2020-01-31
1 John 1:9 AMPC
In spite of our best intentions and efforts, we all “fall short” of God’s requirements (Romans 3:23 NKJV). So what’s the answer? “If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]” (1 John 1:8-9 AMPC). When it comes to God’s forgiveness, knowing is better than feeling. Here’s how God’s forgiveness works: Consciousness of sin leads to conviction of sin, and conviction of sin leads to confession of sin, and confession of sin leads to cleansing of sin, and cleansing of sin leads to confidence before God (See 1 John 3:21-22). You say, “I don’t feel worthy of God’s forgiveness.” You will never be worthy of it! God’s forgiveness is not based on your worthiness, but on Christ’s! Furthermore, God is not like your parents; He doesn’t insist you squirm and be miserable for a few days so that you will “learn your lesson” before He forgives you. That would mean you play a part in earning His forgiveness. It’s by grace, and grace alone (See Ephesians 2:8-9)! “Grace” means “undeserved favour.” So when God forgives you, honor Him by forgiving yourself and moving on.
Soul food: Isa 26-29; Matt 11:10-19; Ps 107:17-22; Prov 3:21-24
2020-01-30
Psalm 22:3 NIV
The place where you live is your home, or “habitation.” So when you praise God, you’re saying, “Make Yourself at home, Lord.” Where does God dwell? He has many different addresses and one of them is “praise.” Just as we enjoy a deeper level of intimacy with those we share our lives with at home, praise creates a sense of intimacy between God and us. Just as words spoken in love and appreciation draw two people together, words of praise draw you closer to God. The New King James Bible says, “You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.” Note the word “enthroned.” The Japanese have a wonderful way of translating this. Recalling how their emperor was once carried on a throne and those around him would stop and bow down, they say, “When we worship God we create a seat, and He comes down and sits in it.” Five times in two back-to-back Scriptures we are commanded to “sing praises” to God. “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding” (Psalm 47:6-7 NKJV). When God repeats the same thing five times in two verses, it’s because He wants to be sure you get the message. You say, “But I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.” Listen to a praise CD and hum along. The psalmist wrote, “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name” (Psalm 63:3-4 NKJV).
Soul food: Isa 22-25; Matt 11:1-9; Ps 107:10-16; Prov 3:19-20
2020-01-29
1 Timothy 4:15 NIV
One day a friend of Chuck Swindoll’s stopped by his study to “speak the truth in love” to him (See Ephesians 4:15). The man said, “I don’t think you’ll fall morally or ethically. What does worry me is that you could be tempted to let your time with God and your time in the study of the Scriptures become less and less important to you. I want to urge you, do not let that happen.” Swindoll took his words to heart and wrote down these five promises to himself. If you’re serious about being devoted to Christ, you need to make these same promises to yourself also: “(1) I promise to keep doing original and hard work in my study. Those to whom I am called deserve my best efforts. (2) I promise to maintain a heart for God. That means I will pray frequently and fervently, and stay devoted to Him and to my calling. (3) I promise to remain accountable. Living the life of a religious lone ranger is not only unbiblical, it’s dangerous. (4) I promise to stay faithful to my family. My wife deserves my time, affection, and undivided attention. Our now-grown children deserve the same. (5) I promise to be who I am, just me. To keep laughing and saying things a little ‘off-the-wall.’ To be a friend and make a few mistakes each month.” On that second promise: Being devoted to Christ doesn’t make you weird, judgmental, antisocial, or isolated from the world. No, it makes you the best version of yourself you can be – and the one God wants you to be.
Soul food: Isa 17-21; Matt 10:32-42; Ps 107:1-9; Prov 3:13-18
2020-01-28
Proverbs 1:5 NIV
As you examine your mistakes, you realize it was your thinking at the time that caused them, and that’s why you need to keep challenging your own thinking. “Let the wise listen and add to their learning.” How do you do that? By learning to appreciate how others think and by continually exposing yourself to people who are different from you. You will think like the people you spend the most time with. When you spend time with people who think outside the box, you’re more likely to break new ground. Let’s face it, any time we find a way of thinking that works, our greatest temptation is to rely on it repeatedly – even if it doesn’t work in new situations. When your goal is to protect the success you already enjoy, you put the brakes on the process that can lead you to even greater success. Holding on to a good tradition is a good thing. But you need to remember that every tradition was originally a good idea, perhaps even a revolutionary idea, but every tradition may not be a good idea for the future. When you cling to what’s already in place, you resist change – even change for the better. That’s why it’s important to challenge your own thinking. If you’re too attached to how things are done now, nothing will change for the better. Dr. John Maxwell writes: “In your early years you won’t be as wrong as people think you are. In your later years you won’t be as right as people think you are. And all through the years you will be better than you thought you could be.”
Soul food: Isa 12-16; Matt 10:21-31; Ps 104:24-35; Prov 3:11-12
2020-01-27
Genesis 16:9 NIV
The Bible says: “Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. The angel of the Lord found Hagar…in the desert…And he said, ‘Hagar…where have you come from, and where are you going?’ ‘I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,’ she answered. Then the angel…told her, ‘Go back to your mistress and submit to her.’ The angel added, ‘I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count'” (vv. 6-10 NIV). Hagar obeyed, and when her son Ishmael was born, God said, “I have heard you: I will surely bless him…make him fruitful and…greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation” (Genesis 17:20 NIV). Most of us don’t relish the idea of submitting [acquiescing, deferring to, surrendering], and God sent Hagar back to a hard place that day. But when she obeyed, He blessed her. Note the question the angel asked her, because it may be one God’s asking you as well: “Where have you come from, and where are you going?” If He is, stop and consider your answer. God, who knows the end from the beginning and who brings good things out of bad, has your best interests at heart. Even though it’s hard to do, if you’ll obey Him, He will bless you. He’ll give you grace to endure and strength for the struggle, and do things in your life that can’t be accomplished any other way. By trying to escape your present situation, you may be running from the lesson God wants to teach you and the rewards that lie beyond it. So the word for you today is: “Go back, and submit.”
Soul food: Isa 8-11; Matt 10:11-20; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 3:9-10
2020-01-26
Philippians 1:23 NIV
When death takes someone you love. Satan will try to torment you with remorseful thoughts of what you did and didn’t do for your loved one while they were still here. Don’t listen to him! The Bible calls him “the accuser” (See Revelation 12:10). Instead, rejoice that your loved one was in right standing with you and with the Lord, and that you’ll be reunited in heaven for all eternity. Give yourself permission to grieve, and when the grieving period ends, stand on God’s Word: “Brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NLT). “Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength” (1 Corinthians 15:42-43 NLT). “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And… I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3 NKJV). Paul writes, “To depart and…be with Christ…is better by far.” Lean on these words of Scripture today and find comfort.
Soul food: Luke 10:25-37; Eph 4:31-32; Gen 50:15-21
