2022-04-04
Joshua 1:9 NKJV
Knowing the battles he would have to fight in order to conquer the promised land, God told Joshua this, no less than three times: “Be strong and of good courage.” Anytime you move forward, obstacles will block your path. Count on it! H. G. Wells asked, “What on earth would a man do with himself, if something did not stand in his way?” What did he mean? That adversity is your friend – even when it feels like your enemy. Every obstacle you face reveals your strengths and weaknesses. It also shapes you and makes you wiser and more confident.
Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”
Anytime you leave your comfort zone and step out in faith to follow God, you will be tested. But you will also reach heights you thought were beyond you and go further than others who had greater talent but settled for the status quo.
Paul tells us: “Every detail works to your advantage… So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace” (2 Corinthians 4:15-17 MSG). Courage can be defined as simply “not giving up.”
Soul food: Lev 1-4; Luke 21:25-38; Ps 18:30-50; Pro 9:7
2022-03-28
Galatians 6:1 NIV
Sometimes when we fall we can get up by ourselves; other times we need someone to help us. And sadly, not all Christians are willing to help. Sometimes they feel that by extending grace to someone they are condoning their sin. But Paul knocked that argument down when he wrote, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). Why should we be restorers?
(1) Because God tells us to. “If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves… you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1 NIV). It’s pride that causes us to point an accusing finger instead of extending a helping hand to those who fall. It makes us think we’re better than someone else; incapable of falling like they did. You would be surprised what you would do in certain circumstances! Paul writes, “We are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so… self-confident… You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else” (1 Corinthians 10:12 MSG).
(2) Because Jesus is our example. Jesus had no time for the Pharisees who hid their sins behind a religious mask. But not one time did He condemn someone who was caught in sin and overtaken by temptation and failure. The minute they reached for Him, He willingly restored them. Someone has said the church is the only army that shoots its wounded. Today, others are watching us to see if the grace we preach to others is the same grace we extend to one another. Let’s not disappoint them.
Soul food: Job 32-34; Luke 20:9-19; Ps 69:1-18; Pro 8:27-29
Galatians 6:1 NIV
Sometimes when we fall we can get up by ourselves; other times we need someone to help us. And sadly, not all Christians are willing to help. Sometimes they feel that by extending grace to someone, they’re condoning their sin. But Paul knocked that argument down when he wrote, ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). Why should we be restorers?
1) Because God tells us to. ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves… you also may be tempted’ (Galatians 6:1 NIV). It’s pride that causes us to point an accusing finger instead of extending a helping hand to those who fall. It makes us think we’re better than someone else, and incapable of falling like they did. But we can’t be certain how we’d react if we were faced with the same circumstances! Paul wrote, ‘We are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so… self-confident… You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else’ (1 Corinthians 10:12 MSG).
2) Because Jesus is our example. Jesus had no time for the Pharisees who hid their sins behind a religious mask. But He didn’t condemn those who were caught in sin and overtaken by temptation and failure. The minute they reached for Him, He willingly restored them. People will be watching us to see if the grace we preach is the same grace we extend to one another. Let’s set the best example we can and show grace and compassion as Jesus did.
Job 32-34; Luke 20:9-19; Ps 69:1-18; Pro 8:27-29
2021-12-16
Acts 26:16 NLT
A “servant” focuses on doing his master’s will. And a “witness” testifies to what he or she has seen and personally experienced. And as a redeemed child of God, you’re called to do both. Let’s look at each one individually.
(1) You’re God’s servant. That means your ears must be attuned to what He wants you to do, when He wants you to do it, in the way He wants it done. Doing His will should be the most important item on your daily agenda.
(2) You’re His witness. The value of a witness depends on how close they were to an event when it happened, and what they observed. John writes, “We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands….Now we testify” (1 John 1:1-2 NLT).
Remember the old adage “you become like the company you keep”? Well, when you spend time with Jesus each day, others will be influenced by your life. The Bible says, “He that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). When it comes to sharing your faith, you must show wisdom, tact, and grace. Chances are, many people you meet have had at least one bad experience with Christians and church, so you must be “wise.”
And how do you do that? By letting them know Jesus is the Great Physician who heals broken hearts. That the church is a hospital where some are doing well while others are still in critical care. Properly understood and presented, this will draw people to Jesus instead of driving them away. So…what’s your assignment? To be His servant and His witness!
Soul food: 2 Tim 1-4; John 20:1-9; Ps 105:37-45; Prov 30:20-23
2021-09-08
Psalm 103:6 NKJV
When O.J. Simpson was tried for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown, the jury ruled “Not guilty.” In court, Nicole’s mother wept and said, “God, where are you?” It’s a question we ask when life seems unfair. The Bible answers, “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14 NKJV).
But we want the score settled now. So we struggle, we question, and we doubt. The psalmist did too: “How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?…Deliver the poor and needy” (Psalm 82:2-4 NKJV). We wrestle with such questions because they have no easy answers.
Then twenty-one psalms later, David, who’d been forgiven and restored after committing adultery and murder writes: “The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly…The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are” (Psalm 103:6-14 NLT).
Bottom line: the same grace and mercy that God extends toward you, He offers to the one who hurt you.
Soul food: Eze 31-33; Luke 20:20-26; Ps 27; Prov 20:5-6
