2019-09-24
Philippians 3:8-9 MSG
Before you discover your God-given purpose in life, you’ll often experience a series of adversities that cause you to relinquish what’s temporal and grasp what’s eternal. For Paul it meant the loss of every earthly possession. For others it can mean the heat of battle in a divorce court. When the person you thought was “everything” walks away, suddenly you’re stripped down to what you had before. Look at Job; his home was a shambles, his marriage seemed a joke, and his children were dead. That’s when he discovered you can be stripped of the temporal, but not the eternal; stripped of your wealth, friends, and fame, but not of your character and your faith in God – those things survive the strippings of life. The Bible says, “Then Job…fell down upon the ground, and worshipped” (Job 1:20). True worship is born in the fire of sacrifice. When you can lay upon the altar something you thought you had to have because you realize it was God’s all along – that’s worship. Look at Abraham’s altar. God didn’t want the slain body of Isaac; He wanted to know if there was anything Abraham loved more than Him. That’s it – reaching the place where you can pray: “Lord, here are my grudges and unforgiveness, my need to impress, my time, talent and treasure, anything I’m wrapped up in that hinders me from being completely Yours. You’ll never have to take these things from me, for I gladly give You all it takes to be what You want me to be.” Can you pray that prayer today? It’s not easy, but it’ll change your life.
Soul food: 1 Sam 16-17; Matt 27:32-44; Ps 68:1-18; Prov 22:1-5
2019-07-15
Psalm 127:3 NKJV
When someone loves you enough to leave you an inheritance, you should treasure it and treat it in a way that honors them. The Bible says that your children are a “heritage” from the Lord. So here’s a prayer for them: “Lord, I cannot begin to tell You how blessed and grateful I am for my children. I recognize each of them as a beautiful gift from You. You have given them to me to love and care for, to enjoy and celebrate, to delight in and raise so that they may come to know You as the greatest heritage of all. Thank You that no one, not even me, can ever be as good to them as You are. Because You have given me the privilege and responsibility of bringing them to You, teach me the importance of lifting them up before You each day in prayer. Keep them in the center of Your love and designed purpose. Bless them with the knowledge of who You are. Help them to put their trust in You and stay on the path of life You have for them. Enable them to recognize the gifts and the calling that You have put in them, and to follow Your leading as You develop them and use them for Your glory. Make Your face shine upon them, Your grace be with them, and Your love abound in them. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.” Are your children serving the Lord? If not, stand on this Bible promise: “‘There is hope in your future,’ says the Lord, ‘that your children shall come back to their own border [the principles they were taught]'” (Jeremiah 31:17 NKJV).
Soul food: Acts 14-15; Matt 9:27-38; Ps 133; Prov 16:2
2019-05-18
2 Corinthians 1:4 TM
In a crisis people often fail to see the resources that God has made available to them. Here are three types: (1) Spiritual resources. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). This “very present” God illuminates our darkness and confusion. His love is the source of all comfort (See 2 Corinthians 1:3). His presence addresses our loneliness, and His power addresses our helplessness. (2) Personal resources. People in crisis forget that God has given them strengths and abilities which include faith, skills, memories of past triumphs, empowering attitudes, and motivations. Reminding them of these encourages them to “take back their power.” (3) Interpersonal resources. Most people already have support networks; they just need to be activated. There are family members, friends, business associates, and neighbors willing to pitch in when asked. Community resources are also available for medical, financial, and material assistance. And the church can find ways to apply the “great commandment” in crisis times (See Matthew 22:36-39). Members can be invited to pray, give money, provide practical assistance like meals, help with the children, transportation, etc. People are reluctant to ask for help because they’re embarrassed and feel they should be able to handle their own problems, or think they’re failing by “accepting charity.” Help them to understand that others are happy to help, and that one day they can “return the blessing.”
Soul food: 1 Kings 6-7; Mark 8:1-13; Ps 97; Prov 12:1-3
2019-05-10
Galatians 6:1 NKJV
We are too quick to criticize people because of what they’ve been through in life. In some cases it’s because of what they have done to others, and in some cases because of what others have done to them. If you’ve been to a consignment store you know there are quality items at discounted prices; you just have to know what you’re looking for. Jesus does. In His eyes the down-and-out may be “down” but they’re not “out.” Peter’s sorrow over denying Jesus ran so deep that he decided to go back to his old job as a fisherman. Can you imagine the scuttlebutt around the harbor? “That’s him, the guy who turned his back on Jesus.” Peter eventually became the leader of the New Testament church. But be honest. Would you have voted him in as your pastor, or been willing to listen to anything he had to say? Yet the first person Jesus went looking for after He rose from the dead was Peter. Why? Because He looks beyond our immediate problem and sees our long-term potential. Jesus remembered the words He had spoken to Peter: “Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32 NKJV). The foundational principle of practicing medicine is “First, do no harm.” When someone is damaged, don’t damage them further. Love them, pray for them, and seek to restore them.
Soul food: Titus 1-3; Mark 6:1-13; Ps 150; Prov 11:16-18
2019-01-27
James 1:8 NKJV
If you’re afraid to make a decision in case it’s wrong, read this Scripture: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally…and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (vv. 5-8 NKJV). President Reagan enjoyed telling the story of how he learned to make firm decisions. When he was a boy, his aunt sent him to a cobbler to have a new pair of shoes made for him. When the shoemaker asked, “Do you want a square toe or a round one?” he hemmed and hawed, so the cobbler said, “Come back in a day or two and tell me what you want.” Later the cobbler saw Reagan on the street and asked what he had decided about the shoes. “I haven’t made up my mind yet,” he answered. “Very well,” the cobbler said, “your shoes will be ready tomorrow.” When Reagan got the shoes, one had a round toe and the other a square toe! Reagan said, “Looking at those shoes every day taught me a lesson. If you don’t make your own decisions, somebody else will make them for you.” Worst case: If you get it wrong, you’ll learn what not to do next time. Bottom line: To succeed in life you must pray for wisdom, and then make a decision.
Soul food: Eze 47:1-12; Rev 21:22-22:5
