We walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7

After refusing to worship idols, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown in a fiery furnace. Sounds pretty hopeless, eh? Not for the God Who specialises in doing the impossible; Who isn't known for 'business as usual'. When men do something spectacular we can detect human logic behind it. But as one author writes, "God doesn't build skyscrapers; men [do]… and they have the touch of human genius. But you can't find a man who can make a star. And when God steps in, [it's] like the difference between a skyscraper and a star." God honoured the Hebrew children's faith by bringing them safely out of the fire. The king himself declared, "Blessed be… God… who… delivered His servants who… trust in Him… there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way" (Daniel 3:28-29 NASB).

Many people who appear to be carefree, have anxieties only God understands: money problems, employment issues, health challenges and marital concerns. So God says, "Transfer all your anxieties to me" (1 Peter 5:7). When you walk by faith you get answers to prayer that challenge human reasoning. And looking back you realise you couldn't have come up with a better solution yourself.

"For it is written: 'As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us shall give account of himself to God."1

True, I wasn't responsible for my coming into the world, nor was I responsible for my upbringing. However (unless I am seriously mentally impaired), I am totally responsible for what I become, what I do, and for how I choose to behave and live my life.

The following is how one person expressed how (partially tongue-in-cheek) many people in today's world view responsibility:

"If a man cuts his finger off while slicing salami at work, he blames the restaurant.

"If you smoke three packs a day for 40 years and die of lung cancer, your family blames the tobacco company.

"If your neighbor crashes into a tree while driving home drunk, he blames the bartender [or the tree for being in the way].

"If your grandchildren are brats without manners, you blame television.

"If your friend is shot by a deranged madman, you blame the gun manufacturer.

"And if a crazed person breaks into the cockpit and tries to kill the pilot at 35,000 feet, and the passengers kill him instead, the mother of the deceased blames the airline.

"I must have lived too long to understand the world as it is anymore. So, if I die while my old, wrinkled face is parked in front of this computer, I want you to blame Bill Gates...okay?"2

What we need to teach today from the cradle to the grave—and from the highest position in the land to the most humble person wherever they are—is personal responsibility!

As Roy Smith said, "The ability to accept responsibility is the measure of the man." And as today's Scripture reminds us, all are responsible to and before God.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you will do for me what I cannot do, such as giving Jesus to die for my sins, but will not do anything for me that I am able to do for myself. Help me to learn to always be responsible and (if you have children) train my children by my example to learn responsibility. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

In a comment about her work with children through her church, one of our readers commented, "I have found some wonderful new friends, some my age, and some that are four years old."

I love that. I've had it floating around in my idea file for a while and find I keep coming back to it. I think I like it because of the dignity it gives both friendship and children.

We can be so quick to pass off children as being too young and immature to contribute on an adult level. "Children are to be seen and not heard," is still a part of the American conscience. Although the cultural climate towards children has changed drastically in my lifetime, there are still evidences of how we look down on them. The "children's table" is still a popular holiday setting when the extended family gathers (as if they have nothing to contribute to the adults), and then there is "children's church" where the pastor speaks in a different voice and tone than when he preaches later to the congregation. (Just once I'd love to hear one of those kids blurt out, "Why are you talking so funny?")

To have an adult say, "I've found some wonderful new friends… and some of them are four years old," says something to me. It says that there are some ways in which she sees a four-year-old as a peer. Friendship is all about giving and receiving, and the minute we start to look for what children can teach us, not just what we are trying to teach them, we will be rewarded.

Here is, I think, a good general assumption to go by, and it goes not only for children but for seniors, Alzheimer's and coma patients, the mentally challenged, and anyone we have a tendency to think isn't very smart or can't hear us: they are... and they can. Expect there to be more understanding than you think there is, and nine out of ten times you will be right.

And finally, treat everyone as an equal. That's how the woman who inspired these thoughts sees the four-year-olds she is working with. If we don't do this, we miss out. And we miss out not only on the richness of what we can receive, but according to Jesus, we miss out on the kingdom of God.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about "Frequent Flyer Benefits."

The benefits belong to those who keep traveling with the same people. Long before there were airlines, some Jewish women discovered that as they followed Jesus. Our word for today from the Word of God from Matthew 27, beginning with verse 55. The scene: the crucifixion of Jesus, where most of those who had been with Jesus had taken off. The Bible says, "Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for His needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses." They had followed Jesus loyally through all those journeys, all those miracles, all those life-changing lessons, and the glory of Palm Sunday only five days earlier. And now, when it looks as if all is lost and there is no reason to hang on, they are at the cross.

Jesus has died. It is over. But still, as Jesus is buried in a borrowed tomb the Bible says, "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb." Still loyal, when all hope seems to be gone. Then, of course, on that incredible Resurrection Day, "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb." Because of their tenacious loyalty to Jesus, these women, not any of Jesus' twelve disciples, are the first to see the empty tomb.

And then the greatest joy of all, "The women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them." What may be the greatest thrill, the greatest privilege in all of human history, to be the first ones to ever see Jesus alive! Those who have been His loyal followers through it all! They get that privilege. Like a passenger loyal to one airline, they enjoy benefits that only the loyal will experience.

Because they have stuck with Jesus when there seemed to be no reason to, they get to see Him as no others have seen Him, and they experience the unspeakable joy that is reserved for those who were faithful when it was totally dark. That is still the experience of those who will stay with Jesus through the valley, the victories, the pain, the unanswered questions, the as-yet unanswered prayers. When you do, you get to see Jesus in all His power and all His glory.

But maybe for you, the resurrection day hasn't come yet. You're still in the time of the cross right now, or the time of the tomb, the time where there seems to be no hope, no reason. You may be suffering from faithfulness fatigue. You've hung on, but it's getting harder to keep hanging on. And the Lord knows how hard it is right now.