2025-02-07
Acts 2:42 NLT
Euclid was a great mathematician who lived about three hundred years after Christ. He is best known for his thirteen-volume series of books called Elements. Two of his axioms of geometry have been revised to produce the modern saying: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Another way of saying this would be “something happens in a group that doesn’t happen alone.” That something is called “synergy.” It comes from the Greek word sunergia, meaning cooperation and working together.
The New Testament church practiced it: “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer” (v. 42 NLT). Jesus described spiritual synergy in these words: “I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV).
The Holy Spirit hasn’t revealed everything to anyone. We learn and grow as we come together. Spiritual maturity happens in two ways: (1) By being willing to share what God has taught you. (2) By being willing to learn what God has taught others. Note what the Bible says about the Christians in Berea: “They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed” (Acts 17:11-12 NKJV). Are you fellowshipping with other believers? If not, you are limiting your own spiritual growth and being robbed of blessing.
Soul food: Gen 24:1-25:18; Luke 9:1-17; Ps 134; Prov 4:5-13
2025-02-06
Luke 18:1 NKJV
A PhD student at Princeton University once walked into Albert Einstein’s office and asked, “What is there left in the world for original dissertation research?” The brilliant scientist replied, “Find out about prayer.” Einstein wasn’t the only person who was curious about prayer. Jesus taught about it, and the reason was because the disciples asked Him to. They may not have desired to write dissertations on it, but they wanted to know how to pray. It’s the only time in the Bible where one person clearly teaches another person how to pray, and all because of a request from the disciples.
“Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray'” (Luke 11:1 NIV). The disciples had been observing Jesus as He prayed. Apparently, the way He prayed was so distinct from the way they prayed that they said, “Show us how to pray the way you pray.” Before Jesus fed the multitude supernaturally, or selected His twelve disciples, or calmed the storm on the Sea Galilee, He took time to pray. And the results of His prayers were so amazing that the disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Prayer is not primarily about telling God what you need; it’s about getting closer to God. As one pastor writes: “It’s almost as if God is saying, ‘Don’t bring me your shopping list. I already know what’s on it. We will deal with that later. Bring me your heart. Bring me your love. Bring me your undivided attention.'” Prayer is not mainly about getting things from the Lord; it’s about spending time with the Lord.
Soul food: Gen 20-23; Luke 8:40-56; Ps 125; Prov 4:3-4
2025-02-05
Luke 11:1 NKJV
Demonstrating an uncommon level of honesty, a well-known pastor says: “Prayer is the biggest struggle I have… It’s difficult to maintain a consistent prayer life, and especially difficult to sustain the conviction that it does any good at times.” Prayer doesn’t come naturally for the majority of us. We know it’s supposed to be a dialogue, but often it feels like a monologue. There is nothing worse than trying to talk with someone who won’t talk back. We don’t like to admit it, but often what we are really wondering about prayer is, “How can I pray so that God will give me what I want?” One little boy was asked if he said his prayers every night. He replied, “No, some nights I don’t need anything.”
Prayer is not about the particular words you use or the length of time you spend praying. It’s about getting acquainted. It’s about building a relationship. If you have something to talk to someone about, you may say, “We need to find somewhere we can talk.” You want to make sure you’re heard, and that you hear what the other person has to say. When you eliminate the noise of this world, you maximize your ability to hear God. It shows God you’re taking your relationship with Him seriously.
The psalmist said, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 NKJV). Do you have a “secret place” where you can be alone with God? It can be anywhere. But you need a place where you can go and show you mean business with God.
Soul food: Gen 17-19; Luke 8:26-39; Ps 67; Prov 4:1-2
2025-02-04
Genesis 11:31 NIV
The Bible says, “Terah took his son Abram… and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there” (v. 31 NIV). A Christian author writes: “Terah accompanied Abram for part of the journey to Canaan, but then he stopped… Terah and his family begin their story in Ur, the great center of wealth and education and the land of idols. Then they begin on this road, which passes through the city of Harran and then down into Canaan… For Terah, the father of Abram, the road ends in Harran. Now we know from other passages in the Bible that Harran was a city a lot like Ur. There was a lot of wealth there. There were idols there. What’s going on? It may well be that… Terah thinks to himself, ‘If I were to go any farther than this, I could lose everything I have. For sure, I would have to give up my idols.’ So he chooses comfort. But Abram chooses to say yes to his calling.”
That’s a choice you will have to make too. And you will have to make it more than once. As your circumstances change, and the seasons of your life progress, you will have to decide whether to walk with God into the unknown or settle for the security of what you know. Terah settled; Abram moved on. What are you going to do? You don’t have to do anything to be worthy of God’s love and grace; those are gifts. But to walk in God’s blessing, you have to choose your calling over your comfort.
Soul food: Gen 13-16; Luke 8:16-25; Ps 120; Prov 3:33-35
2025-02-03
Matthew 25:23 NKJV
Jesus begins the parable of the talents with these words: “For the kingdom of heaven is like” (v. 14 NKJV). And one of the strongest points He makes is the importance of being faithful. Whether God gives you five talents, two talents, or one talent, the thing that matters to Him is your faithfulness. “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord'” (v. 21 NKJV).
You will notice that He did not say, “Well done, popular servant,” or “brilliant servant,” but “faithful servant.” Christ is talking about those who are often unnoticed but indispensable to His purposes. He is talking about those who blow no trumpets, wave no banners, and demand no applause. He is talking about those who show up day after day and use the talents God gives them, to do the job He has assigned to them. Unnoticed by men, but noticed and rewarded by God!
“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10 NKJV). These words describe those who shun the limelight and are happy to serve in the shadows. They describe those who not only start the race but run the race day after day, who don’t stop until they reach the finish line. Others may not think that you make much of a difference, but God does. While others make much out of skill levels and success levels, God measures you by your faithfulness.
Soul food: Gen 10-12; Luke 8:1-15; Ps 108; Prov 3:31-32
2025-02-02
2 Corinthians 3:5 AMPC
Before his 1971 fight with Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali said: “There’s not a man alive who can whup me. [He jabbed at the air with his blinding left.] I’m too smart. [He tapped his head with his glove.] I’m too pretty. [He showed the cameras his profile, like a bust on a pedestal.] I am the greatest! I am the king! I should be a postage stamp – that’s the only way I’ll ever get licked!” Guess what happened in that fight? To the amazement of all, especially himself, Ali lost to Frazier.
When confidence in your own ability and resources becomes pride, and then becomes arrogance, you’re headed for trouble. The Bible says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV). So, how do you find balance? By remembering that every gift, ability, talent, and resource that you have comes from God. Confidence is essential to success. There is nothing wrong with recognizing the gifts God has given you.
But the difference between self-confidence and Christ confidence is found in who gets the credit. A good way to keep this thought in the forefront of your life is to practice the art of thanksgiving each day. It’s hard to be too self-confident when you acknowledge that you are nothing without God’s grace, which is His unmerited, unearned, undeserved favour. The Bible says: “All of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6 NKJV).
Soul food: Exo 16:1-35; John 6:30-40
