2019-10-27
Psalm 107:20 MSG
Each of us comes to the Lord damaged. So He begins a renovation program to repair our thoughts about Him, about others, and about ourselves. While you may look good on the outside, there’s a constant hammering and sawing going on inside, as the Holy Spirit works to meet a deadline and make us an “instrument for noble purposes” (2 Timothy 2:21 NIV). And one of the tools He uses is “the foolishness of preaching” (1 Corinthians 1:21). Whatever you do, never lose your appetite for Bible preaching: “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). It boggles the unregenerate mind to watch the preached word transform the most dysfunctional people into productive members of society. And most of the time God does all this while maintaining a veil of secrecy that protects our reputation and public perception. How gracious! Can you imagine how shocked people would be if they really knew the shape we were in when God found us? Only His power could have forced open the snare that had entrapped our minds and set us free to live again. David declared, “He spoke the word that healed you, that pulled you back from the brink of death. So thank God for his marvelous love” (Psalm 107:20-21 MSG). Notice what did it – His Word! That’s what provides cleansing for our shame, makes us righteous, and gives us a roadmap to our destiny. Because of Him, you matter. Because of Him, you have nothing to fear. If anybody has a right to shout for joy today – it’s you!
Soul food: Num 9:15-23; Exo 24:15; Matt 17:1-8; Acts 1:9-11
2019-10-26
Proverbs 13:22 NLT
Many people are reluctant to draw up a will. At a subconscious level they fear that as soon as they do, they’ll “cash in their chips.” But not according to the Bible. In Scripture long life is one of God’s promises to us: “Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life” (Proverbs 10:27 NLT). So with that in mind, here’s an important question for you to answer, sooner rather than later. If you died tomorrow would your money, your home, your furnishings, your clothing and your valuables go to the people you intended? Are you sure? The best way to be certain is to sit down now while you’re in good health and sound mind and write down what you want to leave and to whom. Think also of your liquid assets. Do you want to leave a certain amount to your family, or your church, or a ministry or charity you believe in? If you do, call a lawyer and have it clearly spelled out in a legal document. Don’t leave a mess that’ll mean more work for the courts, more taxes for the government, and a legacy of disappointment and confusion for your loved ones. The Bible says, “Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren.” Your stewardship doesn’t end at the grave. In fact, if the parable of the talents Jesus taught us means anything at all, it means you’ll be judged according to what you did with what was entrusted to you in this life (See Matthew 25:15). So don’t put this off – deal with it right away.
Soul food: 1 John 1:1-3:10; John 7:14-24; Ps 104:19-26; Prov 24:28
2019-10-25
Psalm 103:13 TLB
To see God as your loving Father may not come easily if you carry the scars of an abusive childhood. So many needs that went unmet in your childhood – affection, security, trust, comfort, nurture, and material requirements – can make it hard to believe that God will provide for your needs now. So what to do? Recognize that your internalized father-image is flawed and in no way fits your heavenly Father. Even the best father is a blurred carbon copy of your heavenly Father. God wants you to see Him as a caring, sensitive, generous, dependable Father. That’s why Jesus taught us to call Him “Our Father,” not just “Almighty God and Lord.” It’s also why He called God “your father” and not just “My father.” Like a good father, God has anticipated your every need and provided for it (See Matthew 6:25-34). Just as good parents understand the individual characteristics of their children, your heavenly Father knows your unique needs, thoughts, and feelings. “As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out” (Psalm 103:13-14 MSG). His care for you is tailor-made to fit your specific requirements and limitations. And just as a good earthly father accepts and fulfills his responsibility to provide for his children, your heavenly Father holds Himself responsible for meeting your needs, and He wants you to act accordingly by trusting Him. In other words, your role is to act like the child of a trustworthy, generous, permanently loving Father.
Soul food: Ezra 9-10; John 7:1-13; Ps 104:1-18; Prov 24:26-27
2019-10-24
John 8:27 NKJV
Religious people in Jesus’ day found the concept of God’s fatherhood hard to grasp. Lord, king, judge, they understood – not Father. Their Old Testament scriptures barely spoke half a dozen times of God as Father, whereas the New Testament mentions it hundreds of times. Jesus Himself said, “No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27 NIV). The truth is, until Jesus revealed the Father, God remained a mystery to them. And many of us still don’t comprehend His fatherhood and the rich blessings we have in Him. Father, God’s all-inclusive name, incorporates everything you’ll ever need and discloses exactly how He feels about you. He exemplifies every trait of the best father imaginable. Whatever a loving father would do for his needy child, your heavenly Father will do for you – and then some. Once we recognize God as our Father, our fears dissolve as we start to realize that all our needs will be met. Jesus said, “It gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32 NLT). It makes God happy to give you the resources of His kingdom. Why? Because He loves you as much as He loves Jesus! In John 17:23, Jesus prayed you’d know with confidence that your heavenly Father loves you “in the same way [he has] loved me” (MSG). So treat God as your Father, and start acting like His child and enjoying the benefits of family membership (See Ephesians 2:19).
Soul food: Ezra 6-8; John 6:52-71; Ps 114; Prov 24:23-25
2019-10-23
2 Chronicles 20:21 NKJV
Worship is a powerful weapon, one that can turn the battle in your favour. When King Jehoshaphat faced the combined might of three different armies, he knew he was no match for them. So he turned to God, saying, “We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (v. 12 NKJV). Here’s how God answered him: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v. 15 NKJV). Then God gave him an amazing strategy for victory. He told him to put a choir in front of his army and go into battle singing the praises of God. Can you imagine trying to explain that at West Point or Sandhurst? They’d send you to a psychiatrist. But Jehoshaphat did it: “He appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army.” And if that blows your mind, read this: “When they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated” (v. 22 NKJV). Instead of attacking Judah, the three armies attacked one another. Israel never fired a shot, never took a casualty, and it took them three days to gather the spoils. So when you’re in a battle you can’t win, begin to praise God and the forces of heaven will come to your aid.
Soul food: Ezra 3-5; John 6:35-51; Ps 127; Prov 24:19-22
2019-10-22
Matthew 6:31-32 NLT
If God lives within you, shouldn’t it be obvious? How can you say you trust Him and then worry obsessively about your health, your kids, your job, and your finances? Concern is one thing, but worry is an affront to the God who has never let you down. Paul writes, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT). Pray or worry – those are your options. Why did Jesus say, “Take no thought for tomorrow”? (See Matthew 6:34). Because when you take thought you try to take control. And when that happens peace goes out the window! Worry is like a snowball; it starts small, and as you keep rolling it forward it becomes big enough to bury you. All that’s necessary to keep a stationary train from moving forward are two six-inch blocks of wood, but once it builds up a head of steam it will crash through a six-foot-thick wall. So stop the worry train before it leaves the station! God says, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV). God will give you only what you need for today; that way you have to keep trusting Him for tomorrow. The Bible tells us Jesus is the Good Shepherd who “calls his own sheep by name and…walks ahead of them” (John 10:3-4 NLT). How wonderful. He’s already gone ahead of you to arrange everything. Knowing that should help you face tomorrow, confident that God will take care of you.
Soul food: Ezra 1-2; John 6:25-34; Ps 98; Prov 24:15-18
