about these words of Jesus. He does not force the door open. He stands outside and knocks. In its immediate context, Jesus was speaking to the church at Laodicea, a church that had become lukewarm and self-satisfied. They believed they were rich and needed nothing, yet spiritually they did not recognize how desperately they needed the Lord. That warning still speaks to Christians today. We can become comfortable in our faith. We can attend church, read our Bible, know the right answers, and still allow our relationship with Christ to become cold. Sometimes we become so busy doing things for the Lord that we neglect spending time with the Lord. Jesus said, “if any man hear my voice.” The question is not whether Christ is speaking through His Word. The question is whether we are listening. Perhaps God has been dealing with you about something for a while. Maybe there is a sin that needs to be confessed. Maybe your prayer life has grown weak. Perhaps bitterness has settled into your heart, or the things of this world have slowly become more important than the things of God. We should never become so spiritually comfortable that we stop recognizing the knock at the door. Notice also that Jesus says, “if any man.” Even though He was addressing a church, the invitation becomes personal. Revival can begin with one person who decides, “Lord, I want You to have every part of my life.” There is also a beautiful picture here of fellowship. Jesus says, “I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” He desires closeness with His people. Christianity is not merely following a set of religious rules. It is a living relationship with Jesus Christ. Maybe today you need to ask yourself: Have I allowed something to come between me and the Lord? If so, do not ignore His conviction. Open the door. Confess what needs to be confessed. Return to prayer. Return to His Word. Give Him first place again. Never become so comfortable with religion that you fail to recognize when Jesus is standing at the door and knocking. Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for continuing to speak to my heart through Your Word. Forgive me for the times I have become spiritually comfortable, distracted, or lukewarm. Search my heart and show me anything that has come between You and me. Help me hear Your voice clearly and respond when You bring conviction. Restore within me a hunger for Your Word, a desire to pray, and a passion to live faithfully for Jesus Christ. I do not want merely to go through the motions of Christianity. I want a close and genuine walk with You every day. Help me give You first place in every part of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. juniortateministries.com greatcommissiontoday.com amazon.com/author/juniortateministries

Scripture (KJV) – Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Reflection Sometimes the greatest damage we cause does not come from our hands. It comes from our mouths. A few words spoken in anger can remain in someone’s memory for years. Gossip can destroy a reputation. A harsh response can wound someone we love. A careless comment can discourage a person who is already struggling. But words can also do something beautiful. They can encourage someone who feels defeated. They can comfort someone who is grieving. They can restore a broken relationship. Most importantly, our words can tell a lost person about Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers. Solomon tells us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” That should cause us to think before we speak. We live in a time when people can immediately say whatever comes into their minds. Social media has made it possible to speak to hundreds or thousands of people in seconds. But being able to say something does not mean we should say it. As Christians, we need to ask ourselves: Do my words sound like they belong to someone who follows Jesus Christ? It is easy to praise God on Sunday and then use the same mouth to tear someone apart on Monday. It is easy to speak kindly when everything is going our way, but the real test often comes when we are angry, frustrated, offended, or hurt. Personal conviction begins when we stop saying, “That’s just the way I am,” and allow God to change the way we speak. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is simply remain quiet until our heart is right. And when we do speak, our words should be truthful, gracious, and helpful. That does not mean we never confront sin or speak difficult truths. Jesus spoke truth plainly. But biblical truth never gives us permission to be cruel. Think about the people closest to you. Your spouse. Your children. Your grandchildren. Your friends. Your church family. What kind of fruit are your words producing in their lives? Are you building them up or constantly tearing them down? Before speaking today, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it necessary? Will it honor Christ? Once words leave our mouths, we cannot pull them back. Use your words to give life, speak truth, show love, and point someone toward Jesus Christ. Prayer Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have spoken without thinking and hurt others with my words. Guard my mouth and help me control my tongue, especially when I am angry, frustrated, or offended. Remove gossip, bitterness, criticism, and cruelty from my speech. Give me words that encourage the discouraged, comfort the hurting, strengthen my family, and honor Jesus Christ. Give me courage to speak the truth when necessary, but always help me speak it with love and grace. Most of all, use my voice to tell others about Jesus and the salvation He offers. May the words of my mouth bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. juniortateministries.com greatcommissiontoday.com amazon.com/author/juniortateministries

Scripture (KJV) – Hebrews 4:13 “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” Reflection There are things about our lives that other people will never know. There are private thoughts, hidden motives, secret temptations, and perhaps even sins that we have successfully concealed from everyone around us. But nothing is hidden from God. Hebrews tells us that “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” That is a sobering statement. God does not merely see what we do publicly. He sees what happens when nobody else is around. We may be able to fool our family. We may fool our friends. We may even fool the people sitting beside us in church. But we will never fool God. He knows why we said what we said. He knows the thoughts behind our actions. He knows whether our service is truly for His glory or whether we secretly desire recognition. He knows the bitterness we have never spoken aloud and the temptation we continue entertaining in our minds. That truth should bring personal conviction. But there is another side to this verse that I believe we should remember. The God who sees our sin also sees our struggles. He sees the believer fighting temptation when nobody else knows there is a battle. He sees the person praying alone in the middle of the night. He sees the quiet acts of kindness that receive no recognition. He sees the tears that nobody else notices. Nothing is hidden from Him, including our faithfulness. For the person who does not know Jesus Christ, however, this Scripture carries a serious warning. There will be no hidden evidence when we stand before God. Every secret sin is already known to Him. We cannot hide behind excuses or appearances. That is why we need Jesus Christ. The answer to hidden sin is not becoming better at hiding it. The answer is bringing it before God, confessing it, turning from it, and receiving the forgiveness that is found through Christ. Maybe there is something in your life today that nobody else knows about. God already knows. Instead of running from Him, run to Him. Bring it into the light. Ask for forgiveness. Ask Him for strength to overcome it. Whatever we try to hide eventually becomes a burden, but what we honestly bring before God can become the beginning of repentance, healing, and restoration. Live privately the same way you want people to believe you live publicly. God sees both. Prayer Heavenly Father, You know everything about me. You see my actions, my thoughts, my motives, my struggles, and even the things I have tried to hide. Search my heart today and reveal anything that does not please You. Forgive me for every secret sin and every thought or attitude that dishonors You. Give me the courage to bring everything into the light and the strength to turn away from temptation. Help me live with integrity when others are watching and when I am completely alone. Thank You that through Jesus Christ there is forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration. May my private life honor You just as much as my public testimony. In Jesus’ name, Amen. juniortateministries.com greatcommissiontoday.com amazon.com/author/juniortateministries