Keep Pressing On - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Keep Pressing On

 by Steve Martin

“Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, THE MESSAGE

As I began keeping a close watch on my iPhone 8 Health app, especially after the third day, I saw that the walking steps had been amassing in great numbers for each day. Noticing the foot mileage the four of us were accumulating, on this first annual Love For His People ministry men’s Ahava Adventure (ahava is love in Hebrew) to Israel this October 2019, I was astonished. Truly I was. Two miles. Four miles. Over 12 miles on one day by the end of the fantastic journey.

We had walked the Land of Israel a grand total of over 51 miles by the completion of the 8^th day we had been there. With three of us being over 64 years of age (one 74), and the other one a mere 41, I certainly was impressed with the strength the Lord had given us. In fact, on most of those days, the mileage didn’t seem that great. I mean, compared to sometimes walking a mile or two at home, in the early morning hour at the encouragement of my good wife Laurie, just that shorter distance seems way too far for me.

But our Lord had given us a purpose, and He gave us the will and strength to accomplish it.

As I read Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthians this morning, as part of my normal “chapters a day” Bible reading during my time strictly with our Lord Jesus (Yeshua), Paul was writing to the followers of the Messiah, giving instruction, provoking, challenging and uplifting them with the Scripture, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, NASU

Keep pressing on, in simple terms, is what we need to keep doing. Being alert, standing firm, acting like men (and women of God), being strong - while doing it all in love.

When we have a clear vision, a known purpose, a plan to accomplish, it does enable us to keep pressing on, even as the daily challenges faced often try to get us to stop, or even slow down.

Our enemy is always at work, trying to discourage us, distract us, wear us out until we just want to quit at times. But by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus, actively working in our spirit through His Holy Spirit, He causes us to be overcomers, and to keep pressing on for that goal-line set before us.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10, NKJV

The four of us men had a purpose of course, which included spending as much time as we could to encourage and uplift the friends Love For His People ministry supports monthly in Israel. While the rented Hyundai SUV enabled us to travel the road mileage between the cities they lived in, the busy, hilly sidewalks and grassy parks of Jerusalem provided the foot trekking paths, getting us to the other appointed destinations as we met with our other Messianic Jewish friends.

After you get “recharged” by spending the time with the Lord each day – receiving His word, listening to His Holy Spirit, and acting upon the instructing life He freely gives us daily, be encouraged in your pressing on for the goals He has given you individually, and collectively with others, to complete.

You are on a mission for God. Don’t just let the Blues Brothers get all the credit.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV

Now think on this and see what good things the Lord has in store for you and those around you.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

*Much more will be written about this in my next book.

Thank you for reading!

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Love For His People ministry

P.O. Box 414

Pineville, NC 28134

loveforhispeople@gmail.com

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Now Think On This #460 - in the year of our Lord 10.10.19 – “Keep Pressing On – Thursday, 5:12 am