2025-07-14
Romans 15:4 NIV
There is a cute story about a girl who left home and went away to college. After her first semester, she emailed her mother, saying, “I think it’s time I brought you up to date on what’s going on in my life. Shortly after I arrived at college, I got bored with dormitory life and stole fifty dollars from my roommate’s purse. With the money, I rented a motorcycle, which I crashed into a telephone pole a few blocks from the dorm. I broke my leg in the accident and am unable to attend classes, so I’m coming home to live with you and dad.”
After hitting “send,” she immediately sent a second email: “Mom, I was only joking. I didn’t steal any money, or rent a motorcycle, or hit a telephone pole, or break my leg. And I won’t be coming home to live with you and dad either. However, I am getting a D in mathematics and an F in literature, and I wanted you to keep my grades in proper perspective!”
Seriously, having a biblical perspective on life’s challenges can lift you out of discouragement and despair. Paul said, “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures… we might have hope.” For every problem you face in life, God’s Word has a principle to be practiced or a promise to be claimed. So, the way to overcome discouragement is to get into God’s Word and get it into you.
Soul food: Acts 14-15; Matt 9:27-38; Ps 133; Pro 16:2
2025-07-13
James 2:26 NIV
Could it be that the negative perception people have of the church stems from the negative energy we project? And could it be that our negative energy stems from our negative view of righteousness? We falsely view righteousness as doing nothing wrong: “Don’t do this. Don’t do that. And you’re okay.” The problem with that approach is you can do nothing wrong and still not do the right thing; the thing God is calling you to do. Righteousness means more than doing nothing wrong. Do you really think God’s ultimate dream for us is doing nothing wrong? You love it when your children make a difficult decision not to do something wrong. But the thing that brings you greater joy is seeing them develop their gifts and maximize their potential. And that’s what God wants for each of us.
The Bible teaches two kinds of sin: the sin of commission, which is doing something you shouldn’t have done, and the sin of omission, which is all the things we could and should have done to advance God’s kingdom but didn’t do. A pastor writes: “In God’s economy, breaking even is a total loss. Isn’t that the lesson of the parable of the talents? The servant with one talent broke even… [and] Jesus called him a ‘wicked and lazy servant’ (Matthew 25:26 NKJV). The greatest risk is taking no risks… Righteousness is using all our God-given gifts to their full God-given potential. Love doesn’t play it safe; it takes risks. Love doesn’t make excuses; it takes responsibility. Love doesn’t see problems; it seizes opportunities to step up and step in.”
Soul food: 1 Sam 21:1-6; Hosea 6:4-6; Matt 12:1-14
2025-07-11
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
Your life’s purpose is connected to a specific time and season. In other words, it will have a beginning and an ending. Some of God’s purposes can be fulfilled in a short time, while others take a lifetime. You won’t always be able to do what you’re doing today, or at least to the extent you’re doing it now. The Bible teaches, “As your days, so shall your strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25 NKJV). That’s why some of the world’s best sports players transition into coaching.
Three important observations:
(1) You must understand and maximize the season you’re in right now.
(2) When one season ends, you must transition graciously into the next.
(3) You must learn to enjoy whatever season you’re in.
Here is an interesting phenomenon: Elijah passed his mantle of power to Elisha, but nowhere do we read that Elisha passed it on to anyone else. But when Paul passed his mantle on to Timothy, it didn’t end there. Paul told him, “The things… you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit…to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV).
Instead of lamenting that he had run out of time, Paul rejoiced in knowing that God had helped him to fulfil his assignment. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown” (2 Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV). The truth is, God only gives you grace for the season you’re in. And when a season ends, and it’s time to transition, the grace lifts. So, pay attention and know when to move on!
Soul food: Acts 12-13; Matt 9:14-26; Ps 123; Pro 16:1
Matthew 5:41 NKJV
Try to picture this: You’re in a restaurant with someone whose meal costs $15.00, and you’re watching them struggle over the tip. They have $2.00 left over, and they know that a 10 percent tip is considered the very minimum. They waste five minutes getting change for that second dollar so they can leave a $1.50 tip rather than leave a little extra. What would have happened if they had left the full $2.00? They may have made the waiter’s or waitress’s day. Fifty cents may not seem like much, but the message that goes along with it can mean the world of difference to someone, especially if they’re having a rough day. It says, “Thanks, you did a good job, I appreciate you, you’re valuable.” Maybe the message gets lost – your server just sweeps up the tip without counting – but God blesses you for doing it anyway.
“Whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV). Think about it: You can increase the happiness of others and bless yourself with mere pocket change. This is just one tiny example of the many ways in which the small things we can do have surprisingly big repercussions. Small acts of kindness set the tone for your day. Going the extra mile – whether it’s a slightly larger tip or an unexpected compliment or gift – costs very little and gets you a lot.
And here is an important thought: We can have mountain-moving faith, understand and explain all the deep doctrines of the Bible, and get top marks for personal holiness, yet God’s Word says that without love, we are “nothing” (See 1 Corinthians 13:2).
Soul food: Acts 10-11; Matt 9:1-13; Ps 118:19-29; Pro 15:33
2025-07-10
Philippians 2:4 NKJV
If you are in a position of leadership, try to be aware of how you respond to the feelings, thoughts, and opinions of those around you. What you say as a leader will resonate more deeply with people than what others say, so you must be sensitive to this. Even when someone offers an idea that you feel has no merit, resist the temptation to immediately dismiss it. A simple “Thank you for your input” is called for, not “No, that won’t work.”
When you’re dismissive toward someone, it sends this message: “I’m ignoring you and your idea. Your feelings and views don’t matter. Your concern is unimportant to me.” Spoken or unspoken, these statements hurt a person’s sense of value and need for respect. This is particularly true if the person thinks they have earned the right to special regard. The old saying is true: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
When you’re dismissive toward others, they will find a way to display their irritation, and sometimes it’s in a way that can cost you dearly when it comes to fulfilling your vision. You can avoid this by becoming more aware of how you come across to others. The only solution to this problem is to step outside yourself, listen intently to others, and endeavour to understand and respectfully handle their concerns. You will gain great benefits if you do. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Soul food: Acts 8-9; Matt 8:28-34; Ps 118:10-18; Pro 15:31-32
2025-07-09
John 8:12 NKJV
In his book Deep Thoughts, Jack Handey writes: “As the light changed from red to green to yellow and back to red again, I sat there thinking about life. Was it nothing more than a bunch of honking and yelling? Sometimes it seemed that way.”
Many of us are waiting for the green light we have already been given. Jesus said, “He who follows Me shall… have the light of life.” When do insight, illumination, and direction come? When you take the first steps of faith. We are not advocating a thoughtless or prayerless approach to decision-making. You need to know that God is calling you. But you can be so afraid of doing the wrong thing that you never do the right thing. It’s wise to think and rethink, but not overthink. Over analysis results in spiritual paralysis.
A pastor explains: “If you try to logically figure out the will of God, you’ll never take a step of faith. Why? Because the will of God is not logical. It’s theological.” The word “theos” means “God.” So, “theological” denotes adding God into the equation. The pastor continues: “That’s why it doesn’t always add up on our human calculators. The promptings of the Holy Spirit won’t always make sense to your logical left brain. In fact, God ideas often seem like bad ideas. But that is when you need to allow the Holy Spirit to override your intellect.”
The disciples Jesus called did two things. They worked miracles, and they made mistakes. Had they been unwilling to make a mistake they would never have experienced the joy of working a miracle. So, go when the light is green.
Soul food: Acts 6-7; Matt 8:18-27; Ps 118:1-9; Pro 15:27-30
