2024-06-04
Luke 6:46 NIV
Remember the words of the old Sunday school song, “The wise man built his house upon the Rock… The foolish man built his house upon the sand”? The storm hit both houses leaving only the wise man’s house standing. Jesus wasn’t simply recommending the virtues of wisdom over foolishness. The truth is, we’re all wise at times and foolish at others. And He wasn’t saying the house that survived the storm was a believer’s house while the house that perished belonged to an unbeliever. Neither was He implying that the church attender’s house withstood the storm while the nonattender’s house collapsed. His point was simpler – and more compelling.
When things are at their worst and we are pushed to the wall, when we doubt our chances of survival, when we have used up our last ounce of resistance, it’s not our wisdom, salvation, or church attendance that gets us through the storm. While these are crucially important aspects of Christian life for which we praise God, many wise, faithful believers go under in life’s storms: an abusive relationship, a financial collapse, an unfaithful partner, the loss, or illness of a child, a mental or physical disability.
Jesus’ point wasn’t even a plea for increased knowledge of His Word. Both homeowners understood His Word, but simply saying, “Lord, I totally agree with you,” won’t get you through the storm. The point Jesus was making here is that doing what you hear Him say is what will get you through the storm! God has bound Himself to honor His Word, and your obedience aligns you with it and activates His power on your behalf.
Soul food: Amos 5:18-9:15; Mark 13:24-37; Ps 117; Prov 14:9-12
2024-06-03
Ephesians 4:31 NKJV
Here is something else Joseph knew that you need to know too. You can’t afford the excess baggage of bitterness. After many years, Joseph met his brothers again when they came to Egypt for grain. As they entered Joseph’s presence and bowed before him, Egypt’s second-in-command, they were unable to recognize him. And when Joseph tried to tell them who he was, they were stunned and horrified. Here was the brother they had tried to kill years earlier, and now he was in a position to do whatever he wished with them. But instead, he forgave them. Why? Because Joseph knew he couldn’t afford the excess baggage of bitterness.
So what should you do when you’re tempted to harbor bitterness? Do what Joseph did: He sustained his faith and hope in God, believed that things would ultimately work out well, and continued his spiritual life.
When things go wrong, we often turn our back on the one person we need most – the Lord. When difficulties come our way, we say, “God, why did you allow this to happen?” We start blaming God as if it’s His fault, instead of saying, “Lord, please handle this problem.” God can take circumstances that are completely bad and turn them around. When people attempt to use situations to destroy you, God can use them to develop you. He delights in turning crucifixions into resurrections. The Bible says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8 NKJV). God comes by invitation, and as long as you keep talking to Him and trusting Him, He will work things out for you.
Soul food: Amos 1:1-5:17; Mark 13:12-23; Ps 82; Prov 14:5-8
2024-06-02
Psalm 56:4 NKJV
Here are two more things Joseph understood that you need to understand as well:
(1) You can’t afford to give in to self-pity. Perhaps you’re going through a trial right now and you’re an innocent party−the victim of a situation you didn’t cause. Consider Joseph’s reaction when he was in a similar position. The first thing he didn’t do was succumb to self-pity. Why? Because it’s a major contributor to depression. Often when we experience a serious problem and our self-esteem is already at its lowest ebb, we start blaming ourselves and putting ourselves down. Joseph didn’t do that. He understood that the crisis he was in wasn’t of his own making, and he tried to look at it realistically. When you’re in a storm and you allow your boat to turn sideways, the storm will capsize you. Similarly, when storms come into your life, the best way to overcome them is to trust God and face them head-on, like Joseph did.
(2) Never make a major decision when you’re depressed. Many times when we’re discouraged, we’re tempted to say, “I’m going to quit,” or “I’m going to switch jobs,” or “I’m going to move away,” or “I’m going to file for divorce.” Please don’t do that! When you’re downcast and despondent, your feelings are unreliable, your focus becomes blurred, and you lose your perspective when it comes to exercising good judgment. So what should you do? Trust God to bring you through it! Say with the psalmist, “In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can [flesh] do to me?”
Soul food: Gal 5:23; 2 Thes 1:3-5; 2 Tim 1:7; Heb 11:23-27
2024-06-01
Genesis 39:21 KJV
To reach his destiny, Joseph went through betrayal, temptation, slander, and wrongful imprisonment. But he came out on top. Here is what Joseph recognized that you need to recognize too:
(1) God knows what you’re going through, and He cares. There is a key phrase found five different times in the story of Joseph: “But the Lord was with Joseph.” Even when everything was going wrong, Joseph never doubted that God was with him.
(2) You have been given freedom of choice. God gives you freedom to choose how you will react to your circumstances: faith or doubt, joy or despair, patience, or impatience, etc. When you choose to ignore what’s right, God won’t force His will on you. Sometimes we bring problems on ourselves and then blame God. We say, “It must be God’s will,” as if God gets pleasure out of planning our mistakes and miseries! The truth of the matter is that God’s will isn’t always carried out. Yes, He has a plan for our lives, but He has also given us free will. And because He has also given others free will, their mistakes and decisions can hurt us as well.
(3) God is in control of the final outcome. He can take every negative circumstance in your life today and turn it around for your good. In the end, Joseph could say, “You meant it for harm, but God meant it for good” (See Genesis 50:20). And while God was working to bring good out of his situation, Joseph had to keep trusting Him, even though at the time he did not understand what was happening – and you must do that too.
Soul food: Lam 3:40-5:22; Mark 13:1-11; Ps 113; Prov 14:1-4
2024-05-31
Matthew 21:24 NKJV
Jesus often answered a question with a question. When asked about paying taxes, He took a coin and said, “‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ They said to Him, ‘Caesar’s.’ And Jesus answered… ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they marveled at Him” (Mark 12:16-17 NKJV).
It seems we’re afraid of asking questions, and afraid of answering them. But God would much rather receive a genuine question born of humility than a disingenuous prayer born out of pride. We have to keep it real with God, and with one another. If we aren’t talking about real problems people are facing, we are going to lose our prophetic voice. When people ask us, “Who is God? Who am I? What is the true purpose of my life?” they won’t be satisfied with easy answers or clichés we have picked up along the way. God isn’t intimidated by those questions. He loves them.
Like the parent of a curious toddler, God occasionally laughs at our questions. But He always welcomes them. The church ought to be a safe place where people can ask dangerous questions. But all too often we’re guilty of answering questions no one is even asking. We ought to be challenging the status quo, but all too often we’re guilty of defending it.
But what if? What if we stopped force-feeding answers and learned to unleash the primal curiosity in our churches? It’s our curiosity regarding God that fuels an insatiable desire to know Him. So, let’s keep asking questions, and encourage others to do the same.
Soul food: Lam 1:1-3:39; Mark 12:28-44; Ps 108; Prov 13:24-25
2024-05-30
Judges 6:14 NIV
The Bible says: “When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.’ ‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?’… The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?’ ‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’ The Lord answered, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive” (vv. 12-16 NIV).
Do you feel fearful and inadequate? Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress (v. 11), afraid of the Midianites. Yet God called him a “mighty warrior.” God sees things in you that others don’t, that even you yourself don’t! Read these words carefully: “I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure'” (Isaiah 46:9-10 NKJV).
God sees things in their completed state – including your ultimate victory. And today He is saying to you, “Go in the strength you have… Am I not sending you?” When God sends you, your success is guaranteed in spite of all the obstacles, the enemies, and all the limitations you are so aware of. If you’re unwilling to move until things “look better,” you won’t win. Start where you are and use what you have, then God will give you more.
Soul food: Gal 4-6; Mark 12:13-27; Ps 101; Prov 13:20-23
