- April 24: When you were in school there were certain “tools” you had to have in order to learn – namely, books. When you took your first job you most likely had new “tools” that were crucial to your successful employment, like, a computer or a drill. These tools were vital to your task and without them your task would be virtually impossible. Your success was directly connected to your willingness to develop skill in the use of your tools. II Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” God has given you the tool of all tools – the Bible! This tool is also a powerful weapon (Jeremiah 23:29; Hebrews 4:12) amidst the spiritual warfare in which you seek daily victory. Develop your skills in the study of this tool and the use of this weapon God has so richly entrusted to you. Seek to know this book like no other book you know. Know it intimately in the boundaries of its own context. Memorize it, meditate upon it, read it, trust it, obey it, and declare it to all who will listen. You will never be disappointed in having invested so much in the study of God’s Holy Word.
- March 25: Anyone can become overwhelmed with the failures of the not so distant past. Sometimes these failures begin to rule your heart and thus an inferior mindset is nurtured in your heart. You cannot change the past…what is done is done. However, there are two Biblical directives for failures of the past. First, you must confess your sin and repent (Proverbs 28:13; I Jn. 1:9). God is ready and willing to forgive. You are not doomed to failure the rest of your life. Yes, you are weak, but God is strong! Your victory will come from God and you will not begin to see the victory you desire until you first begin with a right relationship with God. Second, you must press on! Philippians 3:13-14 states “…forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” It is time for you to get up off the spiritual bench of complacency and press on for Jesus Christ! Press on with daily scripture reading & memorization, press on with Biblical thinking, press on with witnessing, and press on one step of faith at a time. Keep your focus on Jesus Christ and PRESS ON!
- February 27: The pastor announced that he was going to begin a new series of sermons on the subject of stewardship. Brad moaned and Jan gave him a swift poke in his side. He slowly looked over to see Jan’s eye brows pressing down over her forehead. It wasn’t until Brad saw “the look” from his wife that he realized his response was actually out loud. He didn’t intend to let anyone know his actual feelings on the subject, but his heart revealed itself with greater vibrancy than he would have wanted to show even on a bad day. Why is it that when the word “stewardship” is mentioned you can sometimes get a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach? This response is not because money is tight, but because the believer has the wrong view of God. A right view of God will produce the right response to stewardship. You know the Bible teaches that everything you have comes from God (I Cor. 4:2; Col. 1:16-18). You know you are commanded to tithe and give offerings (Deut. 14:22; II Cor. 9:3-6). You know you are to give cheerfully to Lord (II Cor. 9:7). However, did you realize that when you struggle with these truths in your attitude or actions — that your struggle is actually with your view of God? When you truly believe that God is good, that giving God first place in your finances is good, and that God has already given you more than you deserve – it is then you will rejoice in the opportunity which the Lord has given you to give back to Him. “…for God loveth a cheerful giver.
- February 1: To understand humility, it is helpful to first understand what pride looks like in our own life. Is there strife or contention in your relationships? Proverbs 13:10 says, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom” and 28:25 continues with, “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.” Is your life characterized by seeking after God? Psalms 10:4 says, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” Do you consider yourself a loving person? True Biblical love will not brag (a manifestation of pride). I Corinthians 13:4 tells us, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” Do you see such pride in your life as sin? Proverbs 21:4 declares, “An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.” A proud spirit can be seen in our relationships to one another and to the Lord. We must turn from pride, confess it as sin, and walk in humility before God.
- January 31: The world around you is shouting an “I deserve my rights” philosophy: “my right to marry what gender I want” — “my right to end a baby’s life or an adult’s life if I want” — “my right to live as I want.” As a believer, what are your rights? I Corinthians 6:19-20 tells you, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” As a believer, you have been “bought with a price” and belong to God. “Ye are not your own” and have no rights, but now are called to follow God. The statement – “you have no rights” – often sends out loud alarms in your mind. The defense system of your flesh (our pride) rises up quickly to defend and counter attack such a statement. But should it be so scary and bring such defensive responses to say “you have no rights because you belong to Jesus?” It should not…and will not be so—when your attention is placed on who God is (His power, His love, His Wisdom). Take time to meditate today on whom God declares Himself to be…the results are joyous!
- January 7: There are some characteristics that will disqualify people from great opportunities. This can be seen in relation to potential employment opportunities all the time. An employer wants certain characteristics in a future employee: technical skills, relational skills, and personality type all play a part in qualifying for a job. You and I can have all the abilities in the world to serve the Lord, but we will always come up short when possessing one spiritually lethal characteristic: selfishness. Samson was one of the judges God used to deliver His people out of bondage. The Bible records in the book of Judges how God enabled Samson with amazing strength to defeat the enemy; however, Samson’s greatest enemy was himself! God gave Samson specific boundaries in which to live. He thought his way was better and more satisfying than God’s way. His high view of “self” disqualified him from incredible ministry for God. God is equipping you and me for incredible ministry opportunities in our home, work place, neighborhood, and church. He wants to use you and me for plans we cannot even comprehend right now. Selfishness can potentially destroy those ministry opportunities and cause great damage to our walk with God. The result for Samson was devastating, having his eyes plucked out and enduring the mocking of his enemies. When you and I choose our own way over God’s way we will find our end result devastating as well (Prov. 14:12; II Pet. 2:18-22). Selfishness is the enemy of faithful stewardship. Believer, ask the Lord to root out such selfishness in your own life and keep your gaze focused on Jesus…THE way, THE truth, and THE life.