2025-04-30
1 Corinthians 2:14 NLT
When you share your faith with someone and they don’t seem to “get it,” don’t be disappointed, don’t be upset, and don’t be impatient. In Scripture, God’s Word is referred to as “seed” (Luke 8:11), so that makes you a sower. Yes, we would all like to sow and then reap as quickly as possible. But sowing and reaping each have their own season.
When the finger of God began to write King Belshazzar’s fate on the walls of his palace and none of his wise men could interpret it, they called for Daniel the prophet. Up until then he was basically persona non grata. But Daniel was ready when his time came, and you must be too.
Here are two Scriptures you must keep in mind when you share your faith with someone: (1) “People who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them… for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NLT).
(2) “If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way” (1 Peter 3:15 NLT).
God has called you to share the truth of His Word with others, but only the Spirit of God can help them to “get it.” You have not been called to convince, convict, convert, or change anybody, but to sow the seed of God’s Word each opportunity you get and to leave the rest to God’s Spirit. And when you do your part, you can trust God to do His part.
Soul food: Num 19-21; Mark 3:20-35; Ps 37:16-24; Prov 11:4
2025-04-29
Mark 6:11 NKJV
Let’s be honest, each of us wants others to love, respect, and accept us. But when people are unready or unwilling to change or haven’t experienced the joy and fulfillment in Christ that you have, you will often experience rejection. Indeed, when you follow Jesus, rejection is guaranteed.
What should you do? Here is what Jesus told His disciples to do: “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them… So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them” (vv. 10-13 NKJV).
When their circumstances change tomorrow, some of those who reject you today will be open and ready to receive what you have to share. People fear what they don’t understand, and some even fight against it. So when you bump into people who “will not receive you nor hear you,” love them, pray for them, shake it off, and move forward. Don’t allow those who are not ready to receive what you have to share keep you from taking it to those who are ready. One of Paul’s first converts in Macedonia was Lydia. Note what the Bible says: “The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul… she and her household were baptized” (Acts 16:14-15 NKJV).
Try to remember this: You are the messenger, and the Lord is the “heart opener.” Do your part, and He will do His.
Soul food: Num 16-18; Mark 3:7-19; Ps 37:8-15; Prov 11:3
2025-04-28
Romans 10:20 NLT
The Bible says, “I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.” You say, “What does this Scripture mean?” That even though you’re looking for answers in the wrong places, asking the wrong questions, and heading in the wrong direction, Jesus will intercept you, redirect you, and meet your deepest needs.
When the woman at the well met Jesus, she was looking for the answer in relationships. She had been through five failed marriages and was living with man number six (See John 4:18). When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he was looking for the answer in material things. “Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was” (Luke 19:2-3 NKJV). When Paul met Jesus, he was looking for the answer in religion. Here is his résumé: “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (Philippians 3:5-6 NKJV).
Multiple relationships didn’t satisfy the woman at the well, riches didn’t satisfy Zacchaeus, and religion didn’t satisfy Paul. And these things won’t satisfy you either. What will? A relationship with Jesus! Today He is saying to you: “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). Today, Jesus is the answer.
Soul food: Num 14-15; Mark 3:1-6; Ps 37:1-7; Prov 11:1-2
2025-04-27
1 Chronicles 4:9 NKJV
The name Jabez means “pain and trouble.” Perhaps that’s why no other parent in Scripture gave their child that name. But it’s a label he refused to wear and a name he refused to be defined by. A label usually tells you what is in a bottle; its contents and even its value. And when you accept the labels people try to put on you, you start to believe that’s who you really are and that you will never become anything more than that. The Bible says, “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). People will use past experiences to label and limit you. They will also use your physical, mental, and emotional characteristics to label and limit you.
What should you do? Do what Jabez did – go to God! In the final analysis, His opinion about your past, present, and future is the one that matters most. Plus, He loves you and has a plan for your life. Jabez prayed a prayer that changed his life, and it will change your life too. “‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and 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” (1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV).
Jabez asked God for four things: blessing, influence, power, and protection. And God gave them to him. So, today you have a choice; believe what others say about you, or believe what God says about you. When you look at it that way, the choice is clear.
Soul food: Exo 20:8-11; Exo 16:1-31; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 13:10-17
2025-04-26
Hebrews 10:36 NKJV
How long should you keep praying and believing God for the answer? This Scripture addresses your question: “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (vv. 35-36 NKJV). Many of God’s promises have timelines, and you need long-distance faith to receive them.
Note the word “endurance,” and picture yourself as a marathon runner determined to finish the race and receive the prize. Note the words “after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” You say, “I’m not sure what God’s will in this matter is.” What does God’s Word say? That’s what you must obey, stand on, and speak over your situation. For twenty years Abraham looked up into the night sky believing: “Lord, you said my children would be as numerous as the stars. I don’t know how you’re going to do it because I’m a hundred years old and my wife Sarah is ninety. But I’m going to believe you anyway” (See Genesis 15:5-6).
When you pray that way, you risk looking foolish in the eyes of others. But receiving the miraculous can involve looking ridiculous, like Jesus telling servants to fill pots with water when what they needed was wine. Or rubbing clay on a blind man’s eyes so that he would receive his sight. But the wedding guests drank the finest wine, and the blind man went home seeing. Why? Because they stood on the word Jesus gave them. And you must do that too.
Soul food: Num 11-13; Mark 2:18-28; Ps 2; Prov 10:30-32
2025-04-25
Mark 2:3 NKJV
You say, “I don’t have faith to be healed.” Then find some prayer partners with faith. “Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith… He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!'” (vv. 3-5, 10-12 NKJV). Notice two important phrases in this story. First, “when they had broken through.” Second, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic.”
If you don’t have faith to be healed, look for those who can carry you into the presence of Jesus in prayer, believe God for you, and who can “pray through” until God answers. This paralyzed man needed four friends with faith – you only need two. Jesus said, “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19 NKJV).
This raises some important questions. How often do you pray? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Only when you have a problem you cannot solve? Are all your prayers self-focused, or do you pray for others? To have prayer partners when you need them, you must be one.
Soul food: Num 8-10; Mark 2:1-17; Ps 35; Prov 10:28-29
