2019-10-03
Nehemiah 6:6 NIV
The only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing. When you attempt anything of value or significance, people are going to talk about you. Nehemiah’s enemies tried to stop him from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem by using gossip and innuendo: “It is reported among the nations – and Geshem says it is true…Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!'” (vv. 6-7 NIV). Notice, no source was given of the accusations against Nehemiah. “It is reported.” Always be prepared when someone comes to you and says something like this: “I heard…” or “somebody said…” or “the word on the street is…” Never receive a criticism from someone who is bringing it on behalf of someone else, someone they won’t even name, someone who won’t say it to your face. Not even slander could keep Nehemiah from the work he was doing. Note how he responded: “I sent him this reply: ‘Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head'” (v. 8 NIV). In other words: “I don’t care what you think, or say, or like. I’m going to keep building this wall until the job is done.” And that must be your attitude too. Most of the time your friends don’t need an explanation, and your enemies wouldn’t believe one if you held them at gunpoint. So stay focused and get the job done.
Soul food: 2 Sam 1:1-3:21; John 1:29-42; Ps 131; Prov 23:1-3
2019-10-02
Matthew 6:7 NLT
Here’s what Jesus taught about prayer: “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.” Then He gave us two specific instructions. First: “Shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private” (v. 6 NLT). Second: “Your Father knows exactly what you need…before you ask him” (v. 8 NLT). Heartfelt prayer isn’t meant for human ears. In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this way: “Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play.” In heartfelt prayer the Holy Spirit brings to the surface things you’ve carefully hidden from others, and even yourself. Like a mirror, He confronts you with the truth and demands that you confess “the hidden things of dishonesty” (2 Corinthians 4:2). Once you’ve done that you can leave God’s presence cleansed, corrected, confident, and clear as to His will. Nothing fuels heartfelt prayer like real need. It causes both the prominent and obscure to acknowledge, “Lord, without you I can do nothing. Indeed anything I could accomplish without you would mean nothing!” This is the place of naked prayer. Hannah was there when she cried to God for a child. She was so passionate that Eli the high priest thought she was drunk (See 1 Samuel 1:13). But God heard her cry. That day, Samuel was conceived in her heart, and shortly thereafter he was conceived in her womb. So don’t leave the place of prayer until you conceive, until the embryo of God’s purpose for your life starts to take form within you, and your vision is born.
Soul food: Eph 4:17-6:24; John 1:14-28; Ps 29; Prov 22:26-29
2019-10-01
Exodus 3:4 NLT
Never judge a person’s potential by what they appear to be right now. Moses, one of history’s greatest leaders, was tending sheep when God called him. There’s not a corporate headhunter who would have hired him. But don’t judge him yet – he’s just between jobs. God is about to talk to him and change his life. If you’re tired of listening to everybody else’s opinions, get alone with God. He will show you things that can change your future (See Jeremiah 33:3). At age sixty-five, after running a restaurant for several years, Colonel Sanders found himself penniless. All he had was a Social Security check of $105 a month, a recipe for fried chicken, and a vision he refused to give up on. As a result he built the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise, became a multimillionaire and a devoted Christian philanthropist. The point is: It’s not over until God says it’s over! Moses nearly burned out trying to do things his own way. Then God showed up in a fire that Moses neither started nor maintained. In essence God said, “Look at this burning bush; it’s going to be you. In my strength you’ll stand before Pharaoh. The Red Sea will give way before the power that’s at work in you. I’ll give you manna in the wilderness. I’ll strengthen and sustain you all the way to your destiny.” Whatever you’re doing today, stop! Get alone with God and say, “I will now turn aside and listen to You,” (See Exodus 3:3). Once you’ve heard what He wants to tell you, your life will never be the same.
Soul food: Eph 1:1-4:16; John 1:1-13; Ps 92; Prov 22:24-25
2019-09-30
2 Corinthians 6:8 NLT
Kelli B. Trujillo writes: “‘I’m not your servant!’ I half-grunted, half-spoke to one of my kids as I got on my hands and knees to pick up pasta he’d decided to deposit on the floor…Then a thought struck me: I sure hope Jesus didn’t hear me say that! Unfortunately, this attitude towards servanthood extends beyond cleaning the floor. Most of the time, serving others just rubs me the wrong way. If it’s some extra-meaningful project where you can practically hear the soundtrack of inspirational, feel-good music…and experience a rush about how great you are…it’s not difficult. But what about the service Jesus talked about…that involves getting no credit…and waging a battle against your selfish impulses?” Harry E. Fosdick said, “No steam drives anything until it’s confined. No Niagara is turned into power until it’s tunneled. No life grows great until it’s focused, dedicated and disciplined.” Serving “Jesus-style” means saying, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20 NIV). Paul was jailed, whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, and robbed, yet he said: “We serve God whether people honor…despise…slander…or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others” (2 Corinthians 6:8-10 NLT). The Bible says Jesus “for the joy set before him endured the cross…and sat down at the right hand…of God” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV). And that same Spirit enables you to serve others by drawing on His strength.
Soul food: Num 29:1-6; Matt 24; Rev 11:15-19; 1 Cor 15:50-58
2019-09-29
Job 14:7 NIV
It takes God’s wisdom to find a mate who can fit where you are and go where you’re going. If you choose damaged material, you’ll get disappointing results. And when a family shatters, the wounds can last a lifetime even though the war is over. Please hear this: Never use your children as ammunition to hurt one another! Ammunition doesn’t just destroy the target, it also gets destroyed in the process. Your monologue of bitterness may be true, but it can destroy your child’s ability to build healthy relationships of their own. After all, if they can’t trust a parent, who can they trust? Even if you can’t save the relationship, save them. Job says, “There is hope for a tree: if it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.” How wonderful – new shoots born out of a dead tree! That’s our message; there is life after death! He’s the God of second chances and new beginnings. Just because your dreams didn’t come true doesn’t mean your children’s dreams won’t. If the only thing that comes from your relationship is a healthy, well-adjusted child, you’re still a winner! Solomon says without a vision we perish (See Proverbs 29:18). And your children are your vision. They speak of your future, so give them extra love and stability. Teach them what God says about life. Work at it for their sakes. If the “new shoots” are lost along with the tree, all those years are wasted. So protect the “new shoots.”
Soul food: Ezek 37:1-14; Matt 27:50-53; 1 Thes 4:13-18
2019-09-28
1 Peter 5:5-7 NLT
Somebody quipped, “The trouble with success is that the formula is the same as the one for a nervous breakdown.” The Bible gives us the real formula for successful living. It encompasses three areas: authority, attitude, and assurance. “Accept the authority of the elders…humble yourselves under the mighty power of God…Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Let’s look at each of the three areas: (1) Submit yourself to those who are wise. Listen to their counsel, become accountable, accept reproof, take suggestions, respect experience, and follow a worthy example. Only when you can take advice will you be qualified to give it. Only when you respect and submit to leadership will you be qualified to lead others. (2) Humble yourself. In Scripture the “hand” of God symbolizes two things: His discipline and His deliverance. When you humble yourself before Him, you’re accepting His discipline as being for your good. You’re also acknowledging His willingness to answer your cry for help and deliver you by whatever means He chooses. (3) Throw yourself on God’s mercy and care. Trouble and disappointment will surely come, and when they do you need to throw yourself on the Lord. The situation may be too big for you, but it’s never too big for Him. Does that mean there’s no place for planning, goal-setting, and hard work? No, it just means you’re willing to do things God’s way, which is always best.
Soul food: 1 Sam 27-31; Matt 28:11-20; Ps 63; Prov 22:17-23
