2017-10-26
Psalm 103:3 NKJV
The Psalmist wrote, “Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.” Notice which comes first: The consciousness that all your sins are forgiven precedes the healing of all your diseases. Note also the words “all your iniquities.” Some of us are comfortable with receiving partial forgiveness, but we refuse to allow God’s forgiveness to touch some dark areas we can’t let go of, and that we refuse to forgive ourselves for. Whatever those mistakes may be, allow God to forgive all your sins, and receive healing for all your diseases. Let the past go. Let the mistakes go. Allow yourself to be free, and learn to forgive yourself by receiving with an open heart God’s total and complete forgiveness. Stop hurting yourself, because Jesus was hurt for all your sins. Stop beating yourself up, because Jesus took all your beatings at the cross. Stop punishing yourself, because Jesus has received all the punishment due on your behalf. It’s time to stop asking yourself if you’ve done enough to earn God’s forgiveness and acceptance. They are undeserved – they cannot be achieved by struggle and self-effort; they can only be received by faith. If you gave someone you loved a birthday gift and they insisted on paying for it, how would you feel? Hurt? Upset? That’s how God feels when you try to “earn” His forgiveness, healing, and righteousness. The more you let the waterfall of God’s grace and forgiveness wash over you every day, the more you’ll receive His health for your body and His soundness for your mind.
Soul food: Isa 22-25; John 6:16-24; Ps 114; Prov 28:1-4
2017-10-25
1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT
For any relationship to work, we must accept each other’s differences. Within our family we must respect each other’s unique perspectives. We don’t need to agree on every issue, but we must always honor where the other person is coming from. Paul did that: “I try to find common ground with everyone.” Some of us who claim to follow Christ have a hard time with views and values that differ from our own. We think “compromise” is a dirty word. Some of us have turned from the most immoral lives to faith in Christ, yet after our conversion we won’t associate with anyone who doesn’t agree with us and adopt our newfound values. Sometimes our families fall apart because we try to force our opinions on the people we love, and set boundaries to keep nonconformists out. What a terrible misuse of Christianity! Jesus didn’t condemn the people who crucified Him; He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 NKJV). He didn’t view them as morally bad, but spiritually blind. He told His disciples, “No one can come to Me unless the Father…draws him” (John 6:44 NKJV). It’s your job to love people, and it’s God’s job to change them! So stop trying to do what only God can do! If you invest patiently in your relationships, respect other people’s perspectives, and sow good seed, you’ll reap a pleasant harvest in the long term. Your love, not the force of your argument, can give hope to the most severely damaged among us that there’s healing for the broken places of the human soul.
Soul food: Isa 17-21; John 6:1-15; Ps 127; Prov 27:25-27
Acts 10:28 CEV
From a Jewish point of view Cornelius, a Gentile, was a bad guy. He ate the wrong food, hung out with the wrong crowd, and swore allegiance to the wrong leader: Caesar. He didn’t quote the Torah or descend from Abraham. He was uncircumcised, unkosher, and unclean. Yet he did two things that got God’s attention. He prayed for spiritual enlightenment, and he was generous to the poor and needy. The Bible says he was “one who feared God with all his household…gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always” (v. 2 NKJV). Up until this point the gospel had been preached only to the Jews. But God was about to change that. And to do it He used Peter, one of the most religiously biased people you’ll ever meet. In a vision, God showed Peter a sheet being let down from heaven; it was filled with all kinds of food Jews are forbidden to eat. Peter protested, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean” (v. 14 NKJV). And since Peter was slow to understand, the sheet was let down three times. Finally a voice from heaven said, “What God has cleansed you must not call common” (v. 15 NKJV). As a result, Peter went to Cornelius’s house and preached the gospel. And before he could issue an invitation, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were present, confirming that this was God’s will. At that point Peter declared, “God has shown me that he doesn’t think anyone is unclean or unfit.” Let God show you that too!
Soul food: Gen 10-12; John 11:38-44; Ps 118:1-9; Prov 31:6-9
2017-10-24
Romans 12:8 NIV
How will you know you have the gift of “leadership”? Because you’ll know where God wants you to go, and be able to show others the value of going with you. There are many talented people who never become effective leaders. Why? Because they’re more interested in themselves than in those they lead. What’s interesting, however, is once they go through the school of hard knocks, they become sensitized to other people’s needs. But good leaders don’t wait for that to happen. They realize that ideas are a dime a dozen, but people who can implement them are priceless. Legendary football coach Bear Bryant used to say, “I’m just a plow-hand from Arkansas, but I’ve learned to hold a team together. How to lift some men up, how to calm others down, until finally they’ve got one heartbeat together. There are just three things I’d ever say: If something goes bad, I did it. If it goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it.” When you have the gift of leadership, you’ll also be approachable. You won’t fly off the handle, you won’t let minor problems poison your outlook, and you’ll sandwich every slice of criticism between two layers of praise. Robert Louis Stevenson said, “Keep your fears to yourself but share your courage with others.” There are people who knock the heart out of you, and people who put it back in. Paul was such a leader: “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God…for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News” (Philippians 1:3,5 NLT). That’s the kind of leader you should aspire to be.
Soul food: Isa 12-16; John 5:31-47; Ps 98; Prov 27:23-24
2017-10-23
2 Timothy 4:2 NIV
When you crave acceptance and approval, you end up being controlled by those you’re supposed to lead. Paul recognized this. That’s why he instructed Titus: “Teach…and encourage your people…correcting them when necessary as one who has every right to do so. Don’t let anyone think that what you say is not important” (Titus 2:15 TLB). Afraid of causing upheaval in the ranks, insecure leaders agonize over decisions and assume responsibility for other people’s emotional reactions. They don’t realize that when you’re doing what you should be doing and others don’t agree, that’s their problem, unless you make it yours. A mature leader deals with disappointment and keeps a good attitude; they’re willing to face the music even when they don’t like the tune. Think: When you warn your children about putting their hand on a hot stove, it’s not your responsibility to make them enjoy hearing it, right? Hopefully, as they mature they’ll understand. But the truth is, some people won’t like hearing the word “no” regardless of how old they get! But we all need to hear it from time to time; otherwise, we’ll never be happy with anything other than getting our own way – and that means getting nowhere, or getting into trouble. Paul, who was training Timothy for leadership, told him, “Correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.” Correct people when they’re wrong, rebuke them when they’re stubborn, encourage them when they struggle, be patient as they learn and grow, and make sure your instructions are clear and understandable. That’s what good leaders do – and the only way you learn it is by doing it.
Soul food: Isa 8-11; John 5:16-30; Ps 85; Prov 27:20-22
2017-10-22
2 Corinthians 7:4 NIV
When people feel “used” they begin to drop out, but when they feel appreciated they’ll follow you anywhere. Paul, one of the finest leaders of all time, told the Corinthian believers, “I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged…my joy knows no bounds” (vv. 3-4 NIV). He was their biggest cheerleader. He didn’t just correct, he comforted. He didn’t just sharpen, he strengthened – all hallmarks of great leadership. Good leaders: (1) Are consistent. They set an example by walking the walk so everyone knows that what’s heard at the bottom is practiced at the top. (2) Voice their appreciation, realizing that people need to know they’re an important part of the team and the vision. (3) Always listen to suggestions, opinions, concerns, and ideas. They don’t prejudge, and they’re not dismissive. Author Betty Bender said: “It’s a mistake to surround yourself only with people just like you. Throw off that warm comforter and replace it with a crazy quilt of different and imaginative people. Then watch the ideas erupt!” (4) Don’t see people as statistics. Businesswoman Mary Kay Ash said, “P&L doesn’t mean ‘profit and loss’ – it means ‘people and love.'” (5) Explain why they like things done a specific way. It lessens mistakes, and the resentment that can stem from feeling “ordered around.” Statesman Clarence Francis said, “You can buy a man’s time and physical presence at a certain place…But you can’t buy enthusiasm, initiative, loyalty, and the devotion of hearts, minds, and souls. You have to earn these things.”
Soul food: Isa 61:1-9; Luke 4:16-30
