2018-04-22
Luke 7:44 NKJV
Luke writes: “Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, ‘This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner'” (vv. 37-39 NKJV). This scene took place in the house of Simon, a religious leader who was more concerned about “right and wrong” than he was about hurting people. He may have been theologically correct, but he lacked compassion. And Jesus confronted him about it! “He turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman?'” Simon saw her as a streetwalker and a loser. But not Jesus. He responded to the gift she brought and to the heart of love behind it. In determining her future potential to God’s Kingdom, He didn’t consult her sordid past or even refer to it. He saw her tears, understood her need, and shocked the religious crowd that day by saying, “Your sins are forgiven” (v. 48 NKJV). Be careful: When you’ve been in church for a while and forgotten what it’s like to be on the outside, you can become hard-hearted and fail to show the love of God to those who need it.
Soul food: Gal 5:22; 2 Pet 3:3-15; Matt 5:39; 1 Sam 25:1-42
2018-04-21
Ephesians 3:8 NKJV
One day the Pharisees caught a woman in the act of adultery. The law of Moses was clear; she must be stoned. And the Pharisees were ready to do it. This woman probably thought that Jesus, being righteous, would agree. She had no lawyer to defend her, not even a character witness! But suddenly Jesus stoops and begins to write in the sand. Some scholars think that perhaps He wrote down their sins, including times and places, etc. When He looks up, the woman’s accusers have gone. He says to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11 NKJV). That day Jesus lifted her from a position of undeniable guilt to one of unconditional pardon. She didn’t deserve it; she didn’t even know it was possible. And that’s your story too, isn’t it? One day Abraham Lincoln watched a plantation owner bidding for a slave girl. Figuring he was going to buy her and abuse her, Lincoln paid the price to set her free. “Does this mean I can go wherever I want to go?” she asked. Lincoln said, “Yes, you’re free!” With tears streaming down her face she replied, “Then, sir, I will go with you.” The word “grace” is so important Paul mentions it three times more than any other writer. Remembering the violent life he lived, he writes, “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given.” The word “grace” comes from the Greek word charis, meaning “pure joy.” Although you don’t deserve it, God considers saving you to be a “pure joy.”
Soul food: Acts 10-11; Mark 4:1-9; Ps 103:1-12; Prov 10:27-29
2018-04-20
Deuteronomy 29:29 NKJV
The Bible says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV). That Scripture is easy to quote but hard to live by, especially when tragedy and loss touch our lives and we don’t understand why. There are times when we pray and God gives us answers, and there are times when we pray and He gives us peace. “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT). In times of pain and loss, here are two Scriptures you can stand on: (1) “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us.” When it comes to understanding things – we have our territory and God has His. And ours is limited to what He decides to reveal to us. Paul, who wrote half the New Testament by divine revelation, acknowledged, “We know in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9). At best, we will always be limited in our understanding. (2) “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NKJV). Sometimes God explains things to us, and other times He stamps them “Will explain later.” So when you’re tempted to throw up your hands in despair and say, “Who knows?” remind yourself, “God knows!” And today remind yourself that He’s working things out for your good and His glory.
Soul food: Acts 8-9; Mark 3:28-35; Ps 130; Prov 10:24-26
2018-04-19
Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV
Any time you attempt something for the first time, or something you’ve failed at before, or something you think is too big for you, you’ll experience both fear and faith. They go together. One will win out over the other, but they never go away. Because Israel had no idea what challenges awaited them or what life would be like in the Promised Land, God told them, “Be strong and of good courage…for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” And today that’s His promise to you too! It’s fear of failure that stops us most of the time. Yet as you look back, you realize that most times failure doesn’t do permanent damage at all; you actually grow through it. Dr. Joan Borysenko writes: “When I was admitted to Harvard, I was sure there had been a computer error and I’d be exposed as a fraud. A lawyer friend of mine stops short of terror every time she has to give a final argument before a jury. Even when you’re an expert, fear doesn’t necessarily go away. It’s accepting fear as part of the journey instead of running from it, that helps you to conquer it.” To go anywhere, you must launch out from somewhere, or you’ll get nowhere. American essayist Hamilton Wright Mabie said, “The question for each man to settle is not what he would do if he had the means, time, influence, and educational advantages, but what he will do with the things he has.” So confront your fear, step out in faith, and believe God for success.
Soul food: Acts 6-7; Mark 3:20-27; Ps 75; Prov 10:22-23
2018-04-18
Proverbs 27:21 NIV
The English word flatterer comes from a French term that means “to pat, smooth, or caress.” So a flatterer is someone who will pat you on the back with one hand, and in some cases, knife you in the back with the other. Flattery is something a person will say to your face but will not say behind your back. It’s insincere praise from an insincere motive. And the Bible warns us to beware of it: “A flattering neighbor is up to no good; he’s probably planning to take advantage of you” (Proverbs 29:5 TM). Flatterers will do you no good. In fact, Solomon says that in the long run you’re better off with a person who will criticize you than a person who will flatter you. “He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue” (Proverbs 28:23 NKJV). When it comes to flattery you should always keep these two things in mind: (1) Give praise sparingly but sincerely, with nothing but the best in mind for the other person. (2) Receive praise wisely, without taking yourself or the person giving the praise too seriously. Always remember that flattery was the weapon that Satan used to bring Adam and Eve down in the Garden of Eden: “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5 NKJV). That’s why Solomon writes, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.” So the question you should always ask yourself when someone praises you is this: Does this make me more big-headed or more big-hearted?
Soul food: Acts 3:11-5:42; Mark 3:13-19; Ps 127; Prov 10:19-21
2018-04-17
Philippians 1:29 NLT
Think of Gethsemane, the garden where Jesus Himself wrestled with the will of God. “Take this cup from me” (Mark 14:36 NIV). It was a reference to the cup of wrath. Jesus knew He’d have to drink it to the dregs. But before He did, He asked His Father if He could take it away, if there was any other way. But then He qualified His request with the ultimate prayer of surrender: “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42 NKJV). Our prayers tend to focus on external circumstances more than internal attitudes, because we’d rather have God change our circumstances than change us. It’s a lot easier that way. But we miss the point altogether. It’s the worst of circumstances that often brings out the best in us. And if it’s the bad things that bring out the good things, then maybe those bad things are good things in the grand scheme of things! It’s only when you’ve been tested that you have a testimony to share with others. Yes, you can be saved without suffering, but you cannot be spiritually matured or equipped for service without it. That doesn’t mean you seek it out, but it does mean you see it for what it is – an opportunity to glorify God. Paul, who suffered greatly, writes, “For you have been given…the privilege of suffering for him.” Where did Paul find such strength? “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18 NKJV). So the word for you today is: Seek to glorify God in every circumstance of life.
Soul food: Acts 1:1-3:10; Mark 3:7-12; Ps 43; Prov 10:17-18
