2019-11-06
Joshua 4:21 NIV
One of the most effective ways to teach is through “teaching moments.” Jesus did that. When a fig tree didn’t produce fruit, He cursed it and it immediately withered up. That got the disciples’ attention (See Matthew 21:18-22 NKJV). Then He explained that unless you stay filled with God’s Spirit, you won’t be fruitful in His service. He could have taught this same lesson in the synagogue. But then His listeners would’ve had to imagine a fig tree, and the message would have been diluted depending on the ability of the hearer. When three drunken high school students crashed their car into a tree, the wreck sat in front of their school for several days. Every day the students had to look at it. That’s called a “high-impact teaching moment.” They say timing is everything. That’s certainly true when it comes to learning the important lessons in life, so don’t miss them! If you’re a parent, it’s futile to constantly “preach” at your kids. If you’re a leader, it’s a mistake to keep “lecturing” the people who are answerable to you. Let the experience speak! Then ask for their thoughts, and listen without interjecting! People learn more through discovery than dialogue. That’s why God instructed Joshua to build a monument of twelve stones on the other side of Jordan after He miraculously parted its waters so they could cross over (See Joshua 4:1-9). What He was really saying was, “When your children ask what this monument is all about, use it as a teaching moment about My love and faithfulness.” So look for the teaching moments in life – and use them.
Soul food: 1 Chr 12:23-15:29; John 9:1-12; Ps 68; Prov 25:21-22
2019-11-05
Luke 17:10 NKJV
If you have a tendency to remind people of all the good things you do and the sacrifices you make, read what Jesus said: “When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say…’We have done what was our duty to do.'” We all deserve recognition for the good we do, and we thrive on appreciation. But lots of times we don’t get it, so we’re left with three choices: (1) We can succumb to self-pity and go around complaining about how the world doesn’t treat us right or give us a fair shake. (2) We can give way to resentment, walk around with a chip on our shoulder, and end up wondering why people don’t want to be around us. (3) We can adopt the attitude Jesus taught and say, “I’m only doing what God expects of me. And knowing He is pleased with me is reward enough.” If you try to run on the fuel of other people’s encouragement and praise, when it doesn’t come you’ll have no joy. And that’s bad because “the joy of the Lord [the joy that comes from knowing you walk under the smile of His approval] is your strength” (Ne 8:10). Living this way will make you a self-starter and a successful finisher. And when that happens, you’ll find favour at home and on the job, and end up with more friends than you know what to do with. Plus your real reward, the one that matters most, is guaranteed when you stand before the Master one day and hear the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
Soul food: 1 Chr 10:1-12:22; John 8:42-59; Ps 49; Prov 25:18-20
2019-11-04
Luke 6:28 NKJV
Night after night, Mary was beaten by her father when he came home from the bar in a drunken rage. So the first chance she got, she left home. Given time, most physical scars begin to heal, but emotional scars can last a lifetime. They can keep you stuck in the pain of the past and cost you valuable relationships. Even the people who love you can grow weary and despair that you’ll ever get better despite their efforts to help you. Do you know someone like that? Are you that someone? Do you want to move toward healing and find joy? You can. Mary found it when she decided to forgive her dad and start praying for him. That’s when she started to become spiritually and emotionally whole. And she kept on forgiving him and praying for him until her old memories no longer held her prisoner. Jesus said, “Pray for those who spitefully use you.” The word “spiteful” implies you did nothing to cause or deserve it, that your offender hurt you for reasons you may never understand. That’s why Jesus prayed on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 NKJV). That doesn’t let your offender off the hook. They will live with the guilt of what they did, and unless they turn to God for forgiveness they’ll have no peace. But you will have peace! When you decide to forgive someone and pray for them, you take back your power and reclaim your life.
Soul food: 1 Chr 7:20-9:44; John 8:31-41; Ps 30; Prov 25:13-17
2019-11-03
1 John 2:27 NKJV
The word “anoint” means “to pour on and rub in.” In the Old Testament a priest had oil poured over his head, symbolizing the Spirit of God resting on him as he carried out his duties each day. Now fast-forward to the age we are living in and read it again: “The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you.” The word “abide” simply means “to take up residence and live in.” In other words, you’re a container for God’s Spirit. And when His Spirit lives within you, it affects every area of your life. Try to imagine the advantage this gives you when it comes to your relationships, your career, your health, your decisions, your struggles, your marriage, and your ministry. Imagine what it does when you’re under stress and handling overwhelming problems. And furthermore, the anointing of God’s Spirit that “abides” in you is transferable to others. When you speak scriptural words of kindness and encouragement to someone, those words are still at work long after you’re gone because they’re infused with the presence of God. In the Old Testament, God told Moses, “You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations'” (Exodus 30:31 NKJV). “Generations!” That means your children and grandchildren can be anointed with God’s Spirit too. The psalmist said, “I shall be anointed with fresh oil” (Psalm 92:10). Every morning when you wake up, pray, “Lord, anoint me afresh today.” Then go out and touch others with that anointing!
Soul food: Gen 5:22-24; Heb 11:5; 2 Ki 2:1-12; Acts 1:9-11
2019-11-02
Mark 11:23 NKJV
Jesus said: “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (vv. 23-24 NKJV). Now, Jesus didn’t relocate any physical mountains during His ministry, so what was He talking about here? The problems we face in life! And notice something important: He talks only once about our need for “faith” – and three times about our need to “speak” His Word. Why? Because if you don’t have enough faith to move your mouth and speak God’s Word, you won’t have enough faith to move your mountain! The Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV). Something wonderful happens when you verbalize God’s Word. Your ears hear it, your mind is renewed, your focus is changed, and the thing God responds to – faith – rises up within you. And when you hold that position of faith, refuse to budge, and keep speaking God’s Word, the mountain in your life starts to shift. As long as you keep saying what you think and feel in your natural mind, the mountain will keep standing like an immovable object. But when you stand on God’s promise and declare, “I may not know how or when, but I know you’re coming down in the name of Jesus,” your mountain will move!
Soul food: 1 Chr 6:1-7:19; John 8:21-30; Ps 86; Prov 25:8-12
2019-11-01
Acts 26:17 NKJV
Paul’s ministry began when he met Jesus on the Damascus Road. In that humbling encounter, the Lord said to him: “Rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and…things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light” (vv. 16-18 NKJV). Before Paul could be successful in his calling and minister effectively, he had to be delivered from the fear of people. That included those who knew him well, and those he had yet to meet who didn’t know him at all. He had to be detoxed from the need for people’s approval. In essence, God was saying to Paul, “You’re just the mailman. Some days people will like what you deliver, other days they won’t. You have to deliver the mail anyway. So I’m setting you free from the fear of their rejection and the need for their acceptance.” Has God called you to do a particular job? Are you afraid you’ll make mistakes? Count on it – you will! Are you worried you’ll be criticized? It comes with the turf! People will disappoint you in 101 different ways, but if you’re determined to do the will of God, pray, “Lord, deliver me from people pleasing, so I can share with them what You’ve given to me.” Then get on with the job!
Soul food: 1 Chr 17:1-20; Heb 11:4-12:3; Ps 18:20-29; Prov 4:18
