2025-04-12
Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
The new birth brings a new battle between your regenerate spirit and your unregenerate body, which still craves old desires and clings to old proclivities. Paul describes this graphically as a wrestling match. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (vv. 12-13 NKJV).
The winner in a wrestling match is the one still standing when it’s over. So, picture a wrestling match, and you will get an idea of what you’re up against each day. Two fighters going toe to toe, until one wins and the other loses. To prepare themselves, they practice for hours. Each knows they need two things to win: strength and a strategy. But they need more; they need determination and endurance. And each knows one more very important thing – never underestimate your opponent!
“Be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV). Here are two scriptural truths you need to live by in order to walk in victory: First, don’t try to overcome Satan in your own strength, or you will lose. Second, don’t let down your guard even for a moment, or you will lose. Paul writes, “Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV). So, expect to “wrestle,” and expect to win.
Soul food: Dan 5-7; Luke 22:47-53; Ps 103:1-12; Prov 10:13
2025-04-11
Matthew 5:13-14 NKJV
Jesus gave us two everyday metaphors so that we could clearly understand how He wants us to serve and represent Him each day. Let’s look at each of them.
(1) Salt. The only thing that can threaten salt is sitting in a shaker so long that it gets damp, loses its flavour, and can’t be sprinkled. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (v. 13 NKJV). The word “flavour” means to enrich. It’s not enough to enjoy good preaching and rich insights from your Bible reading; you’re called to share and sprinkle them on others.
(2) Light. Instead of isolating yourself from the world, you’re supposed to illuminate it. Darkness is not a threat to light; it’s where the light does its best work. Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (vv. 14-16 NKJV). The word gospel means “the good news.” In a world of increasing despair, you are called to bring the light of the gospel to those living in spiritual darkness.
So, the word for you today is – be salt and light.
Soul food: Dan 3-4; Luke 22:39-46; Ps 130; Prov 10:12
2025-04-10
Exodus 4:2 NLT
The Bible says: “Then the Lord asked him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A shepherd’s staff,’ Moses replied. ‘Throw it down on the ground,’ the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. Then the Lord told him, ‘Reach out and grab its tail.’ So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand” (vv. 2-4 NLT). Then God instructed Moses to go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to set the children of Israel free. “Take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you” (v. 17 NLT).
It represented his security. It gave him physical security from wild animals. It gave him financial security – his sheep were his financial asset. Moses’ staff also identified him as a shepherd. This experience marked the ending of one season in his life, and the beginning of another. The staff Moses threw down had been used to tend sheep, but the one he picked up would be used to part the waters of the Red Sea and lead God’s people to the promised land.
Is God asking you to throw down that which represents your security and your identity? Don’t be afraid, do it! What you get back will be greater than anything you are asked to give up. The only way you find your new identity is by letting go of your old one. The only way you will find your security in Christ is by throwing down the human securities you cling to.
Soul food: Dan 1-2; Luke 22:24-38; Ps 127; Prov 10:11
2025-04-09
2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV
What’s your goal in life? Survival, success, or succession? Some of us suffer from “duck syndrome.” We appear calm on the surface, but underneath we’re paddling furiously. We think “I’m glad people around me don’t know how much I don’t know,” and we keep them at a distance hoping they never find out. That’s not how God wants you to live, as the source of your own strength and wisdom. David wrote, “The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1 NKJV).
On the other hand, some of us strive for a self-centered form of success that begins and ends with us. Our philosophy is “look out for number one.” When that’s your goal, God cannot trust you with success because your motives violate every principle in His Word. God told Abraham, “I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2 NKJV). When your heart’s intent is to bless others, God will bless your endeavors. Jesus said, “I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain [after you’re gone]” (John 15:16 NKJV).
Part of God’s plan for your life is passing on to others what He has entrusted to you. There is no lasting success without a successor. That’s why Paul wrote, “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” So, the word for you today is – pass it on.
Soul food: Phil 1-4; Luke 22:14-23; Ps 43; Prov 10:10
2025-04-08
Romans 14:19 NLT
Paul wouldn’t yield an inch when it came to standing on the central truths of Scripture. But when it came to traditions, personal opinions, and personal preferences, he said, “Let each be fully convinced in his own mind” (v. 5 NKJV). Under the law of Moses, being circumcised was considered equal to having a covenant between you and God. So when Gentile believers joined the New Testament church, Jewish believers insisted they too must be circumcised. Not as babies, mind you, but as adults! Were these Jewish believers sincere? Absolutely. But they were sincerely misguided. When this issue threatened to split the church, the apostles met in Jerusalem, prayed about the matter, and issued the following opinion: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things” (Acts 15:28 NKJV).
Any time a tradition or personal preference becomes equal in authority to God’s Word, we have gone too far. Question: Have you been upset with someone who doesn’t agree with you on some nonessential point of doctrine? Have you been critical of someone whose opinion differs from yours? Perhaps in insisting on your list of dos and don’ts, you have forgotten the most important item on God’s list: that we exhibit love.
Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35 NKJV). Our hearts can be in unity even when our minds don’t agree. We can walk hand in hand, even when we don’t see eye to eye. As theologians often say, “In essential things, unity. In all things, charity!”
Soul food: Lev 26-27; Luke 22:1-13; Ps 56; Prov 10:8-9
2025-04-07
Psalm 37:24 NLT
Every opportunity in life comes with two things: the possibility of succeeding, and the possibility of failing. When you reach the end of your life, your greatest regrets won’t be over your failures, but the opportunities you failed to seize because you were afraid of failing. So here are some principles to help you conquer the fear of failing:
(1) Be willing to try and fail at something. And when it happens, tell people. Why? Because that’s how you discover failure isn’t fatal.
(2) Find a project so big that you cannot do it without God’s help, then commit to it.(3) Socialize with some impulsive types. Observe how they take risks without dying. Seeing and imitating is a great way to learn.
(4) The way we learn to take big steps of faith is by taking small steps of faith. Compliment someone you don’t know. Volunteer for an additional task at work. Go out of your way to help someone in need.
(5) Declare war on perfectionism. Instead of waiting until you can do it perfectly, do your best and tell yourself, “That’s good enough for now.”
(6) Be afraid, and obey God anyway. You will never totally defeat your fears, but you can diminish them to where they have less control of your life.
Here is a promise for you to stand on: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (vv. 23-24 NLT).
Sielskos: Lev 23:26-25:55; Luke 21:29-38; Ps 50:16-23; Prov 10:4-7
