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Read: 1 Timothy 4:6-8, 15-16

As Marco walked home from school, he heard a familiar voice calling his name. Turning, he saw his Sunday school teacher. “Hi, Mr. Yoon!” exclaimed Marco, running to meet him. “What are you doing on this street?”

“I just came from Jack Myers’ house. He and his parents visited our church last week, and I offered to look at a problem they’re having with their garage door.”

“They just moved here,” said Marco. “Jack seems like a nice guy, but I felt pretty bad for him at school today. It was track and field day, and he was last in almost everything. He didn’t seem to be very upset about it though. He kept cheering everyone else on.”

“It looks like you did all right.” Mr. Yoon motioned toward the red ribbon and three blue ribbons pinned to Marco’s shirt.

“Yeah, I do okay in a lot of the events.”

“That’s great,” said Mr. Yoon. “You must have worked hard to train yourself to do those things. Did you know that the apostle Paul mentioned physical training in a letter he wrote to Timothy?”

“He did?” said Marco. “What did he say?”

“He said that physical training has value, but it’s more important to train yourself to be godly by learning and practicing the things that help you grow as a Christian.”

Marco thought about that. “So you don’t think Paul would be very impressed with my ribbons?”

“Paul wasn’t putting down physical training. He just wanted Timothy to be even more concerned about growing in his relationship with Jesus and living out his faith.” Mr. Yoon smiled. “You deserve to be congratulated on those ribbons, Marco. But if you hadn’t gotten any ribbons, that would’ve been okay. Godly character is what’s really important. It’s far more important to be like Jesus than to be good in sports.”

Marco nodded thoughtfully. “You know what? I think Jack has that. Godly character, I mean.” He paused to look down at the ribbons on his chest. “I think I’ll stop by his house on my way home. I want him to know that even though he didn’t get any ribbons today, I can tell he’s been training in what’s really important.”

–Rosalie J. Currier

How about you? Do you put a lot of value on physical ability and training? It’s good to train your body, but having a heart like Jesus is much more important. So go ahead—train in the sports you enjoy and do your best in them. But more importantly, train yourself to be godly by growing in your relationship with Jesus and depending on Him to help you follow His example of love in all you do.

Today's Key Verse: Train yourself to be godly. 1 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Godly character is of great value

Discover the conversion process in the life of Paul and how no one is beyond the reach of our heavenly Father.

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Do you ever feel like a fraud? You aren’t alone! In the late 1970s two researchers identified “imposter syndrome” as the condition of doubting one’s skills, talents, or abilities and interpreting ourselves as a fraud. Even successful and brilliant people struggle with inadequacy, worrying that if anyone peeked behind the curtain of their lives, they’d see how much they don’t know.

Paul exhorts the people of the first-century church in Rome to be humble. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment” (Romans 12:3). We understand the importance of not elevating our abilities. But when we doubt our own value, we go too far, robbing others of the gifts God wants us to use to serve Him. To think of ourselves with “sober judgment” (v. 3) is to have a sane estimation—a realistic regard—for what we offer. Paul nudges us to overcome our hesitancies, to embrace who we are “in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (v. 3). In this way, God’s body of believers may be built up (vv. 4–8).

Rather than degrading our offerings with imposter syndrome, let’s embrace God’s giftings within us. By gratefully accepting God’s grace, we can think neither too highly nor too lowly of ourselves. In doing so, we please our Father and build up His body of believers.

Trillions of dollars are moving from one generation to the next. How can we help the next generation see generosity, not as an obligation, but as a joyful calling? On the next Faith & Finance Live, Christin Fejervary (FEH-jur-VAH-ree) joins Rob West to talk about how the National Christian Foundation is helping younger Christians put their values into practice. Then, it’s your calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live—biblical wisdom for your financial decisions, weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio. 

Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio.  To join our team of supporters, click here.

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To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.

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Segment 1

• Matthew bases salvation on “being good” and repentance through Roman Catholic sacraments.

• Todd uses courtroom logic to show that God’s standard is perfect love of God and neighbor.

• The tension becomes clear: Can a just God overlook sin, or do we need a savior who satisfies justice?

Segment 2

• Todd presses Matthew on Ephesians 2:8–9, challenging his belief that works and sacraments contribute to salvation.

• Matthew struggles to reconcile Catholic teaching with Scripture’s claim that salvation “is a gift… not of works.”

• Todd introduces imputed righteousness, Christ’s perfect record credited to the sinner.

Segment 3

• Matthew insists new birth happens after death, contradicting Jesus’ words that one must be born again now to enter God’s kingdom.

• Todd urges him to “get downwind” of himself and see his true guilt before a holy God.

• The call becomes personal: abandon self‑reliance, repent, and trust entirely in Christ for salvation.

Segment 4

• Todd meets another student who is a professing Christian. This student struggles to articulate why someone should believe in God, relying mostly on logic and science.

• Todd role‑plays an evangelistic conversation, demonstrating how to move past intellectual debate.

• Ultimately, the student affirms repentance and belief in Christ as the way to be saved but reveals areas needing deeper gospel clarity.

___

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Welcome to episode #246! ️ Pure Victory Podcast: “When We Rage Against God — Taking Ownership of Our Choices”

Ever been frustrated with God? You wouldn’t be the first.

Maybe you’ve prayed, “God, if You really loved me, why am I still struggling?” or “Why did You let this happen?” When life doesn’t go our way, it’s easy to shift the blame upward instead of looking inward.

In this episode, Braden unpacks Proverbs 19:3 — “A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord” — and explores why we sometimes get angry at the very God who’s trying to heal us.

Through the story of Jonah, Braden reveals how ownership—not blame—is the starting point for transformation. You’ll discover how humility, confession, and taking responsibility open the door to genuine freedom and restored connection with God.

Key Points:

• We all rage at God at times. It may not be loud or obvious, but in frustration we often blame Him when life or healing doesn’t go as we hoped.
• Proverbs 19:3 hits home: our own folly leads to trouble, yet our hearts rage against God.
• God’s love doesn’t always shield us from consequences—He uses them to grow and refine us.
• Jonah’s story shows what happens when pride blinds us to God’s mercy—we resist His goodness because we want things our way.
• Blame disempowers, ownership empowers. The moment we stop shifting blame, we regain spiritual strength.
• Ownership isn’t shame—it’s humility. Confession isn’t about beating yourself up; it’s about letting God in.
• 1 John 1:9 reminds us that confession leads to cleansing, and cleansing leads to freedom.

Practical Steps:

Here’s how to move from frustration to freedom:

1. Pause and reflect. When things go wrong, ask, “Am I blaming God or taking ownership?”
2. Admit your part. Own your choices without shame—this is where healing begins.
3. Reconnect with God. Don’t pull away in anger. Invite Him into your mess and ask Him to teach you.
4. Replace blame with prayer. Instead of “God, why did You let this happen?” pray, “God, what do You want to show me through this?”
5. Remember grace. God doesn’t wait for you to clean up before forgiving—He meets you in your mess.

Scripture Highlights:

• Proverbs 19:3 — “A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord.”
• Jonah 4:2 — Jonah’s anger reveals how pride blinds us to God’s mercy.
• 1 John 1:9 — “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Quote of the Episode:

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Isaiah's main theme isn't just judgment or hope—it's God himself. Dr. John walks through Isaiah chapters 1-5, showing how the prophet contrasts a sinful nation with the Holy One of Israel. These opening chapters set Isaiah's pattern: confronting present sin while pointing to future glory, from the Assyrian threat to the coming Messiah. Through the song of God's vineyard and a series of woes against injustice, Isaiah shows that there is no true good apart from God's glory.

The Grand Vision: God's Story Through Isaiah: Isaiah is the second-most quoted book in the New Testament, yet many Christians have never studied it deeply. In this 10-message series, Dr. John guides listeners through this essential prophetic book, exploring Isaiah's 50-year ministry during one of Israel's most turbulent periods. From temple visions to confrontations with kings, from oracles against nations to prophecies of the coming Messiah, Isaiah reveals God's sovereignty over all history and His plan for the world through Jesus Christ.

Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "Joy of Friendship." Enjoy!

Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James discuss the significance of transforming parenting through the lens of faith, focusing on the true meaning of Christmas with special guest Lee Strobel. He shares insights on nurturing children’s faith, particularly during the Christmas season, recounting personal experiences and the story of St. Nicholas. The discussion shifts to how parents can counter consumerism and instill values of generosity and humility in their children, suggesting practical activities and the importance of curiosity. We even talk about how to share the historical truths of the virgin birth to reinforce faith in your kids. Our Q & A segment gives advice for dealing with kids' materialistic tendencies and emphasizes the benefits of spending quality time, such as reading with children, to enhance their development and family bonds.

The Case For Christmas

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Liberty in Christ must be handled with care, even as it is enjoyed. Tune in to hear Pastor Chuck Swindoll discuss a believer’s freedom and the principles to use it well.

From the Series: Romans: The Christian’s Constitution

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