2019-03-11
1 John 3:5 NIV
When you refuse to confront your sins and deal with them, you become a well-marked target for the Enemy. And by looking at someone else and saying, “I would never do that,” you fail to build a safeguard against it. “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12 NLT). You never thought you could get that angry, or have an affair, or lie to your boss, or cheat in your finances. And because you never thought you could, you did nothing to protect yourself against it. As sure as fish swim and birds fly, your sinful nature will lead you astray unless you deal with it decisively and scripturally. Paul wrote, “As they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God …[he] gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28 NIV). The worst thing God could do is to give you over to your own carnal impulses and say, “Have it your way!” It’s amazing how we compare our sins with other people’s sins, and conclude ours aren’t as bad. The Bible says, “All have sinned, and come short” (Romans 3:23). If you try to jump over a deep chasm, it doesn’t matter if you miss the other side by one foot or one hundred feet, you fall just as far and land just as hard. But there’s good news: “He was manifested to take away our sins.” Today Jesus will forgive your sins, declare you righteous, and give you strength if you come to Him with a repentant heart and receive His mercy and grace.
Soul food: Job 1-4; Luke 16:1-18; Ps 24; Prov 7:24-25
2019-03-10
Romans 12:2 NLT
Sometimes our culture markets misinformation and half-truths. And since our parents grew up in that culture, they handed us the same guide for interpreting life. As a result we may have arrived at these three mistaken conclusions: (1) There’s a special person out there who will make me happy. Only God can do that! Hurting people only hurt other people. “Out of the abundance of the heart [the] mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45 NKJV). (2) When I attain a certain position or accumulate a specific amount of money, I’ll be happy. That’s the old “as-soon-as” myth, and it breeds a life of discontent (See Luke 12:15). (3) I can’t help it; it’s just the way I am. That’s the “I’m-not-responsible” lie, and it will stop you dead in your tracks. If you want to be happy, examine the excuses you keep coming up with to justify your behavior. Here are a few of them: “I’m not the only one!” So what? If everybody does it, does that mean God doesn’t take it seriously? Like a kind of group-sin? “I don’t see any harm in it.” And who gave you the authority to write the rules and play God? “I’ll just try it once.” So if you just try it once, does that mean there’ll be no consequences? What are the lies behind your excuses? Examine them. They’re keeping you in spiritual bondage, and they must be unearthed and removed! The Bible calls this “renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Jesus said once you know the truth, your old belief systems will be exposed and you’ll be set free (See John 8:32). Imagine being free to become all God wants you to be! Isn’t that worth pursuing?
Soul food: Ps 51; Mark 8:34-38
2019-03-09
Zechariah 7:11 NIV
Accept it – some people simply aren’t ready to change! They’ll demand your time and energy, but when you get right down to it, they won’t pay the price for progress. Who are they? (1) People who want to talk but not listen. James speaks about two kinds of people – hearers and doers. “Be…doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). Instead of striving endlessly to meet other people’s needs, try to connect them to the One who can. They should be dependent on the Lord, not you. (2) People who don’t think you’re qualified to help them. Jesus wasn’t respected in His hometown, yet He was the very person they needed (See John 1:11-12). Opportunity doesn’t always knock; sometimes it stands by, waiting to be recognized! When people are unwilling to accept your help and advice, chances are they may not be ready to grow and deal with their problems. (3) People who want what you have, but not what you know. These folks want to be rescued but not instructed; comforted but not corrected. And when you keep bailing them out instead of teaching them how to live, you’re not really helping them. David said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Psalm 119:71). Often people have to experience the pain of what’s wrong before they appreciate the wisdom of what’s right. So when it comes to helping people – be discerning.
Soul food: Exo 39-40; Luke 15:11-32; Ps 135; Prov 7:21-23
2019-03-08
Jeremiah 32:33 NIV
There are people you can’t help – at least not right now. Notice what God said about the Israelites: “Though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond.” Now, if God Himself can’t help them, what chance do you have? Let’s look at these people who usually can’t be helped: (1) People who keep making excuses. Excuses are a crutch for lack of commitment and a smoke-screen for self-justification. You can’t help someone until they’re willing to take responsibility for their life and apply the solutions of Scripture. Think: If they won’t listen to God, what difference will your opinion make? (2) People who move in the wrong circles. The Bible says, “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT). There are people who simply don’t belong in your life, and you can’t move forward until you break the link that connects you. The company you keep influences your conduct and character, and those two things decide your future. (3) People who blame God for their problems. When trouble comes, they ask, “Why did God allow this to happen to me?” The fact is, you’ll never see God as your solution until you stop seeing Him as your problem. God laid it on the line for His people: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). If you want to keep from getting discouraged, love people and pray for them, but spend your time with those who are willing to be helped.
Soul food: Exo 36-38; Luke 15:1-10; Ps 27; Prov 7:10-20
2019-03-07
Hebrews 10:20 TLB
In the Old Testament there were more religious laws than anybody could possibly keep: over six hundred. And every time you failed, you had to offer an animal sacrifice as atonement. This resulted in people trying and failing; feeling guilty and trying harder; failing again and making more sacrifices. It was a never-ending cycle. Then Jesus came and opened up “the fresh, new, life-giving way…for us” to have a relationship with God. His way included forgiveness for sin, and the replacement of sacrifices with faith in Him. For many it was just too good to be true, so they kept working and trying to impress God with their goodness. Are you doing that? One Christian author writes: “I lived that way for years. It meant having to do everything perfectly; otherwise I was in trouble with God. Since this was an impossible standard to keep, it stole all my peace and joy. While I was trying to walk in love, I wasn’t a very loving person. I couldn’t give others what I didn’t know how to receive myself! I wasn’t receiving God’s mercy for my failures; therefore I couldn’t offer it to anybody else. I tried to follow all the rules, many that weren’t even scriptural – just things to feel guilty about. But thank God I don’t have to live that way anymore. Now I’m not working to be saved, I’m working because I am saved! My salvation isn’t based on what I do, but solely on what Jesus has done for me.” When you understand this truth, your relationship with God is no longer a job – it’s a joy.
Soul food: Exo 33-35; Luke 14:25-35; Ps 112; Prov 7:6-9
2019-03-06
Philippians 1:23 NIV
Imagine boarding a plane for your dream vacation when suddenly the pilot announces, “Welcome aboard. After take-off we’ll serve you a wonderful meal and do all we can to make your flight enjoyable. However, I need to tell you – we have no destination. That’s right; we’re just going to keep flying until we run out of fuel and drop into the ocean.” No matter how wonderful the journey is, what’s the point if there’s no destination? God’s Word says, “If our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world” (1 Corinthians 15:19 NLT). Thank God there’s more! It’s called heaven. And it’s “better by far” than anything we’ve experienced in this life. If you’re wondering what we’ll do when we get there, the Bible says we’ll serve the Lord (See Revelation 22:3). You won’t be issued a halo, a long woolly robe, and a harp, and be assigned to sit on a cloud and strum for all eternity. No, we’ll each serve the Lord in different capacities. Think of it: no midlife crisis, no downsizing, and no burnout. On earth we fail, we get tired, we get frustrated, and our motives are mixed. But not there! Can you imagine serving the One you love most, doing the thing you enjoy most, and doing it in a body that’s forever energized? That’s heaven! And the ultimate bliss will be seeing Jesus face to face. “I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Psalm 17:15).
Soul food: Exo 30-32; Luke 14:15-24; Ps 106:24-48; Prov 7:3-5
