There is an old legend about Satan one day having a yard sale. He thought he'd get rid of some of his old tools that were cluttering up the place. So there was gossip, slander, adultery, lying, greed, power-hunger, and more laid out on the tables. Interested buyers were crowding the tables, curious, handling the goods. One customer, however, strolled way back in the garage and found on a shelf a well-oiled and cared-for tool. Not sure what it was, he brought it out to Satan and inquired if it was for sale. "Oh, no!" Satan answered. "That's my best tool. Without it I couldn't wreck the church! It's my secret weapon!"

"But what is it?" the customer inquired.

The devil answered, "It's the tool of discouragement."

In ministry it is easy to become discouraged. Ours is a faith driven enterprise. We are never finished, always looking to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith. But don't be discouraged. Our author has finished the book and the ending is incredible.