2020-11-02
Proverbs 18:4 NLT
When Proverbs 18 talks about ‘deep waters’, it paints a picture of a deep well or pool where water is often the cleanest, coolest, and most refreshing. The deeper the water, the more layers of earth it’s had to go through. Those layers act like a natural filter, helping to remove impurities and purifying the water. And we need to try and filter our words so the things we’re saying to others are truthful, refreshing, and from a heart of love.
One good sign of wisdom and maturity is that we’re able to say the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, to the right person – and to know when to say nothing at all. We can think that saying the right thing means we have to avoid criticism and say what we think someone wants to hear, but that might do more harm than good in the long run. Choosing to say the right thing isn’t always easy or comfortable. When we look from God’s perspective, saying the right thing might sometimes mean having a difficult conversation in order to help someone see that they’re following the wrong path in life, or giving constructive criticism, as long as it’s coming from a place of love. There may also be times when it’s best to say nothing. Proverbs 17:27 tells us: ‘The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered’ (NIV).
We need to check with God before we speak, especially if it’s a difficult conversation, to make sure that it’s appropriate and right. Our words have the power to build people up or to wound them badly, so we need to make sure we’re using them wisely and with love.
Ezra 6-8; John 7:45-53; Ps 9; Prov 24:30-34
2020-11-01
Genesis 18:19 NCV
In Genesis 18, we read about God’s conversation with Abraham just before He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. God decided to tell Abraham of His decision to destroy the city: ‘I have heard many complaints against the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. They are very evil. I will go down and see if they are as bad as I have heard. If not, I will know’ (Genesis 18:20-21 NCV).
God has no need to justify His actions to anyone, so why did He explain to Abraham? We can’t fully know why God made the decision, but one of the reasons can be found in the previous verse: ‘I have chosen him so he would command his children and his descendants to live in the way the Lord wants them to, to live right and be fair.’ God had promised that Abraham would be the founder of a ‘great nation’ (take a look at Genesis 12:2), and Abraham was responsible for passing on his knowledge and teaching God’s way of living, so the nation would be equipped to grow into a righteous, godly one.
The destruction was a demonstration of what would happen to people who sinned and refused to repent, and it was a powerful lesson that Abraham could teach to others – as well as witnessing the destruction of the city for himself (see Genesis 19:27-28), he understood why God had done it.
When God reveals something to us, it’s important that we listen and take notice of what He’s saying, even if we don’t understand it at first. He might give words of warning, guidance, teaching or comfort, but whatever He reveals to us, let’s hold on to it and value it. And if we can, let’s use what God’s revealed to us to show others the right way and stay on God’s path.
1 Chr 17:1-20; Heb 11:4-12:3; Ps 18:20-29; Prov 4:18
2020-10-31
Proverbs 14:23 NCV
When we like the work we’re doing, it’s easy to be enthusiastic about it and have a good work ethic. But when we’re stuck doing something we don’t enjoy, it’s just as easy to do it half-heartedly and carelessly. But God calls us to have a good work ethic whatever we’re doing, and however we feel about the task itself.
Paul wrote: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters’ (Colossians 3:23 NIV). We can read something similar in Ephesians: ‘Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people’ (6:7 NLT). And in the Old Testament, we find this: ‘Whatever work you do, do your best’ (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NCV).
All of this tells us that working hard and being diligent is another way of worshipping God. When we look at our work from this perspective – as a way to glorify God – it makes it easier for us to approach the tasks set out for us with a joyful heart and to try to do them well, even if we’re not thrilled by them.
God designed work, and designed us to work. After God created the world, He took Adam and ‘put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it’ (Genesis 2:15 NIV). But even though God wants us to work hard, it doesn’t mean we should take it too far and become workaholics. God set the example for us when He rested on the seventh day (take a look at Genesis 2:2-3). He didn’t need to rest, but He wanted to set the pattern for us. So let’s glorify Him by working as He wants us to.
Deut 18:9-18; Isa 47:5-15; Acts 16:16-34; Dan 2
2020-10-30
Proverbs 15:23 NLT
One of the easiest areas to repeatedly trip up on sin is in the way that we speak. So often, our mouth lets something slide out before we’ve fully thought about what we’re saying. But that can cause so much damage. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that ‘the tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences’ (NLT). It really is that serious.
All of our words carry our thoughts directly into someone else’s mind. A careless word from us can dramatically alter the way that other people think, feel, and even live their lives. God calls us to be diligent with our words, because our conversations have so much power.
However, the positive side to this is that if our words have so much influence, then the outcome can be dramatically positive when we invite God into what we say. Proverbs 15:23 also reminds us that ‘everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!’ (NLT).
When we work with God to resist the urge to speak negatively, we really can shine a light to those around us. It will take prayer and real practice, but it is possible with God to make it a habit to check ourselves before speaking. Even while we’re working on curbing negative words, we can send out as many good words as possible.
Let’s make a real effort to use every conversation that we have as an opportunity to share something of the hope and joy that we’ve found in God. Imagine the trail of positivity you’d leave everywhere you go.
Ezra 3-5; John 7:25-44; Ps 108; Prov 24:29
2020-10-29
Colossians 3:2 AMP
There are so many things that happen in the world that can easily affect our mind and emotions. We need to learn that, with God, we have the power to rise above them. With God’s Spirit living in us, we have so much more control over our outlook than we often recognise. There will always be things in our lives that we don’t feel great about. It’s impossible for everything around us to make us happy. However, contentment is separate to our in-the-moment feelings of happiness.
In our Christian lives, contentment means accepting what God has given you and praising Him through it, and that comes down to a choice. 1 Timothy 6:6 tells us that ‘godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it’ (NIV). Paul is reminding us there that the things around us don’t need to dictate whether we’re content in God or not. What we have around us in this world is temporary, but God’s love and care is forever.
Colossians 3:1-2 carries the instruction to ‘set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things’ (NIV). By doing that, we can find stability. Jesus never changes, so when our hearts are set on Him, our unreliable emotions filter out, and our certainty in God can help us choose to praise God for everything that He is.
This brings us back to the idea of adoration that we thought about yesterday. Spending time focusing on who God is, putting aside what’s going on around us, and even what we think God is or isn’t doing in this moment, will help us set our hearts and minds on His personality, and lead us to choose contentment.
Ezra 1-2; John 7:14-24; Ps 104:24-35; Prov 24:28
2020-10-28
Philippians 4:6 CEV
Talking to God is vital to our Christian life – after all, being a Christian is defined by our relationship with Him. Philippians 4:6-7 instruct us: ‘With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel’ (CEV). But it can be hard to get our mindset about prayer right. An old acronym to shape our conversations with God, especially to avoid ‘shopping list’ prayers, is A.C.T.S – adoration, confession, thanks, and supplication.
1) Begin with adoration. The idea is that every conversation with God should start with us recognising who He is. It really can change our outlook to briefly put aside what we need, and even praise for what God has done, to focus on His incredible personality. What God does in the world is different in different situations, but His love for us, and the person He is, never changes. That’s why we focus on that first.
2) Second, confess. Once we’ve reminded ourselves of the loving, forgiving personality of God, we should spend time working through our wrongs with Him, and step into His forgiveness.
3) Then, give thanks. This is the time to thank God for the things that He’s done, is doing, and will do, and recognise specific things that we have to be grateful for.
4) Finally, comes supplication, the idea of making a request to God. Once we’ve got our perspective right, then we can bring the things on our heart before God, sharing what we need, want, and care about. We may even find that our requests start to align with God’s heart once we’ve adored and thanked Him, and confronted our wrongdoing first.
Zeph 1-3; John 7:1-13; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 24:26-27
