2019-05-14
Luke 14:18 NIV
Jesus told the story of a man who planned a banquet and invited several guests. Listen to some of their excuses for not attending. “I’ve purchased a field.” “I’ve bought some oxen.” “I just got married.” So the host said, “Not one of those…who were invited will get a taste of my banquet” (v. 24 NIV). Maybe you think you’re different, that you have a good reason for saying no to God. But is it worth missing your destiny for? When God speaks to you, that’s the moment of truth! At that point you either make a commitment or make an excuse. There and then you’re deciding your destiny! What is God asking you to do? What’s making you hesitate? Fear of failure? Fear of being criticized? Fear usually comes dressed up as an excuse. And every time you vacillate or pull back, you lay another brick in the wall that will ultimately keep you from reaching your God-ordained destiny. Author John Mason says, “Opportunity is often lost in deliberation.” So if God’s telling you to do something, take His hand and move forward in faith. You can’t control the direction of the wind, but by God’s grace you can adjust your sails to take you where you need to go. The great educator and scientist George Washington Carver said, “Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses.” Remember, opportunity is a visitor: Don’t assume it will be back tomorrow. Now is the time – move while the door is open!
Soul food: Heb 9:1-11:16; Mark 6:45-56; Ps 75; Prov 11:23
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
2019-05-09
Romans 12:6 NIV
Different people expect different things from us. And when a lot of people are pulling on you, those expectations can build up like a mountain and bury you. Is that how you’re feeling today, buried under everybody’s expectations? If so, read this Scripture: “Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the [level of] faith God has given [you]. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body” (vv. 3-5 NLT). We all want people to be pleased with us, but we must also realize that they frequently have unrealistic expectations and sometimes selfish ones. So why don’t we just say no? (1) Fear of people. We want to be loved and we are afraid of being rejected. (2) Pride. If God made you a one-talent person, He won’t give you a two-talent assignment. Don’t allow pride to make you take on more than you can handle in order to have people’s approval. (3) Not knowing God’s will for you. Jesus said, “I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will” (John 5:30 NLT). You must know God’s will and be committed to it, or people will try to impose their will and agenda on you. (4) Trying to be like someone else. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them” (Romans 12:6 NKJV). Unless God has “graced” you to do it, you’ll fail or collapse under the weight of it. Realize that you are not called to meet everybody’s expectations.
Soul food: Jonah 1-4; Mark 5:31-43; Ps 62; Prov 11:15
2019-04-08
Hebrews 11:27 NIV
Perseverance was really important in Moses’ life. He had to persevere when he was facing Pharaoh, the mightiest monarch on earth. He had to persevere when dealing with the stubbornness, rebellion, and grumbling of the Israelites in the desert. He persevered when criticised by Miriam and Aaron, his own family. He persevered when given the negative report by the ten spies who came back from the Land of Promise saying, ‘The giants are too big, and we are too small’ (see Numbers 13:33). In fact, his perseverance was mentioned in the list in Hebrews 11 of those with faith. And it was this faith that helped him have perseverance through some tough times. Moses kept his eyes on God – not people. And that’s what we need to do too. Paul gives us the secret to victory in the battles of life: ‘Put on God’s full armour. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing’ (Ephesians 6:13 NCV). We need to stand strong. When the Israelites were afraid of the Egyptians who were chasing them, Moses gave them this advice: ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still’ (Exodus 14:13-14 NIV). Moses’ advice of ‘standing firm’ despite what we’re facing, is advice that we need to start putting into practice. Whatever battle we’re facing, we need to focus our eyes on God, put our trust in Him, be still, and stand firm.
Lev 23:26-25:55; Luke 21:29-38; Ps 50:16-23; Prov 10:4-7
2019-03-07
Hebrews 10:20 TLB
In the Old Testament there were more religious laws than anybody could possibly keep: over six hundred. And every time you failed, you had to offer an animal sacrifice as atonement. This resulted in people trying and failing; feeling guilty and trying harder; failing again and making more sacrifices. It was a never-ending cycle. Then Jesus came and opened up “the fresh, new, life-giving way…for us” to have a relationship with God. His way included forgiveness for sin, and the replacement of sacrifices with faith in Him. For many it was just too good to be true, so they kept working and trying to impress God with their goodness. Are you doing that? One Christian author writes: “I lived that way for years. It meant having to do everything perfectly; otherwise I was in trouble with God. Since this was an impossible standard to keep, it stole all my peace and joy. While I was trying to walk in love, I wasn’t a very loving person. I couldn’t give others what I didn’t know how to receive myself! I wasn’t receiving God’s mercy for my failures; therefore I couldn’t offer it to anybody else. I tried to follow all the rules, many that weren’t even scriptural – just things to feel guilty about. But thank God I don’t have to live that way anymore. Now I’m not working to be saved, I’m working because I am saved! My salvation isn’t based on what I do, but solely on what Jesus has done for me.” When you understand this truth, your relationship with God is no longer a job – it’s a joy.
Soul food: Exo 33-35; Luke 14:25-35; Ps 112; Prov 7:6-9
