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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

From the bottom to the top

‘In the prison, the LORD was with him.’

Genesis 39:20-21

The UCB Word for Today - 13 Nov 2016

When Potiphar’s wife cried rape, her husband believed her and had Joseph thrown into prison. Some of us would have said, ‘It’s not fair. I did the right thing.

Maybe I should have had some fun, kept my job, and even gotten a promotion.’ Not Joseph! At that point in his life there was no better place for him to be, because he was exactly where God wanted him.

It was in prison that he met the royal butler, who in turn introduced him to Pharaoh, who eventually placed him on the throne. Sometimes God takes us to the bottom in order to take us to the top.

The hard part is remembering that when you hit the bottom it’s not the end of the trip.


The Bible says of Joseph: ‘Until his word…came true… the word of the Lord tried…him’ (Psalm 105:19 AMP Classic Edition).

Pharaoh was about to have a dream nobody in his kingdom could interpret except Joseph.


And as a result Joseph was about to go from a zero to a hero, from prison stripes to Pharaoh’s second in command. No one can perform that kind of miracle but God.


If most of us were in jail we’d settle for early release, a suit of clothes, and a hundred dollars to get back home.


But God had something much better in mind for Joseph. And He has for you too! He knows where He’s taking you.

He knows the lessons you need to learn along the way so that when you get there you can do the job. So look for God’s hand in your situation today.

Luke 21:20-38, Ps 116-118

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Heaven (1)

‘I am going there to prepare a place for you.’

John 14:2

The UCB Word for Today - 14 Nov 2016

In this devotional we stress the importance of maximising each day: enjoying where you are on your way to where you’re going. And that’s good advice.

But ultimately, as a redeemed child of God your greatest longing shouldn’t be for that which is temporal but for that which is eternal - your heavenly home.

Jesus described it this way: ‘In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.

I am going there to prepare a place for you.’ Max Lucado writes: ‘The journey home is nice, but the journey is not the goal.

I prepared part of this message on an airplane. As I looked around at fellow passengers, I saw contented people. Thanks to books, pillows, and crossword puzzles, they passed the time quite nicely.

But suppose this announcement were heard: “Ladies and gentlemen, this flight is your final destination.

We’ll never land; your home is this plane, so enjoy the journey.” The passengers would become mutineers.

We’d take over the cockpit and seek a landing strip. We wouldn’t settle for such an idea.

The journey isn’t the destination. The vessel isn’t the goal.

Those who are content with nothing more than the joy of the journey are settling for too little satisfaction. Our hearts tell us that there’s more to this life than this life.

We, like E.T., lift bent fingers to the sky. We may not know where to point, but we know not to call the airplane our home.’ Jesus said, ‘I am going there to prepare a place for you.’ And there’s no place on earth like it! So live with heaven in mind.


Ezek 27-29, James 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Heaven (2)

‘Set your sights on the realities of heaven.’

Colossians 3:1
The UCB Word for Today - 15 Nov 2016

Five hundred years ago sailors feared the horizon, believing if you sailed too far you could fall off the edge of the world.

Today we smile at such an idea. But back then they were deadly serious; so much so that they erected a monument at the Strait of Gibraltar to commemorate the concept.

At its narrowest point Spaniards assembled a huge stone marker bearing the Latin inscription Ne plus ultra, which means ‘No more beyond’. Then in 1492 Christopher Columbus came along and blew their theory out of the water (no pun intended!).

The discovery of new worlds and new horizons changed everybody’s mind.

Spain even acknowledged this in its coins which came to bear the inscription Plus ultra – ‘More beyond’. Have you limited yourself in your thinking? Do you regret wasting seasons of life on foolish notions and pursuits?
Do you feel like your best years are gone by? Not so! You’ll have eternity to make up for lost time in a glorified celestial body that knows no limitations.

Your biggest moments lie ahead, on the other side of the grave. So: ‘Set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven’ (vv. 1-2 NLT).

John the Revelator was a prisoner, surrounded by the sea on the tiny island of Patmos. Everywhere he went, the sea was there. It confined him.

It hemmed him in and separated him from those he loved.

Then God showed him the glories of heaven and he wrote, ‘There was no more sea’ (Revelation 21:1 KJV). No more limitations - in heaven you’ll be ‘free at last’.

Ezek 30-32, James 4

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Heaven (3)

‘God…has planted eternity in the human heart.’

Ecclesiastes 3:11

The UCB Word for Today - 16 Nov 2016

Why do thousands of children die of starvation each day, while every night the world’s wealthiest nations throw away enough food to feed them? In 3,500 years of recorded civilisation, only 268 years have passed without war raging some place on the globe.

Yet during that same period 8,000 peace treaties have been signed.

Why is the dash between the dates on a tombstone so small? Something tells us this isn’t right, good, fair.


This isn’t home. Who put these thoughts in our heads? The Bible says, ‘God…has planted eternity in the human heart.’ As a redeemed child of God your life on earth is just the beginning.

It’s the first letter, of the first sentence, of the first chapter, of the great story God is writing. We’re like homing pigeons; we have an innate home detector.

We’re heaven bound and heaven hungry. That doesn’t mean you can be so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly use.

If you want to hear the ‘well done…good and faithful servant’ (Matthew 25:21 KJV), you’ve got to be a good and faithful servant of God each day on earth. But your mandate is: ‘Seek first the kingdom of God’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV).

In His plan, it’s all about the King and His kingdom. He wrote the script: ‘And this is [God’s] plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth’ (Ephesians 1:10 NLT).

The Bible ends with these words: ‘He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus’ (Revelation 22:20 NIV 2011 Edition).
How do you get to heaven? By putting your trust in Jesus Christ.

Ezek 33-34, James 5

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Move closer to God and stay there!

‘You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else.’

1 Corinthians 10:12
The UCB Word for Today - 17 Nov 2016


Writing about mistakes some of God’s people made in the past, the apostle Paul penned these words: ‘These are all warning markers - DANGER! - in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes.

Our positions in the story are parallel - they at the beginning, we at the end - and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were.


Don’t be so naïve and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else.

Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence. No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face.


All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it’ (vv. 11-13 MSG).

Here Paul addresses two kinds of people who are particularly at risk: 1) Those who think they’re incapable of falling. ‘You’re not exempt.

You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless.

Cultivate God-confidence.’ 2) Those who believe they’ll never be able to get back up again. ‘God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.’ Isn’t that great news?

God not only understands your struggle, He promises you an exit strategy: a way to get through it. So the word for you today is: move closer to God and stay
there!

Ezek 35-36, 1 Pet 1

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Words (1)
‘I will…not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue.’

Psalm 39:1
The UCB Word for Today - 18 Nov 2016

An unknown poet wrote: ‘A careless word may kindle strife; a cruel word may wreck a life. A bitter word may hate instil; a brutal word may smite and kill. A gracious word may smooth the way; a joyous word may light the day.

A timely word may lessen stress; a loving word may heal and bless.’ The Bible says, ‘No man can tame the tongue’ (James 3:8 NKJV). ‘Well, if it can’t be done,’ you ask, ‘how am I supposed to do it?’ By pausing before you speak, cultivating a sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit within you and drawing on His power.


By reminding yourself that once a word has left your lips it can never be taken back, and all the ‘I’m sorrys’ in the world won’t alter that.

The psalmist, who’d evidently made the mistake of talking when he should’ve been listening, wrote: ‘I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say.


I will hold my tongue.’ In the Bible, abstaining from food for a period of time is called ‘fasting’. It has a spiritually cleansing effect. It draws us closer to God. It strengthens and sharpens us.

So here’s an idea for you: how about going on a verbal fast for the next thirty days? At least a partial one. Isaiah said, ‘The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary’ (Isaiah 50:4 NLT).

Instead of your tongue doing the leading and you doing the following, let your mouth become Spirit-guided.

Ezek 37-38, 1 Pet 2

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Words (2)

‘My mouth will speak words of wisdom.’

Psalm 49:3

The UCB Word for Today - 19 Nov 2016

The Bible says that you are to be gracious in what you say. That means your goal in conversation should always be to bring out the best in others, not denigrate them or cut them off.


Good communication makes good friends, so you need to be clear when it comes to your personal boundaries, beliefs, values, and desires.

It may well be true that more problems are forgotten than are ever solved, but healthy relationships sometimes call for healthy confrontation.

And there’s a right time and a right way to do it.

When you have to deal with a difficult situation, pray and stand on this Scripture: ‘My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.’ Your words are the vehicle through which your thoughts are conveyed, and your tongue is the driver.

So if you don’t want to end up on the wrong road, or end up in a wreck, pray: ‘Lord, give me words of wisdom. Help me to say the right thing, in the right way, at the right time.’

The Holy Spirit is a great driving instructor! He will guide you, instruct you, and keep working with you until you get it right.

He will help you grow in grace until you reach the place of maturity in your relationships where you’re able to say, ‘My advice is wholesome.

There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge’ (Proverbs 8:8-9 NLT). When you can say that, you know you’re making progress!


Ezek 40-41, 1 Pet 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Who are your true friends?

‘Friends come and…go, but a true friend sticks by

you like family.’

Proverbs 18:24

The UCB Word for Today - 20 Nov 2016

Who are your true friends? Stop and think about that for a moment. How many of the people you consider friends, truly care about you?

How many encourage you in your visions and dreams, and are there for you when you hit a wall?

If we’re honest, most of us would have to concede that a significant number of so-called friends and associates aren’t there for us in a pinch.

In fact, many of the people we spend time with are time-wasters who drain our energy and trivialise our dreams.


In the Old Testament David and Jonathan were willing to lay down their lives for each other. And Ruth told Naomi, ‘Wherever you go, I will go’ (Ruth 1:16 NKJV).

Do you have friends like that? If not, spend more time cultivating relationships with those who genuinely care about you; who don’t feel threatened by your success and want to see you succeed.

You don’t need to be cold or rude to the others.

Maintain their friendship, but spend your serious time with friends who believe in you and want you to achieve your God-given potential.

Novelist Elizabeth Jane Howard said, ‘Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.

Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.’ Here’s a fail-safe principle when it comes to cultivating great friendships: whatever you desire in your own life, you must first give to others.

If you want true friends, you must become a true friend. If you want a harvest of blessing in your own life, plant seeds of blessing in the lives of others.

Luke 22:1-30, Ps 119:1-88

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

God says ‘Yes’

‘For no matter how many promises God has made,

they are “Yes” in Christ.’

Corinthians 1:20

The UCB Word for Today - 21 Nov 2016

You will notice that in the Old Testament God’s promises came with conditions that had to be met. In other words, you had to do something. ‘If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land’ (Isaiah 1:19 NIV 1984 Edition).

To receive God’s promise there was a price to be paid, conditions to be met, and a performance of certain things on your part.

But all that changed at the cross. When Jesus said, ‘It is finished,’ the Greek text could literally be translated ‘paid in full’.

Hence Paul writes, ‘For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.’ Are you a redeemed child of God?

Are you ‘in Christ’? Then God says, ‘Yes, I’ll meet your needs, I’ll do for you what I have promised.’ Just as a bank will tell you, ‘You’re pre-qualified for the credit card,’ as a believer you’re pre-qualified for the promises God has made to you in His Word.

Under the Old Testament law God said, ‘If.’ But to those who are in Christ and living under grace, He says, ‘Yes.’ And what should your response be? ‘Amen,’ which means ‘So be it.’ This is a life-changing truth!

Now you understand why Paul could confidently write, ‘And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:19 NKJV).


Not only is God able to meet ‘all’ your needs, He’s looking for opportunities to do it.

Ezek 42-44, 1 Pet 4

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

The power of one (1)

‘Go in the strength you have…Am I not sending you?’

Judges 6:14

The UCB Word for Today - 22 Nov 2016

Gideon came from a family of idol worshippers, so he didn’t think he had much of a future.

But God thought differently. He said to him, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand.

Am I not sending you?’ And today Gideon is remembered as one of the greatest leaders in the Bible.

That’s what’s known as ‘the power of one’. Do you doubt that one person can make a difference?

Winston Churchill convinced England they could survive the Nazi war machine. Lee Iacocca turned Chrysler around and saved the company.


Florence Nightingale transformed the care of patients by emphasising sanitary design and hygiene in hospitals, practices that carry over to this day.


Rosa Parks, a lone black woman, overturned two centuries of racial discrimination.

But you don’t have to be a George Washington, an Abraham Lincoln, or a Mother Teresa to make a difference.

Your influence may not be as far-reaching as theirs, but ‘charity begins at home’, which means you can grow and thrive where you’re planted.

In A Psalm of Life Henry Wadsworth Longfellow writes, ‘Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our lives sublime; and departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time.’ Like Gideon, you may not be able to change your family history or undo your past mistakes.


But you can learn from them, grow, and create a legacy that outshines your heritage.

Not sure where to start? Commit your life to Christ and start following in His footsteps.


Ezek 45-46, 1 Pet 5