Daily Companion  |  21 May

QUIT YOU LIKE MEN

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

 During the orientation camp of the nigerian National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), campers were to take a long arduous walk through the forest and back to the camp in what was termed Endurance Trek. It was so strenuous that some broke down on the way and could not not continue. We got to an uphill. And I looked around me, I saw men ad a few ladies still moving. Then I said within me, “You can’t quit now, otherwise the ladies will laugh at you. Be a man”. I did not only summon courage, but ran uphill with all my strength and was among first to reach the finish point. 

The journey of faith is sometimes tortuous and strenuous. It requires courage and bravery to end well. It means showing absolute resoluteness. To “stand fast in the Lord” (Philippians 4:1), Insults, discouragement, disappointments, betrayer and all sorts may attempt to push you of the edge. But you must stand. You must “hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Revelation 3:11). Because as the Lord said, only “he who overcomes shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life” (Revelation 3:5). 

Dear friend, we are on an endurance trek to heaven: the pilgrim journey.”He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Don’t end your journey on a woman’s lap nor under a man. Refuse to be lured out of your rightful seat in the kingdom. There is continuous threat and conspiracy against your citizenship of the kingdom. You must not let satan win. You have gone too far to go back because the longest part of the journey is getting born-again. You are nearer to the crown than when you began: how much more if you have started long time ago! Be rest assured that “the LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul” from sliding back (Psalm 121:7). Finally, If you must win, you must not quit. And if you must quit, quit you like men and die at your duty post.

Today’s Recite:  The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition: but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrew 10:38, 39).

Today’s Morning Prayers:  Heavenly Father I worship for a new day of hope and strength. I pray for a courageous heart to serve You. Grant me Your grace to stand firm and immovable in this pilgrim race in Jesus mighty name. Amen!

Today’s Hymn: IT PAYS TO SERVE JESUS

Today’s ReadMe:  ESTHER 1 - 3