2022-04-10
Matthew 12:34 NCV
When Mary Southerland came down with a raging fever, her doctor suspected viral meningitis. “How long have you had the solid white coating on your tongue?” he asked. Mary was puzzled. Why did that matter? The doctor continued, “The health of the tongue is a very strong indicator of the health of the entire body.”
And spiritually speaking, the same principle applies. “The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. Good people have good things in their hearts… so they say good things… evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things” (vv. 34-35 NCV). The problem isn’t the tongue itself; it’s more serious. The problem lies in your heart, your attitude, your outlook, and your temperament.
Southerland continues: “The tongue is a spiritual thermometer that reflects the condition of the heart… Words are power tools that can build… encourage… destroy and cause confusion. We have all been hurt and even defeated by words spoken in anger or words rising out of a wounded heart… If my words are boastful, my heart is insecure. If my words are filthy, my heart is impure and if my words are critical, my heart is filled with pride and anger…
Solomon said, ‘A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver’ (Proverbs 25:11 KJV)… The right word, spoken at the right time and in the right way can bring order in the midst of confusion and light on a very dark path. ‘Good people know the right thing to say’ (Proverbs 10:32 NCV). God gives us spiritual ‘radar’ so we can assess a situation and speak the right word for that circumstance. We just need to check the ‘radar screen’ before we speak.”
Soul food: Matt 21:1-16; Ps 118:19-29
2022-03-30
2 Peter 1:5-6 CEV
Sometimes when we become aware of a flaw in our character, we’ll try to make ourselves feel better and justify it by blaming our circumstances. We might say things like ‘If I’d had a different tutor, I would have worked harder,’ or ‘If I had more money, I could afford the thing I want, and then I wouldn’t feel so jealous or resentful of other people.’ But even though our circumstances might be out of our control, our character isn’t. Integrity isn’t determined by our situation. It’s a choice, and every time we make the decision to act with integrity, we take a step forward in our spiritual growth.
Here’s something to try: Think about times when you’ve faced temptations and difficulties. Write them down, and next to each one, write how you dealt with it: escaped, excused, gave in, avoided, persevered, or overcame. How did you handle the things that were caused by circumstances out of your control? Do you notice any problem areas or anything you could improve on?
One way we can improve is ‘By adding…self-control’ to our spiritual weapons. Our lives are like icebergs – 15 per cent is visible; that’s our reputation, what others see of our attitude. The rest, our character, is hidden below the surface. Character is what we think but don’t necessarily share. It’s based on what we do when nobody’s looking, how we handle life’s little aggravations, how we handle failure and success. Character is based on self-control, and self-control is about making the right choices. We don’t have to work out what they are by ourselves: ‘God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him’ (Philippians 2:13 CEV).
Job 38-39; Luke 20:27-40; Ps 6; Pro 8:32-33
2022-03-11
Philippians 4:4 NKJV
Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Why did Paul repeat himself? Because joy is the fuel we run on, and unless we maintain it, we can run out. That means regularly checking your fuel gauge to make sure you’re not being sucked into negativity and doubt.
In the Bible, wine represents joy. In fact, Christ’s first miracle was turning water into wine – the best they had ever tasted. Jesus is a joy giver, and when you stay connected to Him, you experience His joy regardless of your circumstances. In John 15:11, He said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
Think about this for a moment: How can you walk around saying your sins are forgiven, God guides and protects you, and you’re going to heaven – but look like you have been baptized in pickle juice? In prison, Paul had so much joy that his jailers were won to Christ and a church sprang up in the “household of Caesar” (See Philippians 4:22).
People are always more influenced by your attitude than your theology. Always! When they see you rejoicing in hard times, they’re apt to wonder what your secret is and to think, “Whatever that person has, I need it”; they become more open and receptive to the truth. The happiness this world offers is only a reaction to circumstances, whereas the joy that comes from living for Jesus lifts you above the circumstances. So, focus on His joy, draw on His joy, and demonstrate His joy to the world today.
Soul food: Exo 36-38; Luke 15:11-32; Ps 27; Pro 7:10-20
2022-02-25
Romans 12:19 NLT
Long after you think you have forgiven someone, you can still be harboring hard feelings. Some indicators that you still have work to do are these: You keep thinking about the person who hurt you and become resentful. You avoid them. You rehearse the incident mentally and in conversation. You take every opportunity to remind them of what they did. Do you know what you’re doing? Justifying an unforgiving attitude!
There are two things God won’t share. (1) The praise that’s due Him. “I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise” (Isaiah 42:8 NLT). (2) The right to “settle the score.” Paul writes: “Never take revenge…The Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord. Instead, ‘If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.’ Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good” (Romans 12:19-21 NLT).
So forgive, hand the situation over to God, and trust Him to work it out! When “people insulted Christ…he did not insult them in return…He let God…who judges rightly, take care of him” (1 Peter 2:23 NCV). Resentment chains you to the offender, and you end up as a hostage. Dwelling on something your parents or spouse did, or how an associate took credit for your work, or what someone may or may not have said about you, makes you – not them – miserable. You walk around stewing, and they don’t even know you’re upset. Don’t give anyone that kind of control over your life. Forgive – and move on!
Soul food: Exo 1-3; Luke 11:45-54; Ps 53; Pro 6:9-11
2022-02-15
Matthew 5:13-14 NKJV
If you didn’t tell them, would the people around you realise that you’re a follower of Christ just from what they see of your actions and attitude? If you’re not sure, have an honest think about how you’d answer these questions:
1) What’s your attitude like towards people in authority, such as your parents, a tutor, a boss or team leader? Do you resent their status or respect their authority?
2) How do you treat people who are younger, not as skilled, or less experienced than you? Are you critical towards them, or do you try to encourage them?
3) How’s your timekeeping? Do you do your best to meet deadlines and arrive on time, or do you find punctuality isn’t really a priority?
4) Do you try to do everything with a spirit of excellence, or do you tend to have a ‘that’s good enough’ attitude?
The way we deal with all of these things can tell us a lot about how we’re demonstrating Christ in our everyday lives. Of course, there’s much more to it than just those things, but they are all things that people around us will take notice of, whether we’re at home, university, work or church.
Jesus said: ‘You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?…You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill…I’ve put you…on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God’ (Matthew 5:13-16 MSG).
Isa 34-37; Luke 9:46-56; Ps 145:14-21; Pro 4:23-24
