2018-05-02
1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV
Jabez prayed that God would bless him in three specific ways: (1) “Enlarge my territory.” He had a dream of owning more land, and he asked God to bless that dream. When you stop dreaming you lose direction. When you stop setting goals you stop growing. You must have something you’re pushing toward. As long as your horizon is expanding, you’ll be spiritually and emotionally healthy. (2) “That Your hand would be with me.” God’s hand represents His power. Jabez realized that if he got more territory it meant he would have more responsibility. He would have greater demands and more pressure, and he would really need God’s help in his life. So he requested God to be with him. And when you ask for God’s presence in your life, you can be sure He’ll answer. (3) “That You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” Jabez asked God for His protection. Why? Because in those days the more land you owned, the more influence you had, and the better known you were. And that made you a bigger target. It’s still like that today. The more successful you are, the more critics you have. The more territory you own, the more your enemies will attack you. The closer you grow to the Lord and the stronger you become as a Christian, the more the Devil will harass you because he doesn’t want you to grow. But you can be sure, as Jabez was, that with God’s protection you don’t have to fear anyone or anything. Do you want to break out of mediocrity? Then pray the prayer that Jabez prayed.
Soul food: Deut 1-2; Mark 6:1-6; Ps 35; Prov 11:19-21
2018-05-01
1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV
In the book of First Chronicles the Bible tells us about a man named Jabez. The first nine chapters consist of genealogies, listing more than six hundred names. And right there in the middle of all those names, God singles out one man for special recognition, and his name is Jabez. There are only two verses in the entire Bible about this man, yet he’s given honorable mention above the six hundred other people mentioned in the chapter. Why did God single him out? What did Jabez do that caused his name to be preserved for over four thousand years? What made him above average? For the next few days, let’s see what we can learn about him. “Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers” (v. 9 NKJV). So, what set him apart? He dared to ask and believe God for great things: “Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, that You would enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested.” God wants you to ask Him for great things! He told Jeremiah, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV). Paul tells us that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). You can’t out-ask or out-dream God, so start asking Him for what you want – and believe He will give it to you!
Soul food: Acts 27-28; Mark 5:31-43; Ps 94:12-23; Prov 11:16-18
2018-04-30
Deuteronomy 28:8 NKJV
The word vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, which means “spiritual calling.” Every vocation, regardless of what it is, is a calling from God. And once you start to see your job in that light, you’ll find it easier to believe God wants to bless you on the job. So with that in mind you need to: (1) Pursue work compatible with your gifts. “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised” (1 Peter 4:11 NIV). (2) Learn everything possible about your job. “Let the wise listen and add to their learning” (Proverbs 1:5 NIV). (3) Recognize God as your true employer. “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does” (Ephesians 6:7-8 NIV). (4) See work as God’s gift, not punishment. “When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:19 NIV). (5) Use criticism to your advantage. In fact, make it work for you. Ask for suggestions and correction. “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured” (Proverbs 13:18 KJV). (6) Do more than what’s expected. “Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him [two]” (Matthew 5:41 KJV). (7) See the Lord as your work partner. Stay Christ-conscious throughout the day as you perform your duties, and “the Lord shall command blessing on you…and in all to which you set your hand.”
Soul food: Acts 24-26; Mark 5:21-30; Ps 94:1-11; Prov 11:14-15
2018-04-29
1 Corinthians 9:27 NLT
Paul writes: “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” (vv. 24-27 NLT). Unless you take control of your life, you will always live knowing that you don’t belong to yourself. In other words, you belong to whoever and whatever is controlling you. In order to improve, you must keep these three things before you at all times: (1) Reading. David said, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97 NKJV). Discipline yourself to read something each day that will help you spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and career-wise. And put the Bible at the top of your “books to read” list. (2) Rewards. Author Mike Delaney remarked, “Any business or industry that pays equal rewards to its goof-offs and its eager beavers, sooner or later will find itself with more goof-offs than eager beavers. What you reward, good or bad, in yourself and in others, you’ll keep getting more of.” (3) Results. The next time you’re facing a must-do task, and thinking of doing what’s convenient instead of paying the price, change your focus. Count the benefits of doing what’s right, and dive in. Instead of focusing on the “work,” focus on the “reward.”
Soul food: Gal 5:22; Luke 10:25-37; Eph 4:31-32; Rom 2:4
2018-04-28
Proverbs 17:27 NIV
It’s not enough to have the right answers; you need the right approach. Good ideas and sound advice are wasted when you use a ram-it-down-your-throat approach. Wisdom means saying the right thing, at the right time, in the right way. “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.” Your efforts at helping someone to change will fail, or worse, alienate them, unless you approach them in love and humility. Most people already know what their problem is. Chances are they’ve been grappling with it for a while, and deep down they want to do better. And unless you’re prepared for a “Who-are-you-to-tell-me” response, you’ve got to approach them in the right way. “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24 NIV). Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV). So if people won’t receive the truth in the way you’re sharing it, maybe the problem is partially yours. Former U.S. Senate Chaplain Richard Halverson writes: “You can offer your ideas to people as bullets or as seeds. You can shoot them or sow them. Ideas used as bullets kill inspiration and motivation. Ideas used as seeds take root, grow, and bear fruit in the life in which they are planted. But there’s a risk: Once it becomes part of those in whom it’s planted, you’ll probably get no credit for originating the idea. But if you’re willing to do without the credit…you’ll reap a rich harvest.” So the word for you today is: Take the right approach.
Soul food: Acts 22-23; Mark 5:11-20; Ps 144:9-15; Prov 11:12-13
2018-04-27
Proverbs 24:30 NKJV
It is better to be short-handed than to hire a sluggard; better to have nobody than a lazy body. Evidently Solomon had suffered through a few sluggards on his payroll: “As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man” (Proverbs 10:26 NKJV). You know how irritating vinegar is when it’s taken straight, or how aggravating smoke is when it gets in your eyes! That’s how irritating a lazy person is to the one who hires him. Whatever he does will take twice as long to finish, and will either have to be done over or thrown out – at twice the cost. His presence on the job is worse than his absence. He wastes his own resources and everybody else’s. A tragic picture is painted in Proverbs 24:30-31: “I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down.” Now let’s be clear here: We must show compassion toward those who are down and out for legitimate reasons. But they need more than a handout; they need a hand up! They need more than food and clothes; they need purpose, dignity, and self-worth. And that’s what God wants us to give them. Abraham Lincoln wasn’t great because he was born in a log cabin; he was great because he got out of it. Now, the chances are you won’t end up in the White House, but unless you want to end up in the poorhouse, don’t be a sluggard!
Soul food: Acts 20-21; Mark 5:1-10; Ps 144:1-8; Prov 11:10-11
