2017-07-19
Psalm 103:2 NLT
He sat on the park bench so depressed-looking that a policeman tried to console him. “Something the matter?” “Yeah,” he replied. “A few months ago my grandfather left me $500,000 and some oil wells.” The policeman responded, “That doesn’t sound like something to be upset over.” “Yeah, but you haven’t heard the whole story. Last month my uncle left me $1,000,000.” The policeman shook his head. “I don’t get it. Why are you so unhappy?” He replied, “So far this month, nobody’s left me anything.” Seriously, he’s part of a group of people who are unhappy no matter what they have. The Psalmist shows us how to overcome an ungrateful attitude by cultivating a spirit of thanksgiving. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Thinking and thanking go hand-in-hand. Memory is a catalyst for worship. An old hymn declares, “Count your blessings, name them one by one…see what God has done.” The Psalmist encourages us to do three things: First, think about what God has given us – His forgiveness, healing, protection, redemption, love, and compassion (See vv. 1-5). Second, think about what God has not given us – the punishment our sins deserve (See vv. 8-12). Third, think about what God is yet going to give us. “From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him” (v. 17 NIV). God accepts you when you trust in Christ’s performance, not your own. So each morning look in the mirror and say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
Soul food: 2 Sam 22:31-24:25; Mat 26:47-56; Ps 146 Prov 18:23-24
2017-07-18
2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
One of the worst arguments recorded in Scripture took place between one of the most successful ministry teams of all time – Paul and Barnabas. What was it about? John Mark. Barnabas wanted to take him on their next missionary journey and Paul didn’t. Why? Because Paul was upset with John Mark for wanting to take time off to be with his family. (Sometimes passionate, purpose-driven people don’t see things clearly!) But after consideration, Paul changed his mind and wrote: “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world…Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:10-11). There are three important lessons here: (1) Everyone deserves another chance. After all, that’s what God repeatedly does for you. Now, in extending grace you can get hurt and disappointed, but if you’re going to be Christlike it’s a risk you must take. (2) Not everyone has the same calling. The person you’re upset with may not be called to do what you’re called to do, or they may have been called to do it in a different way. Never make your personal preferences a condition for loving, accepting, and working with someone. (3) Look for the best in others, not the worst. The Bible says, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.” That means everyone you deal with has “treasure,” but it comes in a flawed “earthen vessel.” It also means it’s your responsibility to look for that treasure and value it. Generally speaking, when people feel appreciated they try to rise and meet your expectations.
Soul food: 2 Sam 20:1-22:30; Mat 26:36-46; Ps 140; Prov 18:21-22
2017-07-17
Psalm 39:5 NLT
After examining his patient, the doctor told him, “I have some bad news for you, and some really bad news.” Shocked, the patient asked, “What’s the bad news?” The doctor said, “You have twenty-four hours to live.” The patient said, “Well, I guess it can’t get any worse, so what’s the really bad news?” The doctor replied, “The really bad news is that I should have called you yesterday.” Seriously, the Bible says, “Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty…soon they disappear” (Psalm 90:10 NLT). The average man lives into his mid-seventies and the average woman into her mid-eighties. So if you’re a man, take your age and deduct it from seventy-five. And if you’re a woman, take your age and deduct it from eighty-five. Whatever number of years you’re left with, multiply those by 365 and you’ll know how many “days” you have left. But don’t stop there. Take some sheets of paper and cut them up into little squares. Number each of them, and then put them in a box. That way you’ll know “[your] days are numbered” (Psalm 39:4 NLT). Then each morning take a square out of the box, roll it up, and toss it into the trash can. That little exercise will remind you that your days are getting shorter and time’s running out. Whatever you plan to do for yourself, your family and friends, and the kingdom of God, you’ll have a new urgency in doing it. Poet Charles Thomas Studd wrote, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Soul food: 2 Sam 17:14-19:43; Mat 26:26-35; Ps 133; Prov 18:17-20
2017-07-16
Psalm 119:59 NKJV
One of the great keys to success in life is having the right approach. But to improve your approach you need to assess where you’re starting from. This may take some time. And depending on how self-aware you are, it may even be difficult. The key is to look at yourself objectively, to separate yourself from your attitude. Your goal isn’t to condemn yourself; it’s to see yourself clearly so you can make positive changes in the way you think. When professional loggers discover a logjam, they climb a large tree near the river so they can look over the problem and find the cause. What they’re looking for is the “key log” creating the jam. Once they remove that, the river takes care of the rest. An inexperienced person could spend hours, days, even weeks moving logs around without results. The point is you don’t necessarily need to change all your thinking – just the few items that keep you from having the right approach to life. Once you do, your life will begin to flow in the right direction. Here are some questions that may help you discover the “key log” that’s holding you back. How do you feel about yourself? When do you feel the most negative about yourself? What causes you the greatest problems when dealing with others? Insecurity? Resentment? Inferiority? What negative thoughts constantly control your mind? These are important questions, for “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). If you want to change your life for the better, ask God to make you aware of what’s impacting it for the worse.
Soul food: Num 9:15-23; Ex 24:15; Mat 17:1-8
2017-07-15
Romans 8:2 NKJV
You say, “I fall so far short of God’s standards. Will there ever come a time when my old carnal nature will stop acting up, and trying to drag me down?” There’s bad news and there’s good news. The bad news is, just as the law of gravity is always in operation, so is “the law of sin” that your fleshly nature wants to respond to. The good news is, you can access a higher law and operate in it. It’s called “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” and it overrides “the law of sin and death.” The law of gravity says that what goes up must come down. But when you’re in an airplane another law is in operation – the law of aerodynamics. It works like this: The plane moves at a certain speed, and the proper thrust enables it to climb out of gravity’s pull. That doesn’t mean the law of gravity is no longer the law of gravity. Getting the idea? You ask, “What is this law of the Spirit?” Good question. Here’s the answer. When you’re indwelt by the Holy Spirit and relying on His power rather than your own, which means being sensitive to His leading and obeying His commands, you’re no longer controlled by “the law of sin and death.” It’s no longer about trying harder, but leaning harder on God’s Spirit who lives within you and drawing from Him the strength to live victoriously.
Soul food: 2 Sam 14:21-17:13; Mat 26:14-25; Ps 123; Prov 18:13-16
2017-07-14
Malachi 3:16 KJV
Is it possible that when we get to heaven there’ll be a “Mothers’ Honour Roll,” listing the names of all the faithful mothers who prayed day and night on behalf of their children and grandchildren? Maybe, but this much we do know: God honours mothers who honour God! He responded to the prayers of Hannah and gave her a son who would grow up to be a prophet and lead the nation of Israel. And Paul writes concerning Timothy: “I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV). The Bible tells us God keeps records: “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another…the Lord hearkened …and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and…thought upon his name.” John writes: “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12). Susanna Wesley had nineteen children (nine died as infants), and she spent an hour every day praying for each one by name. Her prayers paid off. One of her sons, John, brought a spiritual awakening to England and founded the Methodist Church. Maybe there will be an honour roll for mothers in heaven, and maybe not. But one thing is sure – when mothers pray, God listens and lives are changed. So never stop praying for your kids, Mom.
Soul food: 2 Sam 12:1-14:20; Mat 26:1-13; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 18:10-12
