APRIL 30, 2014. WHAT WILL YOU LEAVE BEHIND?

WEDNESDAY APRIL 30

“A good man leaves an inheritance.”  Pr 13:22 NIV

WHAT WILL YOU LEAVE BEHIND?

Paul probably didn’t leave any money or real estate when he died, but he did leave a legacy--a superior one! His legacy was his writings, those he won to Christ, those he mentored, and his enduring influence. Every day your life touches other lives in unseen ways. You don’t have to know someone personally in order to experience the blessing of their legacy. Like walking into an empty room and catching a whiff of someone’s perfume, your impact can continue to be felt long after you’re gone. Usually we associate legacies with dying, and we don’t particularly like the topic. Or we assume since our legacy won’t be revealed for years, we don’t need to start investing in it now. In some cases we feel like we’ve little or no control over what we leave behind anyway. Not so: “A good man leaves an inheritance.” What will yours be? More importantly, what’s it going to cost you? Since the best gifts aren’t always handed down in your will, why not try for something more meaningful--something that points to who you were? It’s one thing to measure success by the money in your bank account, the size of your real estate holdings, and the value of your stock portfolio. It’s entirely another to measure it by intangibles like being a faithful marriage partner, raising great kids, building God’s kingdom, and leaving your light burning brightly when you go. All great legacies come with a price tag. To move beyond mediocrity, you must invest every day in the accounts of those who follow you!

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 29, 2014. THREE OBSTACLES

TUESDAY APRIL 29

“Remove the obstacles out of the way.”  Isa 57:14 NIV

THREE OBSTACLES

In Bible days marathons weren't run on smooth tracks, but over pathways filled with obstacles that could cause a runner to stumble and lose the race. Here are three obstacles you need to look out for as you run your life’s race: (1) An unforgiving attitude. “If you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trepasses” (Mk 11:26 NKJV). When the mention of someone’s name triggers resentment, stop and pray, “Father, I forgive them as You’ve forgiven me. Whatever I ask for myself in blessing, I ask for them in double measure.” When you retaliate, you deny God the right to show mercy and deal with the situation His way. Don’t play God. You’ve received mercy--pass it on! (2) An unhealthy relationship. Paul writes, “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Co 15:33 NLT). On the journey of life you get to choose your traveling companions. If you give your time to those who aren’t worthy of it, you’ve no right to complain. Become more selective. Choose your friends from among those who share your values, understand your God-given purpose, and strengthen you. (3) An undecided heart. Paul writes, “I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize” (Php 3: 13-14 TLB). A decided heart is the result of a made-up mind. It’s what separates winners from the losers. Pour your life into something more than self-interest; commit to a purpose that will outlive you!

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 28, 2014. WHEN GOD “SHOWS” IT TO YOU

MONDAY APRIL 28

“Their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”  Lk 24:31 NIV

WHEN GOD “SHOWS” IT TO YOU

One day Jesus touched the eyes of a blind man and he exclaimed, “I see men as trees, walking” (Mk 8:24). In other words, “I see something, but it’s not completely clear yet.” So Jesus touched him again, cleared his perceptions, removed his limitations, and set him free to become the man God made him to be. Without a God-given vision you’ll stumble through life blind to who God is and what He can do; blind to who you are and what He can accomplish through you. Thomas Edison “saw” incandescent light before the first electric bulb ever glowed. It’s what sustained him through thousands of failed experiments. Bill Gates “saw” a PC in every office and home, while the so-called experts were busy announcing, “It’ll never happen on our lifetime.” Forty years before Israel set foot in the Promised Land, Moses “saw” it (See Heb 11:27). God can be doing all sorts of things, yet you don’t see them because you’re spiritually blind. Remember the two disciples on the Emmaus Road? It was only after Jesus had walked with them for seven miles and explained the Scriptures to them that we read, “Their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” When you begin to see God at work in your situation, your fear is diminished and your faith is strengthened. How does He reveal Himself? At church? Sometimes. But mostly He opens His Word and our understanding, and we start to see Him in a way we never have before. So today pray, “Open my eyes that I may see” (Ps 119:18 NIV).

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 27, 2014. WAIT!

SUNDAY APRIL 27

“After waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.”  Heb 6:15 NIV

WAIT!

When you’re praying for something, the last thing you want to hear God say is “wait!” But sometimes He does. And in order to walk with Him you must learn to be patient, because He works according to His schedule and not yours. All your praying and pleading won’t accelerate the process, it’ll just frustrate you. Furthermore, if life has indulged your every want and whim, learning to wait on God will be like going through spiritual rehab. When Abraham was seventy-five, God promised to make him “a father of many nations” (Ge 17:4 NKJV). But he had to wait twenty-four more years before he “received what was promised.” Waiting isn’t simply something you do in order to get what you want; waiting produces patience, maturity, understanding, and character. What God accomplishes in you while you’re waiting is often more important than the thing you’re waiting for. “You need to preserve so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Heb 10:36 NIV). Now, waiting isn’t an excuse for dodging reality, shirking your responsibility, or not doing the right thing. For example, if you’re up to your eyeballs in debt due to overspending, don’t sit around waiting for God to send you a big check. Learn to discipline yourself and adopt sound financial principles like tithing, budgeting, and doing without it until you can pay for it. Above all, waiting means making a decision to trust and obey God when things aren’t going the way you planned. It’s saying,”Lord, I’m counting on You, and I don’t have a backup plan.”

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 26, 2014. LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON (3)

SATURDAY APRIL 26

“When he finally came to his senses.”  Lk 15:17 NLT

LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON (3)

The Prodigal Son’s journey to ruin didn’t happen overnight. It was a slow, steady buildup, like cholesterol in your arteries. He took his father’s blessings for granted and stopped being grateful. No wonder David wrote, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities...heals all your diseases...redeems your life from destruction...crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies...who satisfies your mouth with good things” (Ps 103: 1-5 NKJV). The Prodigal Son was from one of the best families in town, yet he ended up penniless, friendless, eating with pigs, trying to satisfy a legitimate hunger in an illegitimate way. Why do we get involved in extramarital affairs, go on drinking and drug binges, or work ourselves to death and sacrifice our families in the process? Because inside each of us is an emptiness that nothing and no one but God can fill. Jesus said, “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself...I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned’” (Lk 15: 17-18 NLT). If you let Him, God will stop you in the nick of time. He will remind you of who you are and where you belong. You will start seeing the mud you’re wallowing in, the false friends, the empty achievements, the people around you who are no happier than you. If that’s where you are right now, come home. Your Father is waiting to wipe your slate clean. He still loves you. Tell the Devil, “I’ve changed my mind. I’m going home.”

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 25, 2014. LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON (2)

FRIDAY APRIL 25

“[He] wasted his substance.”  Lk 15:13

LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON (2)

The Prodigal Son told his father, “I want it all, now!” To know whether something is good for you or not, you need to understand where the desire for it came from. Loving parents don’t give their children things because they cry for them, they reward them for acting responsibly. They know what’s age-appropriate. And God is a loving parent. We all know good, well-intentioned people whose talents elevated them. Yet they crashed and burned because of some immature, undisciplined area in their life. Please listen to your heavenly Father and don’t leave home until He says you’re ready! The Prodigal “wasted his substance with riotous living.” Note the word “substance.” Satan is after more than your material possessions; he’s after your character, your self esteem, your staying power, and your life’s purpose. Like the Prodigal Son, you can reach a place where you lose the desire for life itself. It’s possible to bask in the accolades of others and think you’re going places in your life, yet be only a few steps from the hog pen. The Bible says, “He...joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine” (v. 15). Note the word “joined.” To gauge where you are spiritually, look at who you’re “joined” to. The company you keep is like a compass that points you in the direction you’re headed. And that compass doesn’t lie. But there’s hope. When the Prodigal Son returned home, his father was waiting for him with open arms. And your heavenly Father is  waiting for you too, so come while you still can.

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 24, 2014. LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON (1)

THURSDAY APRIL 24

“I want my share...now.”  Lk 15:12 NLT

LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON (1)

The Prodigal Son made two mistakes: (1) He rejected his father’s authority. The first step that gets you into trouble is the one that takes you away from God. Like the Prodigal, you leave home saying, “Give me.” And if you’re fortunate enough to survive your own best thinking, you come back home saying, “Forgive me.” God loves you. Everything you need, He has already provided! (2) He left his father’s house. The Devil will do whatever it takes to get you out from under God’s influence and protection. He’ll put a restless spirit in you so that nothing makes you happy. Two areas he will work the hardest to generate discontent in are: (a) Your marriage.  That’s why you constantly need to work on it. The reason there are weeds in your garden instead of roses is because you don’t spend enough time working there. Your marriage isn’t just a covenant before God, it’s a shelter for your passions and dysfunctions. Furthermore, that “other person” who looks so attractive to you has baggage too. And when they move in they’ll bring it with them! (b) Your church. Who feeds you spiritually? Who monitors your growth in God? Would you let your children stay home from school because they don’t like the teacher or don’t want to learn? Come on, be sensible! God says His Word is like “a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces” (Jer 23:29 NKJV). When the hammer of God’s Word falls in church next Sunday morning--you need to be under it. You should say, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Ps 122:1).

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 23, 2014. YOUR FAITH IS A CATALYST

WEDNESDAY APRIL 23

“The message...did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith.”  Heb 4:2 AMP

YOUR FAITH IS A CATALYST

A catalyst facilitates change; it makes things happen! For example, Alka-Seltzer without water has no effervescence, flour without yeast produces no bread, seeds without sunshine means no flowers, blue without yellow means no green, and egg without sperm means no baby, a spark without air produces no flame. Faith makes God’s Word work in your life. Without it nothing happens. Talking about the Israelites, Paul said, “When the good news of deliverance...came to them...the message...did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith.” One author says: “Without specific catalysts certain results can never be achieved. To make spiritual progress it’s not to read the Bible or listen to sermons. The activating ingredient to understanding is faith. After we hear God’s message we must act on it...Maybe you’re expecting bitterness or anger because of a failed relationship and God told you to put those emotions behind you, but you lack the will to do it. Let me encourage you, trust God’s Word and act in faith. His promises will bloom in your life once you activate your faith.” Faith is not intellectual assent, or paying lip service to what you read in God’s Word. It’s acting on it, confident that God will do what He promised. There’s a difference between faith and trust. You may believe a chair will hold you, but only when you sit down and put your full weight on it are you trusting it. Getting the idea?

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 22, 2014. THE ROOT AND THE FRUIT

TUESDAY APRIL 22

“A tree is known by its fruit.”  Mt 12:33 NKJV

THE ROOT AND THE FRUIT

In a letter to George Whitefield, a leader of the Great Awakening, Benjamin Franklin wrote: “I can only show my gratitude for those mercies from God, by a readiness to help his other children and my brethren. For I do not not think that thanks and compliments, though repeated weekly, can discharge our real obligations to each other, and much less those to our Creator. You will see in this my notion of good works, that I am far from expecting to merit heaven by them. By heaven we understand a state of happiness, infinite in degree, and eternal in duration. I can do nothing to deserve such rewards...The faith you mention has certainly its use in the world. I no not desire to see it diminished nor would I endeavor to lessen it in any man. But I wish it were more productive of good works than I have generally seen it; I mean real good works; works of kindness, charity, mercy, and public spirit; not holiday-keeping, sermon-reading or hearing; performing church ceremonies, or making long prayers filled with flatteries and compliments...The worship of God is a duty; the hearing and reading of sermons may be useful; but if men rest in hearing and praying, as too many do, it is as if a tree should value itself for being watered and putting forth leaves, though it never produce any fruit.” In aiming to declare that salvation is by grace and not works, never forget that saving faith always produces good works! Faith is the root of salvation. But deeds of generosity and kindness are the fruit of salvation--and “a tree is known by its fruit.”

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 21, 2014. HE WON! (2)

MONDAY APRIL 21

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”  Jn 1:14 NIV

HE WON! (2)

How hell must have celebrated the day Jesus was crucified! “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...the only begotten of the Father” (v. 14 NKJV). Yet He had just died on a cross. But Satan’s big party ended abruptly! One author writes: “In the most ironic twist of all history, what Satan meant for evil, God meant for good. Jesus’ death bridged the gap between a perfect God and a fatally flawed humanity. On Good Friday God defeated sin, routed death, triumphed over Satan, and got his family back...He took the worst deed of history and turned it into the greatest victory. No wonder Jesus commanded that we never forget. Because of the cross we have hope. It’s through the Servant’s wondrous wounds, not His miracles, that we are healed (See Isa 53:5). And if God can wrest such triumph from the jaws of apparent defeat...what might He do with the apparent failures and hardships of our lives? Nothing--not even the murder of His Son--can end the relationship between God and human beings. In the alchemy [transformation] of redemption, the most villainous crime becomes our healing strength. The fatally wounded healer came back on Easter, the day that gives us a sneak preview of how all history will look from the vantage point of eternity, when every scar...hurt and disappointment will be seen in a different light. Faith begins where it might have seemed to end. Between the cross and the empty tomb hovers the promise of history: hope for the world, and hope for each of us who lives in it.” 

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 20, 2014. HE WON! (1)

EASTER SUNDAY--APRIL 20

“He made a public spectacle of them.”  Col 2:15 NIV

HE WON! (1) 

The cross is universally recognized as symbolizing the Christian faith. We’ve all seen baseball players crossing themselves before going to bat...jewelry stores sell gold crosses...and bakers celebrate Easter with hot cross buns. One author says: “Christianity has become a religion of the cross--the gallows, the electric chair, the gas chamber, in modern terms. Normally we think of someone who dies a criminal’s death as a failure. Yet Paul would later reflect that ‘Christ...forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code...that was against us...He took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.’ On one level I think of individuals in our own time who disarmed the powers. Racist sheriffs who imprisoned Martin Luther King Jr….the Soviets who deported Solzhenitsyn...the authorities who imprisoned Nelson Mandela...all thought they were solving a problem. Instead they ended up unmasking their own violence and injustice...When Jesus died, even a gruff Roman soldier was moved to exclaim, ‘This man certainly was the Son of God’ (Mt 27:54 NIV)...He saw the contrast between his brutish colleagues and their victim Who forgave them in His dying gasp. The pale figure nailed to a crossbeam revealed the ruling powers as false gods who broke their own lofty promises of piety and justice. Religion, not irreligion, accused Jesus; the law, not lawlessness had him executed. By their rigged trials...scourging...and violent opposition to Jesus, the political and religious authorities exposed themselves for what they were...Each assault...laid bare their illegitimacy, yet in the end--He won!”

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 19, 2014. THE WONDER OF EASTER

SATURDAY APRIL 19

“Like a lamb to the slaughter.”  Isa 53:7 NIV

THE WONDER OF EASTER

Journalist-missionary Pierre van Paassen tells how prior to World War II, Nazi soldiers arrested an aging rabbi, stripped him naked, and demanded that he preach the sermon he’d prepared for the following Sabbath. With great dignity the old man asked if he could wear his yarmulke and his captors agreed, thinking it added greatly to the joke. Then, while they jeered and prodded him, the elderly rabbi talked about what it means to walk humbly before God. Phil Yancey writes: “When I read of the torture and execution of Jesus, I think of that naked rabbi standing humiliated in a police station. And I can’t fathom the indignity and shame endured by God’s Son...the bullying game of Blind Man’s Bluff in the high priest’s courtyard...the professional thuggery of Pilate’s and Herod’s guards...the cat-calls of spectators up the long road to Calvary, and finally the cross itself...I marvel at the self-restraint God showed throughout history, allowing the Genghis Khans, the Hitlers, and  the Stalins to have their way. But nothing compares to the self-restraint shown that dark Friday in Jerusalem...Legions of angels awaited His command. One word and the ordeal would end.” Isaiah said, “He was “led like a lamb to  the slaughter, and...he did not open his mouth.” Jesus could have “appealed to His Father, and He would have provided more than 80,000 angels” (See Mt 26:53 AMP). Instead He chose to endure the cross and its shame to save you. That’s the wonder of Easter!

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 18, 2014. YOU GET ANOTHER SHOT!

GOOD FRIDAY--APRIL 18

“‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom’...Jesus said...’Today you will be with Me in Paradise.’”  Lk 23:42-43 NKJV 

YOU GET ANOTHER SHOT!

Author Charles Swindoll writes: “If ever there was a deathbed conversion, that was it. The thief lived his entire life a sinner, a hoodlum...in no way did he prove himself worthy...so what had he done to receive eternal life? What did Jesus accept? Faith--simple, unadulterated, unproved faith in Christ. That’s all God requires and all we can offer. The snapshot of Jesus’ life the thief saw, convinced him He was the Son of God. Their dialogue teaches us three important truths: (1) No one is ever too far gone. Think of someone you’ve written off...’Oh, they’ll never come to know Christ. I’ve tried everything...he’s never going to respond.’ When you’re tempted to think anyone is beyond the reach of grace, remember the criminal on the cross. (2) Your real message is your life. Socrates once called words ‘stupid things.’ When your life draws the attention of lost people, you have sufficient proof to back up the words you use. When you let God do the work in their lives, and yours, you’ll be amazed how He brings the appropriate words. (3) All God requires and accepts is simple faith. If you’re working hard to earn your way into the Kingdom...you’re on the wrong path. Think about it--how many works will be enough? When salvation is by faith, all the work and all the glory are God’s. Never doubt your acceptance into His family when you come His way. The thief didn’t doubt...He didn’t have to make any promises. He believed with all his heart, and was saved.” You can be too!

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 17, 2014. THE THREE THORNS (2)

THURSDAY APRIL 17

“Thorns...shall it bring forth to thee.” Ge 3:18

THE THREE THORNS (2)

Heaven’s answer to a thorn-cursed creation was a thorn-crowned Savior. But notice something important. God didn’t remove the thorns; He decided to use them for his redemptive purposes. That’s why we each get: (3) A custom-designed thorn. Here’s how Paul describes his thorn: “Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me...For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2Co 12:7-10). The word “buffet” means “to render blow, after blow, after blow.” Does that describe your life at the moment? If Paul’s experience is anything to go by, the Christian life is a series of blessings and buffetings. And the God who promises the first, permits the second. Why? To make sure we live our lives dependant on Him. Look what God used to make sure Paul relied totally on Him: “Infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses.” Where do you find strength to handle such a catalog of complaints? From God--and God alone. You say, “I want to be more fruitful in the service of the Lord.” That happens when the thorny situations in life drive us closer to God!

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 15, 2014. DEVELOP A PASSION FOR YOUR WORK

TUESDAY APRIL 15

“Being Christian doesn't cover up bad work.” Col 3:25 TM

DEVELOP A PASSION FOR YOUR WORK

John Ortberg writes: “My friend Andy Chan headed up the placement office for Stanford School of Business, helping graduates find work. He says that someday he wants to write a book called The Myth of Passion. This is the myth that somewhere out there is the perfect job, the idealized calling that fits my soul the way a key fits into a lock. And if I could just find that job, torrents of passion would cascade out of my heart like water going over Niagara Falls.” We have this romanticized idea that we will find “job-love at first sight.” But what if you are in a job that doesn’t excite you? Ortberg writes: “Passion for our work is not usually a subterranean volcano waiting to erupt...It is a muscle that gets strengthened a little each day as we show up--as we do what is expected of us, and then some.” Paul wrote: Don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from your heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn’t cover up bad work” (vv. 22-25 TM). Maybe it would help to put a sign up on your desk: “For God’s sake--do your best!” Why? For two reasons: (1) Because you represent Christ in the workplace. (2) When you are faithful in small things, He will promote you to greater things (Mt 25:21). 

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 16, 2014. THE THREE THORNS (1)

WEDNESDAY APRIL 16

“Thorns...shall it bring forth to thee.” Ge 3:18

THE THREE THORNS (1)

In scripture there are three thorns that paint a picture of redemption. Let’s look at them and see what we can lean. (1) A thorn-cursed creation. When Adam and Eve sinned, God said, “Cursed is the ground for your sake...thorns...it shall bring forth for you...In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground” (vv. 17-19 NKJV). Everything changed for us in that moment. Roses began to grow thorns, fellowship with God was broken, and man who was born to live forever began to die. It was tragic, but God had a solution. (2) A thorn-crowned Savior. “When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head” (Mt 27:29 NKJV). The curse that fell in a garden was lifted in a garden! When God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, He placed an angel with a flaming sword at the gate to prevent them from ever reentering it. But at the cross Christ, the last Adam, was cut down by the sword of God’s judgement, becoming our Savior and substitute, and securing our salvation. Now we can reenter God’s presence. What did Adam lose? Fellowship with God, immortality, and sinless perfection. At the cross Christ reclaimed and restored all these to us. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2Co 5:17 NKJV). Notice the words, “in Christ.” Thirty-one times in the New Testament we read these same words. That’s one for every day of the month. Rejoice! God loves and accepts you “in Christ.”

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 15, 2014. DEVELOP A PASSION FOR YOUR WORK

TUESDAY APRIL 15

“Being Christian doesn't cover up bad work.” Col 3:25 TM

DEVELOP A PASSION FOR YOUR WORK

John Ortberg writes: “My friend Andy Chan headed up the placement office for Stanford School of Business, helping graduates find work. He says that someday he wants to write a book called The Myth of Passion. This is the myth that somewhere out there is the perfect job, the idealized calling that fits my soul the way a key fits into a lock. And if I could just find that job, torrents of passion would cascade out of my heart like water going over Niagara Falls.” We have this romanticized idea that we will find “job-love at first sight.” But what if you are in a job that doesn’t excite you? Ortberg writes: “Passion for our work is not usually a subterranean volcano waiting to erupt...It is a muscle that gets strengthened a little each day as we show up--as we do what is expected of us, and then some.” Paul wrote: Don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from your heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn’t cover up bad work” (vv. 22-25 TM). Maybe it would help to put a sign up on your desk: “For God’s sake--do your best!” Why? For two reasons: (1) Because you represent Christ in the workplace. (2) When you are faithful in small things, He will promote you to greater things (Mt 25:21).

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 14, 2014. COOL THOUGHTS FOR HOTHEADS (3)

MONDAY APRIL 14

“Be...slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Jas 1:19 NIV

COOL THOUGHTS FOR HOTHEADS (3)

Here’s how to control your anger: (1) Think before you react. Our reactions are often based more on feelings than facts. Someone says or does something, and we suddenly feel angry and assume they “made” us feel that way. No, you made yourself angry by telling yourself, “Who do they think they are?” “I don't have to take that.” “I’ll show them who’s in charge!” Your self-talk triggered your anger. “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” To break anger’s negative cycle, practice saying to yourself, “Stop!” Then don’t react until you ask the person to clarify their words or actions. Say, “I want to understand. Please explain what you meant by…” By listening to understand, you interrupt your anger build-up and gain self-control. (2) Don’t “speak your mind” when you’re angry. An old Irish poem says, “We’re constantly hearing O’Flannagan say, ‘I gave him a piece of my mind.’ And it isn’t surprising with so much gone, that so little remains behind!” The Bible says, “The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do” (Jas 3:5 TLB). You won’t find a receptive audience when you’re enraged; people will just resist or discount your accusations and get angry in response. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Pr 15:1 NIV). Take a breather, and try a gentle response when you’re calm. (3) Avoid angry people. Like a bad virus, they infect you, especially if you have anger issues. “Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious--don’t get infected” (Pr 22:24-25 TM).

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 13, 2014. COOL THOUGHTS FOR HOTHEADS (2)

SUNDAY APRIL 13

“Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.” 1Sa 18:9 NAS

COOL THOUGHTS FOR HOTHEADS (2)

A hot temper: (1) Drives a wedge between you and your loved ones. Esau resented his brother Jacob so much that he wanted him dead. When his mother Rebekah heard this she sent Jacob away to live in Haran (See Ge 27:41-43). As a result, the family was separated and suffered. Angry people intimidate others and rob them of their sense of security and peace of mind. Psychologists say it’s a leading cause of divorce, child abuse, and addiction. What a price to pay! (2) Undermines a life that pleases God. “Understand this…(be) slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires” (Jas 1:19-20 NLT). Your anger isn’t just “your own business,” it’s God’s business too because it hinders your ability to live the life He intended. You can’t be right with God until you are right with others. (3) Blinds you to reality. Looking through the lens of misguided anger, you see only what you choose to see. It causes you to focus on options like revenge and retribution. Saul saw David as a threat, someone who planned to take his kingdom and throne. So he “looked at David with suspicion from that day on.” His anger made him see David as someone who deserved to die because he was God’s choice to succeed him as Israel’s next king. Sadly, it also kept him from seeing that David was actually his best friend. Don’t let that happen to you.

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 12, 2014. COOL THOUGHTS FOR HOTHEADS (1)

SATURDAY APRIL 12

“A hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.” Pr 29:22 NLT

COOL THOUGHTS FOR HOTHEADS (1)

Righteous indignation is the capacity to get aroused when it matters. When you see people mistreated and don’t feel concerned, you’re either in denial of lacking compassion. God designed anger to move us to action. The Bible says, “God is angry with the wicked every day” (Ps 7:11); it motivates His actions against man’s wickedness. When Jesus saw His Father’s house being desecrated His anger drove Him to make a whip, overthrow the money tables, and chase out the loan sharks. His “Passion for God’s house [consumed him]” (Jn 2:17 NLT). He couldn’t remain passive or compromise. The world needs people who’ll take action when the weak and vulnerable are “used and abused.” Hot temper, however, isn’t the fruit of godly motivation. It’s driven by our lower nature. Like Balaam who got angry when he was challenged by the truth, our pride gets hurt (See Nu 22:29). Or like Cain who was jealous because his brother’s gift was accepted and his wasn’t, we get resentful when someone else seems blessed more than us (See Ge 4:3-7). Like Haman who was enraged that Mordecai wouldn’t bow before him, we selfishly desire to have our way (See Es 3:1-6). Like King Saul who was envious over David’s popularity, we get jealous when someone else has accomplished more than us (See 1Sa 18:8). Like King Ahab who was confronted with the truth he’d rather not hear, we refuse to face our sinful ways and failures (See 1Ki 22:15-27). The Bible cautions us, “If you are angry, be sure it is not a sinful anger...don’t give the devil that sort of foothold” (Eph 4:26-27 PHPS).

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

APRIL 11, 2014. SERVING REQUIRES FAITHFULNESS

FRIDAY APRIL 11

“I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father.” Jn 5:30

SERVING REQUIRES FAITHFULNESS

In His dealings with people, the Bible says of Christ: “Having loved his own...he loved them unto the end” (Jn 13:1). And when it came to His dealings with God, He could say, “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me” (Jn 5:30 NKJV). Can God count on you? Can others? When you make a commitment, do you keep it? Do you quit on a whim, or break your word because you get a better offer? “There was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ And he said, ‘Behold I am here, Lord’” (Ac 9:10). God knew where to find Ananias. Does He know where to find you?  Pastor Eric Hulstrand was preaching one Sunday when an elderly woman, Mary, fainted and struck her head on the end of the pew. They called for an ambulance, and as they put her on the stretcher she regained consciousness and motioned for her daughter to come near. Everyone thought she was summoning her strength to convey what would be her final words. Her daughter leaned over until her ear was at Mary’s mouth. “My offering is in my purse,” she whispered. God’s work shouldn’t go lacking because you’ve gone on vacation and taken your tithes and offerings with you. “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce” (Pr 3:9 NLT). Your faithfulness shouldn’t be contingent upon economic conditions, but upon your commitment to Christ. Remember the U.S. Marine Corps motto, “Semper Fidelis,” the Latin for “Always faithful.”

Taken from the Word for You Today devotional

APRIL 10, 2014. SERVING REQUIRES OBEDIENCE

THURSDAY APRIL 10

 “I desire to do your will, O my God.” Ps 40:8 NIV

SERVING REQUIRES OBEDIENCE

If you’re upset over giving up your “rights” and “privileges” to serve others, consider what Christ gave up to serve you. “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death” (Php 2:8 NKJV). When you’re tempted to remind others of the sacrifices you’ve made, hear Christ's Words: “When you have done all things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do’” (Lk 17:10 NKJV). Have you ever observed a dog that graduated from obedience school? It’s a source of pleasure to its master because it has learned to respond to a word, sometimes even a look. God says, “I will guide thee with mine eye” (Ps 32:8). God wants to bring you to the place where you don’t have to be begged, badgered, or browbeaten to serve. One look from Him, and you do it without question. As a servant you can’t change your master’s orders! Dr. J. R. Miller said, “It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing it.” God doesn’t want foot-dragging compliance, He wants willing obedience. And when He get its, He blesses it. “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land” (Isa 1:19 NIV). God’s best is reserved for those who say yes. You ask, “How will I know when I arrive at that place?” Because you’ll be able to say, “I desire to do Your will, O my God.”

Taken from the Word for You Today devotional

APRIL 9, 2014. SERVING REQUIRES HUMILITY

WEDNESDAY APRIL 9

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”  Php 2:5

SERVING REQUIRES HUMILITY

Paul writes: “You must have the same attitude that...Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges...took the...position of a slave...humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on the cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names” (vv. 5-9 NLT). Being a celebrity often means we expect others to serve us, but being a Christ follower means we are called to serve others. Big difference, eh? Christ modeled servant-hood before His disciples. On the social totem pole, the lowest service in the house washed feet. Try to picture God washing the feet of common fishermen, then saying, “As I have served you, now go and serve one another.” Download that picture the next time you view somebody as a burden, or beneath you, or a roadblock to your success. You’ll never serve as Christ served if your focus is on building your own image. “Jesus, knowing that the father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God...began to wash the disciples’ feet” (Jn 13:3-5 NKJV). Jesus had settled three big issues: (1) He knew who sent Him. (2) He knew who sustained Him. (3)  He knew who was going to reward Him. Therefore He was liberated from the fear of people, the fear of failure, and the fear of rejection. J. L. Massed said it so well: “Service can never become slavery to the one who loves.”

Taken from the Word for You Today devotional

APRIL 8, 2014. THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAISING GOD (2)

TUESDAY APRIL 8

Ps 34:1 NIV

“His praise will always be on my lips.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAISING GOD (2)

The book of Job speaks about the rain cycle: “He maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?” (Job 36:27-29). There’s a spiritual parallel in this Scripture that works like this: as our vapours of praise go up to God, the clouds of His presence form and the rains of His blessings begin to fall on us. Sometimes we leave church saying, “That as a dry service.” The problem isn’t dry services; it’s dry servants! In praise you are the initiator and God is the responder. “They were joined by 120 priests who were playing trumpets. The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise...the Lord...they raised their voices...At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple if God” (2Ch 5:12-14 NLT). Wouldn’t you love to have been in church for that service! There’s a story about a wealthy man who dropped a dollar into the offering plate at church, then complained all the way home that he didn’t get anything out of the service. His son, who observed the whole thing, said, “I guess that just proves if you don’t put much into it, you don’t get much out of it.” Here’s a key to blessing you need to think about: worship isn’t just for God’s benefit, it’s also for yours!

Taken from the Word for You Today devotional