Dave’s Monday Blast – May 3, 2021

We were blessed to have Jim Jessup share during our Sunday morning service a couple weeks ago. Jim is the grandson of William Jessup from whom the University gets its name. He is also the son of Bryce Jessup who served as school President for twenty five years. I consider Jim a friend and partner in Christian Education. Like many others, I considered Bryce to be a mentor in Christian education. The Lord took Bryce home about a year ago at the age of eighty five. In a recent Jessup publication, dedicated to his incredible legacy, the following Life Lessons from Bryce were included. As an INTENTIONAL man of God you will appreciate these words to live by!

Lesson 1: Be an Encourager
“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.” (Romans 1:8) I have a simple goal for every conversation God providentially arranges for me to have with others; I want the individual (s) with whom I converse to walk away feeling encouraged and uplifted. I try to remember the admonition of Paul found in Ephesians 4:29 concerning my speech; it must always be wholesome.

Lesson 2: Be Encouraged
“….A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out; He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not be disheartened or crushed until He has established justice in the earth…” (Isaiah 42:1 – 6) (Spend some time with this entire chapter.) We need to be actively seeking quiet time with the Father. Jesus modeled this for us often during His earthly ministry (Mark 1:35), and after each encounter with God He acquired the clarity to move forward in confidence knowing that God was leading and guiding Him.

Lesson 3: Seek Wisdom from Him
“And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 1:13). In James 1:5 we are admonished to go to the one source that never fails, to find the wisdom we need to choose well in all of life’s circumstances.

Lesson 4:  Live Generously
This will always entail giving of our Time – Talents – Treasures. The Bible says that when our identity in Christ is secure we can love and give to others from the overflow of God’s love for us. “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Jesus stated it this way in Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” He also stated in Matthew 6:19 – 21...for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Lesson 5: Finish Well for Him
In 2 Timothy 4:1 – 8 we find the Apostle Paul taking the time to mentor young Timothy perhaps for the last time; making every effort to encourage him to be an encourager, to seek wisdom from above, and to live generously for the Kingdom. He admonishes him to “….be ready to preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction…” (v.7) Let it be said of all of us that “we have fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith right up until the moment that the Lord takes us home to be forever with Him.

Thanks Bryce!