Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"¹

Jim Rohn said, "The first rule of management is this: Don't send your ducks to eagle school. Why? Because it won't work. Good people are found not changed. They can change themselves, but you can't change them. You want good people, you have to find them. If you want motivated people, you have to find them, not motivate them.

"I picked up a magazine not long ago in New York that had a full-page ad in it for a hotel chain. The first line of the ad read, "We do not teach our people to be nice." Now that got my attention. The second line said, "We hire nice people." I thought, "What a clever shortcut!"²

In spite of the spin of the daily newsâ€"emphasizing mostly bad news in the world around us while neglecting most of the good newsâ€"God is at work in today's world. He does have a plan and is looking for motivated people to do his work here on earthâ€"to stand in the gap to "proclaim salvation" and save lost soulsâ€"for it is only motivated people who get God's work done. The half-hearted never make it.

Motivation comes from withinâ€"from people who are genuinely committed to Christ and desire to see God's work on earth doneâ€"and get involved in doing it.

You, too, can have a vital role in what God is doing in the world todayâ€"the world in which you live. There is no greater privilege on earth ... no greater reward in heaven ... and no greater way to invest your life for time and eternityâ€"than to be a part of God's plan and what he is doing in your world today. Sometimes it takes involvement to get motivated.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that you use ordinary people to do Your work on earth. I'm available to stand in the gap where I live. Please use me to be a part of Your plan and help me to be 'as Jesus' in some way to every life I touchâ€"every day. Thank You for this wonderful privilege, and thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Isaiah 52:7 (NIV).
2. Jim Rohn, excerpted from 'Leading an Inspired Life,' Cited on From the Masters www.beliefnet.com

<:))))><

2. To Know God and be sure you're a real
    Christian click on:

3. Donate: To help send Daily Encounter
    without charge to people around the world
    click on:

4. To send today's Daily Encounter to a friend
    click on:

5. To share your faith in a simple, attractive
    way with a friend click on:

6. For today's featured article click on:

7. This week's chuckle as seen "On the Lighter
    Side"  on Weekend Encounter click on:

8. Change Address of your subscription to
    Daily Encounter click on: