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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Loving and accepting others
11 APRIL 2021
‘In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.’
Philippians 2:3 NKJV
You can learn to love and accept someone, without necessarily agreeing with their opinions and endorsing their actions or lifestyle. An important key is learning to see people as individuals. The more we realise that despite certain differences we’re all human and all created by our Father in His image, the freer we become to focus on our common needs. When we don’t understand someone else’s motives, views, or personality, it’s easy to assume the worst about them and project irritation and anger. Communication and trust go a long way towards increasing our patience and understanding towards those who do things differently from us. You can provide these two things in a relationship by simply asking the right questions. Too often we’re afraid to ask someone where they’re coming from, or what the problem is. Or when we do ask, we do it in a way that only increases the fear and hostility the other person is experiencing. If we ask with kindness, or at least in a respectful and gracious manner, we free the person to open up and we get to know them better. Keeping a sense of humour can help smooth things out if there’s discord or conflict. Such a constructive exchange builds trust, which increases the probability for more and better communication between the two of you. The Bible sets the bar high when it comes to loving and accepting others: Paul says, ‘If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal’ (1 Corinthians 13:1 NLT).

Luke 6:27-49, Psalms 35-36

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Generational blessings
12 APRIL 2021

‘For the promise is unto you, and to your children.’
Acts 2:39 KJV
Every family has unique and different strengths. And you can give an inheritance to your children by passing on the values, insight, and love that got your family as far as it is today. Having a sense of your history can inspire in them a desire to perpetuate the greatness. You need to tell them how you made it over your Jordan River and into your promised land. You need to pass on the generational blessings that helped your family for years. It is necessary to highlight each family member’s gifts. There’s something in each person that makes him or her stand out from all the others. All of us have special talents, and all of us want to hear what we do well. We need to recognise and verbalise the uniqueness of each member. We need to emphasise that while we may be part of a great family, we’re not restricted by our heritage; we have the freedom and ability to exercise our own individual gifts. Inspire your family to be proud of where they came from, where they are, and where they can go. Our past binds us together, but it’s the individual members utilising their unique gifts and fulfilling their particular roles that make a family resilient and give it a strong future in the promises of God. ‘For the promise is unto you, and to your children.’ Don’t be the last link in the chain. Don’t let it end with you. Take the blessings God has deposited in you and pass them on to your children – and to your grandchildren as well.

Judges 1-3, John 5:1-30

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
You must respond with grace
13 APRIL 2021
‘You must grow in…grace.’
2 Peter 3:18 NLT
How do we overcome past hurts in relationships? How do two people combine separate and unique perspectives to create a satisfying and loving relationship? There’s a very special ingredient called ‘grace’ that must be added to the mix. It calls for extending to the other person the same grace that God extends to you. It bandages broken people and permits the defeated to develop winning ways to escape their pasts. It gives strength to those who struggle to be functional in areas where historically they’ve been dysfunctional. Grace restores the heart and resolves the troubles of a tormented spirit. It is loving-kindness and forgiveness. It’s the favour of God. And as He bestows it on us, we should extend it to those who need our compassion and love. We are all broken in certain areas, and we need to learn to accept that and help mend the brokenness in others. Peter didn’t believe he was capable of denying his Lord. He swore he would never do it. But Jesus not only predicted it, He promised to pray for him until he was fully restored (see Luke 22:32). And we are called to do that too; to extend to other imperfect people the same love and grace that has been shown to us. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: ‘We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds towards each other’ (2 Thessalonians 1:3 NKJV). Then Peter adds, ‘You must grow in…grace.’ And it’s a process, so you’ve got to work at it!

Judges 4-6, John 5:31-47

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Turn your loss into gain (1)
14 APRIL 2021
‘Jephthah…was a mighty man of valour, but he was the son of a harlot.’
Judges 11:1 NKJV
Jephthah was the illegitimate son of a man called Gilead. His mother was a prostitute. He grew up in the household of Gilead’s other legitimate sons who later chased him away. ‘“You will not get any of our father’s inheritance,” they said’ (v. 2 NLT). So he ended up living in a cave. While there, he took a band of misfits and rebels and developed them into a great army. When the Ammonites threatened Israel, the elders turned to him for help. ‘But Jephthah said to them: “Aren’t you the ones who hated me and drove me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now when you’re in trouble?” “Because we need you,” the elders replied. “If you lead us in battle against the Ammonites, we will make you ruler over all the people of Gilead”’ (vv.7-8 NLT). Not only did Jephthah lead them to victory, he’s named with honour in the Bible along with people like Abraham, Moses, and David. His life is rich with lessons. Here’s an important one: Rejection can be part of God’s plan for your life. Jephthah was rejected for reasons beyond his control – he was illegitimate. But instead of growing bitter, he moved on and did something good with his life. Perhaps you’ve been rejected because you were old, young, intelligent, dumb, pretty, ugly, privileged, poor, attractive, unattractive, male, female, white, black, etc. By God’s grace Jephthah took an ugly situation and turned it into a beautiful one. And if you’ll turn your situation over to God today, the same grace is available to you.

Judges 7-8, John 6:1-21

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Turn your loss into gain (2)
15 APRIL 2021
‘Prove by the way you live that you have…turned to God.’
Matthew 3:8 NLT
When Israel’s leaders turned to Jephthah for help, they were in distress and wanted to ‘use’ him. So Jephthah said, in essence, ‘Let’s get an understanding of the type of relationship we’re going to have.’ At that point, he negotiated with them and ended up in a top leadership spot. When your trust has been violated, you need to forgive. By doing so, you set yourself free. But you must exercise wisdom in how to move forward. God doesn’t expect you to put yourself in a position to be hurt again. Perhaps you’ve heard the story of the guy who went to the doctor with a severe burn on his right ear. He explained, ‘I was ironing and watching television when the phone rang, and I picked up the iron instead of the phone.’ Puzzled, the doctor said, ‘But how did you get the burn on your left ear?’ The man exclaimed, ‘Because he called back!’ Bottom line: when you’ve been ‘burned’ by someone, be careful about putting yourself in a position to be burned over and over again. Forgiveness must be immediate, but trust must be earned. Your offender must show the fruit of repentance – consistent behaviour that gives evidence that he or she has had a change of heart. Jesus said, ‘Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.’ You need two things: grace and wisdom. Grace means extending to others the same forgiveness that God has extended to you. Wisdom means knowing what kind of relationship you can have with that person in the future.

Judges 9-10, John 6:22-44

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Turn your loss into gain (3)
16 APRIL 2021
‘New things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.’
Isaiah 42:9 NKJV
The same people who declared Jephthah ‘persona non grata’ were the same ones who turned to him for help when they were threatened by a powerful enemy. So here’s lesson one: other people don’t determine your future, God does! The Israelites were living in slavery when God made them this promise: ‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope”’ (Jeremiah 29:11 TLB). God’s plan for you will prevail over every other plan. Here’s lesson two: a unity walk requires unity talk. Jephthah immediately embraced the new relationship. ‘Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against me that you have attacked my country?”’ (Judges 11:12 NIV). Note the words ‘me’ and ‘my country’. He put the hurts of his past behind him and fully embraced the cause. One author writes: ‘He was ready to walk in unity. And a unity walk requires unity talk. You would be surprised at the impact unity talk will have on your attitude and relationships. You’ll find yourself being less critical of others once you make such “team talk” a habit.’ That doesn’t mean you’ll always see eye to eye on every issue. It just means the cause and the vision you share are greater and more important that your differences of thought and opinion. The Bible says, ‘Make every effort [you’ve got to work at it] to keep yourselves united in the Spirit [not necessarily in opinion], binding yourselves together with peace’ (Ephesians 4:3 NLT).

Judges 11-12, John 6:45-71

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Your identity determines your inheritance
17 APRIL 2021
‘We are…heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.’
Romans 8:16-17 NKJV
When our favourite sports team wins, we say, ‘We won!’ What do you mean ‘we’? You weren’t on the field. You didn’t get tackled. You didn’t throw or kick the ball. You didn’t even score a single goal. What do you mean ‘we’ won? You mean that because the team you support and identify with won, you won too. There’s an important spiritual truth here for you as the redeemed child of God. When Jesus died, you died with Him. When Jesus arose, you arose with Him to ‘walk in newness of life’ (Romans 6:4 NKJV). The difference between you and the team that won is that you will never actually be part of it. But when Jesus won at the cross and you accepted Him as your Saviour, God positioned you ‘in Christ’. Today He sees you clothed in the righteousness of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). Paul explains it this way: ‘The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.’ Did you get that? As a redeemed child of God, you are an ‘heir’ of everything your heavenly Father owns. And it gets better; you’re also ‘a joint heir with Christ’, meaning that whatever Jesus is entitled to, you are also entitled to. When you understand this truth and begin to walk according to it, you start to identify and claim the blessings God has promised you in His Word. These blessings include such things as grace, forgiveness, healing, provision, guidance, strength, etc. Your identity in Christ entitles you to all these things.

Judges 13-15, John 7:1-27

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Take it to God in prayer
18 APRIL 2021
‘Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you.’
Psalm 55:22 AMPC
After preaching about taking our worries to God in prayer, a lady approached the great preacher G. Campbell Morgan and said, ‘I don’t bother God with little things; I only take the big ones to Him.’ Morgan replied, ‘My dear lady, everything we take to God is little.’ The Bible says, ‘Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you.’ God knows you’re not built to carry the weight of worry, so He invites you to give it to Him today. Anything that’s big enough to be a source of anxiety should be turned into a prayer. Peter writes: ‘Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully’ (1 Peter 5:7 AMPC). Note the word ‘casting’. That’s the opposite of ‘carrying’! The moment you recognise that a worry is beginning to weigh you down, ‘cast’ it on the Lord, knowing ‘He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.’ Now if He was a distant God who didn’t care about you, you would have reason to worry. Or if He was a weak God who couldn’t do anything about it, you would have reason to worry. The truth is, it’s as you give your worries to God that you discover how big He really is. The songwriter Joseph Scriven put it this way: ‘Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.’

Luke 7:1-30, Psalms 37-39

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Giving to your supplier
19 APRIL 2021
‘All things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.’
1 Chronicles 29:14 NKJV
Generous people are always comfortable talking about money, and they are even more comfortable giving it. Self-centred people obsess over keeping what they have, and how to get even more. That’s why Jesus, who was the most generous person in history, spoke so much about money. He understood its source, its use, and who owns it all. Sixteen of his thirty-eight parables deal with how to handle money and possessions. In the four Gospels, one out of every ten verses deals with the subject. The Bible has five hundred verses on prayer, roughly the same amount on faith, but over two thousand on money and possessions. Is God trying to tell you something? If so, what? It’s this: everything you have came from God! So you’re not an owner, but an administrator of His estate. That means when He taps you on the shoulder and says, ‘Give to this person or to that cause,’ you don’t argue or rationalise but say, ‘Yes, Lord!’ After raising the money to build the temple, David prayed: ‘Both riches and honour come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You’ (vv. 12-14 NKJV). When you give to God, you are just giving back to your supplier.

Judges 16-18, John 7:28-53

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
How are you coming across?
20 APRIL 2021
‘Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.’
Colossians 4:6 NKJV
The Chinese Christian leader Watchman Nee devoted a chapter in his book The Normal Christian Worker to watching what you say and how you say it. ‘Because of unrestrained speech, the usefulness of many Christian workers is seriously curtailed. Instead of being powerful instruments in the Lord’s service, their ministry makes little impact on account of the constant leakage of power through their careless talk.’ Paul writes, ‘Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.’ That means when you speak, make sure it’s in good taste. And the look on your face and the tone of your voice can determine whether a person receives or resents what you’re saying. Eugene Peterson paraphrases Paul’s words this way: ‘Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out’ (MSG). Again Paul writes, ‘Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them’ (Ephesians 4:29 NLT). So before you speak, check your attitude and ask yourself, ‘What frame of mind am I in right now?’ And don’t stop with that question. Ask yourself also, ‘Will what I’m about to say help or hurt, clarify or confuse, make me feel better or the other person feel better?’ Acknowledging his propensity to say the wrong thing, David prayed, ‘Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. Don’t let me drift towards evil’ (Psalm 141:3-4 NLT). It’s not enough to be talented in life; to succeed in life, you must speak wisely.

Judges 19-21, John 8:1-27

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Get a ‘preparation perspective’
21 APRIL 2021
‘We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.’
2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV
Paul writes: ‘We make it our aim…to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad’ (vv. 9-10 NKJV).

If you are wise, you will live each day with this truth uppermost in your mind. You’ll have a ‘preparation perspective’! Think about it this way: you don’t just wake up one morning and say, ‘I’ve decided to be a lawyer, or a doctor, or an accountant, etc.’; no, you make that decision many years earlier, and then you work towards it. Now let’s be clear.

As a Christian, you’re not working to earn your salvation, but to earn your reward in heaven. Salvation is the foundation you build on, and the Bible says, ‘No one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have – Jesus Christ’ (1 Corinthians 3:11 NLT). Then Paul goes on to say: ‘Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials – gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.

But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.

If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss.

The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames’ (vv. 12-15 NLT). When you stand before Christ, you have two options – rewards or regrets. So get a ‘preparation perspective’.

Ruth 1-4, John 8:28-59

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

When You Don’t Understand
22 APRIL 2021
‘The secret things belong to the LORD…but the things revealed belong to us.’
Deuteronomy 29:29 NIV
When you don’t understand what’s happening in your life, start with what you know for sure; namely, that God is good all the time, and His ‘love for those who respect him continues forever’ (Psalm 103:17 NCV). He’s not fickle.

He doesn’t bless you one day and curse you the next: His ‘mercies…are new every morning’ (Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV). But there are things God chooses to reveal to us, and ‘secret things’ He doesn’t – for our own good.

Writer Beth Jones says: ‘If God keeps a secret from us, it’s for our benefit and the benefit of others…For example, He doesn’t go around blaming, tattling or disclosing our sins, weaknesses, unbelief, carnality, selfishness or pride to others.

When things happen, God knows why…Secret things belong to the Lord. And when He reveals something to us, it’s because He wants us to walk in that truth by faith.

For example, He reveals His character and His will in His Word…so we can live by faith knowing that He’s good, fair, kind, generous, merciful, faithful, gracious, patient, and He’s in the saving, healing, redeeming, restoring, sanctifying, and blessing business.

Things revealed belong to us. When we don’t know why…here’s what we know for sure. God’s Word is truer than our circumstances or experiences…and just because He knows everything about us doesn’t mean He tells us about everything.

We also know that when things look bad, God is still good. He’s a giver, not a taker…a blesser, not a curser…and no matter what happens or doesn’t happen, at the end of the day – we still win!’

1 Sam 1-3, John 9:1-23

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

The Power to Change
23 APRIL 2021
‘I will strengthen you and help you.’
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
We go to seminars and conferences looking for a painless cure by which our lives can be zapped and changed.

We go on diets. We join health clubs and our enthusiasm runs strong for about two weeks. Then we fall back into the same old rut.

We don’t change. We read self-help books, but the problem with self-help books is that they tell us what to do but can’t give us the power to do it. We are told things like: ‘Get rid of all your bad habits.

Be positive; don’t be negative.’ But how? Where do we get the power to change? The word ‘power’ occurs fifty-seven times in the New Testament. It is used to describe the most powerful event that ever happened – the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. And that resurrection power is available to change your life today.

The most important thing in life is knowing Christ and experiencing the power of His resurrection. Paul writes, ‘I want to know Christ…to know the power of his resurrection’ (Philippians 3:10 NIV).

Again he writes, ‘I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe in Him. It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead’ (Ephesians 1:19-20 TLB). The Greek word for ‘power’, which is dunamis, can be translated in two ways: 1) ‘dynamite’, which is an explosive force, or 2) ‘dynamo’, which is a constant flow of power.

And in Christ, you have both. Through Him you can break the chains that bind you and the limits that constrain you, and walk victoriously in His power today.

1 Sam 4-6, John 9:24-41

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Live for something greater than yourself
24 APRIL 2021

‘Unless a kernel of wheat is planted…it remains alone.’
John 12:24 NLT
Jesus said, ‘Unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels.’ Someone has estimated that one kernel of wheat will produce a stalk bearing three heads of wheat.

In each head there are fifteen to thirty-five kernels, altogether producing close to a hundred kernels from a stalk. After they are planted, these kernels will produce ten thousand kernels.

When those are replanted, they will produce a million kernels. And if you keep going, you will cover the whole earth with wheat! It’s amazing what one person can do when they commit their life to Christ and start where they are. D.L. Moody once said, ‘The world has yet to see what God can do through a man who is yielded to him.’ He decided to be that person and ended up impacting the world for Christ.

When Peter, James, and John met Jesus, their goal in life was to make a living. Then Jesus invited them to follow Him and make a difference.

And today He’s inviting you to do the same thing. He’s inviting you to find a need that no one is meeting and give yourself to it. He’s asking you to find a cause greater than self-interest, namely His cause, and pour your life into it.

When Jesus asked the disciples to leave their jobs and their security, He was turning their world upside down. But when they said yes to Him, they became so successful that their enemies accused them of ‘turning the world upside down’ (see Acts 17:6).

1 Sam 7-9, John 10:1-21

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Dealing with our sin
25 APRIL 2021
‘Against You, You only, have I sinned.’
Psalm 51:4 NKJV
We need a new way of looking at sin; a fresh understanding of it. John Ortberg writes: ‘All sin involves denial. It carries with it a certain moral myopia – near-sightedness.’ And the only way to see it clearly is through the eyes of the One we’ve sinned against.

The psalmist prayed, ‘Against You, You only, have I sinned.’ A Christian college professor put it like this: ‘I’m nice to my students; respectful to my colleagues; love my family; don’t steal, commit adultery, use drugs or swear; and I floss regularly. But when I look at myself honestly, I see that I harbour bitterness, hoard my time, and resent others intruding on me.

I’m vain and consumed with how others perceive me. I wrestle with my sexuality and have strayed with my eyes and my heart.

I pretend to listen, but I don’t. I think more about being great than being good. I act more spiritual than I am. I’m a mess – broken in every way – and my only hope is God’s mercy.’ When Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on His throne, he cried out, ‘Woe is me, for I am undone!’ (Isaiah 6:5 NKJV).

Then an angel took a burning coal from the altar and touched his lips, saying, ‘Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged’ (v. 7 NKJV). The realisation of our sinfulness can be as gentle as a nudge, or it can knock us down with hurricane force.

What’s important is how we respond. Regardless of how often you’ve fallen or how badly you’ve failed, today God extends to you His grace, and a chance to begin again if you’re willing to accept it.

Luke 7:31-50, Psalms 40-42

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Understanding true holiness
26 APRIL 2021
‘Holiness unto the LORD.’
Zechariah 14:21 KJV
Holiness should always be ‘unto the Lord’. Any time we make it ‘unto men’, it’s wrong and misguided because it’s just pride and pretence. Jesus condemned the Pharisees not for their acts of piety, but because they performed them to impress others. Not only did they live by a long list of religious ‘do’s and don’ts,’ they also kept a scorecard on others who didn’t live up to their list and denounced them for it. Some of us grew up in homes and churches that did this, and when the word ‘holiness’ is mentioned, we squirm and think of Christians with sombre faces and pointed fingers of accusation. That’s not Bible holiness, that’s legalism! And God hates it, and the Bible condemns it. To understand what true holiness is, think of the word ‘contamination’. It’s one of every hospital’s greatest concerns. It’s why doctors in an operating room insist that their surgical instruments be constantly sterilised; caps, gowns, and gloves worn; and the environment in the room maintained at a temperature where germs can’t live. Are you getting the picture? Now adjust the lens a little bit, and you’ll see the spiritual application. True holiness does not isolate you from the world, it insulates you from its contaminants. Paul corrected the Corinthian church for their approach to the communion table: ‘In eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk’ (1 Corinthians 11:21 NKJV). So Paul addresses their spiritually sloppy, anything-goes attitude. ‘For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep [have died]’ (v. 30 NKJV). What’s the answer? ‘Holiness – unto the Lord!’

1 Sam 10-12, John 10:22-42

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
‘Do’ God’s Word
27 APRIL 2021
‘God will bless you for doing it.’
James 1:25 NLT
Dr David Jeremiah tells of a well-known seminary professor who spent a summer studying in Jerusalem. In his apartment building lived an orthodox Jewish rabbi with whom he studied Hebrew throughout the summer. One day the professor sat and listened to his Jewish friend recite the entire book of Psalms, in Hebrew, without missing so much as a jot or tittle. Now that’s pretty impressive, right? But God doesn’t bless you for merely reading His Word, or memorising it, or even being able to repeat it word for word in the original languages. God only promises to bless those who ‘do’ what His Word says. Reading your Bible without putting it into practice is like going into a good restaurant and eating the menu while ignoring the meal. ‘Don’t just listen to God’s word…do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it’ (vv. 22-25 NLT). One of the dangers of enjoying great preaching is that you can enjoy it and go home moved but unchanged.
The knowledge of God’s Word is vitally important. But a head knowledge of the Scriptures can actually water a root of spiritual pride in your heart whereby you applaud the Scriptures but don’t apply them. So the word for today is – ‘do’ God’s Word!

1 Sam 13-14, John 11:1-29

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Use what God has given you
28 APRIL 2021
‘One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.’
Proverbs 11:24 NIV
Jesus taught His disciples to be distributors of His blessing and ‘first responders’ to those in need. That’s why He involved them in the process; He was equipping them to represent Him in the future. In the feeding of the five thousand, the miracle of multiplication did not take place when the food left Christ’s hands, but the disciples’ hands.

He blessed the five loaves and two fish, gave it to them, and they set out to do what seemed ridiculous: feeding a multitude with a boy’s lunch. But as they did it, they experienced the miraculous.

Why? Because when the Lord’s blessing is upon what you have, you’ll succeed in spite of the challenges and obstacles. God has given each of us something that others need.

But sometimes we fail to recognise it, or we doubt its worth. So we conclude, ‘I don’t have what it takes.’ You do – but it’s in seed form! Jesus described it this way: ‘First the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head’ (Mark 4:28 NKJV).

God has deposited within you something He wants you to recognise, nurture, and use for His glory. When He blesses it, you’ll be amazed at the underdeveloped potential you’ve been running around with.


This miracle began when a boy found an unmet need and decided, ‘These people are hungry and need to be fed.’ That’s also when the disciples discovered what Jesus could do with what they had, even though it looked hopelessly inadequate. The word for today is – use what God has given you!

1 Sam 15-16, John 11:30-57

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

‘Be of good courage, and do it’
29 APRIL 2021
‘Arise, for this matter is your responsibility…Be of good courage, and do it.’
Ezra 10:4 NKJV
You probably may not have heard of Harlow Curtice because he wasn’t a graduate from a prestigious university; he was a country boy with only a high-school diploma (which is roughly equivalent to GCSE). But he had big dreams.

He started out as a bookkeeper in General Motors and rose to become a company president by the age of thirty-five. By the time he was forty, he was the general manager of General Motors’ esteemed Buick division. He worked his way to the top of his profession with a talent for new ideas and action.

He bravely designed new styles and models. And he personally travelled throughout the United States to inspire dealers and instil in them a renewed enthusiasm about their Buick products. And guess when he did it? In the middle of the Great Depression! Under his leadership, the sale of Buick cars quadrupled; his division became the second biggest moneymaker in General Motors’ history.

When he was asked what he attributed his success to, he cited these three things: 1) He set goals for himself and required the people around him to do likewise. 2) He took pride in confronting and overcoming obstacles. 3) He was willing to take risks and do the things talented but fearful people around him refused to do. As a result, winning became a habit and a lifestyle.

Those three principles are solidly scriptural and time tested, and they will lead you to success in whatever you put your hand to. So the word for today is – ‘Arise, for this matter is your responsibility…Be of good courage, and do it.’

1 Sam 17-18, John 12:1-26

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Always keep your conscience clear
30 APRIL 2021
‘I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.’
Acts 23:1 NKJV
At the Mark Twain memorial in Hartford, Connecticut, you will find these words framed: ‘Always do right. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest. Truly yours, Mark Twain, New York, February 16, 1901.’ When your conscience is programmed and governed by God’s Word, it will lead you to do the right thing every time.

And it’s created by the first lessons you learn about right and wrong; which is why as a parent, you have the most important job in the world. If you’re never taught those lessons, you fail to develop a conscience. If you’re taught them poorly or incompletely, you develop a stunted conscience.

If you override your conscience and refuse to obey its inner voice, you develop a hardened conscience and, over time, you will live your life as if you don’t have one at all. You’ll compromise, cover up, and cut corners to get what you want.

You can’t see a conscience or autopsy one, but you can hear it whispering in your mind and feel it tugging at your heart. And those are the whispers and tugs you must respond to in order to walk in the blessing of God.

Paul said two important things about his conscience: 1) ‘I myself always strive to have a conscience without offence towards God and men’ (Acts 24:16 NKJV). 2) ‘I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.’ Above all, don’t neglect your conscience – it is either healthy or becoming unhealthy. And as it goes, so goes your character, your reputation, and the quality of your life.

1 Sam 19-21, John 12:27-50

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

People pleasing (1)
01 MAY 2021
‘Fear of man will prove to be a snare
Proverbs 29:25 NIV

To ensure victory in battle, King Saul was supposed to wait for Samuel the prophet to come and offer a sacrifice to God. But as the day wore on and the people grew impatient, Saul offered the sacrifice himself. When Samuel demanded to know why, ‘Saul replied: “When I saw…the people…slipping away from me…I…offered the burnt offering.” Samuel said…“You have done foolishly…The Lord would have established your kingdom…now your kingdom will not continue”’ (1 Samuel 13:11-14 NRSV).

Because Saul needed people’s approval, he lost everything. Speaking truthfully may not be easy or comfortable, but the Bible tells us to do it anyway, like Samuel did. People pleasing is inherently dishonest because you’re telling others what they want to hear, instead of what you need to say.

Now, you can’t be rude and insensitive, but you can’t be intimidated either. Just because somebody doesn’t want to hear the truth doesn’t negate your responsibility to speak it. Have you ever felt uneasy about something somebody asked you to do? One of the ways God leads us is through a sense of inner peace. Isaiah says you’ll be ‘led forth in peace’ (Isaiah 55:12 NIV). And Paul writes, ‘Pursue…things which make for peace’ (Romans 14:19 NKJV).

When something doesn’t feel right, speak up. Say, ‘I don’t have peace about this.’ People shouldn’t expect you to proceed until you do, but that rarely happens when others place demands on us.

Jesus told His disciples when someone ‘will not receive…you nor listen to your message, as you leave…shake the dust…from your feet’ (Matthew 10:14 AMPC). When somebody’s reaction threatens to stop you from doing what you know is right – it’s time to shake it off and move on.

1 Samuel 22-24, John 13:1-20

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

People pleasing (2)
02 MAY 2021
‘You are with me…I…am not afraid. No one can harm me.’Psalm 56:9-11 CEV


The approval of others is something we all enjoy, but you don’t need it in order to have self-worth. In fact, people pleasing will cause you to lose self-worth. You turn yourself inside out for others, and just when you think you’ve succeeded, they change their minds.


Besides robbing you of your peace of mind, people pleasing makes it impossible to follow God’s direction – and that ultimately is your greatest loss. If you’re a people pleaser, changing the habits of a lifetime won’t be easy. It will require facing what you fear and asking God for the courage to follow through. David said, ‘I know…you are with me.…I…am not afraid. No one can harm me.’ When it comes to people pleasing, you must understand two things: 1) Breaking the cycle means risking rejection by saying no when others expect to hear yes.

When the people in your life are used to meek, compliant responses, they’ll react negatively until they get used to ‘the new you’. Navigating these waters will be intimidating at first, but is it really any worse than living your life in fear of other people’s reactions? 2) You may have to explain to others that in the past you sought their approval because you felt insecure, but that’s no longer the case.

The important thing is to act now! Breaking any habit involves temporary discomfort, but your only other option is to spend your life feeling trapped.

You can choose to suffer short term on the way to freedom, or long term by continuing to engage in the struggle to please others. Today, make the right choice.

Luke 8:1-25, Psalms 43-45

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Can you pay the price?
03 MAY 2021
‘I’m giving it everything I’ve got.’
1 Corinthians 9:26 MSG

Long-distance runners don’t just focus on speed, but on endurance. They pace themselves so that as they approach the finish line, they can pull out all the stops. Paul said, ‘I’m running hard for the finish line…giving it everything I’ve got…I’m not going to get caught…telling everyone else…then missing out myself’ (vv. 26-27 MSG).

For long-distance runners, giving up isn’t an option. Despite delays and disappointments along the way, they know they’ll never be satisfied sitting on the sidelines cheering for those who’ve paid the price to run the race.

So if you’re the kind of person who longs to fulfil your God-ordained purpose in life – give it everything you’ve got. Go for it, and don’t forget that Jesus said, ‘Great gifts mean great responsibilities’ (Luke 12:48 MSG).

It’s one thing to achieve success; it’s another thing to handle the pressures that go along with it. ‘Jesus…finished this race…Because he never lost sight of where he was headed…he could put up with anything’ (Hebrews 12:2 MSG). Having something great to look forward to enables you to endure.

And God will expose you to opposition and criticism to strengthen your character; that way when greater blessings and responsibilities come, you’ll be able to handle them.

Success is only possible when you have a passion to cross the finish line. So the question is, can you pay the price?

When the pressure is on, can you stand up like Nehemiah when he rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls and tell your opponents this: ‘My work is too important to stop’ (Nehemiah 6:3 CEV)? If your answer is yes, fix your eye on the goal and run to the finish line.

1 Samuel 25-26, John 13:21-38

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Today try to be gracious
04 MAY 2021

‘Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.’
Ecclesiastes 10:12 NIV


Aesop, the famed fable author, said, ‘No act of kindness, no matter how small, ever is wasted.’ As one pastor writes, ‘It costs to be unkind, but it pays to be kind.’ Now, being kind doesn’t mean tolerating wrong or refusing to confront a problem in order to be politically correct.


Sometimes we must confront. But it should always be done in a gracious way. A calm demeanour will go a lot further than a harsh comment or an ugly tone of voice. You can make your point with a kind spirit, and even a sense of humour.

Don’t be like the man who was standing in line to buy a plane ticket. When he reached the counter, he said, ‘I’d like to purchase a ticket to New York City.’ The agent said, ‘No problem, how many pieces of luggage do you have?’ The passenger replied, ‘I have three.’ The agent asked, ‘Would you like me to check all three to New York?’ The man replied, ‘No, I want to send the first bag to Phoenix, the second to Seattle, and the third to London.’ Dumbfounded, the clerk looked at him and said, ‘I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t do that.’ The man smiled and said, ‘I don’t see why not; that’s what you did last week.’ You will always make your point more effectively with a butter knife than a butcher knife.

Remember: ‘Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.’ If you’re serious about living by the teachings of God’s Word, today, try to be gracious.

1 Samuel 27-29, John 14

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Goodness (1)
05 MAY 2021

‘Conquer evil by doing good.’
Romans 12:21 TLB

It’s easy to forget why God saved you, what He’s called you to do, and how you’re supposed to live. So here’s a memo from heaven: ‘Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honouring each other. Never be lazy in your work but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble and prayerful always. When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them out...If someone mistreats you…pray that God will bless him. When others are happy, be happy with them.

If they are sad, share their sorrow. Work happily together. Don’t try to act big. Don’t try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil for evil. Do things in such a way that everyone will see you are honest clear through.

Don’t quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible…never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said that He will repay those who deserve it...Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry.

If he is thirsty give him something to drink and you will be heaping coals of fire on his head. In other words, he will feel ashamed of himself for what he has done to you. Don’t let evil get the upper hand but conquer evil by doing good’ (v. 9-21 TLB).

1 Samuel 30-31, John 15

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Goodness (2)
06 MAY 2021
‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’
Matthew 25:21 KJV

When you stand at the judgment seat of Christ, you’ll have one final opportunity to hear the word ‘good’: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ Note, He doesn’t say well thought, or well intentioned, but well done! You’ll be rewarded for what you do. On that day, God will zero in on your actions, not your opinions or intentions.

Goodness should be the last thing you think about when you go to bed and the first thing you think about when you wake. The Bible says, ‘Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?’ (Proverbs 20:11 NIV).

You know what you’re really like on the inside, but the only you others see is from the outside. One Christian leader writes: ‘Talk is cheap. No matter how much you claim to be a good person, the only public measuring stick is your actions.

You may think that by being good you’re not doing a lot of good. But never underestimate the power of even one person to exert tremendous influence by simply doing the right thing, at the right place, and at the right time.’ Mother Teresa always shied away from the limelight.

She saw herself as a servant, not a star. Her greatest desire wasn’t to be famous, but to be faithful. As a result, she ended up touching the lives of multitudes even though her only thought was to help the next hurting person.

Among her favourite Scriptures were these words given to us by Christ: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these…of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25:40 NIV). So today, seek to do good.

2 Samuel 1-2, John 16