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Who can you count on?
“Timothy has proved himself.” Php 2:22 NIV
God will be faithful to you, come what may. Humanly speaking, who else can you count on? Paul writes: “Everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel” (vv. 21-22 NIV). Paul knew he could count on Timothy. Who can you count on? Before you answer, consider the following four questions: (1) When something goes wrong, do you have at least one friend you can easily talk to about it? “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for…adversity” (Pr 17:17 NIV). There is no way to put a price on such a relationship, is there? (2) Who in your life could accurately name your greatest fears and temptations? “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble…A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecc 4:9-10, 12 NLT). (3) Do you have one or more friends with whom you meet regularly? “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him” (Mal 3:16). (4) Do you have a friend you know well enough to trust their confidentiality? “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret” (Pr 11:13 NIV).
Sharing our lives
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Heb 10:24 NIV
Robert Putman made a staggering statement: “As a rough rule of thumb, if you don’t belong to any groups and then decide to join one, you cut your risk of dying over the next year in half.” It’s hard to imagine anyone disinterested in reducing their risk of dying by 50 percent. That’s why some churches have adopted this motto: “Join a group or die.” One of the characteristics of the early church was their faithfulness to connectedness, because they knew connectedness doesn’t merely happen. They met together daily. They ate together. Over time, however, that happened less. So the writer of Hebrews said: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another” (vv. 24-25 NIV). One author puts it this way: “In sports, the more an athlete needs encouragement from the fans, the less likely he or she is to get it. Rarely do fans of a losing team think when a slumping player comes up to bat, ‘Let’s consider how we can spur him on.’ Too often, people who need cheers the most get them the least. Every day, everyone you know faces life with eternity on the line, and life has a way of beating people down. Every life needs a cheering section. Every life needs a shoulder to lean on once in a while. Every life needs a prayer to lift them up before God. Every life needs a hugger to wrap some arms around them sometimes. Every life needs to hear a voice saying, ‘Don’t give up.’”
Integrity (1)
“He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known.” Pr 10:9 NKJV
What would you say is the single most important characteristic of a person who wants to be successful and make a difference in the world? Some would say intelligence. After all, knowledge is power in numerous ways. Others argue it is intensity, that spirit of conquest supplemented with a passion that becomes contagious. Yet others propose that it is insight, good old common sense accompanied by the ability to clearly perceive certain issues. The Bible says the most important quality in success is integrity: “He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known.” You will eventually “become known” by your integrity or the lack of it. We have all known people along life’s road who possess extraordinary intelligence but no integrity, and they are no longer in the race. Others with great intensity and passion but little integrity have ended up the same way. The same result is true of people with great insight but no integrity. The thesaurus equates integrity with such words as “honesty, completeness, and incorruptibility.” Integrity begins in your private world; the part of you that’s known only to God and yourself. Then it shows up in your personal world; the part of you that you reveal to a small circle of intimate family members and possibly a few friends. After that comes your professional world. Here people know you by your product, your work ethic, or your skill set. And they all ask the same question: “Can I trust you?” Finally, your integrity shows up in your public world. So here is the question: Do you have integrity?
What are your values? (1)
“The integrity of the upright guides them.” Pr 11:3 NIV
Here are some values based on Scripture: (1) God’s sovereignty. “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Ps 139:16 NLT). You can rest in knowing that God has the last word on everything that concerns you (See Ps 138:8). When all is said and done, you have an ordered destiny. When you know that, you don’t have to try and manipulate people and circumstances to your advantage. You simply have to walk through the doors God opens and be at peace with the doors He closes, knowing He always has your best interests at heart. (2) Integrity. “The integrity of the upright guides them.” As you walk in integrity, you will experience God’s peace because you know you have done the right thing in His sight. Integrity is not only being honest or telling the truth, but also ensuring what you say is the truth. In other words, you make your word your bond. Psalm 15:4 says that one of the traits of a person who abides in God’s presence and does His will is that they “keep their promises even when it hurts” (NLT). (3) Humility. “Humility precedes honor” (Pr 15:33 NLT). Humility is not a sense of worthlessness, but instead an acceptance of your God-given strengths and God-allowed limitations. Your strengths should not make you arrogant, and your limitations should not make you apprehensive, for God has promised, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2Co 12:9 NKJV).
How to influence and impact others
“Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Jas 1:19 NIV
There is no magic trick when it comes to influencing and impacting others. The Bible gives you the formula, and here it is: (1) Try to listen carefully. The truth is that people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. They tend to filter what they hear through their own life experiences, hang-ups, and the particular problem that’s on their mind at that moment. So if you want people to listen when you speak, listen carefully to them. (2) Don’t say too much. If you tend to talk too much, or too fast, here are three tips to slow yourself down: (a) Stop. Just stop talking. Inhale. Count to ten. Excuse yourself and go to the bathroom. (b) Practice not interrupting. Allow the other person to finish what he or she is saying. (c) Ask yourself why you’re talking so much. Is it insecurity? Or anxiety? Or a need to control? Or a desire to impress? The reason many of us try to convince, impress, or control others is because we have a hard time trusting God to work things out. Just deliver the message and trust God to do the rest. (3) Keep your anger in check. If you implement the first two principles, you will tend to do fine on number three. It will just happen. The good news is, starting today you can learn to do all three things. And if you practice them consistently year after year, when you get to the end of your life, looking back, you will be glad you took God’s Word and His wisdom seriously.
How to develop patience (3)
“Being cheerful keeps you healthy.” Pr 17:22 GNT
Here are two more things you need to do in order to develop patience: (1) Develop a sense of humor. The Bible says, “A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life” (Pr 14:30 TLB). Scientific studies reveal that people who laugh, live longer. Humor is a stress dissolver. It’s an antidote to apprehension. It’s a tranquilizer without any troubling side effects. It’s a shock absorber for the potholes of life. Someone once asked President Abraham Lincoln how he handled the tensions of the Civil War. He said, “If it hadn’t been for laughter, I could not have made it.” When you can laugh at it, you can live with it. And besides, if you learn to laugh at your problems, you will never run out of anything to laugh at! (2) Deepen your love. Paul writes, “Love is very patient” (1Co 13:4 TLB). That means when you are impatient, you are being unloving. When you love someone, you’re concerned about that person’s wishes, distresses, needs, and point of view—not just your own. When you are filled with love, almost nothing can provoke you to anger or impatience. On the other hand, when you are filled with anger, almost anything can provoke you. Under pressure, whatever is inside you is going to come out. So, deepen your love. “Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love” (Eph 4:2 TLB). And one more thought: When you learn to love the people who irritate you, you take a weapon out of Satan’s hands that he can use against you. Today pray, “Lord, make me a more patient person.”
How to develop patience (1)
“It is better to be patient than powerful.” Pr 16:32 GNT
The Bible says that when you pray, God can answer instantly. But nowhere in the Bible are you promised “instant patience.” Patience is a quality of character, and character is built over a lifetime of walking with God through good times and bad. One Bible teacher says, “Patience is just faith taking its time.” Here is how God develops patience in us: (1) Interruptions. You sit down to eat dinner and your phone starts ringing. You’re in the bathtub and someone comes to the door. You’re quickly working to meet a deadline and visitors arrive. It’s said that when Brahms was writing his famous “Lullaby,” he encountered so many interruptions, it took him seven years to compose the piece. Someone joked, “When you’re writing a lullaby, you need all those interruptions to keep you from falling asleep at the piano.” (2) Delays. We hate to wait. We have a microwave mindset—we want what we want—in seconds. We have fast food, Minute Rice, and instant coffee. We’re like the guy who prayed, “Lord, give me patience, and I want it right now!” (3) Irritations. Long lines, lost keys, late planes, phone calls, cold food, flat tires, occupied bathrooms, traffic jams…the list is endless. Do you know that 90 percent of heart attack sufferers have the “hurried” Type A personality? The Bible says, “Impatience will get you into trouble” (Pr 19:2 GNT). We speak of the patience of Job, who said, “All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come” (Job 14:14 NIV). Pray about it, exercise patience, and be confident in God!
You are Christ’s ambassador (2)
“Let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong.” Eph 6:10 CEV
A decade ago, our ideas about being an ambassador were radically altered when the U.S. ambassador to Libya was murdered by terrorists. It takes a special person to be an ambassador in a combat zone. And that’s what you are in! Paul writes: “Let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks. We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm. Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist and let God’s justice protect you like armor. Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Let God’s saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God’s message that comes from the Spirit. Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert” (vv. 10-18 CEV). As an ambassador of Christ, your first loyalty must be to Him in all your dealings; to be disloyal is treasonous. You say, “That’s a high standard!” Yes, it’s a “high calling” (See Php 3:14). It’s also the most rewarding life you can live.
Don’t go until you’re empowered
“Tarry…until you are endued with power from on high.” Lk 24:49 NKJV
You may be educated, experienced, and talented, but you will never fulfill God’s purposes for your life until you’re “endued with power from on high.” Read these two Scriptures: (1) “I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (v. 49 NKJV). (2) “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting…And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ac 2:1-2, 4 NKJV). The transformation was amazing! Peter, who had just denied Jesus, stood before the crowd and preached the gospel to them. Did he get results? Yes. “That day about three thousand souls were added to them” (v. 41 NKJV). And the power they had just received was also their source of strength when they faced hardship and persecution. “When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Ac 4:31 NKJV). This wasn’t a onetime experience; they were continually filled with the Holy Spirit. You say, “I’m not good enough to be filled with God’s Spirit.” Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Lk 11:13 NKJV). Today ask God to fill you with His Spirit, and He will.
He exchanged clothes with us
“His robe…was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.” Jn 19:23 NLT
John records: “When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they…also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, ‘Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it’” (vv. 23-24 NLT). Jewish mothers traditionally made these garments as gifts for their sons who were leaving home. So while we don’t know if Mary actually made Jesus’ robe, it was likely a cherished possession. It’s also significant because throughout the Bible, clothes symbolize behavior and character. Peter talks about being “clothed with humility” (1Pe 5:5 NKJV). Paul says, “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes” (Gal 3:27 NLT). Like His robe, Jesus’ character was seamless, integrated, and perfect. The words “woven…from top to bottom” indicate that He had always been directed by the mind of God. In fact, He said, “The Son can do nothing…but only what he sees the Father doing” (Jn 5:19 NRS). However, when Jesus was crucified, He set aside His seamless robe, “changed places with us” (Gal 3:13 NCV) and put on the robes of sin that had our names on them. He died like a common criminal for sins He didn’t commit so that we could wear the garments of His righteousness. And so that sinners like us coming to the cross could leave wearing the “coat of his…love” (Isa 59:17 NCV), the belt of “goodness and fairness” (Isa 11:5 NCV), and the “garments of salvation” (Isa 61:10 NIV). Jesus not only prepared a place in heaven for us; He made sure we would be properly dressed for the occasion.
Understanding God's Word
Luke 8:12, 'Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.'
The first type of person Jesus describes is someone who doesn't understand God's Word (Mt. 13:19). Before God's Word can penetrate your heart, you have to understand (not comprehend) what it's saying. If the Word isn't understood, then it will be like seed scattered on top of hard-packed ground (the wayside). The birds will eat the seed and there will be no fruit.
Mark 4:15 and Luke 8:12, make it clear that these birds represent Satan, and Mark says the devil comes immediately to steal away the Word. Satan did not have direct access to the Word in any of the other heart-types which Jesus described. Satan cannot steal the Word from us if we will hide it in our hearts (Ps. 119:11). This first type of person simply heard the Word but didn't receive it. He never applied it to his life, so he lost it.
Notice that Luke links belief and salvation with the Word being sown in our hearts in the same way as Romans 10:14-17. If there is no Word, there cannot be any belief or salvation (I Pet. 1:23). We must preach the Word - not just morality or social issues.
Luke's use of the word 'saved' could include, but is not necessarily limited to, forgiveness of sins. Salvation includes much more than forgiveness of sins. This verse could describe a person who didn't receive the Word and, therefore, was eternally damned. It could also be describing a Christian who simply doesn't receive the Word in a certain area of his life and therefore doesn't experience the victory that Jesus provided for him. Are you experiencing His victory in your life?
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
“While he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.” Lk 22:60 NAS
The Bible says: “While he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, ‘Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly” (vv. 60-62 NAS). Before God entrusts you with a great assignment, He will permit Satan to test you. Why? To reveal your weaknesses and strengthen you in those areas. God will allow you to fail in a smaller sphere to keep you from messing up in a larger one, hurting not only yourself but others too. One of the wonders of the Christian life is that Jesus can take rubble and build something beautiful out of it. Peter promised never to deny Jesus, but by the time the rooster crowed, he had already done it three times. Repeated failure! Can you relate? You said you wouldn’t lose your temper, but you did. Cock-a-doodle-doo! You said you wouldn’t give in to temptation, but you did. Cock-a-doodle-doo! When does a rooster crow? Early in the morning. Good news! That means the rooster announces the beginning of a brand new day. After his worst night of failure, the sun came up for Peter. And it will come up for you too. By God’s grace you can start your life over any day you choose to. Today you can repent of your sin and go on to do great things for the Lord. Peter ended up winning multitudes to Christ and leading the church. So no matter how badly you have failed, God will forgive you, restore you, and redirect your steps.
Today God is calling you (2)
“I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee.” Jer 1:5
The word “sanctified” means “to be set apart for the exclusive use of.” The word “ordained” means “ordered according to a plan.” Here are two things you need to know: God doesn’t waste anything He created, and He doesn’t waste anything He can use. Before you were saved, God permitted experiences, both good and bad, that were equipping you for what He had in mind. That includes who your parents were, the places they came from, where you were educated, the number of years you spent in school, the jobs you held, and the training you received. It also includes things God put inside you at the time of your birth, even though some of those things may have seemed to work against you while you were growing up. Do you hold on to ideas like a pit bull? God can use that. Do you enjoy poring through books and research? God can use that. Are you quick to confront, excited to run right at the enemy? God can use that. Today you may feel like you’re in the wrong place, doing the wrong things, with the wrong people. You may be wondering how you’re going to dig yourself out of the hole or turn your life around. And truthfully, the answer may be that you can’t. But God can! He makes miracles out of mistakes. So, give Him the things in your life that aren’t so good, the things you’re not proud of, and say, “Lord, here they are. I wish my life was different, but it’s not. I wish I could change it, but I can’t.” Then let God go to work.
Your position and your condition
“We have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ.” Ro 5:9 NLT
The Bible says: “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation…So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God” (vv. 8-9, 11 NLT). God loves and accepts you just as you are. And it gets better. He sees you as blameless. How? “God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Co 5:21 NIV). Note the words “in him.” Imagine yourself placing a letter in an envelope, then sealing it. No longer can you see the letter or read its contents because it’s “in” the envelope. Getting the idea? Always remember there is a difference between your position and your condition. When you put your trust in Christ, you’re positioned before God as being “righteous.” You say, “But what about my condition? I still fail.” The job of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to bring your condition up to the level of your position. “The Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2Co 3:18 NLT). How does the Holy Spirit do this? He draws you back to the place of repentance where you are cleansed. Notice, your position in Christ doesn’t change, but your condition is constantly changing as you become more like Christ.
Prepare in advance
“Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not…” Da 1:8 NKJV
Are you continuing to do things you don’t want to do and indulge in thoughts that lead you astray? Are you being constantly overcome by the same old temptations? Here is the bad news: The new birth doesn’t do away with your old nature; it actually intensifies the struggle between your flesh and your spirit. Here is the good news: You can live victoriously! How? (1) Through prayer. Jesus told His disciples, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mt 26:41). If you’re tired of praying for forgiveness after you have failed, start praying before the temptation comes. You can’t stop temptation from coming your way, but you can prepare yourself in advance to overcome it. And if you need help, call in reinforcements. Find someone who knows how to stand with you in prayer. The Bible says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor” (Ecc 4:9 NKJV). (2) By making up your mind. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.” The way to subdue your impulses is by activating your will—in advance. When you do that, God empowers you by His Spirit. Where did Daniel’s strength of purpose come from? God. He prayed three times every day (See Da 6:10). Don’t set yourself up for failure; keep yourself out of harm’s way. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, he “fled and ran outside” (Ge 39:12 NKJV). Both Joseph and Daniel had prayed and made up their mind what they would do before temptation came knocking. You must do that too.
Be joyful
“That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Ps 90:14 NIV
It doesn’t help the cause of Christ when His followers go around looking miserable. You say, “But I have problems.” Everybody does. When the apostle Paul was in prison, he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Php 4:4 NIV). Expressing joy is something you do in spite of your circumstances, not because of them. The Bible says, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isa 12:3 NIV). God has put a well of joy within you, but you have to draw it out and share it with others. Joy is contagious. Happiness travels through relational networks like ripples on a pond. It’s so robust, in fact, that it can permeate three degrees of separation. That means your happiness quotient is more likely to increase when a friend of a friend of a friend becomes happy. We hunger for joy. “Satisfy us in the morning,” writes the psalmist—but not with more money or power or applause. No, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Ps 90:14 NIV). Joyful people make us come alive. The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Ne 8:10 NIV). We love joy, but often we forget how powerful it is. Joy gives us the strength to resist temptation. It gives us the ability to persevere. It’s the Velcro that makes relationships stick. It gives us the energy to love. We don’t just need air, food, and water; we need joy. And the person who brings it is like an oasis in a desert land. So today, be joyful.
Integrity (2)
“The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.” Pr 20:7 NLT
Here are six ingredients which are always found in lasting success: (1) Information. If you don’t stay informed, you will be left behind. (2) Intuition. This is sometimes referred to as “to know in your knower.” (3) Initiative. This is when you are willing to step out in faith and act on what you know intuitively. (4) Intentionality. This is when you are willing to set specific goals and timelines for reaching them. (5) Intensity. This calls for more than starting power, it requires staying power. (6) Integrity. This is the glue that holds the previous five things together. And it’s rooted in that private life you develop alone with God. We often hear architects, engineers, and builders say, “This building has structural integrity.” What do they mean? That the public beauty of a tall skyscraper relies on its private, unseen foundation that is dug deep into the earth and solidly constructed. It is that hidden life of a building that brings structural integrity. Likewise, it’s the hidden life of a fruit tree—the unseen root system that digs deep into the earth—that produces those juicy, delectable fruits. And so it is with you. Integrity must be rooted in your private life. Don’t wait until you’re thrust into the public arena before paying attention to your integrity, for then you will have waited until it’s too late. Your talent may bring you success, but it takes character to protect and maintain your success. The truth is that when your integrity is rooted in your private world, it’s reflected in your personal world, your professional world, and your public world.
What are your values? (2)
“As I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless.” Ecc 2:11 NLT
Here are two more scriptural values you should live by: (1) Equality. “For there is no respect of persons with God” (Ro 2:11). In God’s eyes, no person is more important than another. Not one! Some have received more access to the things the world offers, achieved more education, or been called to higher ranks of responsibility. But in God’s eyes, no one is innately better. The ground is level at the foot of the cross, and we all approach God as sinners in need of salvation. So no matter what your position is in life, God expects you to treat everyone with the same respect. (2) Generosity. Jesus said, “Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over…The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (Lk 6:38 NLT). Others don’t determine what you receive. Even God doesn’t. You do! “The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” You’re never more like God than when you give, and you can never surpass Him at giving. The truth is, you have no reason to be anxious about not having enough if you offer generosity to others. Why is it important to have values that you live by? Solomon answers: “As I looked at everything I worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile.”
How love is expressed
“Serve one another humbly in love.” Gal 5:13 NIV
Love is mostly something you do instead of something you feel. Paul writes, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love” (v. 13 NIV). So how are you supposed to express your love? According to one author, as follows: “A son drives for five hours to be with his mother on her birthday. A friend mentions a book he is interested in; his friend remembers and finds a copy to give to him for no visible reason. A middle-aged couple in a restaurant see a young husband and wife with little money and secretly pay their check. A father knows how much his daughter likes having a clean car, so he sneaks over to wash it for her as a surprise. People in a small group email each other throughout the week as a way of expressing their care. A wise man once said that just as the three laws of real estate are ‘location, location, location,’ the three laws of relationship are ‘observation, observation, observation.’ The people who give life to us are people who notice us. They know what we love and fear. When we work to truly notice someone else, love for them grows. When we work to truly observe another person, in that self-forgetfulness our own soul flourishes.” Mother Teresa used to say: “If you can’t do great things, do little things with great love. And if you can’t do them with great love, do them with a little love. And if you can’t do them with a little love, do them anyway.” Love grows when you serve people.
How to develop patience (4)
“The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives…peace, patience.” Gal 5:22 NLT
You will notice that in listing the fruit of the Spirit, patience comes right after peace. Why? Because when you have peace in your heart, practically nothing can cause you to feel impatient. But these qualities are the fruit of the Spirit, not the effort of the flesh. You can’t psych yourself up and say, “I’m going to be patient if it kills me.” It could! If it is the genuine fruit of the Spirit, you will have genuine inner peace, and certain circumstances won’t bother you the way they used to. Why? Because you are depending on the Lord. Patience is a kind of faith. It says, “I trust God. I believe He is bigger than this problem. I believe He has His hand in these irritations and can use them in my life for good.” Frustration says, “Why did this happen?” Faith says, “God, what do you want me to learn here?” Abraham was 100 years old when his second son, Isaac, was born. That’s a long time to be patient. The toughest kind of waiting occurs when you are in a rush and God is not. It’s hard to be patient when you’re waiting for an answer to prayer: for God to change your financial condition, or your health problem, or your family problem, or that relative who bothers you. Being patient is both the evidence of your faith and the test of your faith. It’s at such times that God whispers, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). In other words, I’m in control, I have a better plan, I’m working things out for your good!
How to develop patience (2)
“Whoever is patient has great understanding.” Pr 14:29 NIV
Patience begins by changing the way you view something. When you’re impatient, you have a narrow perspective. All you see is yourself: your needs, goals, schedule, desires, and the way people are messing up your life. Basically, the root of impatience is selfishness. Try to see things from the other person’s point of view. If you want to succeed in marriage, learn to see life from your partner’s point of view. If you want to succeed as a parent, learn to see things from your child’s point of view. If you want to succeed in business, learn to see things from your customer’s point of view. If you want to be a successful employer, learn to see life from your employee’s point of view. Try to discover why the other person feels as they do. If you never had to deal with irritations and interruptions, you would never develop patience. You must accept the truth that God is directing your steps, and that trust doesn’t require explanations. The Bible says, “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (Pr 20:24 NLT). Patience is a mark of maturity. When babies don’t instantly get what they want, they get upset. Maturity includes the ability to wait, to live with delayed gratification. “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly” (Pr 14:29 NIV). A person of understanding and wisdom who learns to see life from another’s (and God’s) point of view, is able to be patient. So, pray and ask God to give you a new perspective on things.
You are Christ’s ambassador (3)
“Our citizenship is in heaven.” Php 3:20 NIV
Let’s recap. As an ambassador, you must have the following qualifications and characteristics: (1) Be a citizen of the country you represent. “Our citizenship is in heaven.” (2) Your character and conduct must reflect the highest values of your country. “That our God may make you worthy of his calling” (2Th 1:11 NIV). (3) You must be equipped for the job. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1Co 12:4 NIV). (4) You must be loyal to your country. Now, let’s look at two more qualifications: (5) An ambassador must be an effective communicator. The best ambassadors are bilingual; they speak and understand the language of those around them. Can you do that? In order to have the right answer, you must understand the question, the questioner, and where they’re coming from. The Bible says, “If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way” (1Pe 3:15-16 NLT). Note the words “always be ready.” (6) An ambassador must be a good diplomat. Ambassadors are most effective when they’re winsome as they go about their work. You wouldn’t want someone representing your country who was arrogant and abrasive in dealing with others. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35 NKJV). Our message is the gospel, and our strategy is love! What’s our message? “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2Co 5:20 NIV).
You are Christ’s ambassador (1)
“We are…Christ’s ambassadors.” 2Co 5:20 NIV
Your job in the kingdom of God is that of an “ambassador.” What a privilege! And what a responsibility! Over the next few days, let’s look at some of the qualities of an ambassador: You must be a citizen of the country you represent. And “our citizenship is in heaven” (Php 3:20 NIV). Exiled, John said, “I…was on the island of Patmos…On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit” (Rev 1:9-10 NIV). John knew it was not where he was but whose he was that counted the most as he represented his Lord. Your life is the only Bible many people will ever read. From your lips they will receive the only gospel they ever hear. And your attitude may do more to win them than all your arguments. Before He was crucified, Jesus prayed this prayer for His disciples: “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world” (Jn 17:15-18 NKJV). Before an ambassador is appointed, he or she goes through the closest scrutiny imaginable. Their moral integrity, their financial interactions, their family life, their work record, their every word and action come under the microscope. Shouldn’t it be more so for ambassadors of the King of Kings? Never forget whose side you’re on. Never forget what kingdom you belong to. Never forget who you represent. You are Christ’s ambassador.
Your dream is still alive
“The spirit of Jacob their father revived.” Ge 45:27 NKJV
If the dream you believe God gave you seems dead, read this: “And they told him, saying, ‘Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.’ And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. But…when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived” (vv. 26-27 NKJV). For years Jacob believed his son, the dreamer, was dead. But it was a lie. In his old age, wagons loaded with riches came to carry him back to see his son who was now the prince of Egypt. Notice, when Jacob first heard it, “he did not believe them” (v. 26 NKJV). When you have lived in defeat and discouragement for years, it’s hard to anticipate victory. No problem; God is patient. He will keep working with you. He will demonstrate His grace and goodness in such a way that you will start to trust Him again: “When he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived” (v. 27 NKJV). Don’t believe your dream is dead and will never be fulfilled. And don’t believe those who tell you that you’re too old to fulfill the dream God gave you. God can pack more into the last chapters of your life than all those that preceded them. “Your old men [and women] shall dream dreams” (Joel 2:28). God is the giver of dreams. And He doesn’t just give them, He resurrects them and empowers you to fulfill them. It’s not too late. You’re not too old. What God did for Jacob—He can do for you.
How could He do it?
“Christ died for us.” Ro 5:8
If you watched Schindler’s List, you probably came away asking, “How could they do it?” The showers…the ovens…the smokestacks belching out human ashes. Trains arriving every day with mothers, fathers, children, and old people—herded like cattle on the way to a slaughterhouse. And worst of all—soldiers who carried out orders without a shrug of conscience. How could they do it? The answer is sin! And if you think Hitler and his henchmen had a corner on it, think again! David says, “I was brought forth in iniquities, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Ps 51:5 NAS). His own sordid chapter of adultery and murder confirms that. Read this résumé; it describes each of us: “They’ve all taken the wrong turn…all wandered down blind alleys…Their throats are gaping graves, their tongues slick as mud slides…They open their mouths and pollute the air. They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year” (Ro 3:12-15 MSG). If God did an evaluation on any one of us, that would be it. And you must understand that in order to appreciate this: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro 5:8 NKJV). When you read that Scripture, the question changes to, “How could He do it?” Thank God we didn’t get what we deserved—punishment. We got what we needed—grace! Hymnist William R. Newell wrote, “Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan! Oh, the grace that brought it down to man! Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!” Take a moment today and thank God for the grace that redeemed you. It’s what Good Friday is all about.
God's Word: Use As Directed
April 8
Luke 8:11, 'Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.'
This parable illustrates the importance of the Word of God. God's Word contains total power, but it has to be planted in our hearts and allowed to germinate before it releases that power.
The seed is God's Word, and the types of ground are the four major categories of men's hearts. The Word was the same in each situation, but there were different results in each case because of the condition of men's hearts - not because of the Word. The Word doesn't work for everyone because not everyone will allow the Word to work. The variable in this parable is the condition of these hearts. God's Word is always the same. It has the same potential in every heart.
Good ground doesn't just happen; it must be cultivated. This is the reason why only one out of four persons in Jesus' parable brought forth fruit. It takes a lot of time, effort, and diligence to be a fruitful Christian. The Christian life is not like a hundred-yard dash but rather a 26.2 mile marathon. It's quicker and easier to raise weeds than it is to raise tomatoes or corn.
In this whole parable, it was the Word that produced the fruit. The ground simply gave it a place to grow. If we will simply put God's Word in our hearts, protect it, and give it priority in our lives, the Word will produce fruit of itself. Satan has deceived many people into thinking that they don't have the talents or abilities to be fruitful Christians, but they are not the ones who bring forth fruit; it's God's Word. When we protect the Word sown in our hearts, it will do the rest.
Today God is calling you (3)
“I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail.” Lk 22:32 NAS
God wants you to do His will, but you’ll never reach the place of spiritual maturity in which you’re “Satan-free.” You can overcome him, but you can’t eliminate him. Look at Peter. He had only one gear: overdrive. He was always in the middle of everything that was going on, but he wasn’t always on top of things. The man who ended up leading the church, first denied being a disciple of Jesus. Pretty shocking, eh? But nothing about us surprises God. He doesn’t call you and say, “I hope you’re the right person.” No; Jesus told Peter, “Satan has demanded…to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail” (vv. 31-32 NAS). Isn’t that an amazing revelation? Even when you don’t know how to pray for yourself, Jesus is praying for you. “He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25). Jesus told Peter, “When…you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22:32 NAS). Out of the mess you’re in today can come a ministry to others. Not only can God turn your life around, He can use you to turn the lives of others around too. And one more thing: God isn’t apt to think you’re worth “sifting” if you aren’t doing something right in the first place. Sifting is a method of purifying, of straining out the debris and refining what remains. That means there had to be something worth salvaging in you at the outset. Today God is calling you. Don’t waste another moment; surrender your life to Him.
Today God is calling you (1)
“Paul…called to be an apostle.” Ro 1:1 NKJV
God reached into a part of Paul’s background that had been formed before he became a Christian, and He found some very useful things there. And they weren’t all spiritual things. They were also academic and cultural. Even though Paul seemed unqualified because of his monumental hatred for Christians, his background actually qualified him in a unique way. As a former Pharisee, he understood the Scriptures and the mindset of those who would oppose him. And his former spiritual blindness gave him compassion for the lost. God used both the good and the bad experiences in Paul’s life. And He can do the same for you too! Think about it: When God looked for a man to be an early leader in His church, to write down the theology of His church, to debate religious leaders who argued against His church, to advance the cause of Christ in academic and social arenas, to carry the message all the way from the lowest person on the street to the throne of Caesar, God found a man who already had the necessary qualifications—and that man was Paul. Here is how God works: First He seeks you out, then He prepares you, then He positions you, then He empowers you to do what He knows you can do most effectively. And God’s call is the only thing that will make you completely happy, although you don’t always know that in advance. So, is God calling you? Is He preparing you? Is He positioning you? Is He empowering you? Your highest level of joy and fulfillment in life will come when you surrender to Him and say yes.
You and the sex trade
“To set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Lk 4:18 NKJV
Every thirty seconds, a child or young person is abducted into the worldwide sex trade; almost one million of them every year! Many are forced to service up to thirty or forty “customers” a night. Can you imagine what the governments of the world would do if a city of one million people was taken captive and exploited and abused every day? If you think that’s bad, here is a statistic that should break your heart and bring you to your knees: Only 1 percent of those who are abducted into the sex trade are being rescued from it! You say, “What about the other 99 percent?” When they get too old to have value to their pimps, or too sick to work, or become pregnant, or diseased, they’re thrown away like garbage. These are the “walking wounded” who carry emotional and mental scars and struggle with the effects for the rest of their lives. Perhaps you’re thinking, “It’s sad, and it’s shocking, but thank God it’s not my children or grandchildren.” Thank God, indeed! But as a redeemed child of God, you have a responsibility to care about it. Jesus said He came to “heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives…to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (v. 18 NKJV). That means instead of avoiding the problem, you must become aware, alarmed, and activated. Only when enough people speak up do politicians start to act. So speak up! Start praying about it. Support ministries that are involved in it. That way, you will be able to stand before God one day and say, “Lord, I did what I could about it!”
Refuse to live in fear (4)
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Ro 8:31 NKJV
To overcome fear, you must believe that God is with you. It’s the key to your ability to obey what He tells you to do. As you become confident that He is with you, your fear will lessen. When David volunteered to fight Goliath, King Saul said to him, “You are not able to go against this Philistine…for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth” (1Sa 17:33 NKJV). David replied, “The Lord…will deliver me from…this Philistine” (v. 37 NKJV). You’re not in this battle alone; the Lord is with you. When you’re convinced of that, your fear will subside. You may not always know what God will do, but you can relax in knowing He will do what needs to be done at the right time. When you think about the future and all the things that are unknown to you, it’s easy to feel afraid. But you can view it two ways. You can either be pessimistic and fearful, or you can say to yourself, “The battle is the Lord’s, and He has never lost a battle!” You may not always know what to do in a tense situation, but God does. He knows everything prior to it happening, and He has planned your deliverance in advance. Just put one foot in front of the other, confident that He is guiding you. You don’t have to see God or feel Him in order to believe that He is with you. Faith is a matter of the heart instead of the natural senses. God is with you! Believe it and refuse to live in fear.