From the Preacher’s Desk

Your Potential
Joyce Meyer, internationally recognized author, wrote an article titled Develop Your Potential.

She said, “It’s amazing how many gifted people there are who just sit on the sidelines of life and do nothing.” And many gifted people fail to develop their potential. Could it be because they are satisfied with what they are doing? Are you one of those?

You don’t have to be. But it all depends on what you want. I had two cousins who were good enough to be professional artists but they did not pursue their potential.

I had a sister who struggled through school but knew by the time she was a little girl she wanted to be a teacher. She pursued her goal and became an outstanding public and private school teacher.

Napoleon Hill wrote the book, Think And Grow Rich. In the paperback edition of the book I have, printed in 1960, above the title is the statement, “This book could be worth a million dollars to you.” I would not take a million dollars for what I gained from this book. It opened the way for my pursuit of the eternal riches offered by God.

One of the major things I learned from this book that has been confirmed over and over for me is that we receive from anything only what we are prepared to receive and have a burning desire to receive.

Thirty-four years later that statement was incorporated in my church Leadership Training Course that was first published in 1994.

God is always looking for people who are ready to receive the eternal riches He offers and those who have a burning desire to receive His offer.

We read in the New Testament of those who told Jesus they would be one of His disciples after awhile, after they completed something more important to them for the time being. They were not ready to receive God’s eternal riches nor did they have a burning desire to do so. I have talked to many who have the same attitude. Most never give God’s offer another serious thought.

In one of His parables, Jesus tells us that it is the one with an honest and good heart who hears and obeys God’s word. One with an honest and good heart is one who has the attitude that when they hear and understand God’s word they will do what He says.

It is the one who believes and obeys God’s message of eternal riches that receives those spiritual riches as Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:22. He reminds his readers that they had purified their souls in obeying the truth.

In seeking to develop our potential we need to examine our heart. Do we have a heart that is good according to God’s definition? A heart that will hear and obey His message, regardless of the cost. Developing such a heart should be our number one goal and priority.

We should read the word of God with the attitude that we will apply His word to ourselves. We should read with the attitude that when we read something that we are not doing that God says to do, we will repent and do what He says. Have you read Acts 2 lately?

We should read with the attitude that when we read something that we are doing that God says we are not to do, we will repent and stop doing what He says we are not to do.

What greater goal and priority can we have than that of purifying our soul and keeping it pure and holy in the sight of God? It brings eternal riches. You have the potential of fulfilling God’s desire for your life.

If I can be of help to you in any way, please call on me. My pamphlet on Bible Study That Blesses is available upon request. Call 706-468-8499.