2020-03-23
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
Here’s an amazing and life-changing truth. The God who made His sinless Son to “be sin” takes unrighteous people like us and makes them “righteous.” How does it happen? By works? No, by faith! “People are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners” (Romans 4:5 NLT). This righteousness isn’t about behaving the right way – it’s about believing the right way. You can’t become righteous in God’s eyes through human effort or keeping the law. You become righteous only through faith in Christ, and trusting in His finished work on the cross. You say, “But I feel so guilty when I sin.” And you should; it’s a good deterrent! But Christ took away all your sins; therefore He took away all your guilt. So what are you feeling? Inner conflict! Your regenerated spirit lives in your unregenerated body, and it reacts the same way your natural body reacts to something harmful. Sin feels foreign to the new you, and when you indulge in it, the pleasure is brief and the aftermath is bad. In essence, your spiritual boundaries have been violated, and your regenerated spirit is telling you that you can’t indulge in sin anymore. That’s not who you are! The old you could have indulged in sin and enjoyed it, but the new you can’t, because you are “a new creation in Christ” (See 2 Corinthians 5:17). So rejoice! Today God sees you as “righteous,” therefore you can approach Him at any time with complete confidence (See Ephesians 3:12).
Soul food: Job 15-17; Matt 24:36-51; Ps 55:1-11; Prov 8:17-18
2020-03-22
Ephesians 4:32 NIV
Here’s a story every parent needs to read and remember. “One day my husband and I got into an argument and ended up yelling at each other. I retreated to the porch and sat with my head in my hands, crying. Our two-year-old overheard the argument. ‘I love you, Mom,’ she said, as she sat beside me and put her arms around me. ‘I love you, too,’ I said. She rested her head on my shoulder, hugging me hard. ‘I wish you could love my daddy too,’ she said. Talk about ripping your heart out! ‘But I do love your daddy. We just had a disagreement.’ At that, my daughter smiled, got up, and walked away. ‘Where are you going?’ I asked her. She replied, ‘I’m going to tell Daddy you love him!'” If you expose your children to your anger, make sure that they’re around when you extend grace and forgiveness to each other. Teach them how to deal with the issue, without attacking the person. Let them know that a difference of opinion can lead to a decision that makes things better for everyone. And that you can be wrong on an issue and still be respected and loved. Often that means teaching them what you yourself were never taught. If that’s the case, learn from the mistakes your parents made and pass that knowledge on to your children. Forgive when you’re hurt, and don’t take your resentments to bed (See Ephesians 4:26). Jesus said you must forgive so “that your Father…in heaven may forgive you” (Mark 11:25). Remember, parent, your children are watching you!
Soul food: Matt 5:5; Num 12:1-15; Ps 37:1-11; Phil 2:5-11
2020-03-21
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
As you read this devotional, always remember that the power doesn’t lie in the writer’s thoughts or comments, but in the written Word of God. Paul tells us, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” It’s impregnated with divine seeds of life, and those seeds will spring to life within you, producing the fruit of the Spirit, and “delivering on” the promises of God. View this devotional as a gateway rather than a goal. See it as the little book that whets your appetite for the Big Book! When you read each day’s devotion, have your Bible beside you and turn to the Scriptures that are referenced. As you deposit the Word of God within you every day, wonderful things will begin to happen in your life. The psalmist writes: “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (Psalm 1:1-3 NLT). Note the words “they prosper in all they do.” As you renew your mind with Scripture, your faith will grow, your outlook will be altered, and every area of your life will start to change for the better. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Soul food: Job 11-14; Matt 24:26-35; Ps 13; Prov 8:14-16
2020-03-20
Isaiah 26:3 NLT
The secret to “perfect peace” lies in this Scripture: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” It’s not your circumstances, but how you think about them that robs you of peace. Focusing on your circumstances just causes more anxiety, because circumstances constantly change and often spin out of your control. However, God never changes, and nothing ever spins out of His control. Peace and worry are mutually exclusive. Worry throttles your confidence, chokes your perspective, and suffocates your spirit. It robs you of the peace that comes from knowing the God who can handle anything, and through whom all things are possible. The reason we worry so much is because we engage in exactly the opposite behavior to that which brings peace. Worry is like a “no-confidence” vote in God. You may not intend it that way, but every time you give in to worry, in essence, you’re saying: “I don’t believe God can or will handle this for me. I’m not sure I can trust Him in this matter, so I’ll just have to carry this burden and take care of the problem myself.” God is either the object of your trust or just a part-time helper you call on when you can’t handle things on your own. It’s reminiscent of the elephant and the mouse that walked over a bridge. When they got to the other side, the mouse said, “Man, we really shook that bridge!” When you begin to see God as playing the major role and you the minor one, you’ll begin to find the peace which has eluded you for so long.
Soul food: Job 8-10; Matt 24:15-25; Ps 116:12-19; Prov 8:10-13
2020-03-19
Jeremiah 23:16 NKJV
Eugene G. Grace, president of Bethlehem Steel Corporation from 1916 to 1945 said: “Thousands of engineers can design bridges, calculate strains and stresses, and draw up specifications for machines. But a great engineer is the man who can tell you whether the bridge or the machine should be built at all, where it should be built, and when.” Asking why before how forces you to think about your core motivations and the source of your vision. There is much talk these days about “purpose.” And that’s a good thing, because a life of purpose is more rewarding than a life of popularity or power. But your purpose must come from God. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; they speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord.'” When God is the source of your vision, He will resource it. That’s why the most important question you can ask is not, “What’s the best way to do this?” but, “Why am I doing it at all?” Ultimately God will make the final ruling on what you have given your life for. “Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work…endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15 NKJV). Poet C.T. Studd wrote: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Soul food: Job 5-7; Matt 24:1-14; Ps 116:1-11; Prov 8:8-9
2020-03-18
Isaiah 50:4 NIV
Isaiah writes: “The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.” Let’s face it; if you told a person everything you thought, you would hurt them or they would leave you. There are private parts of you. Maturity means you don’t have to say everything you think. Indeed, much of what you think hasn’t been thoroughly thought through! That’s why you need to pray and ask God for “a well-instructed tongue.” Read these three Scriptures carefully: “Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin” (Proverbs 13:3 NIV). “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity” (Proverbs 21:23 NIV). “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (James 1:26 NIV). There are two occasions in particular when your tongue can get you into trouble: (1) When you’re angry. Emotional outbursts usually result in harmful comments you don’t mean and will regret later. (2) When you’re tired. Exhaustion lowers your guard, and at such times thoughtless comments can slip out. Always wait until your judgment is clear and you can think things out before you speak. Paul said, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6 NIV). What does salt do? It flavours, preserves, cleanses, and heals. And that’s how your words should be.
Soul food: Job 1-4; Matt 23:23-39; Ps 19; Prov 8:6-7
