2024-11-08
Hebrews 7:25 NKJV
A Christian leader writes: “The Italian violin maker Antonio Stradivari was a poor man. And yet his violins are now the most prized violins ever made because of the rich and resonant sound they produce. The unique sound of a Stradivarius cannot be duplicated. What may surprise you is that these precious instruments were not made from treasured pieces of wood; they were carved from discarded lumber. Because Stradivari couldn’t afford fine materials, he got most of his wood from the dirty harbors where he lived. He would take those waterlogged pieces of wood to his shop, clean them up, and dry them out. Then, from those trashed pieces of lumber, he would create instruments of rare beauty.
It has since been discovered that while the wood floated in those dirty harbors, microbes infiltrated the wood and ate out the centers of those cells. This left just a fibrous infrastructure of wood that created resonating chambers for the music. From wood that nobody wanted, Stradivari produced violins that now everybody wants.”
You say, “How does any of this relate to me?” Just as this violin maker transformed garbage into treasure, God can transform you into what you were actually meant to be. You say, “But you don’t know how low I have fallen or the things I’ve done. I doubt that Jesus could save and transform someone like me!” Give Him a try. Put Him to the test. You won’t be disappointed. The Bible says, “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.”
Soul food: Isa 53-57; John 8:42-59; Ps 123; Prov 29:1-3
2024-11-07
Psalm 33:20 AMPC
Our inner self can be trained to wait on God, even though our outer self is stressed and anxious for answers. This is not easy to do in our fast-paced society, where the spiritual discipline of waiting on the Lord is often lacking. We want everything – right now. But if we are always in a hurry, we will miss out on the close fellowship with God that takes time to develop. He will speak to our hearts if only we will be patient to listen.
After slaying the prophets of Baal, Elijah learned a valuable lesson about waiting on God. The Lord told him to go stand on a mountain. A great wind came, then an earthquake, then a fire, but the Lord was in none of these. The Bible says, “After the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12 AMPC). The Lord spoke in a still, small voice after the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. If Elijah had been impatient he would not have heard the Lord’s voice.
David also learned to wait on God and “meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple” (Psalm 27:4 AMPC). In order for us to pray effectively, we must choose to wait patiently and listen for His word. Waiting and listening takes the focus off us and places it on Him, who is the answer to all our needs. It is often in silence that the power of God is moving most mightily. So, allow the Holy Spirit to teach you how to wait in His presence.
Soul food: Isa 49-52; John 8:31-41; Ps 30; Prov 28:25-28
2024-11-06
John 6:9 NIV
If you feel you’re not talented enough to be used by God, read the story of the feeding of the five thousand. Actually, there were five thousand men. If you add women and children, the number could be more than twenty thousand. And the boy’s lunch was more meager than you imagine. A loaf was about the size of a mini pancake. The word for fish refers to sea creatures about the size of sardines.
But what made that little lunch a big feast is what the boy did when Jesus asked him for it. He gave it willingly. He didn’t say, “Lord, you can have one fish, but I will keep the other one. You take three loaves, and I will keep the other two.” He gave Jesus everything He asked for. Now think about the results of his act of sacrificial kindness.
(1) The original lunch didn’t fill up even a single basket, but the leftovers filled twelve baskets. This illustrates the harvest law taught in Scripture. When you give to God, you always get back more than you give (See Luke 6:38 NCV). And when you withhold, you rob yourself of His blessing. “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want” (Proverbs 11:24 ESV).
(2) By meeting the needs of others, his own needs were met. “Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted” (John 6:11 NIV). The truth is that when you give God what you have, you will be amazed what He does with it.
Soul food: Isa 45-48; John 8:21-30; Ps 86; Prov 28:21-24
2024-11-05
Luke 12:7 NKJV
If you want to know how incomprehensively big God is, read this: “My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand has stretched out the heavens” (Isaiah 48:13 NKJV). Could such a God care about your daily troubles and woes? Yes. “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7 NKJV).
God values sparrows – more than you know. He feeds them, and supplies them with trees and twigs for nests and other sparrows to mate with. He cares so much about them that He keeps a running inventory. How about you? “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” When you care about someone, you observe details.
When a baby is born, what do parents do when they see the tiny fingers and toes for the first time? They count them. For years later, every time that child comes home, if they are missing one of those ten fingers or toes, the parents notice. Even inadequate parents do this. Jesus was saying, “God doesn’t only number your fingers and toes. He loves you so much He numbers the hairs on your head. He notices their quantity. He notices their color. Proverbs 16:31 tells us, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness” (NIV). The cross proves how much God loves you and how much you mean to Him, including the details of your life.
Soul food: Isa 42-44; John 8:1-20; Ps 96; Prov 28:17-20
2024-11-04
Psalm 100:2 NKJV
The psalmist wrote, “Come before His presence with singing… Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (vv. 2, 4 NKJV). When you approach a king, a certain protocol is required. And David gives us the protocol for coming into the presence of the King of Kings: “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.” Question: Is that your personal experience in church? Or do you stand like a spectator while the musicians, the worship team, or the choir do the singing and you do the listening?
We are all called to “enter into” praise! Worship is not something you merely hear with your ears; you express it with your lips – and your heart. When you fail to do so, there is a connection with God that is not made. You, personally, must worship God! And regardless of how gifted and talented they may be, no one else can do that for you.
You say, “But sometimes I don’t feel like praising God.” The Bible says, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV). God wants sacrificial praise. What’s that? Praise when you don’t feel like it. Praise when you are going through seasons of hardship. Praise when humanly speaking, you can’t think of a single thing to praise God for. With God, the praise that costs is the praise that counts. “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1 NKJV).
Soul food: Isa 38-41; John 7:45-53; Ps 9; Prov 28:13-16
2024-11-03
Psalm 22:3 KJV
The original King James Bible says, “O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” The New King James Bible says, “You are… enthroned in the praises of Israel.” You say, “Which translation is accurate?” Both are accurate. The word “inhabit” pictures a dweller who feels right at home. And the word “enthroned” pictures someone in a position of power and authority, someone who can give orders and make things happen. So God is at home in our praise; His power is released through our praise.
When God created the world, He did it with words – sound. So, God’s power can travel through sound. And certain sounds move His heart. Certain sounds invoke His presence. Certain sounds move Him to action. The key to deliverance, which means to be set free, is in having an encounter with God. And songs of deliverance can set the stage for such an encounter with God.
Read these three Scriptures carefully: “Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still” (Psalm 4:4 NKJV). “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7 NKJV). “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 NKJV). Note the words “meditate,” and “be still,” and “rest,” and “wait patiently,” and “he who dwells in the secret place.” Now picture yourself “soaking” in the presence of God. Your emotions are quiet, your spirit is attuned to God’s presence, you can hear what He has to say and receive from Him what you need. That’s what happens when you surround yourself with “songs of deliverance.”
Soul food: Acts 9:1-19; 2 Cor 11:21-33; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Acts 16:16-40
