2025-09-17
Romans 12:18 NLT
Author Chuck Swindoll says that when he was a young man, he couldn’t understand how two people who loved the Lord and believed the Bible could come to different conclusions: “In my two-by-four thinking I was convinced that all godly minds held identical conclusions… I soon discovered that there weren’t only various opinions, but God had the audacity to bless those who disagreed with me… He isn’t nearly so narrow minded as many of His people… God’s much easier to live with… tolerant… full of more grace and forgiveness than all of us.”
In order to show grace under fire, you must understand and accept these two things: (1) People’s opinions and convictions will often differ from yours. Yes, you must never compromise Bible truth and core values, but it costs no more to be tactful and gracious than it does to be critical and caustic. And that’s especially true when confrontation and correction are called for. Paul writes, “If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path” (Galatians 6:1 NLT). Pay careful attention to the words “gently” and “humbly.”
(2) Everyone’s perspective has some merit. When you grow up in a home that functions on a right-versus-wrong justice scale, the person who is “right” gets praised while the person who is “wrong” gets put down. And that’s a pity because generally it’s not an “I’m-right-and-you’re-wrong” issue as much as it’s an “I-see-it-this-way-and-you-see-it-that-way” issue. So before you go to war, ask yourself what’s more important: your need to correct this person or to connect with them.
Soul food: 1 Sam 1-3; Matt 26:17-29; Ps 34; Pro 21:14-16
2025-09-16
1 Peter 2:20 NIV
Are you in “the school of hard knocks” today? Are you wondering, “Why am I going through this?” Because God is more interested in your character than your comfort! Patsy Clairmont writes: “Jason, our youngest, has two goals in life. One is to have fun, and the other is to rest. And he does both quite well. So I shouldn’t have been surprised by what happened when I sent him to school one fall day. As Jason headed off for the bus, I busied myself, preparing for a full day. The knock on the door was a surprise and disruptive to my morning rhythm, which is not something I have a lot of. I flew to the door, jerked it open, only to find myself looking at Jason. ‘What are you doing here?’ I demanded. ‘I’ve quit school,’ he announced. ‘Quit school?’ I repeated in disbelief, at a decibel level too high for human ears.
Swallowing once, I tried to remember some motherly psychology. But all that came to my mind was ‘A stitch in time saves nine’ and ‘Starve a fever, feed a cold’… Somehow, they didn’t seem to apply to a six-year-old drop-out dilemma. So I questioned, ‘Why have you quit school?’ Without hesitation he proclaimed, ‘It’s too long, it’s too hard, and it’s too boring!’ ‘Jason,’ I instantly retorted, ‘you’ve just described life. Get on the bus!'”
The Bible says, “If you suffer for doing good and… endure it… this is commendable before God.” So when you find yourself in “the school of hard knocks,” rejoice – God is training you for bigger and better things! So, get on the bus!
Soul food: S of Sol 5-8; Matt 26:1-16; Ps 39; Pro 21:9-13
2025-09-15
Psalm 119:9 NIV
When we give in to temptation, it’s easy to blame other people and our environment. “Women dress too provocatively today… Men are too sexually aggressive… The media is too explicit.” These statements may be true, but they don’t help us to overcome the tempter’s tactics. Humourist Will Rogers is attributed with saying, “Things aren’t what they used to be, and probably never were!” Rose-coloured glasses can be deceptive when it comes to looking back. Satan, our enemy, hasn’t altered his tactics. They still work because human nature hasn’t changed.
David learned painfully that Bathsheba’s bath routine didn’t cause his failure. Owning responsibility for his behaviour, he prayed, “I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against… You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight” (Psalm 51:3-4 NKJV).
Notice two important lessons David learned: (1) He discovered that forgiveness, restoration, and freedom begin by repenting and taking responsibility for your actions. (2) He also learned that the way to maintain power over your lustful nature lies in frequent time spent in God’s Word, not your own efforts.
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity?” God’s answer isn’t mystifying or hard to understand. His universal solution is, “By living according to your word.” David’s new attitude and purity of heart came from practicing this truth: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 NIV). And that’s a formula for victory that will work for you too.
Soul food: S of Sol 1-4; Matt 25:41-46; Ps 3; Pro 21:4-8
2025-09-14
Galatians 5:16 NKJV
Lust is as natural to us as breathing. Our flesh nature lives to fulfill its selfish desires. It never gets enough or stops wanting more. Alternatively, our new nature craves more of what satisfies the Holy Spirit who lives in our redeemed spirit. We’re more familiar with the appeal of the flesh because we have invested more time and energy in nurturing it. We understand its urgency, its appeal, its control, and its compelling tug.
But as we invest equal time and energy in what pleases the Holy Spirit, we experience the fulfillment and power the Spirit alone can bring. So what does “living in the Spirit” really mean? Paul tells us, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” and “Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV).
There is a way to live above the gravitational pull of the flesh, a way that beats living in a constant cycle of defeat/repentance/defeat. Granted, God is a God of forgiveness and restoration who accepts the genuine confessions from the hearts of His people, and forgives all our transgressions (See 1 John 1:9). But “abundant life” means living where most of your time is spent rejoicing in victory. Just as living in the flesh implies living in accordance with the edicts of your human nature, living in the Spirit implies living in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit as outlined in God’s Word. And the end result is that “you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Soul food: Gen 24:1-51; 2 Cor 6:14-7:1
2025-09-13
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
According to Jesus, lust is preceded by temptation and can lead to sin (See Matthew 5:27-28). But the good news about dealing with temptation is that you’re not alone. God’s Word tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (v. 13 NKJV).
In light of this Scripture, simply saying “I couldn’t help myself” is an excuse that doesn’t hold up before God. The Bible says no temptation is greater than God’s faithfulness. If you choose the way of escape which He offers, you won’t fall into the trap. And if you do fail, it will be because you didn’t draw on God’s faithfulness. The temptation may not disappear immediately, but you will be given a way to bear it, to hold out against it. The temptation remains an active possibility, but God gives us the option of trusting in His reliable, delivering power.
Bearing temptation implies an ongoing process. You can win the battle, but the war will never fully end until the last shot is fired at the coming of Jesus when every foe will become his footstool (See Acts 2:35). In the meantime, “be vigilant and cautious… for that enemy of yours… roams around like a lion… seeking someone to… devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith… knowing that the same… sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood… throughout the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9 AMPC).
Soul food: 2 Cor 11:16-13:14; Matt 25:31-40; Ps 19; Pro 21:3
2025-09-12
Psalm 119:105 KJV
The patriarch Job said, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman” (Job 31:1 NLT). Job couldn’t control his environment and its temptations any more than we can. Still, we can learn a valuable lesson from Job’s words. A covenant is a promise made in good faith with the intention of keeping it. It’s a step of faith you commit to before you know what circumstances you will encounter, not unlike a marriage covenant. The Bible tells us, “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17 KJV), not by our own efforts. Faith is based on God’s revealed will, and our part is agreeing with God’s will with the understanding that only by His power can we fulfill our vow.
Our selfish nature militates against keeping God’s commandments; that’s why everything we need to succeed is ours because of the Holy Spirit who indwells us. If you wait until you feel strong enough to honour your covenant with God, it will never happen. But if you make it by faith, recognizing your own weakness, the Holy Spirit will provide the strength you need to keep it! His covenant, made by faith, enabled Job to say, I will “not… look lustfully at a young woman” (Job 31:1 NIV).
But isn’t it better not to make a covenant than to make one and break it? No, because all our failures are covered by Christ’s blood. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us… and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 KJV). Repentance brings forgiveness and a fresh start!
Soul food: 2 Cor 9:1-11:15; Matt 25:22-30; Ps 24; Pro 21:1-2
