2026-01-14
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NCV
Let’s begin with three short stories that spell out the challenge of building a strong and happy marriage. First story: A man was observing a couple and said to his wife, “Look at them, they look so happy.” She said, “Don’t be so sure, they’re probably saying the same thing about us.” Second story: “A woman once said, “My husband and I have a very happy marriage. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him, and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for me. So we’ve gone through life doing nothing for each other.” Third story: A husband told his friend, “My wife and I have decided never to go to bed angry.” His friend asked, “How’s that working?” He replied, “We haven’t slept in a month.”
Seriously, the biggest challenge in marriage is selfishness. When two people each put their own desires and interests first, their relationship is headed for trouble and possibly a divorce court. What’s the answer?
These inspired words were written almost two thousand years ago, but they are still God’s formula for a stable and successful marriage: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. Love never ends… So these three things continue forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love” (vv. 4-8, 13 NCV).
Soul food: Lev 26-27; Luke 2:41-52; Ps 74:12-23; Prov 2:7-8
2026-01-13
Matthew 25:21 NKJV
If you are a purpose-driven person, the thought of spending eternity doing little, or nothing will have no appeal to you. But that’s not the case. When we get to heaven, God is not going to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you can take the rest of eternity off.” No, He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).
There will be “many things” for us to do. We already know that we will be ruling with Christ over this restored earth during His millennial reign (See Revelation 20:6). And Revelation 22:3 says, “His servants shall serve Him.” God will not only have a place for each of us, but a plan. The reason heaven will not be boring is because God is not boring! The psalmist said, “In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11 KJV).
Since we will be in God’s presence, everything we do will bring joy and satisfaction. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has placed eternity in our hearts. That means that God has created within us a space that cannot be satisfied with anything but heaven. We can never comprehend all that God has prepared for us in our heavenly home. And we can’t recreate heaven on earth. But when we opt to prepare for our eternal home that is waiting for us, our earthly focus shifts toward living a life that pleases and honours God and brings others to Him.
Soul food: Lev 23:26-25:55; Luke 2:34-40; Ps 74:1-11; Prov 2:6
2026-01-12
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV
Jesus, who was known in the Bible as “the Great Physician,” spent much of His ministry healing the sick. Read these four Scriptures:
(1) “Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching… preaching the gospel… and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments… and He healed them” (Matthew 4:23-25 NKJV).
(2) “When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them… And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease” (Matthew 9:36; 10:1 NKJV).
(3) “When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well” (Matthew 14:34-36 NKJV).
(4) “A great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon… came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases… And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all” (Luke 6:17-19 NKJV).
Since Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever,” that means you can pray with faith and confidence, believing God to heal you and your loved ones.
Soul food: Lev 21:1-23:25; Luke 2:21-33; Ps 71:17-24; Prov 2:3-5
2026-01-11
1 Chronicles 14:11 NKJV
The Bible says: “The Philistines went and made a raid on the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, saying, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?’ The Lord said to him, ‘Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.’ So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, ‘God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water'” (vv. 9-11 NKJV).
Notice how David likened God’s power to the bursting forth of waters. He is saying that when God shows up and releases His power, it will be like a flood of His goodness, His power, His favour, His healing, His wisdom, His resources, and whatever else you need. Think about how powerful water is: Only a few feet of water can lift a huge car weighing thousands of pounds and push it all around. On the news we have seen entire houses and buildings carried downstream in torrents of water. Nothing can stop it. Nothing is allowed to stand in its way.
And that’s what happens when God gives you a breakthrough and releases a flood of His power on your behalf. And God has not changed. His power has not diminished. “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:17 NKJV). God is able to move on your behalf. And He is willing – so ask Him for a breakthrough.
Soul food: Gal 5:22-23; Neh 8:10; Heb 12:1-2; Jam 1:2-3
2026-01-10
Mark 2:5, 11 NLT
The Bible says: “While he was preaching… four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof… Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man… ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this before!'” (vv. 2-5, 11-12 NLT).
Notice the words “when Jesus saw their faith” (NKJV). Do you have faith God can see? What are you doing to show God, you truly believe Him and are taking Him at His Word? It’s important to pray and believe, but you must also do something to demonstrate your faith. For the four men who carried their sick friend to Jesus, demonstrating their faith meant refusing to let the crowd get in their way, or the roof stop them from getting to Jesus.
Sometimes you are closest to your victory when you face your greatest obstacles or opposition. A lot of people give up too easily. You say, “I’ve tried, but nothing I have done has worked.” You must be more determined than that. If you can’t get through the crowd, climb up and come down through the roof. Be relentless. That’s what these men did, and Jesus rewarded them with a miracle. And when you are willing to demonstrate a determined faith, He can do the same for you too.
Soul food: Lev 18-20; Luke 2:8-20; Ps 71:1-16; Prov 2:1-2
2026-01-09
1 Corinthians 13:12 NCV
When Corrie ten Boom travelled the world sharing her experiences, she would often speak with her head down. She appeared to be reading notes, but she was actually stitching a needlepoint design. When she would finish telling her story of the atrocities she suffered from the Nazis, she would reveal the needlepoint she had been working on.
She would first show the back side, which was just a tangle of coloured threads with no distinct pattern. And she would say, “That’s how we see our lives. Sometimes it makes no sense.” Then she would flip the needlepoint over to unveil the finished side. And she would say, “This is how God views your life, and someday we will have the privilege of seeing it from His point of view.”
Then she would end her talk with this poem written by Grant Colfax Tullar, a minister: “My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me; I cannot choose the colours, He worketh steadily. Oft times He weaveth sorrow and I, in foolish pride, forget He sees the upper, and I the underside. Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly, will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why. The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver’s skillful hand, as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.”
Paul writes, “Now we see a dim reflection, as if we were looking into a mirror, but then we shall see clearly. Now I know only a part, but then I will know fully, as God has known me.”
Soul food: Lev 15-17; Luke 2:1-7; Ps 46; Prov 1:32-33
