2026-02-05
Galatians 6:4 MSG
Paul wrote: “Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life” (vv. 4-5). Jesus was insistent on this. After the resurrection, He appeared to some of His followers. He gave Peter a specific pastoral assignment that included great sacrifice. Peter responded by pointing at John and asking, “‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to live until I come back, that is not your business. You follow me'” (John 21:21-22 NCV). In other words, stay focused on your own assignment.
A little boy named Adam wanted to be like his friend Bobby. Adam loved the way Bobby walked and talked. Bobby, however, wanted to be like Charlie. Something about Charlie’s stride and accent intrigued him. Charlie, on the other hand, was impressed with Danny. Charlie wanted to look and sound like him. Danny, of all things, had a hero as well: Adam. He wanted to be just like Adam. So, Adam was imitating Bobby, who was imitating Charlie, who was imitating Danny, who was imitating Adam. It turns out that all Adam needed to do was to be himself!
You can learn from others, but you can only find joy and fulfillment in being who God created you to be. So stay in your own lane. Run your own race. Nothing good happens when you compare and compete. Furthermore, God will not evaluate and reward you according to the talents of others, but according to how faithful you were with the gifts He gave you. You are not responsible for the nature of your gifts, but for how you use them.
Soul food: Num 25-26; Luke 8:16-25; Ps 120; Prov 3:33-35
2026-02-04
Proverbs 22:6 NKJV
Whether you lead at home, in church, or in business, you’ll be called upon to make hard and unpopular decisions for the good of all concerned. This is particularly so for parents. Those who fear rejection or loss of a child’s affection often “go along to get along.” That’s a selfish decision, because you’re putting your own need to be loved and accepted above your child’s long-term need for structure and self-discipline. How far do you think your child will get in life without these things?
Sadly, many parents are too insecure to discipline their children because they want to maintain their friendship. Since when did a parent’s role include being a friend? If mothers and fathers are honest, they’ll admit that they frequently say yes when they should say no to make up for the lack of time they spend with their kids. Of course, we know that an investment of quality time yields a better payoff in the long term than anything else a parent can do.
Paradoxically, children will usually end up disrespecting or even resenting a parent who operates in that kind of insecurity because it leaves children emotionally underdeveloped and ill-equipped to handle the pressures and responsibilities of adulthood. By repeatedly giving in to your child, you are postponing their maturity. Sometimes what’s called for is tough love. Hence the Bible says, “Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” So seek God’s wisdom, guidance, and strength, and He will help you become the kind of parent your child needs.
Soul food: Num 22-24; Luke 8:1-15; Ps 108; Prov 3:31-32
2026-02-03
Psalm 56:9 NKJV
In his bestselling book, The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell defines the tipping point as “the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point.” It’s the moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior passes the point of no return and gains acceptance. In the realm of physics, a tipping point is when an object is displaced from a stable state of equilibrium into a new state. In economics, it’s the point at which an emerging technology becomes the industry standard. In sociology, it’s when a quorum of people adopts a behavior so that it reaches critical mass and goes viral.
Spiritually speaking, the tipping point is when you believe without any reservation that God is for you. It’s the revelation that God doesn’t just love you, He likes you. He loves you enough to die for you, and He likes you enough to spend eternity with you.
Yet some of us remain skeptical. We project our self-contempt onto God, assuming that He must be as angry with us as we are with ourselves. Or we fall into the performance-based trap of thinking that our behavior determines God’s posture toward us – whether that is for or against. Listen: the fact that God is for you was proven at Calvary’s cross.
Oswald Chambers wrote: “No power on earth or in hell can conquer the spirit of God in a human spirit.” He said, “It is an inner unconquerableness.” Religion is all about what you can do for God; Christianity is all about what Christ has done for you. But it starts with this all-important kernel of truth: “This I know… God is for me.”
Soul food: Num 19-21; Luke 7:36-50; Ps 111; Prov 3:29-30
2026-02-02
Proverbs 10:12 NLT
Loving relationships are a cornerstone of life. They are the foundation of Christ’s church and evidence that we have the love of God in our hearts. God places a big emphasis on how we relate to others, because our relationships impact every area of our lives: at home, at work, at church, at school, and during our everyday interactions. A relationship built on love, sensitivity, and respect can win an unsaved husband or wife to Christ.
Peter wrote: “You wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives” (1 Peter 3:1-2 NLT).
This is why Satan attacks our relationships so much. When relationships break down, it impacts the quality of our life. Medical science has proven that unresolved bitterness and unforgiveness are sources of sickness and depression. And just as God wants you to be healed physically, He wants you to experience His healing touch in your relationships as well.
But you have a part to play. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ as forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT).
As you pray about your troubled relationship, make this confession: “Since God has forgiven me of all my sins, I will not hold unforgiveness against anyone. I release all bitterness and anger. Lord, I pray Your peace over the misunderstanding and hurtful area in this relationship. Amen.”
Soul food: Num 16-18; Luke 7:24-35; Ps 107:33-43; Prov 3:27-28
2026-02-01
Psalm 90:12 NLT
When he became campaign manager for President George Bush and chairman of the Republican National Committee, Lee Atwater had accomplished the two things he wanted to do by the time he was forty years of age. Then he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.
Shortly before he died, he wrote these sobering words: “I acquired more wealth, power and prestige than most. But you can acquire all you want and still feel empty. What power wouldn’t I trade for a little more time with my family? What price wouldn’t I pay for an evening with friends? It took a deadly illness to put me eye to eye with that truth, but it’s a truth that the country… can learn on my dime. I lie here in my bedroom, my face swollen from steroids, my body useless… The doctors still won’t answer that nagging question: how long do I have? Some nights I can’t go to sleep, so fearful am I that I will never wake up again.
I’ve come a long way since the day I told President Bush that his ‘kinder, gentler’ theme was a nice thought, but it wouldn’t win us any votes. I used to tell the President that he might be kinder and gentler, but I wasn’t going to be. How wrong I was. There is nothing more important in life than relationships, and nothing sweeter than the human touch.” If you’re wise, your priorities in life will be God first, your family second, and your career third. “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”
Soul food: Gal 5:22-23; Gen 50:15-21; Luke 10:25-37;Eph 4:31-32
2026-01-31
Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV
A series of illustrations in a popular magazine once depicted the life story of a ‘one-note musician’. From frame to frame, the tale revealed how the woman followed her daily routine of eating and sleeping until the time came for the evening concert. She carefully inspected her violin, took her seat, arranged her music, and tuned her instrument. First the conductor skilfully cued one group of musicians, then another, until finally her moment arrived. It was time for her one note to be played! The conductor turned to the violinist and signalled her to sound her note. She did, and then the moment was over. The orchestra played on, and the ‘one-note’ woman sat quietly through the rest of the concert – not with a sense of disappointment that she had played only one note, but with a sense of contentment that she had played her one note in tune, on time, and with all her ability.
Jesus told the story of a business owner who gave three of his employees some talents of silver to be invested on his behalf. One was given five talents, another two talents, and another one talent, ‘to each according to his own ability’ (Matthew 25:15 NKJV).
The Bible says we will be rewarded in heaven for our service to Christ here on earth. How will God decide what your reward should be? Jesus said it’s ‘to each according to his own ability.’ Or as Solomon put it, ‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.’ In other words, do the best you can with what God gave you.
Soul food: Num 14-15; Luke 7:11-23; Ps 107:23-32; Prov 3:25-26
