2021-05-14
Genesis 28:16 NIV
Jacob lived life on the fast track doing business deals and making lots of money, unlike David who was on the slow track tending a flock of sheep in his pasture. But notice what each of them said about God. “When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.'” On the other hand, David said: “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure” (Psalm 16:7-9 NIV).
Notice the difference? Jacob was so busy that he failed to recognize God’s voice or cultivate an awareness of His presence. But David said, “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Those words are perhaps the simplest and best definition of spiritual life. The Bible says, “We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).
You say, “What does that mean to me?” It means that the indwelling Christ can think His thoughts through you. Isn’t that wonderful? When you have a feeling of reassurance, or a sense of guidance, or you feel the conviction of sin, it means God is present with you. So pay attention and honour His presence by responding to Him. Perhaps you’ve always wondered what it means to “walk with God.” Now you know.
Soul food: Heb 1-4; Mark 9:14-29; Ps 18:1-29; Prov 11:19-21
2021-05-13
Luke 5:3 NLT
Do you want God to bless your business? Invite Him into it! Allow Him to use your business to do His business. Peter did that. He had a fishing boat, and one day he invited Jesus on board so He could use it to preach to the crowd on the shore. And it paid off! Afterward Jesus worked a miracle that caused Peter’s boat to be so full of fish it almost sank. With Jesus on board, you’ll prosper.
“Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God” (Revelation 1:5-6). In Bible times priests worked in the church while the kings went out and did battle. And when they won, they brought back the spoils to finance the work of God. So if you’re in the business end of things, you’re a “king,” and because you’re God’s redeemed child, He will teach you how to prosper (See Isaiah 48:17 NKJV).
But there’s one condition; when He does, you must be willing to help finance His plan for reaching the world with the gospel (See Matthew 24:14). You should consider that an honour and an opportunity, because when you go into business with God, the sky is the limit! Henry Giles, a nineteenth-century preacher, said, “There is no task so low that we may not elevate it; so dull that we may not enliven it if we understand that what we are doing is service to our Lord Jesus Christ.”
So today use your business to do God’s business, and He will bless your business.
Soul food: Titus 1-3; Mark 9:1-13; Ps 150; Prov 11:16-18
2021-05-12
2 Timothy 1:6 CEV
Unless you maintain your enthusiasm, life can wear you down. A job that once challenged you can become monotonous, a relationship that once excited you can grow stale, and a daily walk with God that once inspired you can feel like just going through the motions. The word enthusiasm comes from the Greek word which means “possessed by, or inspired by God.” But how do you stay inspired?
Just as the Israelites gathered fresh manna every morning, you need a daily infusion of God’s Word and God’s Spirit. Paul challenged the Christians in Rome: “Serve the Lord enthusiastically” (Romans 12:11 NLT). And the believers in Galatia: “If someone is eager to do good things…that’s all right” (Galatians 4:18 NLT).
So instead of complaining about all the things you don’t like, realize that the presence and power of God lives within you, and put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Remember whose kingdom you’re a citizen of. God’s!
Author Sheldon Vanauken says: “The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians – when they are somber…joyless…self-righteous…smug… narrow and repressive.” The Christian life is not meant to be a journey to the grave with the goal of arriving safely in a well-preserved body, but a race to the finish line, used up, totally fulfilled, and loudly proclaiming, “Wow! What a ride!” David tells us God lifted him out of a pit of despair, put his feet on solid ground, and gave him a new song (See Psalm 40:1-3).
And hasn’t He done the same for you? So show some enthusiasm!
Soul food: Jonah 1-4; Mark 8:27-38; Ps 62; Prov 11:15
2021-05-11
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
Winston Churchill is attributed with saying, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Take a look at society today; the conditions that preceded the fall of many great civilizations are in place. You ask, “Can our nation be saved?”
Yes! God told Abraham if he could find as few as ten righteous people in the land, He would spare Sodom and Gomorrah from judgment. And a righteous minority can still save our nation. How? Through prayer! God said: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves…pray…seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven…forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Notice four important conditions mentioned in this Scripture: (a) “If my people, who are called by my name.” The future of our nation doesn’t rest in the hands of bankers, talking heads on TV, and politicians; it rests squarely in the hands of God’s redeemed people. (b) “Will humble themselves…pray and seek my face.” God, who needs nobody’s authorization or approval to act, promises to move when His people turn to Him and seek His face in prayer. (c) “And turn from their wicked ways.” Instead of complaining about what’s wrong with society, God commands His people to examine their own hearts to see what’s wrong and make it right. And when they do, He promises to: (d) “Hear from heaven…forgive their sin and…heal their land.”
The truth is, it’s up to us, not them! It’s not too late. Our nation can still be turned around if we’ll pray and seek God with all our hearts.
Soul food: Num 34-36; Mark 8:14-26; Ps 57; Prov 11:14
2021-05-10
Hebrews 2:11 NIV
Every family has its secrets. A cousin with a prison record, or a dad who abandoned the family, or a grandparent who ran off with a coworker. It may surprise you to know Jesus didn’t come from a perfect family either. The Bible records the details of Jesus’ ancestral lineage – and it includes some not-so-nice characters! There’s a prostitute called Rahab, and there’s a white-collar criminal named Jacob who took advantage of his brother and his father-in-law in order to get rich. And how about King David? One day he’s writing Psalms, and the next day he’s seducing the wife of one of his army officers.
The list goes on, and Scripture records it to let you know two important truths: (1) You are not unique. If your family tree has damaged fruit, Jesus wants you to know He’s been there! In the absence of any mention of Joseph’s involvement in Jesus’ adult life, scholars believe Mary may have raised Him and his siblings alone. And Jesus wasn’t reluctant to call His ancestors family – which means He’s not ashamed of you either.
(2) Jesus doesn’t look at your past in order to decide your future. In His eyes, spiritual DNA trumps natural DNA! The Bible says: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18 NIV).
So don’t be afraid to tell others that what Jesus did for you, He will do for them when they put their trust in Him.
Soul food: Num 32:25-33:56; Mark 8:1-13; Ps 44:17-26; Prov 11:12-13
2021-05-09
Matthew 26:73 NKJV
The words you speak will give you away every time. It happened to Peter. On the night Jesus was arrested and all His disciples scattered, Peter stayed close enough to see what was happening – but not close enough to be identified with Him. The Bible says: “Those who stood by came up and said to Peter, ‘Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.’ Then he began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the Man!’ Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So he went out and wept bitterly” (vv. 73-75 NKJV). After that episode nobody accused Peter of being a follower of Jesus!
Isn’t it interesting how profanity in any language has a way of making others question the quality of your relationship with Christ? Your words have the power to build people up or tear them down, draw them to Christ or drive them away. With that in mind, here are two Scriptures you need to underscore and think about often: (1) “Let your speech always be with grace…that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6 NKJV). (2) “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up…that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV).
Today, here’s a prayer for you to pray: “Father, may the words I speak this day bring credit to the name of Jesus and draw others to Him. In His name I pray, amen.”
Soul food: Deut 9:13-29; Luke 4:1-13
