2018-10-30
Ephesians 4:25 NKJV
Peacemakers: Peacemakers thrive when life is calm. They love the verse: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity” (Psalm 133:1 NIV). They make excellent therapists and mediators, and can usually bring reconciliation to families, neighborhoods, and workplaces. But sometimes they’re inclined to seek peace at any price, use their relational skills to blend in, and avoid taking the initiative or assuming risks because of their undue attachment to comfort and security. They often suffer from “terminal niceness” when courage is what’s really required. Abraham is a great illustration of a peacemaker. When he and his nephew Lot began to prosper, a feud broke out between their herdsmen because the land was too small to accommodate all their cattle. Realizing it could split the family, Abraham took action, dealt with the problem, and saved the relationship. On the other hand, when King Abimelech saw Abraham’s wife, Sarah, and wanted to make her part of his harem, Abraham, fearing for his life, acted like a coward and said, “She is my sister” (Genesis 20:2 NIV). It’s critical to recognize your pattern sins so you can deal with them effectively. Jesus warned about those who go around taking specks out of other people’s eyes, while failing to notice the “log” in their own (See Matthew 7:3). Your pattern sin is so appealing that it’s your biggest danger, and it’s so close to you that you’re apt not to see it. David prayed, “Cleanse…me from secret faults. Keep…thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me” (Psalm 19:12-13 KJV).
Soul food: Isa 26-29; John 7:1-13; Ps 114; Prov 28:1-4
2018-10-29
1 Thessalonians 2:7 NIV
Commanders: Commanders were created to understand power and leadership, to know how it works, and feel a natural pull toward it. If this describes you, an image of strength is important to you. You have a need to lead. Opposition actually energizes you. Winston Churchill was a commander easily bored by agreement, and whose greatest moments were inspired by opposition. He had a running battle with Lady Nancy Astor, who once said to him, “Winston, if you were my husband, I’d poison your tea.” To which Churchill famously replied, “Nancy, if I were your husband, I’d drink it!” When Adolph Hitler came to power in Germany, Churchill found the formidable enemy he’d been waiting for his whole life. And he rose to the challenge. Without good leadership nothing gets accomplished. But power can become an end in itself, and you can become frustrated when you’re not getting your own way. Indeed, other people may feel intimidated about speaking up when they don’t agree with you. And when that happens you may have compliance, but you don’t have love, loyalty, or respect. God help a leader who has no leader, and those who follow him or her! Responsibility without accountability produces instability. Only when you surround yourself with people who have 20/20 vision to compensate for your blind spots, can you see your tendency to use people and employ fear and intimidation to get your own way. Paul, a great leader, wrote, “We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her children.” When it comes to great leadership, there are two words that go hand in hand – “gentleness” and “greatness.”
Soul food: Isa 22-25; John 6:52-71; Ps 127; Prov 27:25-27
2018-10-28
Romans 12:10 NIV
Enthusiasts: Enthusiasts are the life and soul of the party. They’re apt to have a gift for storytelling – and they like to talk about themselves. If you try to talk to them about their problems, they may listen to you at first, but they are like Teflon – it doesn’t seem to stick. Author John Ortberg tells of being in a restaurant with a friend, and every time they ordered something their server said, “Superb,” or “Excellent choice,” or “Brilliant.” When Ortberg asked her, “Do you ever say, ‘That was really stupid,’ or ‘That’s going to taste terrible’?” She replied, “No, in the kitchen we actually have a list of affirmations, and every time somebody orders something we have to give them one of those affirmations.” Well, enthusiasts don’t need a list of affirmations because they are always saying things like “awesome,” “wow,” “fabulous,” or “great.” Sometimes they can go for years without seeing the pain and darkness in other people, or even in themselves. They’re also tempted to make life revolve around their pursuit of positive feelings – the desire for gratification – and they can be miserable when they’re not getting enough attention. So, what’s the answer? (1) Address your need to be the center of attention. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (2) Address your reluctance to deal with pain or unpleasant situations. It’s a trait that can lead to isolation and addiction. “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10 NIV).
Soul food: Ruth 1:8-18; Ruth 2:5-12; Ruth 3:1-6; Ruth 4:9-13
2018-10-27
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
Loyalists: Loyalists love to be part of a great team. When the chips are down, you can count on them. They crave a cause to which they can give themselves, and want to be part of a group they can believe in. At their best, loyalists help everyone else become better. They’re usually quite bright and articulate, although they may not always volunteer their thoughts. They can become cynical when they feel let down – which is inevitable at times. That’s why the Bible has so much to say about showing grace and extending forgiveness to each other. When twelve-steppers use the term “the God of your understanding,” they’re referring to your personal perception of God. Loyalists often perceive God as hard to please, so their signature sin is fear. Jesus told of three servants who were each given a sum of money to invest. The first two invested wisely, bringing profit to their master and pleasing him. But the third, afraid of failing and incurring his master’s displeasure, buried his talent in the ground (See Matthew 25:14-30). The “takeaway” in Christ’s parable is that God reserves His harshest judgment not for those who try and fail, but for those who fail to try because they give in to fear. Someone estimated that there are 365 “fear nots” in Scripture; that’s one for every day of the year. If God designed a bumper sticker it might read, “Fear not.” So don’t be afraid – He’s with you today!
Soul food: Isa 17-21; John 6:35-51; Ps 98; Prov 27:23-24
2018-10-26
Psalm 119:59 NKJV
Thinkers: Thinkers like to know – everything. They’re the investigators, scientists, and inventors among us. They love to discover truths no one else has uncovered, and master bodies of knowledge, skills, and hobbies on their own. They have amazing memories when it comes to retaining information about things they’re interested in. On the minus side, thinkers can be introverted; they enjoy having their own space. So what’s the sin that can “so easily trip up” a thinker? (a) Insensitivity to others. Sometimes thinkers love being right more than they love the people around them. And they’re not always comfortable expressing emotion or affection. They’re inclined to express their feelings indirectly or through gestures, so it can feel like they’re takers and not givers. They don’t like to lose arguments, and they don’t like to be interrupted. They enjoy solitude for hours on end – even days. That doesn’t mean they’re more spiritual than the rest of us; it just means they have a lower need for community and connection. The problem is we weren’t created to fly solo. You can only grow spiritually as you give to others and are willing to receive from them. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35 NIV). (b) Thinkers often struggle with the concept of “faith.” That doesn’t make them bad people; most are honest doubters. Faith and reason aren’t necessarily opposed, but when reason won’t take you another step, faith in God enables you to keep going. Life will hand you situations that reason alone can’t resolve – that’s when you need faith in God.
Soul food: Isa 12-16; John 6:25-34; Ps 85; Prov 27:20-22
2018-10-25
1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV
Artists: Artists not only love beauty and see it in places others don’t, they’re uniquely gifted to create it. They express their individuality in bold ways that enrich us all. They bring color and flair to a world that would otherwise be drab. But since none of us can live in the ideal world of our imagination, artists are sometimes ill equipped to live in the real world with its problems and pressures. The same sensitivity that makes them creative often enslaves them to emotional swings that put people off, and ends up destroying the artist himself. From Ernest Hemingway to Elvis Presley, the history books tell the story. King David was artistic. He was a gifted poet, dancer, and composer of many songs. But his inability to control his impulses culminated in an affair that led to murder and the devastation of his family. Understand one thing: Every strength God gives you has a corresponding weakness that must be identified and handled in the right way. The more talented you are, the more disciplined you must be. Paul was wise enough to recognize his own proclivities: “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest…when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (KJV). The last few decades have proven that even people God gifted to build great churches and lead great ministries aren’t immune to temptation. Where there is great talent – there is great temptation. Where do sheep find their greatest safety? By sticking close to the shepherd. Today, do that!
Soul food: Isa 8-11; John 6:1-24; Ps 126; Prov 27:17-19
