2022-11-05
Ephesians 6:6 NLT
The letter H represents your heart. What do you have a “heart for” or feel passionate about? As a Jew, Paul was passionate about reaching the Jewish people: “The longing of my heart… is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God” (Romans 10:1-4 NLT).
You say, “Does that mean I must be in the ministry to know and do God’s will?” No. Nelson Mandela was so passionate about freeing his people from the evils of apartheid that he was willing to spend twenty-seven years in prison to bring it about.
When your heart begins to ask, “What can I do to change this situation?” you may be discovering God’s will for you. The people who have made this world a better place all asked that question. Thomas Edison answered it by giving the world incandescent light. Henry Ford answered it by giving the world the automobile. Mother Teresa answered it by giving the forgotten and dying of India love and dignity. First, Nehemiah wept over the ruins of Jerusalem, then he rebuilt its walls.
What moves you? What’s in your heart? In answering that question you may discover God’s will for your life.
Soul food: Ezra 3-5; John 7:25-32; Ps 96; Prov 25:1-7
2022-11-03
John 14:30 KJV
The Bible says, “The accuser of our brothers… has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:10-11 NIV). Satan is “the accuser.” On what basis does he accuse us? Sin! It’s not that God won’t forgive sin, but that when we refuse to acknowledge it and repent of it, we give Satan an opportunity to condemn us. Now you understand why you feel so bad when you harbor unconfessed sin. By doing it, you are giving Satan power over you.
Notice what Jesus said: “The prince of this world [Satan] cometh, and hath nothing in me.” Satan couldn’t point to a single sin in the life of Christ; therefore, he had no power over Him. And here is the good news: When you are “in Christ,” Satan loses his power to condemn you too. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1 KJV).
Will you still sin from time to time? Yes, and when you repent, God will cleanse you, work with you, and give you victory. But as long as you are positioned securely “in Christ,” the One in whom there is no sin, Satan’s condemnation falls on deaf ears and you live with the joy of knowing you are fully accepted by God.
So when Satan says, “You sinned, therefore you’re not a Christian,” don’t believe him. As long as you’re “in Christ,” you’re simply a Christian under construction. Knowing that takes a powerful weapon out of Satan’s hands.
Soul food: Zeph 1-3; John 7:1-13; Ps 104:24-35; Prov 24:28-29
2022-11-02
Matthew 27:22 NKJV
When it comes to Jesus, we have three choices. Let’s look at them: (1) Reject Him. That’s what the Pharisees did. “Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified!'” (v. 22 NKJV). Why? Because His grace and power exposed their lack of both. His truth exposed their error. And when you don’t like the message, you reject the messenger.
(2) Avoid Him. That’s what Pilate’s wife did: “His wife sent to him, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him'” (Matthew 27:19 NKJV). Why do people avoid Jesus? Because He forces a reaction in our hearts. He calls you to make a choice between living for self or living for Him. The chief priests said, “He stirs up the people” (Luke 23:5 NKJV). And they were right! Before Jesus delivers you, He will disturb you. And some of us don’t want to be disturbed.
(3) Accept Him. That’s what Paul did: “Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV). Pilate tried to wash his hands of the whole thing and avoid making a decision about Jesus. But it can’t be done. Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30 NKJV). So if you have not accepted Christ as your Saviour, here is the question you must answer: “What then shall I do with Jesus?”
Soul food: 1 Tim 4-6; John 6:60-71; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 24:26-27
2022-11-01
1 John 2:17 NIV
The thing that should matter to you most is doing God’s will. And here is why: God’s will is the only thing that will last forever. God has a plan for your life, and that plan constitutes His “will” for you. So how can you know God’s will? Try to imagine these two things:
(1) A Polaroid picture. Remember those? You took the shot and out popped a picture. At first it wasn’t clear, so you had to wait. But as you continued to wait, the picture became clearer. That’s like God’s will. “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:18-22 KJV).
(2) A scroll. If God showed you His entire will for your life at one time – you would be overwhelmed. But like unraveling an old-fashioned scroll, He reveals His will to you little by little as you become mature and able to handle it. And since it’s God’s will, you need His power to fulfill it. You also need the assurance of His presence with you. And He promises this in His Word: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 KJV).
Soul food: 1 Chron 16:8-36; Heb 11:4-12:3; Ps 18:20-29; Prov 4:18
2022-10-31
Galatians 3:28 NKJV
In order to have a clique, you must exclude certain people. And to feel excluded hurts deeply. David experienced it: “The one who shared my food, has turned against me” (Psalm 41:9 NLT). Cliques are made up of weak people who are afraid to be different. They believe that as long as they’re with others who think and act like they do, they won’t be surprised or required to change. It may be human nature to crave this kind of consistency, but it’s dangerous.
Cliques in the workplace create dissension, resulting in a miserable atmosphere for others. People are no longer regarded as individuals but as being “on this person’s side” or “in that person’s corner.” Such cliques become nothing more than centers for gossip, backstabbing, affairs, and every imaginable mess people can create. Satan tempts us with the security of “the group” to prevent us from discovering our individual gifts and purposes and from doing God’s will.
If you’re in a clique, break free as quickly as you can! Reject the pressure to conform to groupthink. This mentality can have you unexpectedly doing things you never thought you would do – whether it’s lowering your principles or remaining quiet while the group criticizes someone. You may even fear being turned against by group members if you stand up for what’s right.
Cliques facilitate racism and sexism, age discrimination, and the biased behaviour accompanying them. They gain their strength from excluding those who are different. And no matter how you slice it, that’s prejudice! You are God’s child – as are your colleagues and other church members – and you should treat them right.
Soul food: Deut 18:9-18; Dan 2; Isa 47:5-15; Acts 16:16-34
2022-10-30
1 Peter 3:11 NKJV
Read these Scriptures: “Pursue peace with all people” (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV). “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield… the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:17-18 NKJV). “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:10-11 NKJV).
Healthy compromise doesn’t mean giving up what you truly believe or who you truly are. It doesn’t mean taking shortcuts and relinquishing yourself to second- or third-best because you are impatient or fearful. No, healthy compromise is about discovering how to negotiate a win-win position for both sides. It calls for trying to see things through the eyes of the other person involved in the situation or problem. And healthy compromise is the characteristic of healthy relationships.
It’s tempting to write off someone as “wrong” or “selfish” and refuse to see any other perspective except your own. But this is when it’s critical to abandon your pride, to step outside the role you are playing, and to try to understand where the other person is coming from. A meat cleaver is required when you want a meal, but a fine surgical instrument is required when you want to heal.
Haven’t there been times when you yourself needed patience, love, and understanding? Yes? Then be willing to extend the same grace to others. Sometimes all that’s required is a little give-and-take to make the relationship work and for things to turn out better for everyone involved.
Soul food: 2 Kings 6:1-7; Matt 14:22-33
