[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Learning from the rich young ruler (2)

‘All these things I have kept from my youth.’
Luke 18:21 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 19 Aug 2018

The rich young ruler may rank as one of the most religious people in Scripture. He kept all the commandments.

But you can do nothing wrong, and still do nothing right. By definition, righteousness is doing something right.

But we’ve reduced it to doing nothing wrong. We fixate on sins of commission: don’t do this, don’t do that – and you’re okay.

But that is holiness by subtraction. It’s your sins of omission – what you would have, could have, and should have done – that break the heart of your heavenly Father.

If you’re a parent, you understand this. You love it when your kids don’t do something wrong, but you love it even more when they do something right.

You have been saved to serve! Paul says God ‘created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us’ (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).

God has a personal plan for your life called ‘His Will’. But you can’t just play defence, you have to play offence.

You can’t just do nothing wrong, you have to do something right. You can’t just follow the rules, you’ve been called to follow Jesus.

If you feel bad for the rich young ruler it shouldn’t be because of what Jesus asked him to give up, but because of the opportunity he passed up. Imagine saying no to a three-year internship with your Creator!

What Jesus asked him to give up was nothing compared to what Jesus offered him in return. Sadly, he said no.

But you can say yes, and begin living the most wonderful life possible.

Luke 15:11-32, Psalm 84-86

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Stand up for Jesus

‘I will in no way be ashamed.’
Philippians 1:20 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 20 Aug 2018

Over half of all Christians now live in the Third World, often in anti-Christian environments. More Chinese take part in Sunday worship than the entirety of Western Europeans.

Lebanon is 40 per cent Christian; Sudan, 5 per cent; Egypt, about 10 per cent. Many of these saints worship at their own risk.

You may be one of them. You may be the only Christian in your Iraqi university, or an Arab woman who offers prayers in silence, or a Messianic Jew who lives in Jerusalem. Or perhaps you’re in a society of religious freedom, but a community of spiritual oppression.

Family members mock your beliefs. University professors belittle your convictions.

Classmates snigger at your choices. Colleagues pressure you to compromise your integrity.

Co-workers make it their mission to snag you in a weak moment. If that’s where you find yourself, stand up for Jesus!

Paul wrote these words from his prison cell: ‘I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain’ (vv. 19-21 NIV 1984 Edition). The hymnist wrote: ‘Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross.

Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory, His armies shall He lead.

Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.’ Today, stand up for Jesus!

Proverbs 16-18, 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Be strong. Be resilient.

‘Lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.’
Isaiah 54:2 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 21 Aug 2018

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco can move up to twenty feet in either direction at its centre. All of its parts, including its concrete roadway, steel railings, and cross-beams, are connected from one welded joint to another through the vast cable system to two great towers, then down to a rock foundation beneath the Pacific.

Here are two important biblical truths we learn from this:
1) You must be strong. Paul writes: ‘God is strong, and he wants you strong.

So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own.

Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet’ (Ephesians 6:10-15 MSG).

2) You must be resilient! The Golden Gate Bridge has survived a century of earthquakes because it was built to sway – but not too far. It’s flexible and resilient – you must be too.

Paul wrote: ‘We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up.

In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again’ (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 CEV).

Proverbs 19-21, 1 Corinthians 15:29-58

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Stop complaining about your parents

‘Listen to your father…and don’t despise your mother.’
Proverbs 23:22 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 22 Aug 2018

You don’t learn how to be a parent in school or college, you learn it ‘on the job’. And you make lots of mistakes, ones you sometimes look back on and cringe.

But through it all, you love your children and want only what’s best for them. What’s the point here?

If your parents failed you, then you probably have wounds that need to be healed. And God says, ‘I am the Lord that healeth thee’ (Exodus 15:26 KJV).

But don’t fall into the trap of self-pity by buying into the idea that you came from a ‘dysfunctional family’. Some families are better than others, but all of them have areas of dysfunction.

Look back and consider your parents’ circumstances and some of the challenges they faced while raising you, and perhaps you’ll be able to view the mistakes they made with a little more compassion. They are human beings, just as you are; they make mistakes, just as you do.

Nobody’s perfect. By showing compassion towards them you’ll be better able to show compassion towards yourself when you inevitably make mistakes with your own children.

And – this is important – when your children see you extending grace towards your parents, they’ll be better able to extend it towards you. So if you need to forgive your parents, do it today and move on.

Don’t keep bringing it up. Would you like God to keep reminding you of the sins He’s forgiven you for? No?

Then try to show that same grace and compassion. And pray for them.

Why? Because when you pray for somebody it’s hard to complain about them!

Proverbs 22-24, 1 Corinthians 16

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Thoughts for dreamers

‘Joseph had a dream…and they hated him.’
Genesis 37:5 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 23 Aug 2018

First, dreamers are willing to make trade-offs. When God puts a dream in your heart you’ll have to make certain trade-offs, like forfeiting popularity for the pursuit of excellence and short-term pleasure for long-term fulfilment.

Paul understood this principle: ‘The Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me’ (Acts 20:23-24 NKJV). Second, dreamers aren’t always appreciated.

‘Joseph had a dream…he told it to his brothers; and they hated him.’ Some people won’t appreciate your dream because it reminds them of the dream they never had, or one they abandoned.

And when they try to talk you out of your dream, often they’re trying to talk themselves back into their comfort zone. They will present you with every ‘rational’ excuse they’ve ever given themselves.

So how should you respond? Love them, help them if you can, but don’t be influenced by those who have given up on their dream. Author John Mason says, ‘If you move with God you’ll be critiqued.

The only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing and be nothing.’ Third, dreamers are overcomers.

Joseph’s dream enabled him to overcome temptation at the hands of Potiphar’s wife, betrayal by his family, false imprisonment, and a lot of other things that cause us to quit. God’s purpose alone should be the stuff of which your dream is made.

To discover your dream, get to know yourself: your strengths and weaknesses. Observe where God has placed you, seek His counsel, and look for opportunities and ‘kingdom connections’.

When you do, He will give you a dream for your life and help you fulfil it.

Proverbs 25-26, 2 Corinthians 1

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Spirit-filled living

‘Don’t be drunk with wine…be filled with the Holy Spirit.’
Ephesians 5:18 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 24 Aug 2018

Sometimes people get drunk to try to fill an emptiness on the inside. But it doesn’t work.

Like the man quipped, ‘It’s champagne tonight and real pain in the morning!’ Recognising that His disciples wouldn’t survive without Him when He left, Jesus said, ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit’ (John 14:16 NIVUK 1984 Edition).

Once you understand what the Holy Spirit can do, you won’t want to live a single day without His help. Observe:

1) He will plant your feet on the path of truth (see John 16:13).
2) When you doubt your salvation, He will confirm that you are truly God’s redeemed child (see Romans 8:16).
3) In difficult situations when you don’t know what to say, He will give you the right words at the right time (see Acts 1:8).
4) He will reproduce His nature in you (see Galatians 5:22). This is referred to as ‘the fruit of the Spirit’, not the efforts of your flesh.

Fruit doesn’t struggle to grow; it simply draws life from the tree to which it’s connected and thrives. Paul writes, ‘Don’t be drunk with wine…that will ruin your life.

Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ You can generally spot someone who is drunk by the way they slur their words and wobble when they walk.

When it happens, we say they are ‘under the influence’. Paul’s point is clear: as a believer, your walk and your talk should be ‘under the influence’ of the Holy Spirit.

So today ask God to fill you with His Spirit – and stay topped-up by reading His Word and praying daily.

Proverbs 27-29, 2 Corinthians 2

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

We are trained by our troubles

‘Our…affliction…is working for us.’
2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 25 Aug 2018

Contrary to what you may think, the ideal environment for your children is not one that’s devoid of problems and trials. Though it’s hard to accept at the time, your children need the minor setbacks and disappointments that come their way.

How can they learn to cope with problems and frustrations as adults, if their early experiences are totally without them? Nature tells us this.

A tree that’s planted in a rain forest is never forced to extend its roots downward in search of water. As a result, it remains poorly anchored and can be toppled by even a moderate wind.

By contrast, the mesquite tree that’s planted in a dry desert is threatened by its hostile environment. How does it survive?

By driving its roots down thirty feet or more into the earth, seeking for water. By adapting and adjusting to harsh conditions, the well-rooted tree becomes strong and steady against all assailants.

Our children are like these two types of trees. Children who have learned to conquer their problems are better anchored and better able than those who have never faced them.

So your task is not to eliminate every challenge your child faces. Rather, it’s to serve as a confident ally on their behalf, encouraging them in their distress, intervening when the threat becomes overwhelming, and being available when the crisis comes.

You need to give them the tools with which to handle the inevitable problems and pressures of life. Paul expresses it this way: ‘For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us.’

Bottom line: we are trained by our troubles.

Proverbs 30-31, 2 Corinthians 3

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

United by the Spirit

‘I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh.’
Acts 2:17 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 26 Aug 2018

Jesus was called a ‘friend of…sinners’ (Matthew 11:19). Why? Because He didn’t analyse and label people.

He didn’t seek out the well-heeled and well-behaved. He included them, but He didn’t limit Himself to their company.

He sought out those who were marginalised and ostracised by society, and reached out to them with God’s love. ‘But what about their sinful practices?’ you ask.

‘Mightn’t it look like we’re excusing their lifestyle?’ One day the Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus, saying, ‘This woman was caught in adultery, in the very act’ (John 8:4 NKJV).

Notice what Jesus did; He stooped down to her level and brought her back up to His! Only then did He say, ‘Go and sin no more’ (v. 11 NKJV).

The fact is, if people could clean up their act before coming to the Lord, they wouldn’t need Him. The church was born when God’s Spirit was poured out on people from every race, culture, tradition, and background.

You can’t have a genuine outpouring of the Spirit where people are alienated and excluded. When the world sees us coming together in unity under one anointing, they’re going to run again to the Upper Room crying, ‘What shall we do?’ (Acts 2:37).

Paul wrote: ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first (the insiders) and also… the Greek (the outsiders)’ (Romans 1:16 NKJV). As believers we have the formula for making broken people whole.

But before we can share it with them and have credibility, we must first be united by the Spirit.

Luke 16:1-15, Psalm 87-88

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

God will protect you

‘He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.’
Daniel 6:27 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 27 Aug 2018

One Bible teacher writes: ‘There have been times when I wanted God to rescue me from certain pits, but He didn’t. Why?

Because He wanted me to learn that His grace was sufficient in the pit. The question is never, “What will God do when all around me spells destruction?”

The question is, “What will I do?” I may not be able to conquer the lions, but I don’t have to – that’s God’s job.

Daniel said, “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions…because I was found innocent in his sight” (v. 22 NIV 2011 Edition). I may not be able to stop legislation from being enacted against me, but like Daniel, I can call on my God.

“He prayed three times a day” (v. 10 NLT). Stop exhausting yourself fighting the enemy and the conditions around you; they are too many. Just lean on God and be innocent of the charges made by those who are jealous or afraid because of your position with God and man.

God didn’t rescue Daniel from the pit; He delivered him from the power of the enemy while he was in the pit. The lions were still there when Daniel left, waiting for their next victim.

But they had no power over him – and as a redeemed child of God they have no power over you either. Daniel went on to prosper in the kingdom, and that’s what God plans for you too.’

The Bible tells us, ‘He rescues and saves his people…He…rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.’ When you walk with God you can count on Him to protect you.

Ecclesiastes 1-3, 2 Corinthians 4

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Change can begin with you

‘Build an altar to the LORD your God.’
Judges 6:26 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 28 Aug 2018

We may all be aware of individuals who have done something really wrong, and then try hide it or find someone else to blame. Often we might try to excuse ourselves by saying our shortcomings are hereditary, or try to blame our faults on our past – ‘it was the way I was brought up;’ ‘I didn’t know any better;’ ‘it’s not my fault.’

We may even try to cover up mistakes that our family has made in the past, thinking that it reflects badly on us. When it comes to your upbringing and family tree, sometimes you can’t do better than learn from it!

When it comes to your upbringing and family tree, sometimes you can’t do better than learn from it! But by God’s grace you can do a lot about your future.

Your parents may have stumbled in spiritual blindness, but you can walk in the light of God’s Word – and take your family with you. Gideon, an Old Testament hero, grew up in a family of idol-worshippers.

It was a cultural thing; everybody did it. But God had plans for Gideon, so the angel of the Lord visited him one day and said, ‘Tear down the altar of Baal that your father has…and build an altar to the Lord your God’ (vv. 25-26 NKJV).

Now, that wasn’t an easy thing for Gideon to do because by nature he was a fearful person. And when he stepped out in faith to obey God, the townspeople wanted to kill him.

But because Gideon said yes to God, he ended up changing his entire family. So the word for you today is: change in your family can begin with you. Indeed, if not you – then who?

Ecclesiastes 4-6, 2 Corinthians 5