2020-06-14
1 Timothy 4:8 NKJV
As you move into your forties, fifties, and sixties, you’ll tend to become more sedentary. One woman made a lifelong commitment not to sweat. Another one joked that the only reason for jogging was to look better at her funeral. A driver put this bumper sticker on his car: “I’m pushing fifty, and that’s enough exercise.” The Bible says, “Bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” Does that mean taking care of your body isn’t important? No, it means you must stay in balance! What’s the point of working to develop the virtues of a saint if you die before your time with blocked arteries? You say, “But I don’t like jogging or lifting weights.” Then here’s some good news. A recent medical study found if you spend forty-five minutes a day doing household chores such as mowing the lawn, you’ll enjoy greater longevity than those who are inactive. It’s even better if you do some push-ups and sit-ups, but it’s not necessary. If you fail to maintain your car, you have no right to blame the manufacturer. And if you fail to maintain your body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, you have no right to blame God. You say, “But I believe in divine healing.” And God promises it to you in His Word (See James 5:14-15). But He expects you to use faith – and wisdom. So put down the TV remote control, get off the couch, and do a little home cleanup or repair. Not only will your house look better, but you’re likely to live longer.
Soul food: Rev 19:11-16; Acts 3:1-16; Phil 2:5-11
2020-06-04
Hebrews 5:12 NKJV
Addressing the early church, Paul said: “I have a lot more to say…but it is hard to get it across to you since you’ve picked up the bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square one – baby’s milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago!” (vv. 11-14 MSG). It’s known as “arrested development,” and it can happen to any of us. Among the first evidence that a child is healthy and growing is that they no longer need to be fed from a bottle, or have their food cut up and put into their mouth. They may still prefer candy to carrots, but hopefully they’re closer to understanding why they need carrots. If the only time you’re fed spiritually is in church on Sunday morning, why would you be surprised that you don’t have the faith to believe God for answered prayer, the strength to overcome temptation, or a sense of God’s guidance in your life? How long do you think you’d last if you only ate once a week? Job said, “I…treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12 NKJV). David said, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103 NKJV). Jeremiah wrote, “Your words were found, and I ate them…Your word was…the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV). To grow spiritually, you need the “strong meat” of God’s Word (See Hebrews 5:14).
Soul food: 1 Kings 18:16-20:43; Mark 14:12-26; Ps 124; Prov 12:26
Hebrews 5:12 NCV
God loves us just as we are, but He also takes us on a journey of transformation. He wants to help us become more like Jesus and become mature in our faith. He wants to help us develop. Over the next few days, we’re going to be looking at the different areas of our lives that need development. Firstly, we need to develop spiritually. Paul said to the early church: ‘I have a lot more to say…but it is hard to get it across to you since you’ve picked up the bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square one – baby’s milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago!’ (vv.11-13 MSG). Sometimes we can be like those Christians in the early church. We stop listening and stick with what we already know, rather than developing and growing. That might be because we’re too busy, we’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious, or we’re just comfortable with how things are. But there’s always more to learn about God. We’ll never know everything about Him. Newborn babies desire milk, but when they grow up they move on to solid foods. We need to move on to more advanced spiritual food too. We can end up only being spiritually fed at church on a Sunday morning. But then we question why our faith isn’t strong, why we’re struggling to deal with temptation, or why we can’t seem to feel God’s presence and guidance in our lives. We need to be continually feeding on God’s Word. Each day we should be reading our Bible’s and spending time with Him.
1 Kings 18:16-20:43; Mark 14:12-26; Ps 124; Prov 12:26
2020-06-02
1 Samuel 10:27 NIV
When God calls us to something, not everyone will be happy about it. Saul experienced this: ‘Some scoundrels said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.’ People may come against us because they doubt our abilities or because they’re jealous of what we’re doing. When this happens, what should we do? Saul reacted to the criticism by keeping silent. That’s a really important lesson for us. Sometimes we can become defensive and retaliate with our words. At times it might be right to speak up against people’s opinions in a gentle way, but at other times it will be right for us to keep quiet. It’s not our responsibility to convince others of our calling. By following God’s call, we might not be able to meet the expectations of other people. But we shouldn’t be living to please others. Our calling is from God, in order to advance His kingdom and glorify Him. When we know we’ve heard from God, the criticism of others will affect us less. His presence reassures us, His words direct our steps, and His peace settles the storm within us. We won’t require the praise of others, because His confidence in us will be enough. And if things don’t move as quickly as we’d like once we’ve been called, we need to keep this verse in mind: ‘Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin’ (Zechariah 4:10 NLT). Instead of comparing ourselves with others and putting ourselves down, let’s celebrate each small step of faith we take as we walk into our God-given calling.
1 Kings 14-15; Mark 13:24-37; Ps 121; Prov 12:23-24
2020-05-25
John 1:14 MSG
Jesus came into the world for two reasons. First, to give you the greatest gift of all – eternal life. Second, to let you know He cares about every detail of your life. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NKJV). In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases it: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” Roughly 20 percent of everything Jesus taught had to do with your finances, your job, and your earthly needs. He cares! And when you can’t make ends meet, the Bible says, “God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). When your business is going under, His promise is “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit” (Isaiah 48:17 NKJV). God cares about the burden you’re carrying today, so if your needs aren’t being met, reevaluate your understanding of your heavenly Father. Have you even discussed your finances with Him? How about the purchase of your home? Did you feel the inner confirmation of the Holy Spirit that the timing was right? Have you been tithing, sowing into God’s kingdom and expecting a harvest in return? Seed sown in good ground always produces a harvest, and faith is the magnet that pulls the harvest into your life. The word for you today is – God loves you and wants to bless every area of your life.
Soul food: 1 Kings 1-2; Mark 11:12-26; Ps 45; Prov 12:7-9
