2018-09-12
Galatians 6:4 CEV
Nothing will destroy your peace of mind faster than comparing. It shows a lack of understanding and makes you “behave unwisely” (2 Corinthians 10:12 AMPC). Cain measured himself against his brother Abel, and it ended in murder. When the disciples compared notes to see who among them would suffer and who would be spared, Jesus told them, “That is not your business” (John 21:23 NCV). Observe: (1) Comparisons can make you feel superior, which leads to pride. Remember the Pharisee who made a great show of thanking God because he was better than everybody else? (See Luke 18:11). Pride was Satan’s downfall; that’s why he loves it when you struggle in the same trap. (2) Comparisons can make you feel inferior, which leads to low self-esteem and keeps you focused on yourself. You overlook the truth that “God doesn’t play favorites” (Acts 10:34 GWT) and start believing He’s withholding things that are rightfully yours. Society creates a sense of entitlement; then Satan reminds you of all the people who’ve already attained what you want, which propels you further down the road to discontentment. Anne Peterson says: “Satan’s lies have a little truth mixed in, which makes them harder to recognize. We need to refute them by saturating ourselves with the truth…it’s only by learning the Scriptures that we can sort them out.” (3) We attempt to bring God down to our level by comparing how He’s working now with how He worked in the past. Stop trying to figure God out, and trust Him! “The way [God] work[s] surpasses the way you work, and the way [He] think[s] is beyond the way you think” (Isaiah 55:9 TM). Instead of comparing, start using and appreciating what God has blessed you with.
Soul food: Col 1-2; Luke 20:41-47; Ps 78:1-8; Prov 23:19-21
2018-09-11
Philippians 2:7 NLT
Jerusalem was surrounded by walls, and one of the ways into it was through Valley Gate. When Nehemiah rebuilt the walls, we’re told: “The people…rebuilt Valley Gate” (Nehemiah 3:13 CEV). In the Christian life there has to be a place for both “mountaintop experiences” and “valley experiences.” Let’s take another look at a well-known Scripture: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles [that’s elevation]; they shall run, and not be weary [that’s acceleration]; and they shall walk, and not faint [that’s duration]” (Isaiah 40:31 KJV). And when you don’t have the strength to do any of these things, Paul says, “Having done all…stand” (Ephesians 6:13 KJV). There’s a season in your life for all these experiences and you must embrace it. The Bible says Jesus “took the humble position…Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor” (vv. 7-9 NLT). Luke records that Jesus “took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them” (Luke 24:30 KJV). Blessed and broken – that’s still God’s pattern. Why? So you can handle His blessings and remain humble. You’re in trouble when you’re more conscious of your image than of your need for God. That’s why He allows you to walk through situations that bring you to the place of utter dependence on Him. You have to be taken, blessed, and broken, before you can be given away in service to others. In God’s Kingdom the way up is down!
Soul food: Josh 22-24; Luke 20:27-40; Ps 27; Prov 23:16-18
2018-09-10
2 Peter 3:18 KJV
There are two things that help determine personal growth: (1) Your relationships. The Bible says, “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (Amos 3:3 NLT). The company you keep will lift you, level you, or lower you. A lady wrote this letter to an advice columnist: “In my last year of school my English teacher took an essay I’d written and tore it apart in front of the class. I was humiliated – I felt dumb. That was years ago, and I’ve never forgotten it.” In a few short seconds the wrong person diminished this woman’s sense of self-worth for a lifetime. (2) Your reflections. When a Sunday school teacher asked a little girl, “Who made you?” she replied, “God made part of me.” The teacher asked, “What do you mean?” The little girl replied, “God made me little – and I growed the rest of myself.” God holds us responsible for our personal growth. The Psalmist wrote, “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:99 NKJV). The word “meditation” means “reflective thinking.” Like a crock pot, meditation allows your thoughts to slowly simmer until they’re done. Most of us would rather act than think. But as Socrates observed, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Reflective thinking is uncomfortable for a variety of reasons. For instance, we have difficulty staying focused. We find the process dull, and we don’t particularly enjoy spending time reflecting on difficult issues. But if you don’t carve out time for reflection and meditation, you won’t mature. You won’t grow in the “grace and…knowledge” you need to succeed. It’s that simple.
Soul food: Num 29:1-6; Matt 24; Rev 11:15-19; 1 Cor 15:50-58
2018-09-09
Matthew 6:1 AMPC
Jesus reserved His harshest condemnation for those who did good deeds “in order to be seen.” He flipped on the spotlight and exposed every self-righteous mole and pimple. He called them hypocrites, the original Greek for “actor.” First-century actors wore masks. So a hypocrite is someone who puts on a mask, a false face, and performs for the applause of others. Jesus didn’t say, “Don’t do good works.” Nor did He say, “Don’t let your good works be seen.” We must do good works, and some of them must be seen in order to have impact. So let’s be clear. To do a good thing is a good thing. To do good to be seen is not. In fact, to do a good thing to be seen is a serious offense. Here’s why. Hypocrisy turns people away from God. When God-seekers see singers strut like Las Vegas entertainers…when they hear the preacher – a man of slick words, dress, and hair – play to the crowd and exclude God…When church attendees dress to be seen and make much ado over their gifts and offerings…When people enter a church to see God yet they can’t see God because of the church, don’t think for a second that God doesn’t react. Jesus was clear on this issue: “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding” (Matthew 6:1 TM). Today let God be seen – not you.
Soul food: John 14:6-11; Acts 4:8-12; Acts 16:22-34; John 3:13-21
2018-09-08
Ezekiel 48:35 KJV
During Israel’s twenty-fifth year of captivity, Ezekiel the prophet received from God His name Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is there. God described Israel’s future home, Jerusalem, saying, “And the name of the city…shall be, The Lord is there [Jehovah-Shammah].” It applied not only to the Lord of the old covenant, but equally to Jesus, the Lord of the new covenant. His name, “Immanuel,” like Jehovah-Shammah, means, “the Lord is with us” (See Isaiah 7:14). And it means at all times, in all places, under all circumstances, and for all of us, God is ever available and ever present! David proclaimed: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me and your strength will support me” (Psalm 139:7-10 NLT). Do you remember how fear, loneliness, and helplessness disappeared when you were in your mom’s or dad’s presence? In Israel’s deepest despair God’s response was always, “I am with you.” Those words guaranteed that their needs would always be met! And today God is saying to you, “I’m with you,” and “neither death, life, angels, spirit-powers, present or future fears, height, depth, nor anything else in all creation will ever separate us” (See Romans 8:38-39). That promise extends to all God’s redeemed children – reach out and grasp it.
Soul food: Josh 19:24-21:45; Luke 20:20-26; Ps 112; Prov 23:13-15
2018-09-07
Jeremiah 23:6 NLT
The name Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord our righteousness, was given by God through Jeremiah, announcing the coming of Jesus the redeemer: “I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line…And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness'” (vv. 5-6 NLT). Before Jesus came, our righteousness lay in our own efforts. “We will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands…God has given us” (Deuteronomy 6:25 NLT). We absolutely failed that righteousness test! But “The Lord our righteousness” became our solution. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV). Notice: It’s only “in Jesus” that we “become the righteousness of God”! You’re not to try to do right so you can feel righteous before God, or to generate a supply of good works to draw from when needed. You’re to draw continually from the “righteousness” deposited in your account by Christ. It’s useless to look within yourself for humility, patience, kindness, love, etc. They’re not there! You must take them by faith from the supply stored up for you in Jesus. Guilty hearts can draw forgiveness, anxious spirits can draw peace, and weary souls can draw strength from Jehovah-Tsidkenu. You received salvation by faith alone. And in the same way you must draw righteousness, and everything else you need, by faith in what God has accomplished and stored up for your use in Jesus, The Lord our righteousness!
Soul food: Josh 16:1-19:23; Luke 20:9-19; Ps 20; Prov 23:10-12
