2021-09-15
Romans 6:12 NLT
Paul wrote: ‘Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ…Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires…[or] let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God’ (v.11-13 NLT).
There are so many things that can tempt us away from what’s really good for us. They’re often very appealing, but only temporarily satisfying. Author and Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll wrote: ‘Life on earth is really nothing more than a string of moments…And I don’t want my testimony for Jesus Christ to be shattered by a single moment of indulging my flesh. I don’t want one moment of rage or pride or lust to cast a shadow over a lifetime of walking with my Lord. Frankly, I fear that possibility. And do you know what? I want to fear that possibility. When I stop fearing it – I’m in grave danger.’
So how do we deal with our temptations? The only way is to make God’s Word our code of conduct and refuse to compromise. We should make Jesus our role model when it comes to resisting temptation. He said, ‘If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want’ (Matthew 16:24 NCV). It’s hard to deny ourselves things we want, but if we practise resisting the small temptations that we face every day, we’ll be much better prepared when a big temptation comes along.
2 Cor 1-4; Luke 22:1-13; Ps 78:56-64; Prov 20:25
2021-09-14
Psalm 122:1 NKJV
The psalmist said, ‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.”‘ Our churches should be places that we’re happy to go to, where we feel at home, and where we’re welcomed by other believers. The Message paraphrases Paul’s words: ‘God is building a home. He’s using us all – irrespective of how we got here – in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day – a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home’ (Ephesians 2:19-22 MSG).
There are times when we need to be alone with God in prayer, and there are times we’ll find the answers we’re looking for when we’re with other Christians. When we meet for worship, teaching, encouragement and service, God shows up in a powerful way. We grow spiritually as we experience His presence, hear His Word, and spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Every time we gather with other members of Christ’s body, it’s an opportunity to share how God’s working in our lives and our experiences of His goodness.
It’s hard to celebrate alone; when we achieve something or have good news, it’s fun to share the joy we feel. Jesus is so excited about His victory at the cross that He calls us together to celebrate what He accomplished for us. And celebration is a group project.
Eze 46-48; Luke 21:25-38; Ps 78:40-55; Prov 20:22-24
2021-09-13
2 Timothy 4:16-17 NLT
When someone we care about walks out of our life, a parent leaves, or a relationship ends, it hurts deeply. Even Paul wasn’t exempt from the pain of loss. Here are some of his last words: ‘Timothy, please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me…Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me…Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm…The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me…But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength…he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom’ (vv. 9-18 NLT).
The fact is, we can survive without others but we can’t survive without God. That’s why He sometimes strips away things that make us dependent on people. He sends certain individuals into our lives to help build our faith and develop our character, and when they’re gone, to leave us with the assurance that He is still in control.
When we lose someone we care about, for any reason, God can use it to: 1) develop our reliance on Him; 2) test our resilience; 3) help us discover His power. When Moses died and Joshua was left in charge, God told him, ‘As I was with Moses, so I will be with you’ (Joshua 1:5 NKJV). That’s something Joshua couldn’t have learned while Moses was still in the picture.
We can’t always be looking to someone else for answers. At some point, we’ll need to turn to God and let Him speak wisdom and peace into whatever is troubling us.
Eze 43-45; Luke 21:12-24; Ps 78:32-39; Prov 20:20-21
2021-09-12
Psalm 112:8 NCV
In order to keep focused and keep reaching towards your God-given goals, there are three obstacles you need to be aware of and overcome: 1) Weariness. Racehorses run at approximately the same speed; there often isn’t a lot of difference between the first and the last runner. Sometimes the difference between them winning and losing a race comes down to their ‘heart’ to win. So, take a look into your heart today and check if you’re truly committed to reaching your goal. ‘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’ (Hebrews 10:35-36 NKJV).
2) Fear. When it comes to commitment, there are basically four kinds of people. a) Those who have no goals and who don’t commit to anything. b) Those who don’t know if they can reach their goals so they’re afraid to commit to them. c) Those who start towards a goal but give up when things begin to get tough. d) Those who set goals, commit to them and are willing to pay the price to reach them. Which of the four do you think you are? Fear and faith will always be present; our success in reaching our goal depends on whether we allow our faith to overcome our fear.
3) Complacency: Don’t settle for yesterday’s success. Don’t settle for ‘good enough’ or ‘that’ll do’. Take regular ties of rest to refresh yourself, renew your mind and strength, and refocus on your goal. Be like Paul: ‘I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race’ (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT).
Jonah 1:10-2:10; Matt 12:38-42
2021-09-11
1 John 4:8 NCV
Love is both a noun and a verb. It’s not only what we think or feel; it’s also what we do.
When Mother Teresa arrived in Calcutta in 1948, one of the first things she did was pick up five abandoned children and bring them to her ‘school’. Before the year ended she had forty-one students learning about hygiene in her classroom, which was in a public park. Soon her work became known as ‘The Missionaries of Charity’, and they turned their attention to the care of the dying.
A beggar found dying on a rubbish heap was picked up and brought to her. Hunger and suffering had reduced him almost to a skeleton. Mother Teresa took him home and put him to bed. As she tried to clean him up and make him comfortable, he briefly woke up, and in his semi-conscious state he asked her, ‘Why do you do it?’ Mother Teresa responded with two words: ‘For love.’
It’s easy for us to see people as irritants and inconveniences who are standing in our way. But it can be hard for us to set aside our self-centred feelings and love them, especially if that means giving up our time or doing something we find difficult or unpleasant in order to help them.
The Bible says, ‘Dear friends, we should love each other, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become God’s child and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love’ (v.7-8 NCV). Let’s do our best to show love in all our words, thought and actions.
Eze 40:10-42:20; Luke 21:1-11; Ps 78:17-31; Prov 20:15-19
2021-09-10
Proverbs 3:3 NCV
During a driving test, the examiner makes a note of every fault the driver makes to determine if they should pass or fail. We might worry that God works in a similar way, keeping a record of everything we do wrong, and telling us we’ve failed if we clock up too many. But that’s not how His kingdom operates.
Before the Passover meal, all the disciples forgot to wash Jesus’ feet. Fault. And after Jesus explained how the bread and wine symbolised His upcoming crucifixion, they started arguing about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom. Another fault. Jesus also knew that within hours they’d fall asleep when they were supposed to be keeping watch in the Garden of Gethsemane. Another fault. And He knew Peter would deny Him. Another fault.
So did Jesus give them a fail grade? No, because He doesn’t grade people. And we don’t have to either. Instead of judging people based on every mistake they’ve ever made, we should try to start loving them where they are, and support them in their journey to where they need to be. Rather than condemning the disciples, Jesus complimented, rewarded, and encouraged them. Nourished by their love, He said, ‘You have stayed with me through my struggles. Just as my Father has given me a kingdom, I also give you a kingdom so you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom’ (Luke 22:28-30 NCV). In His eyes they were all great. He didn’t grade them on their performance, but on their love that motivated them to set everything else aside and stick with Him through the bad times as well as the good.
Eze 37:1-40:9; Luke 20:41-47; Ps 78:9-16; Prov 20:11-14
