2022-02-16
Proverbs 8:9 NLT
King Solomon wrote: “Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding” (vv. 6-9 NLT).
We usually embellish the truth in order to get these two things: the attention and the approval of the listener. But eventually, it backfires. Over time, people discover your propensity to stretch the truth, and you lose your credibility with them. And once you lose that, it takes a long time to get it back – if ever. Sweeping statements like “Everybody does it,” or “You never,” or “You always” cause people to discount you and eventually slot you as untrustworthy.
It’s okay to say something with enthusiasm but avoid exaggeration. Stick to the facts and resist the urge to be the center of attention by engaging in this form of lying. Joseph’s brothers resented the favor of God that was on his life. So, they threw him into a pit, dipped his coat in blood, then took it back home and showed it to their aging father. They didn’t say a word. They simply let the old man conclude that his son had been devoured by a wild beast. And what’s more, they allowed him to live with that cruel lie for years.
Revelation 22:15 says, “Whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” is lumped together with “sorcerers…whoremongers…murderers, and idolaters” (KJV). So, unless that’s the company you want to be identified with, tell the whole truth. Today make your prayer, “Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips and…a deceitful tongue” (Psalm 120:2 NKJV).
Soul food: Isa 38-41; Luke 9:57-62; Ps 149; Pro 4:25-27
2022-02-15
Matthew 5:13-14 NKJV
Do the people you work with know that you are a follower of Christ? What do they think of your attitude toward those in authority? How about the people who work under you – are you critical or complimentary toward them? How is your timekeeping? Do you arrive to work on time and give 100 percent? Do you demonstrate a commitment to personal growth and excellence on the job? In other words, on the job, are you making Jesus look good?
When you begin to think seriously about it, the eternal destiny of some of the people you work with may be riding on your performance. Right now, they may not be too interested in what you have to say when it comes to the things of God. But all of that can change in an instant.
When people face a crisis in life like death, divorce, sickness, or unemployment, they want someone with real answers. That’s when they seek out the boys they threw into the fiery furnace and the lions’ den, because nobody else around them has answers that work.
Jesus said: “You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?…Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill…I’ve put you…on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God” (Matthew 5:13-16 MSG).
Soul food: Isa 34-37; Luke 9:46-56; Ps 145:14-21; Pro 4:23-24
2022-02-14
1 Samuel 20:17 NIV
Hoping to save their relationship, a woman dragged her husband to see a counselor. During their session, the counselor asked him, “Do you tell your wife you love her?” The man growled, “I told her when we got married, I loved her – and that if I ever changed my mind, I’d let her know.”
Seriously, people know you love them when you show them and when you tell them. The relationship between Jonathan and David was so strong that they were willing to lay down their lives for one another. Yet the Bible says, “Jonathan had David reaffirm his…love for him.”
When you lose a loved one, you realize that relationships are much more important than possessions. We tend to forget that, in our scramble to get to the top of the heap. There is something about knowing you have a short time to live that radically alters your perspective. It makes you want to fill every precious moment with important words you have left unsaid and important things you have neglected to do. Don’t let self-centeredness masquerading as ambition or religious zeal stop you from expressing your love to the people in your life who need to hear it. Make that call. Send that e-mail. Buy those flowers. Say, “I love you.”
Most times, people don’t need our opinions and solutions; when we give them our love and support, they usually find their own solutions. Yes, it’s important to fulfill your God-given assignment in life, but not at the cost of the people who really matter. Three little words people never get tired of hearing are “I love you.” It’s not complicated – it just requires thought.
Soul food: Eph 5:21-33; S of S 2:1-7; Ps 45; Pro 5:15-19
2022-02-13
Hebrews 12:11 ESV
Healthy confrontation calls for putting the other person’s well-being above your own interests. So how do you confront someone in the right way? By doing these three things:
(1) Be sure. There must be a good reason to confront. And it should be a rare event, not an everyday one. You shouldn’t relish the experience. If you do, you need to examine your motives. Are you feeling superior? Are you redirecting your anger toward this person over a completely different issue? Are you lifting yourself up by putting them down? Before confronting someone, you must answer these questions truthfully.
(2) Be specific. Vagueness leads to an uncertain outcome, no matter how tactful and gracious your words may be. Make sure you know the reason for the confrontation; then make it clear to the other person.
(3) Be sensitive. Every situation is different, so a season of soul-searching and prayer should precede any face-to-face encounter. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for problems, and the other person will sense uncertainty and uneasiness in your words. Don’t run that risk. If you haven’t taken the time to pray and get counsel beforehand, don’t jump into the situation on your own. We have all seen this type of Clint Eastwood “Go ahead, make my day” approach. Without fail, it leaves confusion, resentment, and a trail of wounded souls. Make sure your words and tone of voice are attuned to the person you’re dealing with. And try to keep your personal agenda in check; none of this is about you! Pay close attention to timing, choose your words carefully, and, for sure, pray for guidance. Remember, Christlike confrontation brings the right result every time.
Soul food: Isa 9:1-7; Luke 2:1-7; Matt 4:12-16
2022-02-12
Proverbs 13:18 NLT
We don’t enjoy confrontation, but it’s impossible to grow without it. Healthy confrontation calls for “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15 NIV) to those we value. Just as God confronts each of us in areas where we need to grow, He expects us to do the same for others. Is it easy? No. But here are some guiding principles to help you:
(1) Talk to the person, not about them. Healthy confrontation should be direct and, when possible, done in private. It calls for thoughtful communication, delivered firmly but graciously. When people are hurting, handle them with care.
(2) Don’t exaggerate or use spiritual hype. Give specific examples. Don’t hide behind words like “I believe the Lord has shown me that you’re wrong.” When Nathan the prophet confronted King David about his sin with Bathsheba, he was specific. And keep your emotions in check; allow enough time between the offense and the confrontation for a prayerful defusing of any anger you feel.
(3) Don’t guilt-trip them; help them. Don’t leave somebody in a stew without clear direction on how to improve. That’s not fair, and it’s not constructive. Actually, it can lead to more intense issues and unwanted complications. The best approach is to calmly identify the problem and suggest ways it can be resolved. Your goal isn’t to expose somebody but to show them a better way.
(4) Don’t be critical; be compassionate. If you miss everything else, don’t miss this! If you do, you will find yourself condemning rather than confronting. If you’re honest, you will admit that your own road to success has had some potholes – so approach others with love and concern.
Soul food: Isa 30-33; Luke 9:37-45; Ps 145:1-13; Pro 4:20-22
2022-02-11
Genesis 4:1 KJV
Henry Kendall from Boston and Richard Taylor from Medicine Hat, Canada, achieved a breakthrough in our understanding of matter and expanded the theory of the structure of protons and neutrons. Mikhail Gorbachev from the USSR contributed to a development in our understanding about how East and West might better relate through glasnost, a plan of open dialogue and peaceful coexistence which led to the unraveling of the Iron Curtain that separated the East from the West for decades. Octavio Paz from Mexico City was a political commentator, diplomat, essayist, and poet who wrote fervently throughout his life about man’s desires for “wider horizons,” because he believed our future can be greater than our past. Edward Donnall Thomas from Mart, Texas, proved it was possible to transplant organs and rescue the lives of dying patients. Henry M. Markowitz from Chicago studied the growth market and developed the theory that combinations of economic assets of varying risks could reduce the overall risk of investment.
What did all these historymakers have in common? Two things. First, although they represented vastly different backgrounds, interests, and talents, they each won a Nobel Prize in 1990. Second, nobody could have predicted their achievements before they were born. “And [Eve] conceived…and said, ‘I have gotten a man from the Lord.'” Think about it: Anyone created by the Lord has the potential to achieve great things in life. And that is true of your children and your grandchildren, so believe in them.
Soul food: Isa 26-29; Luke 9:28-36; Ps 141; Pro 4:18-19
