Determination

Every Male Jew Must Attend Passover

On this final trip from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples were passing through Jericho which is in the Jordan Valley about 15 miles from Jerusalem (v. 46). Jericho was a popular resort city in the Judean wilderness, not far from the Jordan River crossing from Perea. I …

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

As Jesus heads into Jericho, He meets a blind man named Bartimaeus. We know that’s his name from Mark’s account of the story. As we try to understand this incredible encounter between Bartimaeus and Jesus, we can see four different stages that Bartimaeus goes through. Hi …

Paul’s Determination To Go To Jerusalem

Notice verse 22 where it says that Paul was going to Jerusalem “bound in the spirit” (small “s”). This may indicate that this was not a Holy Spirit compulsion, but he was doing it by his own self-will. Some Bible scholars, such as Donald Grey Barnhouse and Joh …

Paul’s Determination despite Warning

Another warning came to Paul from a man named Agabus, who was a prophet from Judea (v. 10). He had prophesied that a widespread famine would affect the world (Acts 11:27-28) and his prophecy came true. He bound himself with Paul’s belt, using it as an object lesson, showing that …

Nehemiah Determines to Rebuild The Wall

Even though Nehemiah took the shortest route possible, the journey to Jerusalem would have taken at least two months. The king appointed captains and horsemen to go with him, both for his protection and to show that he was a man who had the king’s stamp of approval (v. 9). As soo …

IllustrationDetermination to Defend The Constitution

The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in its defense are the constitutional rights secure. (Source Unknown – Lou Nicholes, Missionary/Author) …

IllustrationDetermined to Finish the Job

Once while St. Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden, he was asked, “What would you do if you were suddenly to learn that you were to die at sunset today?” He replied, “I would finish hoeing my garden.” (Source Un known, Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author) …

IllustrationPaul Harvey’s Secret to Success

Someone once asked Paul Harvey, the journalist and radio commentator, to reveal the secret of his success. “I get up when I fall down,” said Harvey. (Bits & Pieces, March 3, 1994, p. 16) …

IllustrationDetermined to Finish the Journey

One cold February day a snail started climbing an apple tree. As he inched slowly upward, a worm stuck its head from a …

IllustrationDust Story Triggered Freeway Pileup

On November 30, 1991, fierce winds from a freakish dust storm triggered a massive freeway pileup along Interstate 5 near Coalinga, California. At least 14 people died and dozens more were injured as topsoil whipped by 50 mile-per-hour winds reduced visibility to zero. The …