2019-08-09
1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
When William Carey first began considering the possibility of going to India as a pioneer missionary, his father pointed out that he possessed no academic qualifications for the job. Carey answered, “I can plod.” And he did. When he went to India this was his typical day: He arose at 5:45 a.m. to read a chapter in the Hebrew Bible and have private devotions. At 7:00 a.m. he led family prayers in Bengali, read Persian with a tutor, and a portion of Scripture in Hindustani. After breakfast he translated Sanskrit into English. At 10:00 a.m. he went to college to teach until 2:00 p.m., then translated into Bengali until dinner time. After an early supper, he translated into Sanskrit and studied the Telugu language until he preached to an English congregation at 7:30 p.m. About 9:00 p.m. he returned to translating for two hours, wrote to a friend in England, read a chapter from his Greek New Testament, and then finally went to bed. Carey is credited with doing more than anyone else in taking the message of Christ to India and establishing the church there. And he did it because he was a plodder! Here are two Scriptures plodders stand on: (1) “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9 NKJV). (2) “My dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT). These Scriptures could be reduced to five words: Keep plodding and you’ll succeed.
Soul food: Judg 1-3; Matt 15:29-39; Ps 119:49-56; Prov 17:18-21
2019-08-08
Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
Five times in one chapter, Genesis 39, the Bible says, “The Lord was with Joseph.” But that didn’t exempt him from jealousy and betrayal, or the advances of Potiphar’s wife, or her lies that sent him to prison. The Bible says, “They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character” (Psalm 105:18-19 NLT). Joseph didn’t know it, but he was in training for reigning. God wanted to see if he would choose trust over lust, and obedience over expedience. It’s in looking back that you realize why one of God’s names is “Redeemer.” He can redeem everything you’ve been through – the good, the bad, and the ugly. The lesson Joseph learned is this: God is with you even when there is no evidence He is. He is walking alongside you. He is working with you. He is going ahead of you to rearrange circumstances in your favor. His Word says, “‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So that we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV). But sometimes in the plan of God things get worse before they get better. That’s when you must tighten your grip and lean harder on God: “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:35-36 NKJV).
Soul food: Ruth 1-4; Matt 15:15-28; Ps 119:41-48; Prov 17:17
2019-08-07
Psalm 42:2 NIV
What comes to mind when you think of the word godliness? Religious rules and regulations? Christians who point fingers and say, “Thou shalt not”? Little wonder so many people avoid us! Is godliness even possible in an age of interstate drivers and internet shoppers? Or do we need to return to the days of Little House on the Prairie in order to be godly? The fact is godliness isn’t a culture, it’s an attitude of the heart. It has little to do with how a person looks (although that’s hard for some of us to see beyond), or what they drive or own. It has nothing to do with our personal preferences and the standards some of us would like to impose on others. The Bible says, “[People] look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). Godliness is an inside job. And the longer you think about it, the more convinced you become that a truly godly person is one whose heart is sensitive to God, who takes God and His Word seriously, and who desires more of Him. David cried, “My soul thirsts for God.” That’s it! You can be rich or poor, young or old, urban or rural, follower or leader, active or quiet, married or single, Democrat or Republican – none of that matters. What matters is having a longing to know God intimately, to obey Him, and walk with Him. So ask yourself, “Do I want to be godly?” And if you don’t like the answer, get down on your knees and ask God to change your heart and attitude.
Soul food: Obad; 2 John; Matt 15:1-14; Ps 119:33-40; Prov 17:16
2019-08-06
Jeremiah 32:17 NIV
God can solve any problem because He is not bound by human limitations: (1) He is not limited by time. God can do in an instant what would normally take years. “He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly” (Psalm 147:15 NIV). He can speed up the natural process of your healing; He can accelerate your harvest of blessing so that you’ll be sowing with one hand and reaping with the other (See Amos 9:13). (2) He is not limited by lack. When the Israelites left Egypt, God instructed them to borrow the silver and gold of their taskmasters. That’s because the Egyptians owed them 400 years’ back pay with interest! And when they obeyed God, He broke their chains of lack and they got back everything that had been stolen from them. Whatever Satan has taken from you, God can restore and more (Zechariah 9:12). (3) He is not limited by the Enemy. Moses told the Israelites, “The Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever” (Exodus 14:13 NKJV). How does God deal with Satan’s power? By increasing yours! “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, but he couldn’t push Him over – and he can’t push you over the edge either. So use God’s Word and stand up to him! (4) He is not limited by anything but doubt. He made an axe-head float, a donkey talk, and a corpse come back to life after four days, so you don’t have a problem He can’t solve. So rise up and declare, “Nothing is too hard for You.”
Soul food: 1 Pet 1-5; Matt 14:22-36; Ps 119:25-32; Prov 17:11-15
2019-08-05
John 14:2 NLT
A lady ordered two bouquets of flowers, one for a friend who was relocating his business and the other for the funeral of a friend who had just died. Unfortunately, the florist mixed up the orders. As a result, the friend relocating his business received flowers with a note saying “In deepest sympathy,” while the deceased’s flowers came with a card saying, “Congratulations on your new location!” Redeemed child of God, one day you’ll hear the words, “Congratulations on your new location.” Heaven isn’t “a state of mind” or celestial cyberspace. It’s a prepared place for a prepared people. The Bible talks of “the whole family in heaven and earth” (Ephesians 3:15). Perhaps someone you’ve loved and lost is waiting for you there and you’re looking forward to seeing them again. Perhaps you’re wondering if we’ll know each other. Yes! Would we know less in heaven than we knew on earth? No. Paul says, “Then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Not only will we know each other, but we’ll eat together and enjoy one another for all eternity. Imagine fabulous food with no cholesterol! No disease. And best of all, no heartache, for God Himself will “wipe away all tears…and there shall be no more death…sorrow…crying, nor pain. All of that…gone forever” (Revelation 21:4 TLB). Have you come to the place in life where you know for sure that if you died today you’d go to heaven? You can have that assurance by placing your trust in the One who paid for all your sins – and offers you the gift of eternal life.
Soul food: Deut 32:29-34:12; Matt 14:13-21; Ps 119:17-24; Prov 17:7-10
2019-08-04
Proverbs 23:7 NLT
Until Roger Bannister came on the scene in 1954, some experts said it was physically impossible to break the four-minute mile. The thinking was, if it hasn’t been done, it’s because it can’t be done. But Bannister not only did it, he started a new trend. History continues to prove that records are made to be broken. And with God on your side, your chances for success go through the roof! Paul said, “I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ” (Philippians 4:13 TLB). Have you ever seen trained fleas in a jar? You don’t need a lid to keep them in. That’s because when the trainer first places them in the jar, he puts the lid on it, and the fleas jump up and down frantically hitting their heads against it. Finally after a lot of headaches, they stop jumping and settle in to enjoy their newfound comfort. Now when the lid is removed the fleas are held captive by a mindset that says, “So high and no higher.” What a picture! Jesus said He came to “set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18). Bruised by what? By past mistakes, by harsh criticism, by crippling fears, by wrong teaching, by physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual handicaps. In other words, Jesus came to help you take the lid off your thinking! No matter how bad your past is, the future He has in mind is better – and it is worth pursuing and fighting for.
Soul food: 1 Sam 17:4-51; Eph 6:10-18
