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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Learn to respect differences
13 JUNE 2022

‘Be gentle, showing every consideration for all people.’
Titus 3:1-2 NASB

None of us escapes adversity; Jesus told His disciples, ‘In this world you will have trouble’ (John 16:33 NIV). But Verdell Davis writes, ‘Though we may endure the same disease, broken relationships, disability and failure, trying to compare sufferings is to ignore the unique dynamics of each individual life. To listen to stories in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting where all are brought together by their common addiction is to find that each pain, each heartache, each loss, each interplay of relationships is highly charged with some twist no one else in the room has experienced in quite the same way. We must resist seeing our own sorrows as more devastating or less important than someone else’s. Mine are unique to me, and if I’m going to deal with them honestly and openly, I must accept that what’s going on, deserves my respect.’

Paul writes, ‘Be gentle, showing every consideration for all people.’ Respect the differences between yourself and others, even when you’ve been through a similar experience. Don’t barge in with a three-point sermon and a pre-planned speech. ‘The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive’ (Proverbs 16:21 NLT). You can’t go wrong with somebody who’s hurting by simply showing up, giving them a hug, letting them know you care and that you’re praying for them. It may be clichéd, but it’s still true: people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care! You don’t demonstrate the love of God by being pushy, opinionated and acting like a know-it-all. You only do so by being ‘peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, [and] full of mercy’ (James 3:17 NASB).

1 Chronicles 7-9, Acts 15:22-41

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Who advises you?
14 JUNE 2022

‘Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.’
Proverbs 19:20 NIV

You may be good at what you do. Indeed, you may be better than most, but without the help of others you will never be as good as you could be. You will never reach your highest potential without a good adviser. It’s impossible.

Why would a world-class tennis player need a coach, especially one who is not as good on the court as he or she is? André Agassi answered the question this way: ‘Tennis requires subtle adjustments crucial to winning and my coach, Gill, is the best at making them. The older I get, the more valuable he becomes.’ Why is that? Because age and experience don’t necessarily make you better; often they just deepen the rut you’re in.

In life, as in sports, you never reach the point where you don’t need good input. Yet many of us operate under the misguided assumption that because we lead, we don’t need to be led. We make the mistake of measuring ourselves against others instead of our own God-given potential and in the end we never become what we could have been. Self-evaluation is important, but the evaluation of others is crucial. A good coach measures your performance against your strengths, not somebody else’s. That’s because he or she knows what you’re capable of and they will push you to your limit. And by the way, good coaches are constantly on the scene observing, not back at the office waiting for a report. That’s because they are personally invested in your success; a win for you is a win for them. Ruth needed Naomi and Timothy needed Paul. Who advises you?

1 Chronicles 10-12, Acts 16:1-21

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Unconditional joy
15 JUNE 2022

‘Our relationship is with…Jesus…so that we can be completely filled with joy.’
1 John 1:3-4 GWT

When joy is absent from your life, power is also missing (see Nehemiah 8:10). Our happiness shouldn’t be based on what’s happening around us; it should be dependent on our relationship with Jesus. John says, ‘We can be completely filled with joy’ (1 John 1:4 GWT).

Pastor Reimar Schultze notes: ‘John did not say this when all was well, but when…everything had turned to shambles. 1) All his fellow apostles had been murdered. 2) Rome had destroyed the temple [so]…not one stone was left upon another. Flavius Josephus, an eyewitness wrote, “The multitude of those that…perished exceeded all the destructions men or God ever brought upon the world.” 3) Many Jews and Christians became refugees. Average life expectancy was about forty years and 25 per cent of the people in Rome were slaves. 4) John himself lived as a condemned criminal on the Isle of Patmos. He had no earthly comforts;…no assurance of living another day. When the cup of misery was full, God commissioned [him] to show the world the absolute power and triumph of Christianity over everything…[John’s] writings, in reference to our daily walk, put a capstone on all that heaven intended to reveal in the Word: if we have apostolic fellowship, our joy will be full. You do not need pleasant circumstances for this to happen.’

The psalmist said it best: ‘In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore’ (Psalm 16:11 NKJV).

1 Chronicles 13-15, Acts 16:22-40

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Speak words that promote wholeness
16 JUNE 2022

‘You have been trapped by what you said.’
Proverbs 6:2 NIV

Stormie Omartian says: ‘Early in my walk with the Lord I spoke many negatives…“I’m a failure,” “I’m ugly,” “Nothing ever goes right,” “Nobody cares about me,”…[Then] the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart…“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV).

'I had been speaking words of death, not life. One clear example had to do with my speech problems. I’d had them since childhood and was teased about them all through school…[When] I was old enough to afford professional help, I worked with a speech therapist…I practised day after day, year after year, to gain…little improvement…I still lost my voice…halfway through each [speaking] engagement…“I’ll never be able to speak right,” I cried…But as I spoke those words…the Lord [said]: “You’re bringing death to your situation because you’re not speaking the truth…Do not speak what you think…or what seems to be truth…speak what you know to be the truth of my Word…‘The stammering tongue will be fluent and clear’ (Isaiah 32:4 NIV)…‘I have put My words in your mouth’” (Isaiah 51:16 NKJV)…

'Soon after, when I was asked to speak at a…women’s meeting, I took my fears…to [God]…and…spoke [His] truth instead of voicing my own negative opinions.…My talk went so well…an entire speaking ministry opened up…

'The Bible says, “You are snared by the words of your mouth” (Proverbs 6:2 NKJV). That includes [your self-talk]…Wipe [out] words of hopelessness, doubt, and negativity from your vocabulary. [They] may seem harmless…but [they] affect your body and soul…Speak words that reflect the wholeness you desire.’

1 Chronicles 16-18, Acts 17:1-15

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

The godly art of letting go
17 JUNE 2022

‘By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.’
Hebrews 11:17 NKJV

In Genesis 12, God told Abraham to leave his country, his family, and his security. When he said yes to God, he travelled an unfamiliar path to an unknown destiny based on the strength of a promise. Without hesitating, the seventy-five-year-old patriarch ‘went, as the Lord had told him’ (Genesis 12:4 NIV).

Now fast-forward twenty-five years and Isaac is born; the miracle son who would fulfil God’s promise that through Abraham’s descendants ‘all the nations of the earth [will] be blessed; because… Abraham obeyed my voice’ (Genesis 26:4-5 KJV). Then God makes a heart-wrenching demand: ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering’ (Genesis 22:2 NIV). And in obedience to God’s Word, ‘the next morning Abraham got up and…took with him…his son Isaac’ (v. 3 NIV).

God’s promised blessing was contingent upon Abraham’s willingness to let go of what he loved most. Holding on to Isaac would have been natural and understandable, but it would have short-circuited the promised blessing. So, what are you clinging to that’s blocking God’s blessing in your life? Is it your children, friendships, reputation, power, possessions, comfort, habits?

Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac was the supreme act of faith. ‘By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.’ How could he do it? ‘Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life’ (Hebrews 11:19 NLT). Abraham believed that, with God, letting go never means losing but getting back something better. And you will too!

1 Chronicles 19-21, Acts 17:16-34

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Today, deal with the clutter
18 JUNE 2022

‘Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.’
Isaiah 43:18 NKJV`

We all have emotional attics and basements where we store our ‘clutter’. And it’s the same in our relationships. It’s hard for a relationship to thrive when either party hasn’t processed their mental and emotional clutter. We are talking about 1) regrets we have over past mistakes, 2) grudges we hold on to when we feel we have been wronged, and 3) hurts we hide under clouds of anger, scepticism, and isolation.

If you’re the type to hold grudges and hang on to past mistakes, even your own, you know the feeling of being weighed down by your mental and emotional clutter. Clinging to hurts and nourishing grudges will eat your soul, consume your happiness, and rob you of all progress. Like blame, this junk keeps you trapped in the past. If an old beau has hurt you and you have never let it go, every time your mate does something like it, you will react with unjustified fervour, as if they were the original person who hurt you. As a result, your mate is left upset and baffled at your excessive reaction to a slight infraction that on its own was insignificant. You won’t know what you have in your life, let alone what you need, until you clear out the clutter of the past so that you can experience the blessings of the ‘here and now’.

It all comes down to obeying these two Scriptures: 1) ‘Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors’ (Matthew 6:12 NKJV) and 2) ‘Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV). Today, deal with the clutter.

1 Chronicles 22-24, Acts 18

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

A father's legacy
19 JUNE 2022

‘The righteous who walks in his integrity – blessed are his children after him!’
Proverbs 20:7 ESV

Max Lucado writes: 'Today's my first [Father's Day] without a father. For 31 years I had one of the best but now he's...buried under an oak tree in a west Texas cemetery. Strange he isn't here...because he was always available. His words were nothing novel; his achievements, though admirable, were nothing extraordinary. But his presence was. Because he was there life went smoothly...the future was secure...and my growing up was what God intended.

'He taught me how to shave and how to pray. Helped me memorise verses for Sunday school, and taught me that wrong should be punished...that rightness has its own reward. He modelled... the elusive balance between ambition and self-acceptance. I knew if I ever needed him he'd be there. Like a warm fireplace. Maybe that's why this Father's Day's a bit chilly. The fire's gone out. The winds of age swallowed the splendid flame, leaving only golden embers. But there's a strange thing about those embers, stir them...and the flame will dance...and knock just enough chill out of the air to remind me that he's still...present.'

Compare that to an interview with actor Gene Hackman who recalls: ’I was just 13, but that Saturday morning is still vivid. I was playing down the street...when I saw my father drive by and give me a light wave. Somehow I knew that gesture meant he was going away forever. To this day, the memory's a ghost that never seems to fade.’

Solomon said, 'The righteous who walks in his integrity – blessed are his children after him!' What legacy will your kids inherit when you're gone?

Luke 11:29-54, Psalms 66-67

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

God speaks to you through His Word
20 JUNE 2022

‘The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.’
John 6:63 NKJV

God will speak to you through His Word. Jesus said, ‘The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life,’ but don’t go cherry-picking for feel-good Scriptures. To grow in faith, you must spend time each day reading through your Bible. You can’t arbitrarily decide that one verse applies to you while another doesn’t. ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives…God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT).

To profit in business, you must know your business thoroughly, otherwise you will be out of business. And the way to succeed in your Christian life is to make it your business to know your Bible. It’s like the analogy of the sperm and the egg. Neither the male sperm nor the female egg is capable of reproduction. It’s only when the sperm impacts and is embraced by the egg that conception occurs, leading to life and birth. And it’s the same with your spiritual growth. When God’s Word and a receptive heart get together, something is going to happen!

You can’t beat prolonged exposure to Scripture. Without it, you won’t hear what God is saying to you. You will always be dependent on somebody else’s interpretation. Can you imagine communicating with your husband or wife on that basis? How long do you think your relationship would last? The same principle applies to your relationship with God. Today let God speak to you personally through His Word.

1 Chronicles 25-27, Acts 19:1-22

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Like seeds growing within you
21 JUNE 2022

‘The word of God…effectively works in you who believe.’
1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV

When you read God’s Word and believe it and act on it, it’s like seeds growing inside you. Those seeds have life! In the natural world, you don’t have to understand the process by which seeds grow; you just have to water, nurture, and protect them. And it’s the same with Scripture.

Paul writes, ‘You welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe’ (v. 13 NKJV). Note the phrase ‘effectively works in you’. God’s Word is self-sustaining; it doesn’t require others to validate it. In the New Testament account, when Jesus was walking on the water towards His disciples, Peter said, ‘Lord, if it’s you…tell me to come’ (Matthew 14:28 NIV). Jesus gave him one word, ‘Come’ (v. 29 NIV), and Peter started walking. The other disciples probably didn’t believe Peter could do it. That’s because they didn’t understand who was speaking to Peter. ‘They thought [Jesus] was a ghost’ (Mark 6:49 NIV)!

There is a lesson here for us all. When God speaks to you through His Word, don’t expect everybody to understand, agree, or support you. It’s only human to want certain people to see what you see and believe in what you do. But in this Scripture, God prepares us for rejection by those who don’t understand what God has told us. If you’re not careful, people’s opinions can make you doubt what God has said. Sometimes He confirms what He told you through others, and sometimes He doesn’t. But as long as you feed on His Word and believe it, it ‘effectively works in you’.

1 Chronicles 28-29, Acts 19:23-41

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

You need a support system
22 JUNE 2022

‘Share each other’s burdens.’
Galatians 6:2 NLT

God created our physical bodies with internal systems that support each other. And it’s the same in our relationships. Everybody needs a support system. Sometimes when others disappoint us, we say, ‘From now on it’s just going to be God and me!’ That’s a big mistake! It’s the sheep who strays from the fold that gets eaten by the wolf. Satan will isolate you in order to destroy you. ‘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’ (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT).

Studies show that people who have caring support live longer, recover from illness faster, and find life more meaningful. Support gives us a sense of connection and acceptance, which are core human needs. It provides an arena in which you can be vulnerable; a place where you can feel safe in saying, ‘I don’t know,’ or ‘Can you help me,’ or ‘I need a hug.’ This is support – God’s way. And if you can’t find it in your own family, turn to the family of God.

And one more thought: don’t forget to express your appreciation to those who support you. Tokens of gratitude go a long way in saying, ‘I’m grateful for your help.’ Support is not a one-way street: ‘Share each other’s burdens.’ Don’t get so engrossed in your own problems that you forget others have problems too. Take the time to inquire about their concerns. No one likes a taker. It’s in the give-and-take of mutual support that we grow and fulfil our God-given potential in life.

2 Chronicles 1-3, Acts 20:1-16