2018-08-01
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
Until the sixteenth century, scientists believed the earth was the center of the universe and the sun revolved around it. Then an astronomer called Copernicus came along and argued that the sun didn’t revolve around the earth, the earth revolved around the sun. In so doing, he revolutionized the scientific world forever. And when it comes to discipleship, Jesus did the same thing: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” At its core, sinfulness is selfishness. It’s enthroning yourself – your desires, your needs, your plans – above all else. You may still seek God, but you don’t seek Him “first.” Instead of trying to fulfill His purposes, you try to get Him to fulfill yours. Who’s following who? Instead of following Jesus, you’re trying to get Him to follow you. It doesn’t work that way. “Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it'” (Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV). Note the words “loses his life for My sake.” There’s a lot of talk today about “finding yourself.” The way to find yourself – is to seek God. D. L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man or woman who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.” If you’re willing to surrender yourself to God, there’s no telling what He will do with you.
Soul food: Ezra 6-8; Luke 10:13-24; Ps 78:9-16; Prov 19:24-26
2018-07-31
Psalm 37:23 CEV
To succeed in life, you need these four things: (1) Morals. What are you willing to compromise to get where you’re trying to go? You can’t get there any old way you like; you must have boundaries. Yes, we’ve all broken the rules at some time or other, but thank God we had rules to break. We were able to realign ourselves because somebody had pitched a tent on where “right” is. Today folks don’t seem to know or care much about that. (2) Methods. A goal without a plan is like a road to nowhere. First the goal, then the plan, then the process. Adapting this simple three-step formula helps you understand that you won’t just leap into success. There are methods you must employ and stay with! (3) Means. When God gives you the “vision,” He also gives you the “provision.” When that doesn’t happen, either the timing is not right or what you want differs from what He has in mind for you. God’s provision can come as an idea that hits you suddenly, or a thought that takes root and grows over time. And His provision involves help from other people, so walk in love wherever you go. (4) Management. Jesus said, “To whom much is given, of him shall much be required” (Luke 12:48 AMPC). Some people act like “it’s over” when God gives it to them. No, it’s just beginning. And guess who your biggest management challenge will be? You! That’s why the Psalmist wrote, “If you do what the Lord wants, he will make certain each step you take is sure.”
Soul food: Ezra 3-5; Luke 10:1-12; Ps 78:1-8; Prov 19:21-23
2018-07-30
1 Thessalonians 5:17 CEV
Have you become discouraged and stopped praying about the problem? If so, the word for you today is: “Keep on praying.” God may not answer in the way you think He should, or within the timeframe you think He should, but when you pray according to His Word, He has promised to answer: “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11 NKJV). When the children of Israel went to battle against a vastly superior army of Amalekites, Moses selected the Mountain of Prayer over the Valley of Battle and the Israelites won (See Exodus 17:8-13). When Abraham learned about the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, he “remained standing before the Lord” (Genesis 18:22 NIV) rather than rushing out to warn the cities. When advisors informed Nehemiah that Jerusalem was in ruins, what did he do? Before he laid one stone in the foundation, he built a foundation of prayer under the whole project (See Nehemiah 1:4). Paul’s letters contain more requests for prayer than they do appeals for money or comfort. And what about Jesus? He rose up early to pray (See Mark 1:35). He dismissed people to pray (See Matthew 14:23). He climbed a mountain to pray (See Luke 9:28). Before going to the cross, He prayed all night (See Luke 22:39-46). Every word He spoke and every work He performed was saturated in prayer. And if He needed to do that, you do too! Bottom line: You can accomplish great things after you’ve prayed, but nothing great until you’ve prayed. So the word for you today is: Keep on praying.
Soul food: Ezra 1-2; Luke 9:57-62; Ps 46; Prov 19:18-20
2018-07-29
1 Corinthians 1:23 NKJV
A European village priest in medieval times told his congregation, “Come back tonight for a special sermon about Jesus.” And they did. To their surprise, however, no candles illuminated the sanctuary. They groped their way to the pews and sat down. The priest was nowhere to be seen. Then they heard him walking through the church toward the front. When he reached the cross that hung on the wall, he lit a candle. And without saying a word he illuminated the pierced feet of Christ, then His side, then one hand, then the other. Raising the candle, he shed light on the blood-masked face and the crown of thorns. Then with a puff he extinguished the candle and dismissed the congregation. Nothing more needed to be said. Take the words “Christ crucified,” and add the words “for me,” and you’ll understand what God did when He hung His sinless Son on that cross. Had you been the only person who ever lived, Christ would have died for you. With His arms stretched wide, He was saying, “This is how much I love you.” When you’re tempted to sin, when you’re guilt-ridden by sin, when Satan whispers, “There’s no hope for you,” when pride would have you focus on your own virtue and morality, go back to the cross. You can’t go there too often. Hymnist Isaac Watts sums it up in these words: “Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”
Soul food: Matt 5:10; 1 Thes 2:13-3:5; 1 Cor 4:11-13; Rev 6:9-11
2018-07-28
Psalm 25:21 NIV
Bobby Jones is considered one of history’s greatest golfers. But more than all his victories on the golf course, he’s famous for what happened in the 1925 U.S. Open. He inadvertently touched his ball and assessed himself a one-stroke penalty, even though no one else saw him touch the ball. But he couldn’t violate his conscience. And by assessing himself that penalty, he lost the Open by that one stroke. When tournament officials tried to compliment him for his integrity, Jones simply said, “You might as well praise me for not breaking into banks. There is only one way to play this game.” Bobby Jones played by the rules. Period. And in doing so, he honored the integrity of the game. One sportswriter wrote, “In the opinion of many people, of all the great athletes, Bobby Jones came the closest to being what we call a great man.” Jones could have won the tournament, but he would have lost his integrity. And winning the U.S. Open wasn’t worth a one-stroke penalty on his integrity. That’s epic integrity! And that’s something to be celebrated. We live in a culture that celebrates talent more than integrity, but we’ve got it backwards. Talent depreciates over time. So do intellect and appearance. You will eventually lose your strength and your looks. You may even lose your mind. But you don’t have to lose your integrity. Integrity is the only thing that doesn’t depreciate over time. Nothing takes longer to build than a godly reputation. And nothing is destroyed more quickly by one stroke of sin. That’s why your integrity must be celebrated and protected above all else.
Soul food: Zeph 1-3; Luke 9:46-56; Ps 42:6-11; Prov 19:15-17
2018-07-27
Isaiah 43:18 TM
Although it’s true that we all fail, here’s something worth remembering: You can fail successfully. How? By learning from your failures and growing stronger and wiser through them. Surrendering your future to your past just means you drown in remorse and hopelessness. But if you practice “failing forward,” you can experience future success. So acknowledge your failings, see yourself cleansed by the blood of Jesus, let go of your disappointment in yourself, and get up and try again. At one point in Elijah’s life, he got so depressed that he prayed he might die: “‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors'” (1 Kings 19:4 NIV). Later when he was strengthened by God’s grace, he emerged from his depression a new man with a new mission in life (See vv. 15-16 NIV). After he’d denied Christ openly, Peter was forgiven. Despite his weakness he was restored, and became the apostle who would “strengthen his fellow apostles” and build the New Testament Church (See Luke 22:31-32). It’s not a matter of how badly or how often you’ve failed – it’s a matter of what God can make you when you accept His grace, get up again, and allow Him to empower you to do better. Peter is proof that God takes us when we are weak, and speaks and acts through us in ways that bring glory to Him alone! (See 1 Corinthians 1:28). Will God sometimes correct you? Yes, He’s a good parent, but He won’t discard you. So the word for you today is – you can start again.
Soul food: 1 Tim 4-6; Luke 9:37-45; Ps 42:1-5; Prov 19:12-14
