2019-01-30
Revelation 22:4-5 NKJV
In order to know how a story ends, you must read the last chapter. And in Revelation chapter 22, the final chapter of the Bible, we read about two glorious prospects that will be enjoyed by every redeemed child of God. Let’s look at them: (1) “They shall see His face.” One of the greatest joys of heaven will be seeing the faces of our departed loved ones and spending eternity with them. But thrilling though that may be, it will not compare with the joy of seeing the face of Jesus, the One we love most. The songwriter said, “Face to face with Christ my Savior, face to face what will it be. When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me.” And that’s not all; read this: “Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2 NKJV). We will see Him, we will be like Him, and we will be with Him forever. How wonderful! (2) “And they shall reign forever and ever.” Just as the test you took in school qualified you to graduate and go out and make a living, the tests and trials of this life are qualifying you to graduate and reign with Christ in the next life. Keep your eyes on the prize. This life is the short story; the next life is the big story – seeing Jesus face to face, and reigning with Him forever.
Soul food: Ecc 9-12; Luke 7:1-10; Ps 107:17-22; Prov 3:21-24
2019-01-29
Mark 4:9 MSG
Studies show we forget 50 percent of what we hear immediately, 80 percent within a day, and 97 percent within a week. So what’s the solution? When you listen, make understanding your goal, not just remembering facts. Great learners are great listeners; that’s why they always have a flow of fresh ideas. The truth is, you’ll never know how close you are to a breakthrough or a blessing until you learn to listen. Be honest. How often have you said you’re going to spend more time listening to the people in your life who matter? Start doing it, because if you don’t show up for life’s “special moments,” before you know it there will be none left to show up for. The people who really listen to us become the most important people in our lives. If you want to be one of them, you must do three things: (1) Look directly at the speaker. Don’t belittle someone by catching up on work, talking on the phone, or tweeting and texting while they’re talking. Focus on them! (2) Don’t interrupt. When you do that, people think you don’t place much value on what they’re saying. Or that you’re trying to impress them with how much you know. Or you’re too excited by what you have to add to the conversation to let them finish. (3) Suspend your judgment. Wait to hear the whole story before you respond. If you don’t, chances are you’ll miss the most important things the speaker has to say. Can you think of anyone you haven’t been listening to lately? The good news is it’s not too late to become a good listener.
Soul food: Ecc 5-8; Luke 6:37-49; Ps 107:10-16; Prov 3:19-20
2019-01-28
Romans 6:1 NKJV
How should we answer those who say that talking too much about God’s grace causes people to think they have a license to sin? By pointing them to God’s Word: “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (vv. 1-2 NKJV). Note the words “died to sin.” As you feed your new nature and starve your old one, it begins to die. You become less interested in pleasing yourself, and more interested in pleasing God. Paul said, “For the love of Christ compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14 NKJV). Paul was not compelled by the fear of losing his salvation, but by the need to respond to God’s grace which he had experienced. He said, “The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14 NAS). The Greek word for “world” is kosmos, or “order.” A revelation of God’s grace caused the world order to lose its appeal to Paul, and he to lose his appeal to them. When properly understood, the grace of God does not prevent godliness, but produces more of it. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14 NKJV).
Soul food: Ecc 1-4; Luke 6:27-36; Ps 107:1-9; Prov 3:13-18
2019-01-27
James 1:8 NKJV
If you’re afraid to make a decision in case it’s wrong, read this Scripture: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally…and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (vv. 5-8 NKJV). President Reagan enjoyed telling the story of how he learned to make firm decisions. When he was a boy, his aunt sent him to a cobbler to have a new pair of shoes made for him. When the shoemaker asked, “Do you want a square toe or a round one?” he hemmed and hawed, so the cobbler said, “Come back in a day or two and tell me what you want.” Later the cobbler saw Reagan on the street and asked what he had decided about the shoes. “I haven’t made up my mind yet,” he answered. “Very well,” the cobbler said, “your shoes will be ready tomorrow.” When Reagan got the shoes, one had a round toe and the other a square toe! Reagan said, “Looking at those shoes every day taught me a lesson. If you don’t make your own decisions, somebody else will make them for you.” Worst case: If you get it wrong, you’ll learn what not to do next time. Bottom line: To succeed in life you must pray for wisdom, and then make a decision.
Soul food: Eze 47:1-12; Rev 21:22-22:5
2019-01-26
Matthew 28:19 NKJV
Unless you are committed to following Christ in every area of your life, baptism just means you go down into the water dry and come up wet and unchanged. Note carefully what Jesus said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (vv. 19-20 NKJV). In baptism you publicly declare that you are trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for your salvation. But it means more than just being immersed in water. It calls for: (1) Being immersed in the principles of Christ. “Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Note the words “all things.” This is not an à la carte menu where you pick what’s palatable to you and leave the rest. Incomplete obedience – is disobedience. (2) Being immersed in the purposes of Christ. “Go…and make disciples.” The new birth can take place in an instant, but discipleship requires that you follow Jesus twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year. (3) Being immersed in the presence of Christ. “Lo, I am with you always.” This calls for cultivating a sense of His presence in all you do. His abiding presence should govern you, motivate you, and focus you on doing His will.
Soul food: Rom 15-16; Luke 6:17-26; Ps 104:24-35; Prov 3:11-12
2019-01-25
Exodus 4:12 NIV
Sometimes we excuse someone’s critical attitude by saying, “Oh, his bark is worse than his bite.” True, a dog’s bite can hurt, but so can a dog’s bark. It can traumatize a child and leave them filled with fear. Think about the comparison; do you want to be likened to a dog? Sometimes it’s necessary to confront someone in order to set healthy boundaries for your own good, or to keep them out of harm’s way. But Jesus spoke with compassion much more often than He spoke with confrontation or condemnation. Writing about her early experience as a believer, Karen Casey Arneson says: “I reentered the kingdom scarred and bleeding, hoping to find healing for my wounds. And I did find some who bathed my bite marks and bound up my old wounds. I also found out there were cannibals in Christendom…though you mightn’t recognize us…we’re the sweetly smiling sisters who bite your back when you turn away…The nosy Nancys who come sniffing around for the scent of some juicy morsel of gossip…God warns, ‘If you bite and devour one another…you [will] be consumed by one another’…Strength to resist our natural appetites comes through satisfying our hunger at another source…The Psalmist says, ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good’ (Psalm 34:8). The nature we feed is the nature that grows strong…and without vigilance we can easily fall into old habits. A little snacking on this one, a little taste of that one…and before we know it – we’ve unleashed the cannibal within. While we’re called to help our brothers and sisters caught in sin, we’re also cautioned to ‘watch…or you also may be tempted’ (See Galatians 6:1 NLT).”
Soul food: Rom 12-14; Luke 6:1-16; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 3:9-10
