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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

A time to be careful
19 JULY 2023

‘If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!’
1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV

The time to be careful is after you have reached your goals and you’re celebrating your victories. There are three crucial points in every battle, and believe it or not, the easiest one is sometimes the fight itself. The most difficult point is the period of indecision right before the conflict – whether to stand and fight or run away – the battle between faith and fear. But by far the most dangerous period is the aftermath. With your resources spent and your guard down, you need to watch for things like overconfidence, dulled reactions, and faulty judgment.

Remember King David’s story? ‘In the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle…David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened…he saw a woman bathing…Then David sent messengers, and took her’ (2 Samuel 11:1-2, 4 NKJV). Pay particular attention to the phrase, ‘Then it happened.’ David chose to stay home rather than go to battle. Who knows why? Maybe his impressive record of successes made him soft, or he got careless, or arrogant? It was only a brief affair, but it changed everything. His peace vanished, his character was ruined, and his family life destroyed.

Don’t fall prey to the perils of past victories! Remember your H.A.L.T. sign. When you’re Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired, you’re in a vulnerable place and need to be extra careful. Resting on your laurels is synonymous with flirting with disaster. Trouble awaits the man or woman who dwells in the comfortable land of accomplished dreams. So, the word for today is – ‘If you think you’re standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!’

Nehemiah12-13, Romans 9:16-33

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Are you being led or being driven?
20 JULY 2023

‘The thing…you are doing is not good. You will surely wear out.’
Exodus 18:17-18 NASB

Do you feel like there isn’t enough of you to go around? Like you’re on the cliff’s edge and about to go over? Perhaps because you’re doing much more than God intended you to do. You see, when God reveals His purpose for your life, He also gives you His power to carry it out. Usually it’s simple and remarkably sane. One of the surest ways to know you are walking in God’s will is that you will feel led, not driven.

Are you resting less and working more? Are you praying and reading your Bible less and worrying more? Maybe, like Moses, you’re dashing from one appointment to another: eating on the run, meeting deadlines, and trying to solve everybody’s problems while your own pile up. Others may have been impressed, but Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, wasn’t. ‘What is this thing…you are doing…?’ he asked (v. 14 NASB).

Not surprisingly, Moses became defensive. Too-busy people usually are. He attempted to justify his schedule, but Jethro didn’t buy it. Instead, he told Moses, ‘The thing…you are doing is not good. You will surely wear out.’ And what did he tell Moses to do? Shift gears and start sharing the load! (See vv. 22-23.) Then he bottom-lined it: ‘That will make your load lighter…you will be able to stand the strain’ (vv. 22-23 NIV).

Since when did stress become a sign of spirituality, or a seventy-hour work-week the mark of efficiency? Be honest: are you too stubborn to slow down, too insecure to say no, or too proud to ask for help? If so, talk to God about it.

Esther 1-2, Romans 10

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Start ‘meditating’ on the Scriptures
21 JULY 2023

‘Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.’
Psalm 119:97 NKJV

Andrew Murray wrote, ‘There is a direct connection between the degree to which you succeed in life and the time you spend meditating on God’s Word.’ God told Joshua, ‘Meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will…have good success’ (Joshua 1:8 NKJV). We live in the age of ADD. We once believed that if we had more material things, we would feel happier. But it doesn’t work. The more things we acquire, the more we have to protect, insure, maintain, stress out over, and keep up with. Jesus said, ‘One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses’ (Luke 12:15 NKJV).

So, what’s the answer? ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength’ (Isaiah 30:15 NKJV). In Pathways to Power, Merrill F. Unger writes: ‘This holy exercise of pondering over the Word, chewing it as an animal chews its cud to get its sweetness and nutritive virtue…takes time, which ill fits into the speed of our modern age. Today most Christians’ devotions are too hurried, their lives too rushed.’

The psalmist David said: ‘I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me’ (Psalm 63:6-8 NKJV). Slow down. Take time to meditate on God’s Word. Your survival, strength, and success depend on it.

Esther 3-5, Romans 11:1-18

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Try to be more gentle
22 JULY 2023

‘We were gentle among you.’
1 Thessalonians 2:7 NKJV

Bulldozers are good at demolishing things, but they’re useless at building things. With that picture in mind, ask yourself, ‘Do I use the force of my personality and the power of my position to impose my will on people and get them to do things my way?’ If your answer is yes, then understand this: those who are the most controlling are often the most afraid of being controlled!

Question: what do you fear would happen if you treated others with respect and considered their input, ideas, and choices? Is fear and intimidation the only way you can imagine of holding on to relationships? Wouldn’t you rather earn the love of others by being considerate rather than cruel, or are you willing to settle for fearful submission? If you need to, talk to a friend or counsellor and try to get to the root of the deeper issues that are driving your behaviour. Over the next week, try not to criticise or rob anyone of his or her right to choose. Remember that even God gives people the power of choice. And you’re not God. Keep this challenge going for two more weeks or for as long as it takes to get your controlling attitude under control.

Paul was prolific enough to write the epistles and powerful enough to raise the dead, yet he said, ‘We were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children’ (v. 7 NKJV). When people made mistakes, Paul said, ‘Restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted’ (Galatians 6:1 NKJV). So, the word for today is – try to be more gentle.

Esther 6-8, Romans 11:19-36

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

The bottom line on money
23 JULY 2023

‘There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing.’
Proverbs 13:7 NKJV

The Bible says, ‘There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches’ (v. 7 NKJV). It’s a blessing to have the things money can buy, as long as you don’t lose sight of the things it can’t buy. Money can buy whatever is for sale. But the greatest things in life, like your health and your relationships, can’t be bought because they’re not for sale. You could sum up much of what the Bible has to say about money with these three bottom-line statements:

1) What you are is more crucial than what you have. ‘Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich’ (Proverbs 28:6 NKJV).

2) What God sees in you is more crucial than what you have. ‘Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble’ (Proverbs 15:16 NKJV).

3) What others think of you is more crucial than what you have. ‘A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favour rather than silver and gold’ (Proverbs 22:1 NKJV).

Don’t worry about ‘keeping up with the Joneses’. The Joneses might be one step from bankruptcy or the divorce court. Furthermore, if you did catch up with the Joneses, they would just refinance. The truth is, you will never be happy with what you have until you learn to be happy with what others have – that you don’t have. The Bible tells us covetousness is a sin. And covetousness is simply failing to enjoy what God has given you!

Luke 13:22-35, Psalms 77-78

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Do you have an attitude of entitlement?
24 JULY 2023

‘By love serve one another.’
Galatians 5:13 KJV

Do you have an ‘I-O-YOU’ attitude or a ‘U-O-ME’ attitude? What gives us an attitude of entitlement? It’s found in the middle of the word entitlement itself: ‘title’. We assume people owe us because of the title we hold in their lives: wife, husband, mother, brother, daughter, friend, pastor, donor, employee, boss, etc. We think of our title as a title deed that gives us the right to whatever advantage we expect. Paul described the essence of discipleship in these words: ‘By love serve one another.’ If you have an attitude of entitlement, here are some strategies to help you overcome it:

1) Understand the difference between your ‘rights’ and your ‘desires’. You have the right to expect your husband or wife to be faithful to you, but you don’t have the right to expect them to wait on you hand and foot. ‘For God so loved…that he gave’ (John 3:16 KJV). True love is marked by giving, not taking.

2) Live by the Golden Rule (see Matthew 7:12). Jesus said that whatever you want others to do for you, take the initiative and begin doing it for them. You say, ‘But what if they don’t return the favour?’ God will reward you anyway! ‘He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do’ (Hebrews 6:10 NLT).

3) Never assume that a person’s past kindness creates an ongoing obligation to you. God may use others to bless you, but He alone must always be the source you trust to meet your needs (see James 1:17).

Esther 9-10, Romans 12

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

They will come back to it
25 JULY 2023

‘Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.’
Proverbs 22:6 NLT

When your child begins to toddle and talk, plant God’s Word deep in their heart. That doesn’t guarantee they won’t go astray. Many of us got it wrong before we finally got it right. Just make sure they know where ‘the right path’ is.

Picture a salmon being spawned in the River Severn, then as it matures, it swims downstream and begins its long migration to the North Atlantic. The salmon swims for thousands of miles. Then, as if by command, it begins the long journey back to its place of spawning. And it not only locates the spot where it entered the ocean, but the estuary, the river, and the exact inlet from which it had been released. In one documented story, a salmon worked its way up through a drain and pushed through a hefty, screened lid atop a three-foot vertical pipe, and ended up in the same tank where it was hatched. Unique markings on its fin confirmed this.

‘Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.’ That Scripture means, give your children a taste of the things of God when they’re young, and when they grow older, the world won’t satisfy their taste and they will return to their spiritual roots. Faithfully do your part, and trust God to do His. Your part now is to instruct, love, and pray for them. God’s part is to draw them back. And He will, for He loves them even more than you do!

Job 1-2, Romans 13

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Showing love and respect
26 JULY 2023

‘Love one another…giving precedence and showing honour to one another.’
Romans 12:10 AMPC

One of the first signs of trouble in a marriage is taking each other for granted. And it happens subtly, like a weed growing up and choking a rose.

Dr James Dobson writes: 'One of the best ways to keep a marriage healthy is to maintain a system of mutual accountability within the context of love. This is done by protecting what I call the “line of respect”…Let me illustrate. Suppose I work in my office two hours longer than usual…knowing that my wife, Shirley, is at home preparing a special candlelight dinner. If I don’t call to let her know I’ll be late, you can bet that I’m going to hear about it when I get home. Shirley would see my behaviour as insulting – and she’d be right. So she’d say, in effect, “Jim, what you did was selfish, and I can’t let it pass.” In those few words, and probably a few more, she would have spoken her mind in love and held me accountable for my disrespect. Then we would move on together.

'In a healthy marriage, some things are worth defending, and mutual respect is at the top of the list. This doesn’t mean you should nag, insult, publicly embarrass your mate, or point out insignificant indiscretions that should be overlooked. But a workable system of “checks and balances” can keep your marriage on course when issues of respect are at stake. This kind of mutual accountability is the best way I know to avoid an unexpected explosion when stored resentment and anger reach a critical mass.’ So: ‘Love one another…giving precedence and showing honour to one another.’

Job 3-4, Romans 14

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Don’t quarrel about it
27 JULY 2023

‘Stop before a dispute breaks out.’
Proverbs 17:14 NLT

Have you seen the bumper sticker that reads, ‘People who think they know it all are especially annoying to those of us who do?’ You will find know-it-alls everywhere. Older people afraid of uselessness struggle to prove they still have some superior amount of knowledge. Religious people use their convictions like a club to beat others over the head. The Bible says, ‘Earnestly contend for the faith’ (Jude v. 3 KJV). But there is a difference between contending and being contentious.

Paul writes: ‘Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful’ (2 Timothy 2:23-24 NIV). Note these four phrases:

1) ‘Must not be quarrelsome.’ Don’t argue, just plant the seeds of God’s Word and trust the Holy Spirit to work in people’s hearts.

2) ‘Be kind to everyone.’ There is no need to be hostile, demeaning, or disagreeable with someone who doesn’t share your viewpoint. What’s driving you towards such unkindness? Must you prove people mistaken to validate your self-worth?

3) ‘Able to teach.’ Instead of trying to force your opinions on someone, simply say, ‘Here is what I have discovered in God’s Word, and here is the difference it has made in my life.’ Your experience is never at the mercy of someone else’s argument.

4) ‘Not resentful.’ Only when your own hurts have been healed can God use you to heal the hurts of others.

So, pray: ‘Father, make me an instrument of peace so that people will be open to the truths you reveal to them through me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’

Job 5-7, Romans 15:1-13

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Prophecy fulfilled
28 JULY 2023

‘Declaring…from ancient times things that are not yet done.’
Isaiah 46:10 NKJV

How can you be sure the Bible is divinely inspired and therefore worthy of your trust? By prophecy fulfilled! No other religion has specific, repeated, and unfailing fulfilment of predictions made many years in advance of events over which the predictor had no control. Finite human beings know the future only if it’s told to them by an infinite being. And God provided this evidence for us so we would know that the Scriptures have a divine author: ‘For I am God…Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done’ (vv. 9-10 NKJV).

The Bible’s sixty-six books, written between 1400 BC and AD 90, contain approximately 3,856 verses concerned with prophecy. And here is the best part! Over 25 per cent of the entire Bible contains specific predictive prophecies that have already been fulfilled – literally. Sir Isaac Newton said, ‘I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatsoever.’

You ask, ‘Then how come some people don’t believe the Bible?’ Because they haven’t opened their hearts to God! Paul writes: ‘No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches…the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned’ (1 Corinthians 2:11-14 NKJV).

Job 8-10, Romans 15:14-33