2025-06-02
1 Samuel 16:7 NLT
Jesus was rough on Pharisees: “People look at you and think you are saints, but beneath… you are total frauds” (Matthew 23:28 MSG). They put on a good front but were devoid of grace, mercy, and compassion. And Jesus called them on it!
Because we live in an appearance-focused society, Jesus warns us about the dangers that come from dwelling on the outer life at the cost of developing the inner life. So, how do you keep that from happening?
(1) Follow Jesus’ example. He spent His life ministering to the hurting, the forgotten, the lost, and lonely.
(2) Keep in mind that even though you’re a Christian, you will still struggle in certain areas, and don’t try to act like you “have it all together.”
(3) Ask God to reveal behaviour patterns that are appearance oriented instead of heart oriented.
(4) Surround yourself with transparent people who encourage you to be real and correct you when you need it.
Marybeth Whalen writes: “The painters painted the wall leading downstairs… A week later I discovered, while the wall had been repainted, the habits hadn’t changed. The kids were still dragging their dirty hands behind them, making what was white and clean, grey, and dirty. Like that wall, if I’m not careful I can cover up what’s there… wear the Christian tee shirt, carry my Bible, smile like everything’s great, and talk a good game about my walk with the Lord. But deep inside the ugly habits are waiting to be revealed the moment life gets messy. I can become a modern-day Pharisee who focuses on the whitewash and ignores the dirty stuff underneath.” So, be real.
Soul food: Rev 19-22; Mark 11:12-26; Ps 129; Prov 12:27-28
2025-06-01
2 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV
Be careful to make the distinction between the “earthen vessel” and the “treasure.” Paul says, “We have this treasure”; he doesn’t say, “We are this treasure!” Anytime you allow people to think of you as the treasure, God is not pleased, and you’re setting yourself up to fail. When God deposits a treasure within you, it means two things: (1) He expects a return on His investment. (2) You’re called to a higher level of responsibility and accountability.
Sometimes people think leaders are immune to life’s tests and trials. Not so! Because someone has talent doesn’t mean they don’t struggle in certain areas. Their struggles may be unseen, but they’re real.
Let’s face it; God uses people we would have censured and thrown away, like Rahab working as a prostitute in Jericho. But when she placed her faith in God, He used her to help win the battle of Jericho. Then He included her in the family line of Christ (See Hebrews 11:31). And how about Jephthah? He was born to an unwed mother, rejected as illegitimate by his half brothers and sisters, and ended up living in a cave with a gang. Yet God used him to deliver Israel and become one of its youngest leaders (See Hebrews 11:32).
God specializes in restoring broken vessels. He takes things that aren’t productive – marriages that don’t work, people with problems – and teaches them how to be victorious and fruitful in His service. Knowing that gives you the strength and tenacity to face whatever comes because you understand that when God places His treasure within you, He protects it, uses it, and blesses it.
Soul food: Exo 20:16; Deut 19:15-20; Rev 21:8
2025-05-31
Matthew 7:11 KJV
Try to imagine the abundance God has prepared for you (See 1 Corinthians 2:9). Then decide that the language of your heart will be the “much more” of faith, not the “much less” of unbelief. Observe:
(1) Your salvation supersedes your sin. No matter how sinful your history, “if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God… which is by…J esus Christ, hath abounded unto many” (Romans 5:15 KJV). Rejoice! You’re “much more” forgiven.
(2) Christ’s life in you continuously saves you. If He lives in you, His salvation remains actively at work in you. “If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10 KJV).
(3) The Holy Spirit will be in you abundantly. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13 KJV). He gives the Spirit “much more” to His children.
(4) You can triumph in life through Jesus. “Much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17 KJV). By God’s grace, you can walk in “much more” victory.
(5) All you need, He will provide. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father… give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11 KJV).
As you develop a “much more” mentality, you will begin to enjoy the “good things” God provides.
Soul food: Rev 15-18; Mark 11:1-11; Ps 124; Prov 12:26
2025-05-30
Romans 5:20 KJV
Here is an expression used throughout Scripture to describe God’s provision for us: “much more.” It assures us there is no need we will ever face that can’t be met through His abundant resources. Our tendency is to approach our needs with an attitude of “much less.” It assumes that God is unable or unwilling to meet them. No, God wants us to adopt a “much more” attitude. Much less is the language of visible things; it allows circumstances and lack to govern our lives. Much more is the language of unseen things; it invites us to live in the assurance of God’s abundance.
There is an inspiring illustration of this principle in 2 Chronicles 32. The Assyrian King Sennacherib’s forces were threatening Israel with annihilation. After he told them to look around and see what he had done to the people of other lands, he added, “How much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?” (v. 15). But instead, King Hezekiah fixed his eye of faith on God’s resources and encouraged the Israelites: “Be not afraid… for the king of Assyria, nor for all the [visible] multitude that is with him: for there be more [invisible] with us than with him: with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God” (vv. 7-8).
Although the Assyrians had a vastly superior army, verse eight says God’s people “rested themselves” (stopped worrying), believing the hand of God was much more effective than the arm of the flesh! And it’s time you developed a “much more” mentality in your life because our God is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
Soul food: Rev 10-14; Mark 10:35-52; Ps 4; Prov 12:25
2025-05-29
Psalm 126:6 NCV
If you cry easily, it could be that God has given you a ministry of tears. What is that? Author Liz Curtis Higgs explains: “I cry easily and often. Happy tears, sad tears, over-the-top tears, Hallmark commercial tears – you name it… I cry at church… When I hear a wondrous truth spoken or a glorious song lifted in praise, when I see a new believer step forward or an old saint read the Scriptures, I’m so overwhelmed with God’s presence that tears flow down my cheeks… While I’ve made peace with [it] many women are ashamed of their tearfulness.
A dear woman in Missouri thought her tears were a stumbling block to serving God… She explained, ‘I want to help hurting people, but the minute I hear their stories, I start weeping.’…I gave her a big hug [and said,] ‘You have a ministry of tears! The Bible tells us to ‘mourn with those who mourn’ (Romans 12:15 NIV), and to ‘comfort those in… trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God’ (2 Corinthians 1:4 NIV. Your tears don’t hurt, they help!” God can use anything we surrender to him. Laughter and tears. Joys and sorrows. Victories and mistakes. Strengths and weaknesses. We minister to others best when we offer our true selves – ‘as is’ – not waiting until we’ve cleaned up our act or dried up our tears, but right now, leaks and all.” One day “God shall wipe away all tears” (Revelation 21:4 KJV).
But until then, our tears are so precious to Him that, like fine wine and priceless perfume, He preserves them in a bottle (See Psalm 56:8).
Soul food: Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11; Eph 4:7-10
2025-05-28
Philippians 3:14 NIV
Psychologists say the strongest influence on our present is often our past. But Paul tells us to forget the past, and focus on “what lies ahead… press on to… receive the heavenly prize” (v. 13-14 NLT). One counsellor writes: “I know you’re tired… overwhelmed… as though… this hard time will last forever. It won’t. You are almost there. You don’t just think it has been hard; it has been hard. You have been tested and retested on what you have learned. Your faith tried in fire. More problems occurred than you anticipated… You did not plan on this, yet it has been good. Part of you, [your spirit], has sensed this even when your head told you that things were out of whack… that there was no plan, that God had forgotten you. Each incident – the most painful, troubling, most surprising – has a connection.” “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).
The counsellor continues, “Things were meant to happen this way. You didn’t believe it would take this long, but it did. You have learned patience. Many moments you thought you were forgotten. Now things are coming into place. You are almost at the end of this difficult portion of the journey. You have been climbing a mountain. It has not been easy, but mountain climbing is never easy. Now, you are near the top. A moment longer, and victory shall be yours. Steady your shoulders. Breathe deeply. Move forward in confidence. The time is coming to enjoy all which you have fought for… Your struggle has not been in vain. For every struggle on this journey, there is a climax, a resolution… There will be more mountains, but now you know how to climb them.”
Soul food: Rev 5-9; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 121; Prov 12:23-24
