[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Listen to the right voice
24 MARCH 2022

‘This is the way; walk in it.’
Isaiah 30:21 NIV

A respected author, along with her husband and friends, were on a mountaintop discussing which direction to go. One man said, ‘That’s south!’ Another countered, ‘No, that’s east.’ Everybody threw in their two-pennies’ worth, until finally the woman’s husband produced a compass and said, ‘We can settle this real fast.’ Within seconds the compass confirmed they were, in fact, facing due west! The only reliable source had the final say, and nobody was about to argue with it. In the course of a day, many voices vie for your attention, and some that sound like experts can be dead wrong. Bottom line: you had better know which voice to listen to, because if you look only at your circumstances, you will become disoriented. An unexpected phone call, a floundering relationship, a lost job, or a sick child can make north look like south and east look like west. When that happens, it’s easy to lose your bearings, jump to conclusions, and end up on the wrong path. The Bible says, ‘Whether you turn…right or…left, your ears will hear a voice…saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”’ There is only one true source of wisdom and truth, and Peter recognised that when he asked, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’ (John 6:68 NIV). You don’t need to know every detail in advance; that’s not how God works. Often, He doesn’t show us the big picture because we would be overwhelmed and think it was impossible. He wants to develop in you an unshakeable trust in His character and goodness; an acceptance that in order to fulfil His plan, you must depend on His strength.

Deuteronomy 13-15, Mark 12:28-44

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Have you sinned? God will forgive you!
25 MARCH 2022

‘He is faithful…to forgive us our sins.’
1 John 1:9 KJV

The story of David and Bathsheba is the stuff movies are made of – lust, adultery, premarital pregnancy, murder, and cover-up. And it looked like David was home free, except for one important detail: ‘The thing that David had done displeased the Lord’ (2 Samuel 11:27 NKJV). In the Bible, God refers to David as ‘a man after his own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14 NLT), but the same Bible says, ‘Be sure your sin will find you out’ (Numbers 32:23 KJV). So God sent the prophet Nathan to tell David, ‘I made you king…So why have you treated the word of God with…contempt?’ (2 Samuel 12:7, 9 MSG). Then God passed sentence: ‘Because you despised me…I am going to bring calamity on you…before all Israel’ (2 Samuel 12:10-12 NIV). From that day on, tragedy and turmoil plagued David’s family. On many levels, ‘the way of transgressors is hard’ (Proverbs 13:15 KJV), not the least of which is that sometimes God takes away your peace so that you will acknowledge your sin. It took an unplanned pregnancy, the murder of an innocent man, a child’s death, a prophet’s persuasion, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit before David’s heart softened and he admitted, ‘I have sinned against the Lord’ (2 Samuel 12:13 NIV). And when he prayed those words, God treated David’s sin the same way He treats ours: ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9 KJV). As long as you keep excusing, defending, and rationalising your sin, God can do nothing for you. But the minute you confess it to Him, He will forgive you. Isn’t that wonderful?

Deuteronomy 16-18, Mark 13:1-20

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Heaven is real
26 MARCH 2022

‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’
Revelation 21:5 NIV

John the revelator wrote: ‘I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is…among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true”’ (vv. 2-5 NIV). When an atheist died and his friends filed by his casket, one of them remarked, ‘How sad – all dressed up and nowhere to go!’ Not so for the believer! As a redeemed child of God, you’re assured of a home in heaven and citizenship in ‘the new Jerusalem’. John continues, ‘The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city’ (v. 15 NIV). The city is an exact square of about fourteen hundred miles (see v. 16 NIV). It would stretch from the Carolinas to California and from Canada to Mexico. It’s approximately twenty-one times the size of the UK, ten times the size of France, and bigger than India. And that’s just the ground floor! It’s as tall as it is wide; six hundred thousand storeys high – more than enough room for billions of people to come and go. So here is the question: when you die, will you go to heaven?

Deuteronomy 19-21, Mark 13:21-37

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Mother, you’re a blessing!
27 MARCH 2022

‘Her children…call her blessed; her husband…praises her.’
Proverbs 31:28 NKJV

When it comes to motherhood, this sign on a church bulletin board says it all: If evolution is true, how come mothers still only have two hands? Seriously, Mum, today we stop to salute you and let you know how much we appreciate you. Some days you probably wonder if what you’re doing even matters. Your work is never done…you’re always exhausted…and there’s no big financial reward. We live in an age that seems to diminish service and exalt glitz…sometimes it’s hard to value your investment. But hear this: God says you’re highly esteemed by Him, and that children are some of His most precious gifts (see Psalm 127:3). Eugene Peterson paraphrases Solomon’s words in The Message by describing a mother as someone who ‘senses the worth of her work…faces tomorrow with a smile…has something worthwhile to say, and…always says it kindly…Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise’ (Proverbs 31:18-19 MSG). Then Peterson finishes the chapter with these words: ‘Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!’(v. 31 MSG). So Mum, while your role isn’t defined by a pay cheque or a promotion, you’re vitally important to your family and your children’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Nobody can take your place! Samuel was one of Israel’s greatest prophets, but who was the driving force in his life? His mother, Hannah! When Samuel was born she said, ‘I am giving him to the Lord for as long as he lives’ (1 Samuel 1:28 TLB). Mother, you matter more than you know. God is moulding tomorrow’s leaders in your hands.

Luke 6:1-26, Psalms 33-34

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Be a restorer (1)
28 MARCH 2022

‘You who live by the Spirit should restore.’
Galatians 6:1 NIV

Sometimes when we fall we can get up by ourselves; other times we need someone to help us. And sadly, not all Christians are willing to help. Sometimes they feel that by extending grace to someone they are condoning their sin. But Paul knocked that argument down when he wrote, ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). Why should we be restorers? 1) Because God tells us to. ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves…you also may be tempted’ (Galatians 6:1 NIV). It’s pride that causes us to point an accusing finger instead of extending a helping hand to those who fall. It makes us think we’re better than someone else; incapable of falling like they did. You would be surprised what you would do in certain circumstances! Paul writes, ‘We are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so…self-confident…You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else’ (1 Corinthians 10:12 MSG). 2) Because Jesus is our example. Jesus had no time for the Pharisees who hid their sins behind a religious mask. But not one time did He condemn someone who was caught in sin and overtaken by temptation and failure. The minute they reached for Him, He willingly restored them. Someone has said the church is the only army that shoots its wounded. Today, others are watching us to see if the grace we preach to others is the same grace we extend to one another. Let’s not disappoint them.

Deuteronomy 22-24, Mark 14:1-26

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Be a restorer (2)
29 MARCH 2022

‘And that is what some of you were.’
1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV

After listing some of the worst sins imaginable, Paul told the Corinthians, ‘And that is what some of you were. But you were…justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God’ (v. 11 NIV). So, before you pass sentence on someone else, remember what God has lifted you out of! Many of us think a ‘good’ sermon is one that goes over our head and hits our neighbour squarely between the eyes! In Scripture, the word restore has two shades of meaning. One is to remove a tumour. A tumour can kill you, and it needs to be removed. Paul writes, ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently…in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:1-2 NIVUK). Make no mistake, sharing someone’s shame and humiliation can be a burden. Nevertheless, ‘we should do it…[giving] special attention to those…in the family of believers’ (Galatians 6:10 NCV). If you tend to be quick to condemn others – something we have all done from time to time – ask yourself this question: if people don’t find grace among the people who preach it, where can they find it? The other means to reset a broken bone. Scripture tells us, ‘Christ makes us one body…connected to each other’ (Romans 12:5 GWT). In fact, your spiritual family is more important than your earthly family because it will last forever. By lifting a fallen family member, you help heal their pain and enable them to become a vital, functioning part of Christ’s body again. So, the word for today is – be a restorer.

Deuteronomy 25-27, Mark 14:27-52

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Self-control
30 MARCH 2022

‘You can do this by adding…self-control.’
2 Peter 1:5-6 CEV

Ever notice how we tend to blame our circumstances for our character deficiencies? We attribute our problems to poor upbringing, financial difficulties, or other people’s shortcomings. Your circumstances may be beyond your control – but your character isn’t. You can no more blame your character flaws on circumstances than you can blame a mirror for how you look. Integrity is always a choice, and every time you make a character-based decision, you take a step forward in your spiritual growth. Think about the times you have faced temptation and adversity. Jot them down, and beside each one, note your choice: to escape, excuse, capitulate, avoid, persevere, or overcome. What problem areas can you identify? How can you do better? If the things you listed were due to circumstances beyond your control, then choose to take greater control of your life. How? ‘By adding…self-control’ to your arsenal. Our lives resemble icebergs, in that 15 per cent is visible; that’s our reputation. The rest, our character, is hidden below the surface. Character is what we think but don’t necessarily share. It’s based on what we do when nobody’s looking, how we handle life’s little aggravations, how we handle failure – and success. At the end of a brilliant career, Joshua challenged Israel with these words: ‘Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord’ (Joshua 24:15 NIV). Character is based on self-control, and self-control is about making the right choices. And the good news is, you don’t have to do it alone: ‘God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him’ (Philippians 2:13 CEV).

Deuteronomy 28-29, Mark 14:53-72

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Yoked together with Jesus
31 MARCH 2022

‘Take the yoke I give you.’
Matthew 11:29 CEV

Jesus spoke to people who had given up on religion. People who were burned out trying – and failing – to observe a long list of rules and regulations. Here is what He told them: ‘If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light’ (vv. 28-30 CEV). The ‘yoke’ Jesus spoke of was a harness that went around the necks of two oxen so they could pull the plough in the same direction. In each team of oxen, one was the leader and the other would follow. There is an important lesson here – don’t miss it. Jesus will take the lead, but you must stay in sync with Him to enjoy His blessing on your life. He promises His yoke won’t choke you; it won’t be wearisome or confining, and you won’t chafe under it. In fact, if you want to be truly free, you must let yourself be yoked to Jesus by submitting your will to His. But it doesn’t work to accept Christ’s yoke for a while and then start pulling the other way when things don’t go the way you want. When you do, the load gets heavier and you start to feel worn out. Peace and rest come when you relax in the yoke and let Christ lead. Jesus said, ‘You will find rest.’ That means your options are to resist Him or to rest in Him! Which will it be?

Deuteronomy 30-31, Mark 15:1-24

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Living by faith
01 APRIL 2022

‘The just shall live by faith.’
Hebrews 10:38 KJV

Living by faith is something you learn to do by practising it daily. Before you became a Christian, you trusted in your own ability and intellect. But those things only took you so far and no further, right? Now you’re trusting God for the wisdom, guidance, resources, and ability to fulfil His will for your life.

The Bible tells us, ‘By faith Noah…prepared an ark for the saving of his household’ (Hebrews 11:7 NKJV). Think about it: when Noah built the ark, there was no sign of rain. Living by faith doesn’t always make sense. It doesn’t mean your problems will vanish into thin air.

Sometimes faith changes your circumstances; other times it changes your perspective. How? By giving you the tenacity to hang in there when the cheque doesn’t come in the post, or the doctor says the condition is incurable, or your spouse asks for a divorce, or the kids are running amok, or the company where you have worked for the last twenty years closes its doors. Faith gives you the fortitude to endure, confident that God will work things out on your behalf.

Paul tells us, ‘Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see’ (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). Living by faith means 1) obeying God and believing He will never let you down, 2) following in the footsteps of ordinary people who did extraordinary things for God, and 3) using your faith because you know it’s the only currency heaven recognises.

When the Bible says, ‘The just shall live by faith,’ it doesn’t mean little, sporadic bursts of faith; it means making faith a lifestyle.

Deuteronomy 32-34, Mark 15:25-47

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Choose peace
02 APRIL 2022

‘The Holy Spirit…will produce…in us…peace.’
Galatians 5:22 TLB

Panic and anxiety are often our first reactions to conflict and problems. In those initial moments, choosing peace seems impossible. Your subconscious whispers, ‘If you really care, you will worry.’ But a seasoned counsellor writes: ‘Don’t panic! No matter what the situation or circumstance, we usually have…a moment to breathe deeply and…let peace flow through our body and mind…Panic, not the task, is the enemy.’ Anxiety just empowers and enlarges the problem. Your best problem-solving resource is always peace. Fear and anxiety block solutions; answers flow more easily and naturally from a peaceful state of mind. And God’s peace is always available to us – if we choose to use it.

Paul writes, ‘When the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce…in us…peace.’ Refuse to let your negative emotions run amok or decide your response. Jesus said, ‘[Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful…intimidated…cowardly and unsettled]’ (John 14:27 AMPC). That means you have options; you can choose between peace and inner conflict.

In the same verse, Jesus also said, ‘My [own] peace I…bequeath to you’ (v. 27 AMPC), and ‘bequeath’ relates to executing a will. When someone dies, they leave their most cherished possessions to the people they love. But just because Jesus left us His peace doesn’t mean it will automatically operate in us. Plus, when we lose our peace, it’s harder to hear from God. When Paul says, ‘Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule…in your hearts’ (Colossians 3:15 AMPC), the word ‘rule’ means ‘to govern and to control’. So instead of letting yourself get anxious and panicky today, choose peace.

Joshua 1-3, Mark 16