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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

The best gift ever!
24 DECEMBER 2021

‘Good news…great joy for all the people.’
Luke 2:10 NIV

For many people Christmas is filled with dread instead of delight. Author Jon Walker writes this: ‘I’m sitting in a fast-food restaurant observing a young girl celebrating an early Christmas with her mother. Her presents are spread out across the booth and she just said, “I miss you, Mommy.” “I miss you too, Baby,” her mother says. Beyond the booth…a woman casually, but carefully watches them. Using my journalist’s eye, I put it all together. The watching woman is a social worker supervising a structured visit for a mother and child who are doing their best to celebrate Christmas…a few minutes later foster parents arrive and take the little girl home. The mother leaves alone. There’s a darker side to Christmas we rarely acknowledge.

We create this fantasy that seldom matches reality, even in the best of homes…many Christmas memories are full of tension, not tinsel…the holidays are just another excuse for Mommy to get drunk, or Daddy to be with his new family…yet another reminder that the one we love is far away or perhaps never coming back…The suicide rate is extraordinarily high in December…depression as common as “Joy to the World”…more people hurt at Christmas than we initially imagine.

For those tired of the hollow hope…of Christmas, the good news is, God is with us. Jesus came to earth to “bring…good news…for all the people.” Regardless of your situation, Christmas is the best gift you’ll ever get, because: 1) it’s the costliest you’ll ever receive because it cost Jesus His life; 2) it’s the only gift that lasts forever; 3) it’s one you can enjoy for the rest of your life.’

Zechariah 3-4, Revelation 16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Celebrate Christmas! (1)
25 DECEMBER 2021

‘I am like an evergreen tree, yielding my fruit to you throughout the year.’
Hosea 14:8 TLB

The word ‘celebrate’ means to rejoice, delight in, revel, and appreciate. Jack Hayford writes: ‘There is so much done in the name of Christmas that is neither pleasing nor honouring to Christ. Even so, I find myself doing battle…with…religious superstitions which argue against almost every observation of Christmas…against giving…against decorations, trees, or just plain fun, as though such participation defiled something holy. Such harsh debunking is nothing more than “holy humbug”. A Christmas tree…is a specific statement…By means of this tree we are saying: We believe in celebration.

We serve the God who “gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17 NKJV) and who through history assigned…sacred appointments of feasting and rejoicing…”great gladness” (1 Chronicles 29:22 KJV)…Although no one can make a “biblical case” for Christmas trees, we gather around ours with joy. We see in its living branches a symbol of everlasting life given us because of Jesus’ death on the tree – whose naked crossbars Xed out death and ushered in forgiveness…and eternal hope.

The lights…gleam a testimony of His Light-of-the-world glory. The ornaments reflect the decorative splendour with which His kindnesses adorn our lives. The star beams hope, with a heavenward ray, reminding us that from there He shall come again to receive us.’ As you gather around the tree this Christmas, don’t forget to celebrate the One who said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me…will have the light of life’ (John 8:12 NIV).

Zechariah 5-6, Revelation 17

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™


Celebrate Christmas! (2)
26 DECEMBER 2021

‘This day is holy.’
Nehemiah 8:9 KJV

The word holiday comes from the Old English word haligdæg, which means ‘holy day’. So, when Nehemiah announced, ‘This day is holy,’ he was declaring a celebration; a time to ‘eat and drink before the Lord’ (1 Chronicles 29:22 KJV).

Today, overindulgence and overspending have become synonymous with Christmas, making Christians hesitant to celebrate. Jack Hayford writes: ‘Often it is from those newly associated with our fellowship who have allowed themselves – perhaps for the first time – to enter into the wonder and fullness of Christmas joy and celebration…Christmas is more than merely “merry”. Christmas is mighty. Celebration – unfettered enjoyment, love…laughter…gifts and giving, trees and tinsel,…carols and bells…all of it – has an inherent potential for mightiness.

The qualifying factor is the presence of the Holy Spirit. When He is present, the accoutrements of Christmas…can bless, strengthen, heal, [and] restore…When He is absent, carols ring hollow. Greetings, wishes and smiles lie on the surface, like glitter glued on a flat card.

Lights and decorations…can leave the heart more desolate than ever. But where the Holy Spirit is there is power…to change entrenched habits…transform cold hearts…grudges and expectations…lift lives out of the shadow…This Christmas, let Him come upon you.

Welcome the…Holy Spirit…to move upon your life, and then make your own move…into the season’s best opportunities to bask in the wonder of it all…Reach out to those around: encourage, bless, bake, give, visit, invite, share, and lift hearts wherever you can. By…New Year…you’ll find Christmas to…have been marvellously, and even miraculously, mighty.’

Luke 24:36-53, Psalms 143-150

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™


How to forgive yourself
27 DECEMBER 2021

‘I will not remember your sins.’
Isaiah 43:25 NKJV

God says in His Word: ‘I…am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted’ (vv. 25-26 NKJV). Today if you’re condemning yourself because you think your sins are too big to merit God’s grace, go back and reread those Scriptures carefully.

Why did God say He would forgive your sins? ‘For My own sake.’ So what should you do? ‘State your case, that you may be acquitted.’ Why do we have such a hard time accepting God’s forgiveness? 1) Because in some cases we feel like we’re reaping what we have sown. 2) Because we have condemned someone else for doing the very thing we ourselves did. 3) Because we think God likes to keep us twisting in the wind for a while so we will think twice before committing the same sin again. 4) Because growing up, when we disobeyed our parents, they took away certain privileges until we had proven ourselves. 5) Because we think we have to be ‘worthy’ of God’s mercy.

But when you refuse to forgive yourself, you’re implying that your transgressions are beyond the scope of God’s grace. And that’s a bigger sin – pride! And here is another thought. When you always have ‘issues’ with other people, you may be looking for someone to offend you. That way, you can point to how bad the other person is and feel better about yourself. When you adopt a humble attitude and work on forgiving yourself because you know God has exonerated you, it’s easier to forgive other people’s mistakes.

Zechariah 7-8, Revelation 18

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Avoid habits that can enslave you
28 DECEMBER 2021

‘If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.’
1 Corinthians 6:12 MSG

Paul said, ‘Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean…it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.’ If you’re serious about spiritual growth, look for opportunities to say no to yourself in small areas. Then one day you will be able to say it when it really counts.

Daniel started by saying no to eating the king’s food, and later was able to say no to bowing to the king’s idols. Zero in on the undisciplined areas of your life; the ones you keep excusing, rationalising, and delaying dealing with. Paul measured his actions by this yardstick: ‘Is it beneficial? Does it have the potential to control me?’ (see 1 Corinthians 6:12).
You have a ‘right’ to eat a tub of ice cream every night. It’s permissible – but it’s not ‘beneficial’, especially if you want unblocked arteries, a trim waistline, the ability to run a marathon, or to just keep up with your kids and grandkids. You have a ‘right’ to spend your money as you please, but don’t complain when you end up strangled by debt.

You have a ‘right’ to look at whatever you want on TV or the internet, but exposure to wrong influences will inevitably weaken your character, rob you of self-respect, and enslave you. Bottom line: your character is the sum total of the choices you make each day. And one more thought: when it comes to replacing bad habits with good ones, the only person who can make that happen is you!

Zechariah 9-10, Revelation 19

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Your heart must be circumcised
29 DECEMBER 2021

‘The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts…so that you may love him.’
Deuteronomy 30:6 NIV

Hebrew baby boys went through the rite of circumcision. It signified that they were in a covenant relationship with God in which He promised to protect, guide, and bless them. And in the New Testament, Paul ‘spiritualises’ this rite. ‘True circumcision…is a change of heart produced by [God’s] Spirit’ (Romans 2:29 NLT). Spiritually understood, circumcision means ‘cutting off’ anything that promotes and produces in us wrong impulses and actions. Jesus said, ‘Those whose hearts are pure…will see God’ (Matthew 5:8 NLT). When your heart is pure, you will be able to see God where others can’t and hear Him when others don’t. The word pure could be translated ‘without contamination’.

It’s the difference between a clear stream and a polluted one. It means your self-centred thinking is abandoned and your carnal nature is crucified. The difference between forgiveness and cleansing is like the difference between cutting off a weed at the ground and pulling it up by its roots. Forgiveness deals with the ‘result’ of sin – that’s easy to identify. But cleansing deals with the ‘cause’ of sin – that’s not so easy to identify because it deals with your natural traits and character flaws.

Forgiveness comes by confession, but cleansing comes by walking in the light: ‘If we walk in the light, as he is in the light…the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin’ (1 John 1:7 NIV). Do you keep asking God to forgive the same sins over and over? That’s because you need to experience true cleansing. Your heart needs to be circumcised. And that’s a job for the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah 11-12, Revelation 20

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You don’t have to hide anymore
30 DECEMBER 2021

‘God called to the man, “Where are you?”’
Genesis 3:9 NLT

When you don’t feel good about yourself, you use things like work, food, relationships, money, and mood-altering substances to build a wall and keep people from getting too close. But lasting relationships can only be built when you stop hiding and become transparent with others. Another hiding tactic we employ is keeping the focus on other people by asking, ‘How come she got a new house and I didn’t?’ Or, ‘Why did he get that job and not me?’ That kind of thinking just makes you miserable. But even worse than pretending with people is pretending with God. When God asked Adam, ‘Where are you?’ He already knew the answer. So why did He ask the question? Because He wanted Adam to acknowledge where he was and what he had become. Eric Hoffer said, ‘We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.’ Until you face the truth about yourself, you will find it hard to talk to God. You will feel lonely and alienated. And you will struggle to look people in the eye in case they see the ‘real you’. It’s time to come out of hiding, get down on your knees, and say: ‘Father, I know you love me. Nothing can change that or rob me of its joy except my own doubts and refusal to believe it. You loved me before I was born, you fashioned me according to your plan, you redeemed me and gave me a special purpose in the world, and you’re working day by day to make me into a person who pleases you’ (see Philippians 2:13). The good news is – you don’t have to hide anymore!

Zechariah 13-14, Revelation 21

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Believe in your vision
31 DECEMBER

2021‘I will pour out My Spirit.’
Joel 2:29 NKJV

God spoke through the prophet Joel saying, ‘Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and…maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days’ (vv. 28-29 NKJV). Regardless of your age or gender, God has a vision for you to fulfil. And sometimes it won’t make sense because you don’t feel qualified. In the musicall Man of La Mancha, there is a scene where Don Quixote and his servant stand gazing at a dilapidated inn. When Quixote describes his vision of turrets and magnificent gates, his servant tries hard to see the same picture, but all he can see are ruins. And when he attempts to describe them, Quixote says, ‘Stop! I will not allow your facts to interfere with my vision!’ Most great achievements begin as a vision in someone’s heart. And many times people try to convince the person it can’t be done – or that he or she can’t do it. Often this confirms the visionary’s deepest fears about his or her abilities. And that’s the crucial point! If you can disregard your critics and rise above your fears, God will enable you to fulfil the vision He has given you. But keep in mind that while your vision may come to you in an instant, it can take a lifetime to fulfil. Habakkuk writes, ‘The vision is…for an appointed time…Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come’ (Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV). A God-given dream often defies the facts, so if you have a vision, look for supporters, not critics. And when someone shares his or her vision with you, become a cheerleader.

Malachi 1-4, Revelation 22

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

This year, glorify God and enjoy Him
01 JANUARY 2022

‘Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’
1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV

In 1643, the Houses of Parliament in England abolished the Episcopal system of government in the Church of England. An assembly of one hundred and twenty-one ministers and thirty laypeople was called to Westminster Abbey to rebuild the English church. The documents coming out of that six-year assembly are some of the most famous in church history. The first question in the Shorter Westminster Catechism reads, ‘What is the chief end of man?’ Answer: ‘To glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.’ The implications of that question and answer are profound in their simplicity. And if you’re wise, you will make them a blueprint for your life this coming year. Glorify God. Obey God. Enjoy God. When you know your life is glorifying God, you enjoy His presence, but when you know your life is not glorifying God, you tend to avoid Him. And that’s bad, because without God’s presence in your life, what are your chances of true success? Not good! As you look back on last year, are there things you regret because you know that God was not glorified in them? Well, God is giving you a new year to do things differently. And if you’re making New Year’s resolutions, base every one of them on the foundation of this Scripture: ‘Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’ If you follow that rule, you will stay on the right path, and you will have the peace and joy of knowing your life is pleasing to the Lord. Whatever circumstances may arise, you will face them with peace and confidence, knowing that God is with you.

Genesis 1-3, Matthew 1

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

How to be fruitful (1)
02 JANUARY 2022

‘I chose you…that you might…bear fruit – fruit that will last.’
John 15:16 NIV

When Jesus said, ‘I chose you…that you might…bear fruit – fruit that will last,’ He was saying, ‘Spend your life in pursuit of that which has lasting significance and eternal value!’ What does He mean by ‘fruit’? ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). Those nine qualities describe the only life that’s truly worth living. Fortunately, you’re not left to produce this kind of fruit by self-effort. Indeed, you may as well try to pick yourself up by your own bootstraps! No, Jesus said this: ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful…No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing’ (John 15:1-2, 4-5 NIV). Who is Jesus speaking to? Believers. ‘Every branch in me’ (v. 2 NIV). Who is the gardener? ‘My Father is the gardener’ (v. 1 NIV). What’s His goal? For you to be ‘even more fruitful’ (v. 2 NIV). What’s the secret of fruitfulness? Constant contact and intimacy with Jesus. ‘If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit’ (v. 5 NIV). So, if you want to be more fruitful, draw closer to the Lord.

Luke 1:1-20, Psalms 1-3