2018-05-15
Luke 23:18 NIV
The Bible says: “With one voice they cried out, ‘Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!’ (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder)” (vv.18-19 NIV). And just like Barabbas, we deserve to die for our sins. Four prison walls, thickened with fear, hurt, and hate, surround us. We’re incarcerated by our past, our low-road choices, and our high-minded pride. We’ve been found guilty. We sit on the floor of a dusty cell awaiting the final moment. Our executioner’s footsteps echo against stone walls. Head between knees, we don’t look up as he opens the door; we don’t lift our eyes as he begins to speak. We know what he’s going to say: “Time to pay for your sins.” But then you hear something else: “You’re free to go. They took Jesus instead of you.” The door swings open, the guard barks, “Get out!” and we find ourselves in the light of the morning sun, shackles gone, crimes pardoned, wondering, “What just happened?” Grace happened! Christ took away your sins. All of them. Where did He take them? To the top of a hill called Calvary. “God in his gracious kindness declared us not guilty…through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed His blood, sacrificing His life for us” (See Romans 3:24-25 NLT). Jesus loves and forgives you, and He has a wonderful plan for your life. So come to Him today.
Soul food: Deut 30:1-32:28; Mark 8:27-38; Ps 57; Prov 12:15-17
2018-05-14
John 1:40-42 NKJV
In the early days of his ministry, Billy Graham wanted to mobilize local Christians to bring their unsaved friends and relatives to his evangelistic meetings. So the Graham team devised “Operation Andrew,” a simple plan whereby church members listed the names of their unsaved friends, began praying for them, and invited them to Billy Graham’s crusades to hear the gospel. Why the name “Operation Andrew”? Because each time we see Andrew in John’s gospel, he’s bringing someone to Christ. First he brought his brother, Peter. Then in John chapter six he brought a lad to Jesus who had five loaves and two fish. And in John chapter twelve he led a group of Greeks to Christ. And you can do the same. Years ago a new Christian, twenty-four-year-old Albert McMakin, loaded his pickup truck with friends and drove them every night to an evangelistic campaign in his city. Now, the chances are that you’ve never heard McMakin’s name before. But you’re probably familiar with one of his passengers on the truck, a young man who was converted to Christ that same week – Billy Graham. Andrew brought his brother Peter to Christ, and Peter ended up bringing multitudes to Christ. You just never know! The person you share your faith with today, or bring to church next Sunday, may be used by God to do things you never dreamed possible. And if you’ll do your part – God will do the rest.
Soul food: Deut 28-29; Mark 8:14-26; Ps 44:17-26; Prov 12:12-14
2018-05-13
Philippians 3:13 NKJV
Whatever your past may have been, God has a better future in mind for you. But before you can “reach” for it, you must forgive the people who’ve hurt you, forgive yourself, and let it go. When you do that, you’ll likely experience a wide range of emotions. You may feel anger, thinking life’s unfair and it wasn’t what you wanted. You always envisioned a husband or wife who’d be there to take care of you. You never expected to have to take responsibility for life on your own. You may feel fearful, afraid you won’t be able to do it – and that if you fail you’ll only have yourself to blame. You may feel annoyed that now you have to consider your life in a different light, from a different perspective. You may even feel sad over the way you’ve blamed others in the past, knowing deep down inside that your life wasn’t proceeding the way you wanted because of your own choices and decisions. You may feel ashamed of your past mistakes, unsure if you really can take personal responsibility and move forward. Whatever emotion comes up, good or bad, know that it’s normal when you’re making a significant life change. And however you feel, don’t judge yourself! Acknowledge what you’re feeling; ask yourself if your thoughts are rational or if they’re just old fears talking to you. Then stick to your commitment to stop blaming others and take responsibility for your own life. The word for you today is: “Forgetting those things which are behind…[reach] forward to those things which are ahead.”
Soul food: Gal 5:22; Luke 19:11-26; Ps 36:5-9; Heb 10:19-23
2018-05-12
Genesis 3:13 NKJV
Adam told God, “Eve made me do it.” And Eve told God, “The Devil made me do it.” Excuse-making and blame-placing are built into our DNA, and until you get beyond them you’ll never make progress or find real happiness. Here’s a statement worth stopping to think about: We are the people we’ve been waiting for – no one else is coming! If you’re willing to accept responsibility for your life, you’ll discover that no matter what other people do or don’t do, to or for you, you’re accountable to yourself. You decide how to respond. You decide to continue to move toward your dreams – or not. The truth is that Prince Charming isn’t waiting for you around the next corner. Your ship isn’t coming in. The tide isn’t about to turn. The odds are against your winning the lottery in this lifetime. So what are you going to do? When you’ve been hurt by someone else’s actions, you can do one of two things: (1) Sit like a leper, and die at the gate of blame and complaint (See 2 Kings 7:3). (2) Emerge with a strategy that enables you to say, “I’m too valuable to die, too tenacious to wait on anyone’s mercy, and too creative to accept your neglect as my destiny.” Only when you’re willing to stop blaming yourself and others, and take responsibility for your life and your situation, will God empower you to change things. This approach puts the thermostat within your reach and control. Instead of freezing to death or sweating in discomfort, you can set the temperature for your life and change the terms for your future.
Soul food: Deut 25-27; Mark 8:1-13; Ps 44:9-16; Prov 12:10-11
2018-05-11
Genesis 3:12 NIV
The story of Adam and Eve’s failure teaches us two important lessons about God: (1) He won’t accept your excuses. (2) He won’t let you blame other people. He insists that you take responsibility for yourself. And until you do, He can’t bless you like He desires. That means you must make a choice to stop living in the dumpster of past mistakes – your own, and other people’s. You must focus on where you’re going and what you’d like to see happen, rather than having your eyes glued to the rearview mirror, looking back at what was done and who did it. It’s time to take back your power! How? (a) Declare “time-out” when it comes to blaming. (b) Define what success would look like for you and specify what you want to see happen. (c) Delegate “who’ll do what” in order to make it happen, and reward the people who help you toward a brighter future. (d) Realize that deliverable goals are goals that are attainable. Relationships in trouble desperately need good news, so develop some achievable goals that give everyone something to celebrate. It doesn’t have to be the ultimate goals that’ll win the war, but small successes that indicate you’re winning some battles. This game plan gives power back to the individual who needs to see progress. It distracts you from blame-fixing and gives you guidelines for what’s productive. It takes the power away from dwelling in the past, where none of us has the ability to undo what was done no matter who is to blame. And it’s a constructive effort, as opposed to one that’s destructive.
Soul food: Deut 22-24; Mark 7:24-37; Ps 44:1-8; Prov 12:7-9
2018-05-10
Matthew 25:32 NLT
Jesus describes the judgment day in these words: “All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me'” (vv. 32-36 NLT). How will Jesus separate the sheep from the goats? And how will you know which one you are? Jesus says those on the right – the sheep – will be those who fed Him when He was hungry, brought Him water when He was thirsty, gave Him lodging when He was lonely, clothing when He was naked, and comfort when He was sick or imprisoned. The sign of the saved is their concern for those in need. Compassion doesn’t save them – or us. Salvation is the work of Christ. But compassion is the consequence of salvation. The sheep will react with a sincere question: When? When did we feed, visit, clothe, or comfort you? Then Jesus will answer, “Every time you showed compassion – you did it to me!” Try to keep that in mind as you go through this day.
Soul food: Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11; Eph 4:7-10
