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The joys of heaven (1)
“We are citizens of heaven.” Php 3:20 NLT
The story is told of a pastor who asked his congregation, “How many of you want to go to heaven?” Everyone raised their hand except one little boy. The pastor said, “Son, don’t you want to go to heaven?” He replied, “Yes, but I thought you were getting up a batch to go right now!” Let’s be honest, we don’t think or talk much about heaven until a loved one dies and goes there, or we grow old and feel like we have fulfilled our assignment here on earth. Then we feel a tug pulling us heavenward. And we should. On average, we will spend about seventy or eighty years here, whereas we will spend eternity there. “We shall always be with the Lord” (1Th 4:17 NKJV). Here on earth we get a mixed scorecard; sometimes we do well, other times not so well. But in heaven, we will be just like Jesus. “We are citizens of heaven…we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own” (Php 3:20-21 NLT). C. S. Lewis wrote that in heaven each of us will be a “dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine.” All the patriarchs, prophets, and preachers in the Bible longed for heaven. Zechariah describes it in these words: “They’ll become…like gemstones in a crown, catching all the colors of the sun. Then…they’ll shine!” (Zec 9:16-17 MSG). Question: If you were to die today, would you go to heaven? You can, by putting your trust in Jesus Christ.
Steps to forgiveness (1)
“Forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.” Col 3:13 NIV
The misery of living with unforgiveness in your heart always lasts longer than the pain of the offense. Always! When you hold on to resentment, you open the door to depression and physical illness. Forgiving brings healing to your wounds and restores your joy. Here are two steps to help you forgive: (1) Remember that you have been unconditionally forgiven. Recall God’s grace toward you, and the price paid for your forgiveness. By refusing to show mercy, you’re like the man Jesus said was forgiven an enormous debt, yet was unwilling to forgive another man’s paltry indebtedness to him (See Mt 18:23-34). The grace God has extended to you leaves you no grounds whatsoever to refuse the same grace to the one who hurt you. (2) Release the offender from the debt they owe you. You may be totally justified in saying, “They owe me for what they did!” Your friends may agree. The law may agree, and you may be thinking that the only way your offender will “learn to do what’s right” is if they’re made to pay for the wrong they did. But as long as you’re holding on to your “rights,” you’re chained to the past. It has you in its grip, and your future is being held hostage to the past’s control over you. Your offender’s sin against you was paid for by the same sacrificial love that canceled your sin debt, so they have the same need and right to forgiveness that you have. And there is more; forgiveness is not just for their benefit, but for yours: “Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Lk 6:37 NIV).
When your best isn’t good enough
“Master…because you say so, I will.” Lk 5:5 NIV
You say: “What happened to the verse in Galatians 6 that promises whatever you sow you will also reap? I gave it my best shot. I trusted, sacrificed, did the right things, yet reaped nothing.” Whether it’s a lack of reaping in your finances, job, marriage, children, or ministry, it’s discouraging and sometimes makes you feel like quitting. The disciples were experienced fishermen. But they had fished all night and caught nothing, so now they were discouraged. And that’s when Jesus showed up! When they thought there was nothing more that could be done, He stepped into their boat. And He still works that way. As long as you think you can handle the situation yourself, Jesus knows you will keep trying to. So, He waits until you have exhausted your resources and acknowledged that you are out of options, then He gets involved. “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch,” He instructed (Lk 5:4 NIV). Peter replied, “We have already tried that and the fish just aren’t biting.” Maybe Peter was thinking, “Lord, you’re the preacher, but I’m a professional fisherman. If there was anything out there, I would have caught it.” Jesus was saying, “This time, try it my way!” Peter replied, “Master…because you say so, I will.” And that’s when the miracle happened. Whatever Peter thought or felt, he obeyed Jesus anyway. That, too, is when your situation begins to change. When you’re clueless and helpless, thinking there is no way out, just get quiet and listen, and Jesus will tell you what to do. And when He does, even though you have questions, say, “Master, because you say so, I will obey.” Then, prepare for results only God can give.
Faith that brings results
“Believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who…seek Him.” Heb 11:6 NKJV
Here are three truths from Scripture that will make your faith more effective: First, believe that God is. The force of the language used here is much more than a vague acknowledgment of God’s existence. Mankind claims scores of gods, but the God of the Bible is not one of them—or even the best of them. He is the only true God! And this Scripture says He is uniquely, genuinely, permanently present and active. Second, believe that God is able. When two blind men approached Jesus seeking healing, He asked, “‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you’” (Mt 9:28-29 NIV). Immediately, they could see. Jesus knew He was able to heal them, but He wanted them to know He was able. Until you believe in God’s ability to meet your need, you have no ground on which to base your confidence and prayers. Third, believe that God is willing. After knowing He is able, you must take a step of belief. A leper approached Jesus saying, “‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Jesus…touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Mt 8:2-3 NAS). Is God willing? Consider His claim: He—not we—goes on record as being “a rewarder of those who…seek Him.” That leaves no room for doubt. Today, God is not only able but willing to meet your need.
Are you joy-deprived?
“I came so that everyone would have life…in its fullest.” Jn 10:10 CEV
Your lungs need oxygen to thrive, your body needs food to thrive, and your soul needs joy to thrive. How can you tell when someone is joy-deprived? By how they look and what they say. One Bible teacher says: “When I began to understand John 10:10…I realized the enemy had deceived me into thinking that enjoying things was not important…I had come to believe—falsely, of course—that if I was having fun, something was wrong…I must not be working hard enough! I never saw my father enjoy life and it seemed to aggravate him when others did, so I just grew up thinking something must be wrong with it. I can remember being told to be quiet when I laughed out loud…The seventeenth-century…[writer] Madame Guyon said that the highest call for every child of God is to enjoy God. I remember what a heavy load lifted off of me the first time I read that…I was working so hard trying to please God that the thought of simply enjoying Him had not occurred to me at all. I had never heard of such a thing!…I had been a committed church member for over twenty years before I learned that God wanted me to enjoy Him and the life He had given me.” Can you relate? If so, it’s time to make some changes in your life. Take a break without feeling guilty; you will be much more productive when you’re rested and refreshed. Recreation is not “unspiritual”; it’s essential to staying in balance. We live in a driven, stressed-out society, but you can change; you can be joyful if you choose to.
How God leads us
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Ps 119:105 NAS
The words “Your word is a lamp to my feet” mean you’re supposed to walk according to God’s will and not your own thoughts, wishes, or impulses. The words “and a light to my path” mean you can’t go in any direction you choose; you must follow the path that God has planned for you. You will never go wrong consulting the Scriptures for direction, but make sure you keep the Scriptures in context. Don’t use the “open-window method,” allowing the wind to blow across the pages of your Bible, then shutting your eyes, pointing to a verse and saying, “This is God’s leading on this.” If you do that, you could wind up with the verse, “Judas went away and hanged himself,” as the verse for your day! Would you want to go to a doctor with an illness and hear him say, without ever examining you, “It’s your gallbladder”? You would ask, “How do you know?” And he would say, “Well, I sat by the window a few moments ago and trusted God to blow the pages of my anatomy book to your problem—and the topic on the page was ‘gallbladder.’” You would run out of there pretty fast, wouldn’t you? Some people practice this kind of theological voodoo, then get into trouble and say, “Well, God led me,” when God had nothing to do with their choices. Whenever you read the scriptural phrase, “This is the will of God,” you can be sure that it’s His will. If you disobey Him, you will suffer the consequences, and if you obey Him, you will be blessed.
Focus on your God-given vision
“I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.” Ac 26:19
When God gives you a vision of what He wants you to do, you will have to go against the flow of the world. Society wants to keep you in a box. Most people are married mentally to the status quo. They want what was, not what can be. They seek safety and simple answers. So, you need to give yourself permission to go a different way, to break new ground. Paul said, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.” It was his consuming passion and the central focus of his life. He got up every morning thinking about it and went to bed every night thinking about it. And at the end of his life, he could say, “I have finished the race…Finally, there is laid up for me the crown” (2Ti 4:7-8 NKJV). No one achieves greatness by becoming a generalist. Whether your vision is to build a great family, or a great church, or a great business, or a great “anything,” you must focus. Author Harry A. Overstreet observed: “The immature mind hops from one thing to another; the mature mind seeks to follow through.” Does every area of your life deserve focused thinking time? No. Be selective, not exhaustive in your thinking. What has God called you to do? What’s your role in it? What skill sets do you need to sharpen? What knowledge do you need to acquire? What relationships do you need to build? The first question Paul asked when God gave him his vision was, “What do You want me to do?” (Ac 9:6 NKJV). And today that’s the question you need to ask God, too.
Your overflowing cup of blessing
“My cup runs over.” Ps 23:5 NKJV
David said: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over” (vv. 4-5 NKJV). Notice, God didn’t promise that you wouldn’t have to deal with death, or fear, or evil, or enemies. He simply said that in spite of them, and sometimes in the midst of them, your cup will still overflow with His blessing. Next time you pour a cup of tea or coffee and it overflows onto the saucer, you have an “overflowing” or a “surplus.” Your God is a God of surplus. Paul writes, “God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (2Co 9:8 NLT). He saturates you with joy and peace “so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Ro 15:13 NIV). He bestows a surplus of joy—He causes you to “rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1Pe 1:8 NKJV). He also provides a surplus of peace—He gives “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Php 4:7 NKJV). So when you’re struggling to make ends meet, or you fear the future, look in the mirror and say, “God is my source; I have more than enough, my cup overflows.” And don’t just do that in times of need or crisis; make it a habit you practice every day.
Let God lead you
“He leads me in the paths of righteousness.” Ps 23:3 NKJV
Life is full of choices, decisions, and options. It’s also full of people with strong opinions who will try to tell you which way they think you ought to go. If we could turn back the hands of time, nearly all of us would alter some of our past choices because they have caused us to find ourselves in the path of “wrongness” rather than “righteousness.” Sheep will gravitate toward whatever appeals to their instincts, such as a berry bush, even though it will take them away from the flock and the shepherd’s protective care. They think they know the right path when they really have no clue. Question: Have you been following your appetites and instincts rather than your shepherd? You say, “But God has given me a brain to use.” Sure, and you need to develop it. But it’s limited, and it will only take you so far. The Holy Spirit desires to take you beyond those limits. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Ro 8:14). How does God lead us? Objectively through His Word, and subjectively through His Spirit. As you read His Word, you hear His voice, and as you “lie down” (Ps 23:2), He impresses upon your heart what He wants you to do. If you have gotten onto the wrong path, turn to God and He will guide you back onto the right path. You say, “Would God actually speak to someone like me?” Yes, “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (Jn 10:3-4 NKJV). Today, let God lead you!
This year think “possible” (2)
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Heb 11:6 NKJV
The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (v. 6 NKJV). Here is something God can’t do: Be pleased without faith! Twelve spies entered the promised land, but only two came back and said, “We are well able to overcome it” (Nu 13:30 NKJV). God had promised it to them, but the majority thought it couldn’t be done. People who think “possible” not only create forward-looking, optimistic pictures of the future in their own minds, but also in the minds of others. And the opposite is true. Sam Ewing said, “Nothing is so embarrassing as watching someone do something that you said couldn’t be done.” Now, believing you can doesn’t guarantee you will. But believing you can’t guarantees you won’t! So how’s your approach to life? When you face the unknown, the undone, or the untried, do you focus on all the things that can go wrong or all the things that can go right? Ballistic rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun said, “I have learned to use the word ‘impossible’ with the greatest caution.” You say, “Who was he?” The scientist who made it possible for the first man to walk on the moon! John Andrew Holmes said: “Never tell a young person that something cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for somebody ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing.” If you want to achieve something, give yourself permission to believe it is possible—and trust God for success.
Enjoy each day of this New Year (2)
“I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you.” Jn 15:11 AMPC
You need to enjoy each day of your life for Christ’s sake, because He paid a very high price for you to be able to. He said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” (Jn 10:10 AMPC). He said: “I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing” (Jn 15:11 AMPC). He said, “Ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete” (Jn 16:24 AMPC). Jesus actually prayed that you would have joy: “Now I am coming to You…so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts]” (Jn 17:13 AMPC). With Jesus Himself praying such powerful words about His desire for you to have joy, how could you ever doubt that God wants you to be happy and enjoy your life? As a redeemed child of God, you’re a walking billboard for Christianity! Don’t go around looking severe, stern, strict, sour, and sensorial, believing that you’re coming across as “spiritual.” No, that’s a turnoff to non-Christians! You need a new mindset; a scriptural one that will enable you to enjoy life and make you a more enjoyable person to be around.
Five resolutions to work on
“Run with perseverance.” Heb 12:1 NIV
Susan Alexander Yates suggests five resolutions to work on. “(1) Reach someone who doesn’t know Christ. God commands us to be salt and light…(Mt 5:13-16); that won’t happen if we spend all our time with believers…While reaching out feels scary, when you take the risk, you’ll see God work through you. (2) Be more grateful. I used to wake…thinking about all the things I had to do and…the people who needed me. I got depressed before I… got out of bed…So I started meditating on…God’s character traits…thinking about how awesome God is. My perspective…changed. (3) Spend quality time with your spouse. I used to have a…raspberry patch. In the early years I…tended it, and it produced prolific crops. Then I got busy…and…weeds took over…A marriage can become like [that]. We get busy with kids, career, church…We think [we’ll] spend time [together] when life calms down. The problem is life never does. Don’t let the weeds…choke your marriage…You’re raising future husbands and wives who need to know a happy marriage takes time. (4) Say ‘no’ to something. Maturing means you postpone something you’d like to do to focus on something more important. In 10 years, what will matter most—that you signed your child up for another activity or said ‘no’ and had family dinners together? (5) Pursue Christ with fresh vigor. [David prayed], ‘Restore to me the joy of your salvation’ (Ps 51:12 NIV). Vary [your routine]…[Pick] a new topic for Bible study. Begin a fresh journal. If you…still feel stale, ask God to show you the reason.” “Let us throw off everything that hinders and…run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Heb 12:1 NIV).
Don’t look back (2)
“Do not dwell on the past…I am doing a new thing!” Isa 43:18-19 NIV
Author Ellen Vaughn continues: “(3) We must also forget our successes. That doesn’t necessarily mean we must forget the great projects we have completed. We are to work and live with excellence unto God, and He takes pleasure in our successes as they are offered to His glory. But we should forget past successes if they have defined our identity or caused us to be complacent, smug and self-congratulatory. We’re not to fondle the past, dwelling on past glories. (Similarly, we must make sure our stories of God’s work and grace in our lives are not all old. If we can only point to instances of God’s faithfulness from five years ago but none from this week, our connection with Christ isn’t very current.) Paul warns the Philippians against those who would put their confidence in human criteria and accomplishment: ‘If someone…thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more’ (Php 3:4 NIV), he said, citing his power résumé that many in his day would have coveted. But his focus wasn’t on his past: ‘Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus’ (Php 3:7, 13-14 NIV).” The good news is, God doesn’t analyze your past in order to determine your future. He says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past… I am doing a new thing!” Learn from the past, leave it, and don’t look back!
Home sweet home!
“I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Ps 23:6 NIV
For some of us, the love of God doesn’t feel real. Why is that? Because we have tried to make this earth our home. And as a result, we live with worry and frustration. Only when you have the right view of there will you have the right view of here. When you understand where your true home is, death is never a period; instead, it’s a conjunction. Less than one second after you die, you will be escorted into the presence of God. You won’t even be dead long enough to know you died. You don’t expire; you transfer. Quicker than you can blink, you move from one dimension to another. You go from living in this time to dwelling “in the house of the Lord forever.” Most of us will not die suddenly of a heart attack, or a stroke, or in a car crash. For most of us, death will come gradually as we wear down over time. You will feel your body deteriorating and atrophying, and you will know you’re nearing death. Then God will put you into transition mode. He will make heaven look much more appealing than earth so that you will be thinking, “I wish God would just hurry up and take me home.” He may even give you a little preview of glory and let you see your Savior waiting to welcome you. When you glimpse those arms wide open, you will want the trip to hurry up and take place. You will say like David, “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness” (Ps 17:15 NKJV). Home sweet home!
Not “hopefully” but “surely”
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Ps 23:6 NKJV
The psalmist doesn’t lead off with words like “maybe,” or “perhaps,” or “possibly,” or “hopefully.” No, he says, “Surely,” which is a term of certainty. “Surely” means absolutely; without a doubt! There are a lot of things in life you can’t be sure of. You go for a physical checkup and discover you have a malignant growth. You work in the same company for years believing your job is secure, but they downsize and all you’re left with is a pink slip. You pray for your children, live an exemplary life before them, and teach them what’s right, then you find yourself down at the police station trying to get them out of lockup because they were arrested for drunk driving or doing drugs. As a redeemed child of God, here are two things you can be sure of: God’s “goodness and mercy.” What’s your concept of God? That’s an all-important question, so think about it before you answer. Your concept of God will determine your confidence in Him. David was far from perfect. Indeed, some of his antics would have made the front pages of the tabloids. But he never doubted God’s goodness and mercy toward him: “This I know, that God is for me” (Ps 56:9 NAS). Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5 NKJV). His goodness guarantees every need you have can be met, and His mercy guarantees that every sin you commit can be forgiven. Just as sheepdogs drive strays back into the fold, so God’s goodness and mercy will drive you back into His loving arms every time.
Steps to forgiveness (2)
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Lk 6:37 NIV
Here are three more steps to forgiveness: (1) Accept people as they are and don’t try to change them. You say, “I’ll only forgive them if they change.” That just keeps you tied to them, obsessing over what they did and demanding they act in ways that you approve of. Nothing makes people less willing to change than when you try to control them and demand that they meet your requirements. Changing people isn’t your job—it’s God’s job! Your job is to choose to forgive and leave the outcome in God’s hands. The formula for healing is simple: forgive, let go, and let God. (2) See your offender as God’s tool for your growth. It’s easier to forgive someone when you stop seeing them as Satan’s agent sent to destroy you, and begin seeing them as God’s instrument to develop you. The life of Joseph speaks to this principle. The path that led him from the pit to the palace was paved by injustice, disappointment, and betrayal. But God used each painful circumstance to get him to his destiny. And God can do that for you. (3) Try reconciling with your offender. Reconciliation is God’s nature. “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Ro 5:10). And what God did for you, He wants you to do for whoever you are at odds with. Jesus made reconciliation a top priority by saying, “Leave your gift there before the altar…First be reconciled…then come and offer your gift” (Mt 5:24 NKJV). Yes, it will take selflessness and humility on your part, but the return is worth the investment!
Today, give your problem to God
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.” Ps 55:22 NIV
If you grow up in hard times, you will automatically do one of these two things: (1) Trust God more because you have experienced His faithfulness. (2) Worry, think, and incessantly talk about the “what ifs” in life. And there are lots of them to think about, because the future rests in God’s hands and not yours. It’s possible for a thing to seem much bigger to you than it really is. That’s the essence of worry. It’s like a snowball; it starts small, but as you roll it over and over in your mind, it becomes bigger and bigger until it has the potential to bury you. What’s the answer? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Pr 3:5 NKJV). Fill you heart with God’s Word. Then develop the habit of letting what’s in your heart be more real to you than what you see, think, or feel. You can choose to think about what God can do instead of what you cannot do. If you continue to obsess about the difficulty of your situation, you will end up in despair. In other words, you will feel trapped. When that happens, it’s easy to panic and begin to do irrational things that just make the problem worse. Instead, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” The word “sustain” means to strengthen, support, and hold you up. God may not take you out of the situation immediately, but His sustaining grace will bring you through it. Today, give your problem to God.
Be faithful to God at work
“Working for the Lord.” Col 3:23 NIV
If you were in charge of hiring people at work, what would you look for? Skill, dedication, punctuality, reliability, patience, kindness, and consistency? Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Lk 16:10 NIV). Life mostly consists of little things, so if you’re unfaithful in little things, you will be unfaithful in most of life. Do you possess a “guilt pile” at work? It’s that little stack of items you haven’t gotten around to yet. Faithfulness includes how you handle it. It may not matter much to you that someone has sent you an email or written you a letter, but that person anticipates an answer. Their world may be counting on it. How do you manage the little things in life? Jesus said, “If you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” (v. 12 NIV). If you owned the business you work for, would you be taking all those extra coffee breaks? Would you buy the rental car you just abused for a week? How you handle the things that are not yours is a test of faithfulness to God. See how sensible this is? Faithfulness is important in all areas of life. God says you will be rewarded for your faithfulness, so do your best at work. “Work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Col 3:23 NIV). As a follower of Christ, you should have a reputation for being the most dependable person on the job. Why? Because you’re aware of who your true boss is!
It’s time to pray (1)
“Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Ps 51:7 NIV
Do you remember when most restaurants had opening and closing hours? It was their schedule, and not your appetite, that decided whether you ate or went hungry. Not anymore: now you can pop into many of your favorite eating places anytime your appetite hits. That’s how God operates; He is available 24/7. And although praying isn’t limited to set times, there are certain times when it’s vital that you talk to God. Here are two: (1) When you have sinned. Your emotions of guilt and shame, plus Satan “the accuser,” will tell you to avoid God. But turning to Him is the only solution to sin. Burdened by adultery, deception, and murder, David realized he needed to confess his sin to God. “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow…Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (vv. 7, 10 NIV). John said God is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9 NIV). Have you sinned? A fresh beginning is only a prayer away. (2) When you’re worried and afraid. You don’t have to look too far to find things to worry about; they’re all around you. Financial, professional, health, and family concerns can make you stressed-out and anxious. Where to turn? Prayer is God’s answer to fear and anxiety. “Don’t worry over anything whatever…tell God every detail of your needs in thankful prayer, and the peace of God, which surpasses human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds” (Php 4:6-7 PHPS).
How Jesus dealt with sin
“Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Jn 8:11 NKJV
“The scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery…they said to Him, ‘Teacher…Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’…Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’…When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more’” (vv. 3-7, 10-11 NKJV). That day Jesus demonstrated three things: (1) The hypocrisy of a double standard. Since this woman had been “caught in the very act,” surely they knew who the man was, too. There is still a double standard today that looks down on a woman because of her past while excusing a man by saying, “He was just sowing his wild oats.” The Pharisees used stones, we use words, but the victim ends up wounded regardless. (2) Who alone is qualified to judge. “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Who was the only sinless one among them that day? Jesus! So He alone is qualified to judge. (3) You can rise above your past. “Go and sin no more.” Those words could be rephrased, “Go, and because you have had an encounter with Jesus, you can rise above your past.”
The story of your Bible
“‘The word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” 1Pe 1:25 NKJV
In the fourteenth century, there was not a single copy of the Bible in English! It was available only in Latin, the language of the clergy, and those were chained to the podiums of the cathedrals. Then a prominent professor of divinity at Oxford University said, “This is not right. People should be able to read the Bible in their own language.” Church leaders branded him a heretic and an instrument of the devil. Like Noah who pounded the nails into the ark while people ridiculed and scorned him, John Wycliffe began translating the Scriptures as a flood of persecution emerged around him. When he finally completed his translation of the Scriptures, he wrote this in the flyleaf of the first copy of the English Scriptures: “This Bible is translated and shall make possible a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Five hundred years later, President Abraham Lincoln borrowed that statement for his famous Gettysburg Address. Thirty years after Wycliffe died, he was again proclaimed a heretic. Consequently, his body was exhumed, and his bones were burned to dust, and his ashes cast into a river. A contemporary historian describes the scene like this: “Thus this brook hath conveyed his ashes into (the river) Avon, Avon into Severn, Severn into the narrow seas, they into the ocean. And thus ashes…are the emblem of his doctrine…now…dispersed the world over.” Hence Peter writes, “‘The word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached unto you.”
Steps to overcoming your worries
“I know that you can do all things.” Job 42:2 NIV
Job lost his wealth, his health, and his children. The book he wrote is a conversation between himself and God. At the beginning of it, Job says, “Hear now my argument” (Job 13:6 NIV). He is asking, “Why has all this happened to me?” At this point he is totally self-focused. But by the middle of his book, Job has grown spiritually and now he takes a different approach. Instead of reasoning, he decides to stand on God’s Word: “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:10-12 NIV). By the last chapter in his book, Job has decided to trust God completely: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted…My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you” (Job 42:2, 5 NIV). Job has finally arrived at the place where he can say, “I trust God; there is no need to worry!” After nine months of worrying, questioning, and reasoning, he decides he doesn’t need answers to all his questions, he only needs to know that God cares for him. And his story ends in these words: “The Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before” (v. 10 NIV). There you have it; the steps to overcoming your worries!
God is your provider
“You prepare a table before me.” Ps 23:5 NKJV
Next time you sit down at your table to eat a delicious meal, stop and think about all the people it took to make it possible. A farmer grew it or raised it; a food processing company prepared and packaged it; a trucking company shipped it; a grocery store sold it; then someone paid the price to buy it, cook it, and set it before you to eat. There are many links in this chain, but the first link is God. He made the soil, the seeds, and the livestock. Without Him, you would go hungry. That’s why each time you come to your dining table, it’s proper to “say grace,” or offer thanks to Him. When someone sets food for your enjoyment and nourishment in front of you, common courtesy alone should require that you respond by saying, “Thank you.” Here is a memo from heaven: “Everything you have came from me. Signed: God.” (See Jas 1:17). Perhaps you’re thinking, “But I worked hard for what I have.” Then you’re to be commended for your work ethic and your effort. But that’s not the end of the story; here is the rest of it: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share” (1Ti 6:17-18 NKJV). When God says be “ready to give, willing to share,” He is simply saying, “Just as I have been the provider of all your blessings, now go out and share those blessings with others.”
This year think “possible” (3)
“Then he had another dream.” Ge 37:9 NIV
Joseph had two dreams, and the second was bigger than the first. His first dream was a field of sheaves; the second dream was a sky full of stars. So the word for you today is—dream one size bigger! Henry Curtis said: “Make your plans as fantastic as you like, because twenty-five years from now they will seem mediocre. Make your plans ten times as great as you first planned, and twenty-five years from now you will wonder why you did not make them fifty times as great.” There is only one way to keep growing: make your goal a step beyond what makes you comfortable. That will force you to keep growing! And it will also set you up to believe God for greater things. Most people want their lives to keep improving, yet they value peace and stability at the same time. They forget that you can’t improve and stay the same. Growth means change, and that means challenging the status quo. Thinking “possible” means you can’t settle for what you have now. There will always be people around you who want you to give up your dream and embrace the status quo. Love them, but don’t be led by them. As you begin to believe God for greater things and others try to throw cold water on you, remember that right now, as you read this page, other people around the world are thinking about curing cancer, developing new energy sources, feeding the hungry, improving the quality of life, and winning whole nations for Christ. They are bucking the odds and challenging the status quo—and you must, too.
This year think “possible” (1)
“With God all things are possible.” Mt 19:26
Read these two Scriptures: “With God all things are possible” (v. 26). “He did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief” (Mt 13:58). Those two verses mean this: Many things that are possible remain undone because of doubt and unbelief. So, this year, think “possible.” If God’s Word says you can succeed, but you’re failing, it may mean this: You don’t really believe what He says, or you’re not willing to do your part. When you think “possible,” it increases your energy level. Who gets energized at the prospect of losing? If you know something can’t succeed, how much time and energy are you willing to give it? Nobody goes looking for a lost cause. You only invest yourself in what you believe can succeed. So when you think “possible” and trust God for success, your faith becomes the energizing force. Some people believe that possibility thinkers are naive or foolish. If you’re one of them, answer these questions: How many highly successful people do you know who are continually negative? How many impossibility thinkers are you acquainted with who achieve big things? None! The first step to thinking “possible” is to stop yourself from searching for and dwelling on what’s wrong with each situation. People with an it-can’t-be-done mindset have two choices: they can expect the worst and continually experience it, or change their thinking. And that begins with eliminating the negative self-talk you hear in your head before you have even opened your mouth. “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” (Pr 18:21 NLT). In order to think “possible,” you must believe and speak “possible.”
Enjoy each day of this New Year (1)
“Let’s celebrate and be glad today.” Ps 118:24 CEV
Each day is a gift from God. Next to your salvation, today is the most valuable gift you will ever receive. When you receive a gift, what do you do? Thank the giver, unwrap it, and enjoy it. Getting the idea? One Bible teacher writes: “I make an effort to focus on and enjoy every moment of my life, but doing so has been a long and difficult journey for me…I am a planner, and if I am not careful, I find myself planning the next thing while doing the current thing, which of course steals the present moment from me. Although being focused is a good thing, I can also easily get so focused on my work that I fail to enjoy the magic of the moment. For example, I was usually working while my children were little and found it difficult to even take a moment to stop and enjoy the cute things they said or did. I missed many of those moments and will never get them back. We should celebrate life and the people God has placed in our path. Life is to be enjoyed, not dreaded or regretted.” Solomon wrote: “There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink and make himself enjoy good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God” (Ecc 2:24 AMPC). Note these two phrases: (1) “From the hand of God.” That means it’s God’s will for you to enjoy every day. (2) “Make himself enjoy good.” That means you must look for things to celebrate each day. And you can start doing this—today!
I wish you to live every day thinking about how great is the gift that God has given you. May the light of the Lord guide you wherever you go, may it illuminate the dark times and make the good ones even brighter.
“Do not therefore be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Sufficient for each day is its own care”.
Happy New Year 🤗
Don’t look back (1)
“Do not dwell on the past…I am doing a new thing!” Isa 43:18-19 NIV
In the words of the legendary baseball player Satchel Paige, “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” That’s good advice! Paul bottom-lines it like this: “Focus on…Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Php 3:13 NLT). Author Ellen Vaughn writes: “Before our spiritual vitality can really flow, we must forget three things. [Today, here are two]: (1) We must forget our sins. Obviously we must remember our sins in order to confess them. But having done so, we must let them go. The fact that God forgets is like calling heaven and hearing, ‘There is no record of any offense.’ They’re expunged, as if they never existed. Satan would lure us to live in guilt and fear. He pulls us into the shadowboxes of memory in which our worst sins replay on the walls of our minds…We need to be very clear here, or we’ll miss the liberating point. It’s not as if forgiveness is real only if we experience some kind of holy amnesia. It’s not up to us. It’s up to God. And the Scriptures say that God forgets our sins (See Heb 8:12). (2) We must forget our shame. Paul could have been a prime candidate for shame. He had presided over the harassment, imprisonment, torture, and murder of innocent human beings. But God’s grace is stronger than our shame. It was defanged when Jesus died and rose again. We can forget our slithering shame, for Jesus took it. He scorned it, beat it, broke it. We need not take it back.” The word for you today is—“Do not dwell on the past…I am doing a new thing.”
What an insurance policy!
“All the days of my life.” Ps 23:6 NKJV
Most insurance companies are trustworthy. They will cover you through most of the seasons and adversities of life. But not all insurance companies are that way. In some cases, the moment you make a claim against them, they either hike your premiums through the roof or cancel your policy. But the insurance policy you have with God is awesome. The premiums were paid in the crimson cash of Jesus’ blood when He spoke these words: “It is finished,” which means “paid in full.” There are different kinds of insurance that cover things like fire, property, theft, health, automobiles, and death. But the only insurance policy that can cover you beyond death is the one God offers. And you don’t have to worry about reading the “fine print,” because He will not cancel it. Paul lays it out for us: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ro 8:35, 37-39 NKJV). Have you repented of your sins? Have you placed your trust in Christ to be your Savior? Then you’re covered for time and eternity. “Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ’tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”
Indescribable!
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” 2Co 9:15 NKJV
Paul says that the gift God gave each of us that first Christmas is “indescribable.” The Living Bible says it’s “too wonderful for words.” Consider this: Isaiah says, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given” (Isa 9:6). Jesus was both God and man. As a child He was born, but as the Son of God He could only be given, because He always existed. So He is the perfect solution to our sin problem because He understands both the claims of divinity and the struggles of humanity. Today let’s examine this “indescribable gift.” First, He is our “daysman!” Job said, “Neither is there any daysman [umpire, mediator, or middleman] betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both” (Job 9:33). “Daysman” is an old English word for someone who was more than just an umpire; they could actually join the game and bring both sides together. So when you mess up, Jesus keeps one hand on you and the other on God so that the connection is never broken. “Indescribable”! Second, He is our intercessor! The Bible says, “He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Heb 7:25 NIV). If you had to remember and confess all the sins of omission and commission you commit each day, you would never sleep; you would live on your knees. But Christ’s death covers all the wrong you have done (commission), and His life covers all the good you have left undone (omission). So, He is fully qualified to represent you before the throne of God. There is only one word that fits such a Christmas gift: “indescribable.”