Best Effort

Because Mister Bill and I have a long history - he was 16 and I was 12 when we first met - we remember times when we celebrated the completion of otherwise simple tasks. The older-us, however, simply take joy in ...a good effort! Living a righteous life demands much grace and discipline. The psalmist gives insight into being pure in the eyes of God: “You have tried my heart, You have visited me by night, You have tested me, and You will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. With regard to the works of man, by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.” (Psalm 17:3-5). A true follower of Jesus pursues purity and understands his or her life is an open book before The LORD to be continuously examined (tried, visited, tested). Furthermore, he [who is serious] is always conscious of what is required to stay pure: live intently, avoid pitfalls, faithful to convictions, move cautiously -- all for the purpose of pleasing God. My high school basketball coach said, “if you’re gonna loaf, don’t loaf on defense.” Believers cannot relax their defenses; I suggest the best defense is a strong offense: "I made haste and delayed not to keep Your commandments." (Psalm 119:60). I challenge you, therefore, to be diligent and make every effort rooted in the perfect Truth of God's Word. That effort alone allows God's Grace to do Its supreme and divine work in and through you. That will always be your ... best effort!