2025-11-07
1 Thessalonians 5:12 NCV
Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica and says, “Now, brothers and sisters, we ask you to appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you. Respect them with a very special love because of the work they do” (vv. 12-13 NCV). Consider these twenty-first century statistics:
(1) Fifty percent of pastors feel so disheartened that they would exit the ministry if they could, but they don’t know any other way to make a living.
(2) Fifty percent of ministers starting out won’t continue five years in the ministry.
(3) Only one out of every ten ministers will retire as ministers in some capacity.
(4) In America more than seventeen hundred pastors exited the ministry every month of 2011. There are many reasons why pastors leave the ministry. One reason is inadequate financial support and stress on the family. Paul addresses this: “Let the elders [pastors] who rule well be counted worthy of double honour [financial remuneration], especially those who labour in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The labourer is worthy of his wages'” (1 Timothy 5:17-18 NKJV).
Some pastors leave the ministry because they are the target of frequent criticism. Paul addresses this: “Do not receive an accusation against an elder [pastor] except from two or three witnesses” (v. 19 NKJV). So, pray for your pastor, and make it a point to show them your appreciation. God will bless you for it.
Soul food: 1 Chr 19:1-23:20; John 9:24-41; Ps 115; Prov 25:26-28
2025-11-06
Proverbs 4:7 NKJV
Mentor Graham was so absorbed in evaluating the assignments he had given his students that he failed to notice the youthful giant who slouched into his Illinois schoolroom one day after school. After his eyes had adjusted to the brightness of the late afternoon sunshine, causing the husky young man to be in silhouette before him, he recognized the youth as a newcomer to the community. The lad already had a reputation for “whipping the living daylights” out of all the local toughs.
Graham would have been justified in thinking, “What does he want here? Am I in danger?” Rather, he looked up and down the six foot, four inches of muscle and ignorance before him and offered to help the lad with his reading and studies. When the young man left the schoolroom an hour later, he had several books under his arm – on loan from Mentor Graham with a promise of more in the future.
There is a good chance that you have never heard of Mentor Graham, right? He was a quiet man, simply willing to do his best for any student who came his way. His pupil, however, became more famous. His name? Abraham Lincoln! Graham recognized in Lincoln a hunger for knowledge and a desire to learn, and took the time to invest in him. And as a result, Lincoln helped change history.
The greatest investment you can make is in people. Solomon wrote, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” And when you get it, don’t keep it to yourself – pass it on.
Soul food: 1 Chr 16-18; John 9:13-23; Ps 105:1-15; Prov 25:23-25
2025-11-05
Psalm 120:1 NKJV
The three-digit emergency system has amazing capabilities. In most places in America, you need only dial those numbers to be instantly connected to a dispatcher. On a computer screen, the dispatcher instantly sees the caller’s telephone number, address, and the name under which the number is listed. Also listening in on the call are police, fire, and paramedics. A caller need not say anything once the call is made. Even rasping coughs and hysterical cries have brought a quick response. The dispatcher knows where the call is coming from, and help is sent immediately.
Sometimes our situation is so urgent and desperate that we can’t put it into words, so we send up the SOS prayer, “Lord, I need your help!” And help is on the way. “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24 NKJV).
Sometimes you feel the effects of something, but you don’t understand the cause and you can’t explain it. This is when the indwelling power of God’s Spirit comes to your aid: “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:26-28 NLT).
Soul food: 1 Chr 12:23-15:29; John 9:1-12; Ps 68; Prov 25:21-22
2025-11-04
James 2:22 NIV
If you really believed God’s Word concerning your situation, how would you act differently? Saying you believe is just the beginning; activating your faith means preparing for the answer to arrive. Ask yourself, “If I really expected an answer to my prayers, how would I prepare for its arrival?”
In Scripture, Jesus gave His disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man… planted in his field… when it grows, it… becomes a tree'” (Matthew 13:31-32 NIV). The farmer may sincerely believe he can produce a mustard tree, but nothing happens until he chooses the location, prepares the soil, plants the seed, and continually waters it. Once he does all those things, he can actively watch for its appearance. So, where do you start?
(1) Pray for wisdom to make the right decisions (See James 1:5-7).
(2) Plan your work, and work your plan. Aimless, passive waiting for the things to materialize without thoughtful, active involvement will prove disappointing and fruitless. God uses you as His partner. “We are labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV).
(3) Break your plan into small, accomplishable action steps.
(4) Don’t wait for the fear to go or the faith to grow. Be prepared to take calculated, productive risks. Feel the fear and do it anyhow!
(5) Start thanking God even before you can see the answer. And if you should miss the bull’s-eye, remember the Revolutionary War militia’s response: “Ready, aim, fire!” Adjust your aim – and fire again. “[Abraham’s] faith and his actions were working together.” And that’s still the Bible formula for success.
Soul food: 1 Chr 10:1-12:22; John 8:42-59; Ps 49; Prov 25:18-20
2025-11-03
James 2:17 NIV
James asks, “What good is it… if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds… Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says… ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing… what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds” (vv.14-18 NIV).
A veritable ocean of faith without the appropriate action to follow it up is nothing more than an ocean of dead, useless faith. On the other hand, an ounce of faith that’s acted upon can produce an ocean of results (See Matthew 13:31-32). Action breathes life and power into your faith. The biblical prescription for faith is simple but potent.
(1) You decide to believe in God’s promise and His power to make it happen – leaving the “how and when” up to Him.
(2) You choose to act in keeping with what you believe before you see any evidence of the results.
(3) God responds to your faith by keeping His unbreakable promise.
“Hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19 KJV). God goes to work exercising His unlimited capacity to perform His Word. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24 NIV). Now – it’s up to you to claim and act on His promise.
Soul food: 1 Chr 7:20-9:44; John 8:31-41; Ps 30; Prov 25:13-17
2025-11-02
Romans 12:3 NKJV
Thank God, faith isn’t reserved for deeply spiritual people. If that was the case, we would all be in trouble! The fact is that regular people from all walks of life can be faith filled. We’re inclined to think faith belongs exclusively to people like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Samuel, David, Daniel, Peter, and Paul. Now, without question, they were all faith heroes, but faith doesn’t belong solely to them. The Bible tells us, “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” No one will miss out on heaven because he or she wasn’t given enough faith to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved” (See Acts 16:31).
God intended that not only should we have faith but that we should live by faith. Three times the New Testament assures us “the just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38 NKJV). You reply, “Yes, but those biblical heroes had great faith; my faith is so small!” Did you know that the apostles felt the same way? They said to Jesus, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5 NIV). And Jesus replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you” (v. 6 NIV.)
Like so many of us, the apostles thought they needed more faith. But Jesus corrected this spiritually crippling misperception by telling them you don’t need a truckload of faith to see amazing outcomes. “Faith as small as a mustard seed” can bring about awesome results. When you put the faith, you already have been given into action, Jesus said it will produce results!
Soul food: Gen 5:22-24; Heb 11:5; 2 Ki 2:1-12; Acts 1:9-11
