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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Abounding
17 SEPTEMBER 2023

‘Always abounding in the work of the Lord.’
1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV

In Scripture the word ‘abounding’ means ‘to overflow.’ Today let’s look at three ‘abounding’ Scriptures and see what we can learn:

1) Abounding iniquity. ‘Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold’ (Matthew 24:12 KJV). The word ‘iniquity’ means ‘lawlessness.’ Do you remember your life before you met Jesus? You had no boundaries. You were ruled by your impulses. You’d go anywhere, do anything, and say whatever you pleased. Now, we’re not bringing up your past to make you feel bad, but to make you grateful and to show you how far God has brought you. And what was God’s solution to your sin problem?

2) Abounding grace. ‘Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more’ (Romans 5:20 NKJV). God’s grace cannot be earned or merited. And that’s a good thing, because we were all spiritually bankrupt. But as Martin Luther said, ‘The recognition of sin is the beginning of salvation.’ It’s feeling bad about your sin that leads to feeling good about God’s grace. Do you remember the day Jesus found you, saved you, brought you into His family and showered you with His blessings? What should your response to such grace be?

3) Abounding in the work of the Lord. ‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.’ You were saved to serve! When you don’t, you’ll feel like a fish out of water. So pray, ‘Lord, today I give myself fully to You, to be used in Your service as You see fit.’

Luke 17:20-37, Psalms 97-99

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Evangelise or fossilise (1)
18 SEPTEMBER 2023

‘You shall be witnesses to Me.’
Acts 1:8 NKJV

Coach Vince Lombardi led the Green Bay Packers American football team to victory after victory. But one day, they lost to a team they should have easily defeated. So, Lombardi gathered his team together. He put his hand into a bag and brought out a football. With his inimitable smile, he told them, ‘Gentlemen, this is a football!’ In other words, it was time to get back to basics.

Jesus is ‘the captain of [our] salvation’ (Hebrews 2:10 KJV). And before He went back to heaven, He gave us the game plan: ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’ (Acts 1:8 NKJV). And since a person’s last words are some of their most important ones, it leads us to ask this: Who was Jesus talking to? You! ‘You shall…be witnesses to Me.’ There are people around today who will never go to church. Their only chance of hearing the gospel is through you; through what your lips declare and your life demonstrates.

What is this ‘power’ Jesus spoke of? The Greek word for ‘power’ is dynamos, from which we get the word dynamite. Dynamite is an explosive force, which when properly harnessed can remove any obstacle that stands in the way of progress. You say, ‘I have never been to Bible college, and I don’t feel qualified to share the gospel!’ God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called by filling them with His Spirit and using them to reach a hurting world. Today you have been called to do that.

Isaiah 28-29, Ephesians 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Evangelise or fossilise (2)
19 SEPTEMBER 2023

‘The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.’
Acts 2:47 NKJV

The church has only two options: evangelise or fossilise. When we fail to share our faith with those outside the church, we either end up in a holding pattern or in death throes. The New Testament church’s growth is described in these words: ‘The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.’ Not only did they influence every level of society, but their enemies said, ‘These who have turned the world upside down have come here too’ (Acts 17:6 NKJV).

Question: if your church closed its doors tomorrow, would anyone other than your congregation notice the difference? Think about those early believers. Their assignment seemed geographically impossible; how were they to reach people in far-off places? They had no air travel, radio, television, printing presses, internet, or any other modern means at their disposal for communicating the gospel. It seemed legally impossible; they were forbidden by the government authorities to speak in Jesus’ name. And it seemed socially impossible; after all, who would really listen to a bunch of Galileans, devoid of culture and class? Yet they were witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit, and people did listen.

They did so much with so little, and we seem to do so little with so much. It’s reckoned that if just 10 per cent of the members in the average church got serious about evangelism, their church would double in one year. By the way, the word translated ‘witness’ is the same word from which we get our English word martyr. These early believers reached the world for Christ because they were willing to devote their lives for His cause. You must be too.

Isaiah 30-31, Ephesians 4

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Christ is totally credible (1)
20 SEPTEMBER 2023

‘Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished…said, “It is finished!”’
John 19:28-30 NKJV

What made great intellectuals like C. S. Lewis commit their lives to Christ? His credibility! Observe some of the Old Testament prophecies Jesus fulfilled during His lifetime:

1) He would enter into Jerusalem on a donkey: ‘Behold, your King…He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey’ (Zechariah 9:9 NKJV).

2) He would be betrayed by a friend: ‘My own familiar friend in whom I trusted…has lifted up his heel against me’ (Psalm 41:9 NKJV).

3) He would be sold for thirty pieces of silver: ‘So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver’ (Zechariah 11:12 KJV).

4) They would gamble for His garments: ‘They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots’ (Psalm 22:18 NKJV).

5) Not one of His bones would be broken: ‘He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken’ (Psalm 34:20 NKJV).

6) He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb: ‘He was put in a rich man’s grave’ (Isaiah 53:9 NLT).

7) That He would be raised again from the dead: ‘You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption’ (Psalm 16:10 NKJV).

John records: ‘After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”’ In full possession of His mental faculties, with His mind unclouded, He checked off the prophecies He was supposed to fulfil right down to the last one, and said, ‘It is finished.’ Christ – He’s totally credible, and you can trust Him!

Isaiah 32-33, Ephesians 5

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Christ is totally credible (2)
21 SEPTEMBER 2023

‘Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished…said, “It is finished!”’`
John 19:28-30 NKJV

From the moment of His birth to the hour of His death, Christ’s life was predicted in detail by Old Testament prophets. He fulfilled about forty different prophecies during His lifetime. Statistically, the chances of that happening are about one in a billion! Why is it important to point this out? Because voices are being raised that question His virgin birth, His deity, His miracles, His resurrection, and His soon return.

Evidently the same people were around when Peter lived. He writes: ‘I will work hard to make sure you always remember these things after I am gone. For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendour with our own eyes when he received honour and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

'We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place – until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. Above all, you must realise that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God’ (2 Peter 1:15-21 NLT).

Isaiah 34-36, Ephesians 6

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Thinking outside ‘the religious box’ (1)
22 SEPTEMBER 2023

‘I’m after mercy, not religion…to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.’
Matthew 9:13 MSG

Author Nicole Unice says the suspicions people have about Christians include, ‘They judge me. They are better than I am. They won’t approve of me. I won’t fit in with their religion. They are all serious and no fun. Jesus hung around enough parties for the Pharisees to accuse Him of being a drunkard. He befriended forbidden women. He interacted with people so He could introduce them to His Father. He broke through stereotypes and communicated God as He is – approachable, merciful and graceful. The people who were most upset…were the ones who preferred…the rules of the religion…The concept of a free and joyful life with Jesus may seem basic for you. But is that what your neighbours think? It feels as comfortable as sweatpants to hang out with people who believe and feel as we do. Fellowship among believers is a wonderful gift. But if we are truly to follow Jesus’ example, we need to look for opportunities to engage those around us.’

Jesus goes a step further: ‘Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick?…“I’m after mercy, not religion.” I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.’ How can you share the gospel if all your friends are Christians? Some of us have become so isolated and disconnected that we have no meaningful interaction whatsoever with nonbelievers. And the more time passes, the more insulated and comfortable we become, until eventually we lose touch with the very people Jesus came to save. Paul says, ‘Find common ground with [nonbelievers]…tell [them] about Christ…let Christ save [them]’ (1 Corinthians 9:22 TLB). It’s called thinking outside ‘the religious box’.

Isaiah 37-38, Philippians 1

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Thinking outside ‘the religious box’ (2)
23 SEPTEMBER 2023

‘I have come to call…those who know they are sinners.’
Mark 2:17 NLT

There is a difference between loving nonbelievers and loving their ways. Paul says, ‘Find common ground with everyone, doing everything [you] can to save some’ (1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT).

So: 1) Be courteous. ‘The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down’ (Colossians 4:6 MSG).

2) Be genuine. ‘Love from the centre of who you are; don’t fake it’ (Romans 12:9 MSG).

Because Jesus found common ground with the woman at the well, she made peace with God, then brought her friends and family to meet Jesus (see John 4). You have to spend time around nonbelievers to introduce them to Christ. When Levi invited Jesus and His disciples as dinner guests with tax collectors and other disreputable sinners, the Pharisees asked, ‘“Why does he eat with such scum?”…Jesus…told them…“I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners”’ (Mark 2:16-17 NLT).

Author Mark Roberts observes: ‘Table fellowship signified deep intimacy. To eat with someone was to share in their life and to allow them into yours…The Pharisees, who were committed to the highest standards of ritual purity…expected Jesus to do as they did, keeping plenty of distance between themselves and questionable types who might compromise Jesus’ holiness.’

Jesus didn’t see people as ‘scum’, and wasn’t concerned about maintaining a religious facade. He ate with sinners because they needed His help and were open to receive it. How about you? Are you willing to get your hands dirty? Are you more concerned with what people think about you than you are about those who need Christ?

Isaiah 39-40, Philippians 2

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

It’s time to move on!
24 SEPTEMBER 2023

‘Let us go on…and become mature in our understanding.'
Hebrews 6:1 NLT

Is what worked in the past not working for you now? Maybe it’s a job you’ve outgrown, or a relationship you need to re-examine, or a method you need to change. Regardless of what it is, don’t become so settled that you can’t let go and move on when you need to. They say the hermit crab looks for a shell that fits him, and lives there until he outgrows it. At that point he has to scurry along the ocean floor and find a bigger one – a process that repeats itself throughout his entire life. So, here’s the question: are you clinging to something that no longer fits you just because it’s easy and familiar?

David said, ‘You…freed me when I was hemmed in and enlarged me when I was in distress’ (Psalm 4:1 AMPC). You must be willing to move out of your comfort zone and deal with a little ‘distress’. That’s what makes you grow. Patience and persistence are admirable qualities, but they don’t work in situations you’ve outgrown. Instead of ‘hanging in’ and trying harder, at certain points in life you have to stop and ask yourself, ‘Is this situation good for me?’ If you’re not sure, ask God for ‘an understanding heart so that [you] can…know the difference between right and wrong’ (1 Kings 3:9 NLT). And when He tells you what to do – do it – even though at first it won’t feel comfortable. When God says it’s time to move on, it’s because there’s another shell out there designed to fit you even better.

Luke 18:1-17, Psalms 100-102

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

‘The Fear of the Lord’
25 SEPTEMBER 2023

‘In the … fear of the Lord there is strong confidence.’
Proverbs 14:26 AMPC

When you submit to God, you don’t have to be afraid of anything because He becomes your ‘refuge and strength’ (Psalm 46:1 KJV). Fearing God doesn’t mean being afraid He’s going to hurt you. He’s a good God! ‘The fear of the Lord’ just means you follow His directions and recognise His authority in all things.

You’ve probably noticed there’s not a lot of respect for authority these days; we’ve developed the kind of mentality that says, ‘Nobody’s going to tell me what to do!’ But the Bible says, ‘In the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord there is strong confidence.’ Why does it say that? Because a reverent and worshipful fear means being respectful and obedient. It means you’ll do what God says to do, and your confidence and trust in Him will continue to grow. And you’ll notice something else that’s important: the more reverential fear and awe you have of God, the more careful and courteous you’ll be in your dealings with others. That’s because you know you’re accountable to God for your actions and you recognise that other people are just as valuable to Him as you are.

Solomon writes, ‘Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the duty of all mankind’ (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV). Moses told the children of Israel, ‘What does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul’ (Deuteronomy 10:12 NIV). It’s not complicated!

Isaiah 41-42, Philippians 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Acknowledge your mistake
26 SEPTEMBER 2023

‘Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper.’
Proverbs 28:13 NIV

Mistakes are a part of life. Successful people acknowledge theirs, learn from them, and work to correct them. A study of 105 executives identified common characteristics shared by successful people, but one observation was particularly helpful. Successful people admit their mistakes and accept the consequences instead of blaming others. None of us enjoy reaping the consequences of our actions. When things go wrong, we have a natural tendency to look for someone to blame. It’s in our DNA. In the garden of Eden when God asked Adam what he had done, Adam blamed Eve. And when God questioned Eve, she blamed the devil.

The next time you mess up, think about who is really at fault and try to look at it objectively so you can learn from it and do better next time. Somebody said the sooner you fail, the more time you have to improve. Ask yourself, ‘What have I learned? How can I turn this failure into success? Where did I succeed besides fail?’ People who accuse others for their failures never surmount them; they just move from problem to problem. To reach your highest potential, you must persistently improve yourself, and you can’t do that if you don’t take responsibility and learn from your errors.

In life you will always have problems. The question is: will you stay down and wallow in defeat, or get back up on your feet and make the best of things by determining to fight another day? Henry Ford said, ‘Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.’ So, live by the Bible principle, ‘A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again’ (Proverbs 24:16 KJV).

Isaiah 43-44, Philippians 4