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
2020-06-13
2 Peter 1:3 NIV
Ever felt stressed out because you don’t think you have what it takes to live like Jesus? Maybe you’ve felt under pressure because, however hard you try, you don’t feel good enough for God? The good news is that God’s already ‘given us everything we need for a godly life.’ Everything we might possibly need to be able to live God’s way, we already have access to. These are things like wisdom, strength, peace, courage, and love. He equips us to be able to do the things He’s called us to. The Holy Spirit lives within us to guide, instruct, and transform us. The Bible says: ‘Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?’ (1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV). We just need to listen to the Spirit’s promptings rather than doing the things we want to do. God hasn’t left us to do everything on our own. He cares about each of us, and provides us with what we need. Paul encouraged the church in Philippi by saying: ‘My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:19 NIV). And that can encourage us too. It’s worth remembering that God’s given us ‘everything we need’, not ‘everything we want’. There will be things we pray for that we don’t get. They might not actually be good for us, even though we think they would be. So when we’re worried that we can’t live God’s way or we’re frustrated because God’s not giving us the things we want, let’s remember that God sees the bigger picture and He’s already provided everything we need.
2 Kings 4:18-6:33; Mark 16; Ps 80:12-19; Prov 13:13-16
2020-06-07
Proverbs 13:20 NKJV
Let’s look at arrested relational development. God’s plan for your life requires connecting with the right people – and disconnecting from the wrong ones. Sitting beside Jesus at the Last Supper were John, who loved Him, and Judas, who betrayed Him. It’s imperative to know who is sitting at your table! So to that end pray: “Lord, I pray for the people You’ve brought into my life and placed on my heart. Bless the healthy relationships, and give me wisdom to handle the difficult ones in a way that pleases You. If there are friendships I need to walk away from, ones that will be harmful no matter what I do, show me what to do and give me the grace and courage to do it. If there are relationships that are draining and distracting me from Your plan and purpose, I trust You to bring them to an end or change them for the better. And when I’m the one who needs to change, show me, and work in my life by Your amazing power. I need Your wisdom to recognize the friends and associates I should choose. Help me to steer clear of relationships that lead me away from the path You’ve laid out for me. Send people into my life who are godly and wise, and help us to bless, encourage and contribute to the quality of each other’s lives. Show me the friendships that are worth fighting for, and I’ll gladly do it. Be Lord of all my relationships so that they will be what You want them to be. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
Soul food: Rev 7:13-17; Ps 23; Luke 15:1-7
2020-05-25
John 1:14 MSG
In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases John 1:14 like this: ‘The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.’ Jesus came into the world for two reasons. Firstly, to give us eternal life. Secondly, to let us know that He cares about every detail of our lives. Sometimes we can end up thinking that God only cares about certain aspects of our lives, things like our spiritual growth, our generosity, or our relationships. But actually God cares about every part of our lives, including our finances. When Jesus was teaching the people, He covered many different topics, including our relationship with money. God knew that it would be an issue for all of us, whether we have too much, too little, or just enough. Money can become an idol for us, and Jesus went as far as to say, ‘it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!’ (Mark 10:25 NLT). God cares about the burdens we’re carrying today, including our financial burdens. Instead of doubting God and trying to fix everything on our own, we need to hand our cares over to Him and ask for His help. He’s longing to give us the wisdom and guidance we need about our money. He wants to help us keep Him at the centre of our lives, rather than allowing the love of money to take over our hearts. God loves each of us and wants to bless every area of our lives. We need to start opening up to Him about our finances, asking for guidance about spending and saving, thanking Him for the financial blessings He has given us, and praying for opportunities to be generous towards others.
1 Kings 1-2; Mark 11:12-26; Ps 45; Prov 12:7-9
2020-05-14
Proverbs 3:6 NLT
In order for us to maintain the right attitude in life, we need to stay connected to God – the One who sees the big picture and is in control of everything. He makes sure everything that needs to happen, happens at the right time, and moves at the appropriate speed to make sure we arrive safely at the destination He’s planned for us. When we distance ourselves from God and try to do everything on our own, we can become overwhelmed and stressed. We feel afraid of the future. We worry about the decisions we need to make. We can become negative when things aren’t working out the way we wanted them to. But when we stay closely connected to God, we begin to want the things He wants. We surrender our plans and hand over our fears. We listen to His voice, and follow His guidance. The Bible says: ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT). We don’t have to do everything on our own. God wants us to go to Him for help and wisdom. We’re told to ‘approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16 NIV). If we’re staying in constant communication with God, we’ll feel His peace and reassurance in our lives. We’ll be able to deal with the things in our past which are holding us back, look to the future without being afraid, and be in the present with a positive attitude.
Num 30:1-32:24; Mark 9:1-13; Ps 49; Prov 11:16-18
